It's very frustrating that I have drove past this colossal mirror ball countless times, yet I have…read morenever snapped a photo. The stainless steel ball was commissioned in 1966, and stands elegantly next to the National Research Council of Canada building. Canadian artist Art Price designed the sphere as a symbolic representation of the NRC's research in the area of science and technology. This well known landmark and intriguing piece of art, is outdoors in all of it's glory, on the South side of Montreal Road. I've been fascinated by this giant mirror ball sculpture for years. Check out some local copyrighted pics here: http://www.artbabych.com/2010/October-th/pearl-th.jpg and here: http://www.artbabych.com/2010/October-th/mirror_mirror-th.jpg

It was really beautiful the river side was nice you should try bringing a grill to the parks do not…read morelite up fire on the ground the area is wildfire prone. Enjoy the view of yachts and people kayaking collect nice looking rocks and shells from shore, i climbed the tree. Explore the trails they really take you to a beautiful end. Its better if you are able to take bicycle with you. Perfect for weekend, bring your pet for a nice fetch session and a walk no poop bags for dogs so bring your own bring a blanket to sit on it is really important bring water to drink a as well bring picnic stuff enjoy your trip!

The park opened May 13 and is open Wednesdays to Sundays until September. Looks like the Ontario…read moreGovernment is doing a lot of work to open more parts of the house for show, and they offered more information, generally. The guided tour is very informative. I love seeing more of this Heritage Home, and learning about the Pinheys in general. The site is a great place for a picnic, or as a rest stop on a boat journey - there's showers!!! Bring your camera - there are plenty of photo ops here! And it will be wonderful to see in its fall colours. We will be back! They have special events all summer long, including concerts, I do know that in the Civic Holiday weekend, they offer a 1 day event for craftspeople, including a knitting display. If you've always wanted to know how to knit, perhaps this will be the time and place to learn how? For more information about the park, visit their website at http://www.pinheyspoint.ca/. Edited June 17 2013 to add that Pinhey's Point is now running an event in Mid-August, called Riverfest - another wonderful and well run event. This year it is August 11, 2013. Riverfest 2015 will be happening on Sunday August 9th. They've added an aboriginal storey teller (he's really good!), and canoe rides (for which there is a small fee). There are other demonstrators too. It's a great family event, and so worth the outing!

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.

Saigon Square is a tiny little park at the south west corner of Preston St and Somerset St West, in…read morefront of the Plant Recreation Centre, which is also the western edge of Chinatown. It was named in 2018 "in recognition of the contributions to the City of Ottawa by the Vietnamese refugees who came to Canada in search of freedom." There is a sizeable Vietnamese population in Ottawa, in part due to Project 4000, which was created by then-mayor, Marion Dewar, who in 1979 welcomed 4000 Vietnamese refugees to Ottawa through private sponsorship. There is also a monument in the square that is "in memory of those who have lost their lives in the quest for freedom." The monument was erected in 1995, before the square was named. I sometimes see fresh flowers at the monument and I sometimes see people praying at the monument. Since those who died fleeing persecution were often lost at sea or buried near former displaced persons camps throughout Southeast Asia, visiting their graves may not be possible, so I think this monument serves as a substitute for the family members of these people. I am always in support of things that provide solace and peace to those who need it. I see a lot of meaning and significance in this Square. The monument is a reminder of the innocent victims of war (the statue is of a woman running barefoot while carrying a child). The plaque acknowledges the positive contributions that the refugees have made to the place that received them. The benevolence of those who helped the refugees is implied. And the monument and square symbolize both realism and hope, two things that I think are vital, both in times of war and times of peace.

