A beautiful warm orange-red glow fills the sky at dusk over Ottawa Canada during a July evening. Parliament Hill, Chateau Laurier hotel and the Rideau Canal are in the foreground.
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Located in beautiful Ontario, Ottawa is a cultural destination where rich history, hands-on museums, and exciting outdoor adventures create unforgettable memories for the whole family. Situated along the stunning Ottawa River, downtown Ottawa is a 20-minute drive from Ottawa International Airport and there are flights from major cities in Canada and the United States. My son and I have been taking VIA Rail from Toronto to Ottawa for over a decade and the train station is a ten minute Uber ride to downtown. Canada’s charming capital city is also the perfect family friendly road trip destination and a four and a half hour drive from Toronto and a five hour drive from Buffalo, New York. Pack up and let the fun begin!
Family Friendly Luxurious Accommodations
Large suite at Le Germain Hotel Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Le Germain Hotel Ottawa
Check into Le Germain Hotel Ottawa located in the heart of Ottawa near some of our favorite attractions like the Rideau Canal, Byward Market, historic Parliament Hill, and museums. The elegant vibe of Le Germain begins as soon as you enter their revolving doors and are greeted by friendly staff. Their 115 rooms and eight spacious suites are elegantly designed with natural hues, soft finishes, and impressive modern touches like electronic blinds. We absolutely loved The Prestige Suite and it can be joined with another room through a vestibule, closing the area for privacy so the whole family can relax in style. Added luxuries include rainfall shower, Egyptian cotton and bamboo linen, cruelty-free Ruby Brown toiletries, HD TV, Nespresso machine, cozy bathrobes, electronic safe, and stereo system.
Traveling with little ones? They offer baby cribs, rollaway beds, mini tents, and kid sized bathrobes. When you get hungry, Norca Restaurant & Bar is on-site and serves local cuisine that you can also order via room service – we loved the avocado toast. For early morning oat lattes on the patio, Jackson Café is inside the Ottawa Art Gallery and connected to the Hotel.
Ottawa, Canada – May 1, 2024: The state of the art Ottawa Art Gallery building on the MacKenzie Bridge opened in 2018. It features Art and Artists of the Ottawa-Gatineau region and admission is free.
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Explore All Things Canadian
Ottawa, Canada – August 08, 2008: changing of the guard in front of the Parliament of Canada on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Canada.
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From indulging in decadent BeaverTails at Byward Market, to admiring the Peace Tower and Centennial Flame, to watching the Changing of the Guard on Parliament Hill (a free summer ceremony daily at 10am until August 20), Ottawa is the city for all things Canadian. Our recent visit included the East Block Parliament Tour offering a glimpse of Parliament in the 19th century with views of four restored heritage rooms. Other free Parliament tours include the Senate of Canada to learn about Parliament’s upper chamber, the House of Commons at West Block where members of Parliament debate and vote on legislation, and the Parliament Immersive Experience. This multimedia show includes exceptional visual effects, large-scale projections, and interesting narration about historic debates dating back 100 years.
‘Ottawa Locks’ on Rideau Canal, Rideau Canal National Historic Site (UNESCO World Heritage Site and Canadian Heritage River), in the City of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
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Save time to explore the Rideau Canal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that gracefully weaves through downtown Ottawa. In addition to the pathways that are perfect for walking and biking, this beautiful waterway provides a relaxing backdrop to enjoy a family friendly Rideau Canal Cruise.
Never Stop Learning
Ottawa, CA – 9 October 2019: Facade of the Canadian Museum of Nature. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
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Known as the city of museums, Ottawa boasts seven of Canada’s nine national museums and provides an opportunity to experience the whole country in one city. The Ottawa Museums Pass is a great way to take advantage of discounted admission to these cultural experiences and explore 10 museums and galleries for one price (Choose a one-day or three-day pass). We love The Canadian Museum of Nature with life size dinosaur models including a complete skeleton of Daspletosaurus torosus! I highly recommend visiting their exciting new exhibit, The Man Who Planted Trees, open until October 13. Told through impressive sound and visuals, it’s inspired by a timeless story about the importance of trees, and the power of one person to make a difference.
Tree from the exhibit The Man Who Planted Trees at the Canadian Museum of Nature
Pierre Poirier / Canadian Museum of Nature
Canada Science and Technology Museum is also family friendly and the place to learn about steam locomotives, telescopes, gold miners, climate change, and hydroelectricity. We checked out the Bytown Museum for a self-guided audio tour and learned about Ottawa’s history including early residents and origins of Bytown.
Bytown Museum Joe Montferrand display case, Ottawa
Musée Bytown Museum
Another pass option is the Visit Ottawa Pass that provides admission to your choice of five premium attractions in addition to discounts on tours, dining, and festivals ( A child’s pass is free with the purchase of an adult pass). Some of our favorites are the Water Taxi to sail along the Ottawa River, The Haunted Walk for spooky ghost tours, and The Royal Canadian Mint to learn about coins. Both Visit Ottawa Passes are purchased online and delivered to your phone.
Ottawa, Canada – June 15, 2025: Aqua Taxis transport passengers across the Ottawa River. The newly redeveloped Kiweki Point, which provides access to spectacular lookouts with panoramic views of Parliament Hill, Ottawa, and Gatineau is on top of the hill.
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Get Outside And Unplug
286 steps of the Parliament Hill Escarpment Stairway in Ottawa, fun for families to enjoy with scenic views
Miriam Porter
Put on your walking shoes, bike helmet, grab a paddle, or buckle up your harness for these family friendly activities. Pretty scenic walking trails include Ottawa Locks Walking Tour, Capital Pathway, and the Greenbelt, the most ecologically diverse area in Eastern Ontario. If you have kids that need to burn off energy, head to the 286 steps of the Parliament Hill Escarpment Stairway for an outdoor workout with a view.
Entrance to Rideau Canal near Bytown Museum, people cycling
Ottawa Tourism
Escape Bicycle Tours and Rentals is our go to place for bike rentals and I suggest the Ottawa Express two-hour tour for a fun family adventure. Eddie, our friendly and knowledgeable guide, shared interesting stories and facts about each place we visited including parks, neighbourhoods, Rideau Falls, the love lock bridge (Corktown Footbridge), and we even rode over another bridge to Quebec. They also rent kayaks and paddle boards for family friendly water adventures.
Ottawa, Canada – October 27, 2018 – Close Up of Love Locks on Corktown Footbridge on Somerset Street
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If traveling with older kids that crave a thrill, Interzip is the world’s only interprovincial zipline soaring 120 feet above the river at 50 km/hr (31miles). Daring guests check in on the Gatineau side in Quebec, walk back across a bridge to Ontario, bravely climb up a tower, and get securely strapped into their seat. There are two zip lines so you can race your friends or family. Zipping side by side with my son, I went from screaming to laughing as the breathtaking views of Parliament Hill unfolded in iconic Ottawa.
Parliament Hill, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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