It's difficult planning out the day. You research, make reservations, buy tickets, and do…read moreeverything you can. Then the traffic takes longer than anticipated, you got lost on the way, the card was declined because you forgot to call your credit card company. For some people, these little disasters ruin trips. Me? Just roll with it. For our schedule we wanted to do a canal tour, but it wasn't going to work for itinerary, so we opted for the river cruise instead. I am very glad we had done so. Rolling down the Ottawa river was a welcome break from all the walking, and you get to see these beautiful views of the city from the water that you otherwise would be completely unknown to you, like who really shot JFK. Our guide was a sweet and cheery girl, she enjoyed talking with guests and answering questions. The other staff were quite friendly, the boat was clean, and even had a bar (thank you sweet baby Jesus!) which allowed for my wife and I to enjoy a glass of wine on the river. Definitely recommend.

If you are in Ottawa and don't have much time this is the way to see the city, the boat is not the…read moremost beautiful but is big and they have food and drink on board, I really enjoy the tour on this boat, they guy explaining everything was awesome he was funny and he new a lot of stuff so I learn a lot about Ottawa and we know that a lot of Canadian history is in Ottawa, take the tour of u wanna see the city from another perspective, this was my favourite boat ride tour ever!!!!

Went for the Byward Market Dinner hopping tour on Victoria Day long weekend…read more Everything was done very professionally, and being able to just sit down, get wine and food brought to you and then leave without worrying about a bill is pretty hard to beat. The restaurants you get taken to will vary depending on a few factors, such as how big your tour group is and how busy the restaurants are. Our tour host was very knowledgeable and took care of any concerns we had along the way. Just a few constructive criticisms - Our online booking caused a bit of trouble but our host made sure to get us caught up with our group. If you are booking last minute, I would email or call to make sure your booking was received. Be EARLY since they start right on time or even early. - The walking tour portion of Byward market could use some expanding. It's nice to learn about the history of everything and what's going on, but since you are on such a tight schedule, there's only time to stop for a minute or two at a handful of spots. - I'm a meat lover and was a bit sad we didn't get more meat, but this could be restaurant specific. Portion sizes were okay, about what you'd expect at restaurants going for quality over quantity.

My sister booked a tour for my bachelorette party which was awesome because I love food and getting…read moreto try new places. Having four different dishes at four different restaurants is definitely my idea of a great meal out! We hit up the Brig for a cheese plate, Play for salad, Kinki for sushi and Must for dessert. Everything was excellent and nice to have the accompanying wine at each location. All the restaurants were really accommodating to our various dietary restrictions (trust me when I say we were a challenging crowd)! Corey really went out of his way to make sure we were taken care of at each place. Highly recommended!!

I deal with a fellow named Duncan. He has an encyclopedic knowledge of bikes and cycling, and…read morestrives to procure what I need, usually successfully. (I felt bad for him and for the store when I asked to buy a Specialized Roubaix S-Works, and Specialized told him they'd basically decided not to sell any Roubaix models in Canada this year). Anyway, Duncan knows his stuff. He is also a pretty expert mechanic, and has taken excellent care of my Merlin Road and my Independent Fabrication Crown Jewel. I have recommended friends to Duncan, and they have been just as happy.

Today I received a master class in the opposite of a Fresh Air Experience. I visited the…read moreWellington store this morning and asked the manager in charge whether FAE carried a Canadian Branded bicycle that I was interested in purchasing. The guy went off at me as if I had insulted his mother and began to berate me about wrapping myself in the flag. Setting aside for a moment the shear boorish, un-Canadian rudeness of this remark, it was clear to me that the people at Fresh Air Experience find something deeply offensive about Canadians wishing to purchase products that maximize Canadian materials and labour. The tone-deafness and offensiveness of this remark by someone in retail and the way it was delivered was simply stunning. I left the store without comment. I certainly will not be spending my $4-$5K budget at this store and will be sure to communicate my Fresh Air Experience to my business associates and social circle.

We booked the Gatineau Hills 20-25 minute tour. Booking was relatively easy, filled a form out…read moreonline and they gave me a call to book. Payment was taken when we arrived for the tour. Tour location was at the Canadian Aviation and Space Museum and the booth is in the back corner. If you aren't planning to visit the museum, you can just let the admissions person know you're just there for the biplane ride and they'll let you in. The ride itself was cool and the pilot did some awesome twists and turns (he explained to us before ride what his plans were and confirmed if we were comfortable with the maneuvers). They also gave me a cushion as I was a little too short to see out the plane which was a nice touch.

