Scenic Nature Spots are a Must Do When Visiting Ottawa for the 150th Celebrations

Join me in welcoming guest blogger Katherine Forster as she shows us around her home in Ottawa, Canada! – Eva

For us Canadians, it feels like the advertising is everywhere. Canada is celebrating 150 years since the signing of the confederation. Our country is sending out an invitation world-wide, extending its hospitality to anyone who wants to visit. There will be special events and activities in most major cities and support for various cultural, scientific, artistic, historic projects that promise to showcase the diversity of this vast land. Canada 150 is a big year for us!

I live in Ottawa and here in the capital of the country, we are finding that the hype is huge. And with this being the last year that the Centre Block of Parliament Hill will be open for up to a decade (a major renovation is planned to start after this special year) and our Canada Day festivities promising to be the biggest in years, there is no doubt that many will flock to visit our lovely city. Ottawa offers so much in terms of history and cultural experiences and now with the extra celebrations, it will be hard to choose among so many things to do and see.

My suggestion for those who want to plan a trip to Ottawa this year, is to add a couple of nature stops to your itinerary. Canada is blessed with incredible scenery and that includes the nation’s capital – some of which is not to be missed! And adding a few nature stops to a weekend of sightseeing is a great way to break up hours of indoor museum visits, walking around busy downtown corridors and the crush of crowded line ups. Here are some suggestions:

Hog’s Back Falls and Rideau Falls – Visitors can walk along paths beside Hog’s Back Falls and see it from different angles (located in Vincent Massey Park by Mooney’s Bay) whereas Rideau Falls can be appreciated from above (on Green Island) or from one of the boat tours that brings visitors to the bottom of the falls as it empties into the Ottawa-Outaouais River.

Dominion Arboretum – while a popular tourist spot, the Arboretum is worth braving the crowds on the weekend to appreciate the huge old oaks that can be found along Prince of Wales Drive, a smaller, “wilder” garden, appropriately named Fletcher Wildlife Garden and the ornamental gardens that have perennials blooming for the full summer season.

Ottawa-Outaouais River – This large river that designates the border between Ontario and Quebec boasts winding multi-use paths on both sides , which provides scenic views of both city skylines and also some fantastic sunsets. Don’t be discouraged if there are some clouds at twilight as they can reflect and augment the colourful end of day show.

South March Highlands – Canada’s Capital is situated in the transition zone between the southern Mixedwood Plains and the Boreal Shield and this becomes very apparent when you visit the South March Highlands. Exposed bedrock, provincially significant wetland and old growth forest provide the conditions for a richly biodiverse area and the opportunity to experience the Canadian shield topography.

Mer Bleue – this 7,700 year old bog in the Greenbelt showcases a northern boreal landscape which is a unique habitat for Southern Ontario. It has many regionally rare and significant plants and provides a 1.2 kilometer boardwalk that lets nature lovers experience this habitat in an immersive way in all seasons.

So come on up to visit this great Canadian city this year and take in the festivities, see some sights and enjoy the iconic Canadian nature experience at the same time!