The Short Version: Pretty park in downtown Ottawa. Has many…read moretrees, open greenspace, flags, plaques, a fountain and a monument. The Long Version: Large federally-owned park in downtown Ottawa. Lots of trees and open greenspace. It was created in 1962 and was originally called the Garden of the Provinces but renamed in 2005 to Garden of the Provinces and Territories. It has flags of the provinces and territories of Canada, as well as floral emblems and plaques of each province/territory. It also has a metal fountain that resembles a tree. It has several park benches and a few tables with built-in chess/checkers boards. It is also the site of the Memorial to the Victims of Communism - Canada, a Land of Refuge, a monument that pays tribute to people who have suffered under communist regimes and highlights Canada's role as a place of refuge for people fleeing persecution by communist regimes. It's an honourable concept but unfortunately the project has been embroiled in controversy, details of which are beyond the scope of this review. Visually, it's a beautiful park. It is a good place to have lunch, read a book, play some chess, or just to contemplate on life. Interested in reviews of more parks in and around Ottawa? Check out my Park Series here on Yelp: https://www.yelp.ca/collection/fhwH7F0hdh8_PpmaXsHSmw?utm_content=Collections&utm_source=ashare Review #185 (2025)

This a nice wooden bridge over the Ottawa river. Has lots of signs around explaining the history…read moreand build process. There's a walkway along the water where many people chill or have picnic. The parking lot is across the street, a minute walk from the spot. But there are no signs for the guests to know.

The original Wakefield Bridge was built over a century ago, in 1915 and was one of the first…read morebridges to link the two shores of the Gatineau River. The bridge was completely destroyed by fire 70 years later. Ten years later, the new covered bridge was built and a few original pieces were kept from the original bridge-like the pillars that support it. We made a mistake and drove all the way down to the bridge. Luckily we stayed only short time, so we didn't bother anyone, but you should probably park on Chemin Du Vieux-Pont and walk downhill towards the bridge. The bridge is around 90 metres long and its main structure is made of Douglas fir logs, while the exterior and the floor are covered with pine planks. It is closed to traffic, only pedestrians and bicycles can cross it. It was breathtaking.

Local road and pedestrian bridge connecting Ottawa ON with Gatineau QB. Located right in downtown…read more Great view of Parliament Hill and the History Museum. Currently closed to cars for construction.

Beautiful building inside and out. So much history and paintings inside of past prime ministers…read moreand their cabinet members. The Parliament has several artifacts and memorabilia and the fallen soldiers memorials with an eternal flame outside the building. There's also a River cruise beside to go around it.

Parliament Hill in Ottawa is an amazing place full of national history, gorgeous architecture,…read morepleasant walkways, numerous statues and monuments, well-maintained landscaping, and incredible views of the Ottawa River and beyond. I really enjoyed walking around to see this beautiful place in person. I would have stayed longer but it was getting dark. I did not enter any of the buildings and am unsure how many are open to the public. If any are, I would assume there is some kind of security protocol for safety. The Parliament Building itself is currently under renovations, so much of the outside is covered with a temporary facade. Next time, I need to schedule a longer stay to enjoy and appreciate more of what Ottawa has to offer.

This is a poignant monument down by City Hall to commemorate the local firefighters who died in the…read moreline of duty. It was erected in 2009. It is different from the Canadian Firefighters Memorial, which is located in LeBreton Flats. The Canadian Memorial includes firefighters across the country, while this Ottawa Memorial is specially dedicated to Ottawan firefighters. It is a beautiful statue of two firefighters. On the walls are engraved the names of those who died. I think it's a very lovely tribute to the firefighting profession.

Hello, Friday, October 4th 2019 I was at Ottawa City Hall…read moreand passed by the beautiful memorial monument of the fallen Ottawa Firefighters. As I was reading the plaque at the foot of the monument I noticed the French translation had errors. I was very saddened and wondered why the plaque had not been changed. This should not happen, the plaque should have been proofread before placing it on this beautiful memorial. Not very respectful for the firefighters. Hope this will reach the persons responsible and that the plaque will be changed in respect of these firefighters.