My wife reserved a ride for us as a gift, since she knows I have a thing for biplanes. We had a…read moreblast. We did the river fly over and it was a real treat. When we arrived we met the woman at the desk who was very friendly. There was only one plane flying that day, instead of two, so we had to wait a little longer than our reserved time. Nice thing is we got to walk around the museum, so the wait was no bother at all. The flight lasted about 15 minutes and the pilot was a really friendly guy and consummate professional. Honestly the thrill of being in a biplane was worth it alone, and I loved when the pilot banked the plane sharply. Sure, I could have spent more time in the air, but I am not disappointed in anyway. Highly recommended.

We tried a new tour called Hidden Ottawa. It's Not a haunted tour. It's a history based tour that…read morehighlights things even most locals don't know or have never noticed about the town. Our group were all locals and we all enjoyed the tour and didn't know the majority of what was talked about. Get ready to learn some real colourful stories of Ottawa! I also appreciated the path the tour takes. It's very scenic and uses areas none of us had been before which was also super cool to learn about and made for some amazing photo locations too!

Walking through downtown Ottawa and came across the sign for a ghost tour. They tend to be fun. So…read morewe inquired and wound up taking the 8pm haunted prison tour. Cost me for 2 adults, 2 kids just under 100 cad. Our guide was Hanna and she was excellent. Overall she seemed extremely knowledgeable about the area and added a little theatrical approach to her story telling. It's a short walk to the prison but once inside it's a throw back to 100+ years in the past. Spooky and fun. Not overly scary for my 10 and 7 yo. If I'm ever back in the area I'll definitely be checking out one of their other tours. My kids loved it.

Very well kept bikes on the canal at a perfect location. Prices are very reasonable and the canal…read morepath was fun to bike though it is poorly maintained. Ottawa City needs to repair the canal path

It was a beautiful day for a bike ride! We rented a couple of e bikes, which really allow you to go…read morelong distance without getting too tired, and had a wonderful day on the canal. There were waterfalls, picnic sites and some cool bars overlooking Dow's lake. It was easy to rent online and they were very accommodating and really helped with directions. I might go again tomorrow!

If I was trying to attract tourism to Ottawa, I would make sure the marketing campaign included…read morefootage of the Aviation Parkway in the fall. There are several striking drives that offer dazzling views of the Capital's landscape, but Aviation parkway is a great introduction to the Capital's green space. Bytown is known for it's green space, and the wide range of trees contribute to impressive lush greenbelt. The leaves on this parkway change to blazing oranges, reds and yellows in late September & early October. If you are in the area in Autumn, it's worth your while to take one of the best wooded scenic drives. As with all the NCR parkways, it can be explored by car, bike, or on foot. The parkway is enclosed by significant woods owned by the Canadian taxpayer, and managed by the National Capital Commission.

I stood in the shop for 20 minutes waiting for service, looking around. There were several…read moreemployees rushing around. No one offered to help, or said hello, and I couldn't manage to flag anyone down. Finally I politely asked someone if she could assist me and she told me, dryly, that she was in the middle of something. Ten minutes later she was drinking coffee behind the counter and I asked if she was available. She rudely responded "we're all really busy." I left. I found the service horrible and cold; I felt invisible.

Kunstadt has become my go-to ski and bike shop in Canada…read more I always walkout with the gear that I need or have made a plan with one of the staff to special order gear that matches my passion for outdoor adventure. Whether I'm hitting the slopes or exploring the trails, their impressive selection of top-notch equipment never disappoints. The knowledgeable staff, who are avid outdoor enthusiasts themselves, always take the time to understand my needs and guide me towards the ideal gear for my skill level and budget. One thing that truly stood out for me was their exceptional service and attention to detail. When I purchased my new ski boots this winter, they meticulously fitted them to my specifications, ensuring the perfect blend of comfort and performance. And when I needed some fine-tuning on my bike just last week, their skilled technicians went above and beyond to make sure it was dialed in just right. They've never overcharged on service or replaced parts just for the sake of replacing parts. Their dedicated team is always there to lend a helping hand and ensure that my equipment remains in peak condition, ready for my next thrilling escapade. Beyond their product range and expertise, Kunstadt is always supporting the Ottawa adventure community and so we should support them too. Being a customer should feel like returning to your hometown, not becoming another number in a big box store's ledger. Shop local and support family business's in Ottawa.