Saigon Square is located at the west part of Chinatown. To officially have me walk the entire…read morestretch of Chinatown, we walked over here and found this little park. Even though it's a small park, it's significant when you take the time to read everything. First, there is a plaque that recognizes Vietnamese refugees who left their home to come to Canada, and start fresh by finding freedom. The plaque is in English, French, and Vietnamese. It is classy. Second, the statue of a mom, holding her child tightly in her right arm, as she flees, smack in the middle of this park, is powerful. This tribute is meaningful, especially to folks like me who didn't know that there is a huge Vietnamese population until I strolled through Chinatown to notice the positive mark that they have made in Ottawa. This park is pretty and quaint. It was also fitting to see the greenery and growth, which is symbolic on so many levels. Well done! (269)

It's a beautiful and historic church in the heart of Ottawa. There's no admission fee, instead, you…read morecan make a donation to the church. Whether you're visiting or coming here to say prayers, it's definitely worth the trip. The painted glasses, the craftsmanship and all the details included in them is so impressive; I could spend hours in the church, admiring the artwork. The ceiling is the most impressive part about this beautiful cathedral; I loved it.

This cathedral is located in a residential area, which makes it easy for people to come and visit…read moreor attend mass. When we entered and saw the church it was a Wow moment. Omg it's beautiful, the Colour's used , glass painting looks amazing when the sun shines on it. It's a huge basilica, the architecture is amazing, it's a must see . The choir sits on top floor and sounds soooo good .

As a history buff making this trip was a no brainer…read more This cold war era bunker is maintained exceptionally well and really lays out what would have happened if a nuclear attack was going to occur and how the Canadian government would continue to operate. They mentioned that a lot of the sinks, showers, etc still worked also. Seeing equipment that was considered top of the line back the bunker was first operational was truly extraordinary also.

The Diefenbunker is a must-see in the Ottawa area. Built in just 18 months (1959-1961), this…read morefour-story underground bunker was designed to protect 535 people for 30 days during a nuclear attack. The tour is unforgettable: you walk through a blast tunnel, go through decontamination, and see the medical bays and command rooms. The details are fascinating--from the propaganda rooms and rows of rainbow-colored typewriters to the simple cafeteria and commissary. It is history kept perfectly in time. The museum's leadership is just as impressive as the history. They have turned this site into a busy, successful business by offering escape rooms, summer camps, and private events. They make sure every inch of this bunker is used. Before you go, check out their event calendar. You aren't just taking a tour; you are seeing a masterclass in how to keep a museum thriving.

Commenting as a tourist, I was able to go there even though it's being renovated (will be complete…read moreby 2032, apparently). You can even go into a legislative session (need to bring a governmental ID and pass a security check) to see parliamentary procedures and democracy in action. Definitely worth checking out!

The place that runs Canada. The parliament building, modeled after the Big Ben in London, has an…read moreamazing site. Currently it's going through some renovations, so two gigantic cranes are towering over the building. Very popular site with tourists. There are huge boards that provide details of the building and the government. Visitors can the building too but we saw a long line. Lots of law enforcement officers in the area to keep everything safe and in order.

The John G. Diefenbaker Building is spellbinding! Prior to it's recent renaming, the prominent New…read moreEdinburgh building was known as Old City Hall. Back in the good old days, prior to the amalgamation, city business took place on Green Island, on the Rideau River, in 111 Sussex Drive. City government operations were spread out on Green Island, in a quadrant of smaller buildings, passageways and other structures. They were very much ahead of their time. After amalgamation, the old Ottawa city hall was sold to the federal government.

I visited with family during one of their Free Thursday evenings (5-8pm) over the summer last year…read more I was a bit shocked that it was not as busy as I thought, especially during their free Thrusday evenings. The museum is pretty large. There was a lot of beautiful art and exhibits. A few exhibits had some sort of interactive function (like interactive screens and screens to flip through info). Depending on your vacation schedule and free time, you may not be able to see everything in a couple of hours.

Amazing art museum! From the spider outside to the massive amounts of artwork especially Canadian,…read moreQuebecois, Native, and First Nations artwork and the historic Catholic chapel inside it is totally with a visit.