If you have been following my reviews, you should have noticed by now that I really enjoy history -…read morespecifically visiting historic sites, such as Pinhey's Point, The Keg Manor, Goulbourn Museum, and The Canadian Museum of Nature (that wonderful old castle that has such a rich history!) To that list, we can now add Manotick's Watson's Mill. I have to wonder if the current Mayor of Ottawa is a descendant of the Manotick Watsons? I have been to Manotick several times over the years, but for some odd, bizarre reason, I had never seen the mill before. I had enjoyed 2 or 3 of the local restaurants, and shopping along the main street, but managed to overlook this beautiful historic section. Isn't that typical of history? It so often gets overlooked... until you do a little digging! On this visit, I learned how the population of Manotick has exploded recently! In roughly 100 years, the population grew only a little bit, going from 400 to about 470, but in the last decade it mushroomed to over 5000 people! This particular visit to Manotick was prompted by the Christmas Craft Fair which runs for 3 consecutive weekends until December 3-4. That's really cool! I haven't seen any other fairs run for so long. Another intriguing thing about this fair is that some of the vendors are there for longer or shorter than others, so if you happened to visit on any one weekend, there would be no harm in taking another trip to Manotick to visit the fair again, as it is likely the display will be different. This event was really well run, in my opinion. There were lots of vendors and as a result, a wider variety of items to choose from. Oh, and of course, if you happen to be there early enough, you might be lucky to find fresh bread baked from Watson's Mill flour! Or you could also purchase some flour to take home to use in your own baking. It's all good! Bear in mind what other reviewers have said: the Mill itself is original and although the building does have windows - ie: it is NOT like a parking garage with wind whipping through it! - But it also does NOT have heating or running water inside. Washrooms and heat are across the street. Wearing layers to attend winter events at this venue is a good idea. While there, I took a stroll through the memorial gardens and saw the names pressed into the sidewalks along the river of people whose lives have been lost in the wars. There's a cenotaph there that still had poppies from the local Remebrance Day celebration. Walking back to the Mill, I got a glimpse of the rushing waters behind the mill, and took photos. Manotick really is a lovely village! I highly recommend visiting this site in different seasons. The Mill itself does run in the summer, and you can learn about how flour is made.

My friend, who was my professor during my undergraduate years, recommended visiting Watson's Mill…read more I took his advice and had a good, educational experience. The mill is in Manotick, which is a quaint, picturesque town just shy of Ottawa. This mill played an important part in the grain and seed industry years past. You can learn about the grain process and go up all three floors. It does get cold, so bundle up! Admission is free. However, I made a small donation. I also bought some lollipops at the gift store, because it is who I am. Across the street is Dickinson House, where the co-builder and mayor lived. I'd also recommend seeing the Rideau behind the mill. It's a beautiful site. Additionally, there is a memorial and a pathway honouring those who fought to served and protect Canada. It's done tastefully. I was moved reading the names of veterans as I walked back to the mill.

I think i had one of the best experiences of my life; Being on a tour with a Billingual guide…read morereally helped me better my understanding of the ontarian culture. She was so understanding and kind to me, even tho my english isn't perfect, for all of you jealous ill leave the name at the end. After my tour i feel like somthing inside of me flourished and made me aware of the complexity of the Canadian system; It was like watching the Mona Lisa being painted, thank you Liliana

The Royal Canadian Mint historic headquarters in Ottawa Ontario Canada produces all of Canada's…read morecollector coins, commemorative metals, and gold and silver bullion. We really enjoyed our guided tour through the automated facility and our guide was especially knowledgeable. The production facility was closed while we were there. We asked many questions. They are globally known for bullion and collector coins that are .9999 purity standards. Only Canada and Australia produce that purity. The collective collection honors Queen Elizabeth. No photos allowed in the facility. They have a nice gift shop where coins, collector pieces, bullion and other items can be purchased. We purchased a few items and everyone in the gift shop was so nice.

What an amazing experience! (Free too) The artwork and history in this building was incredible! Our…read moreguide, Estelle, was amazing! Our group had a few history buffs and also a few visitors to Canada who had no knowledge of Candian politics and history; Estelle managed to make the tour interesting and easy to understand for all of us! The history buffs (I was one of them) asked a lot of random questions, but she could answer them all; I was really impressed with her how in-depth her knowledge was! Overall, if you're interested in Canadian history, politics, or art, go check it out!

2024: winter time. Tour by appointment only…read more 2022: The young summer guides where energetic and knows their country's history well. Symbolizing that patriotism is strong. It feels like you are at bridgerton(netflix series) when you are inside. It is free entrance but one has to go under security before going in. Not as strict as the senate security.