The Canadian Museum of History is an architectural wonder. Designed by Douglas Cardinal, its fluid,…read morecurved forms mimic the natural erosion of the land--evoking wind, water, and glaciers. The main entrance is designed as a symbolic mask, while the limestone exterior harmonizes perfectly with the riverfront landscape and the Parliament buildings across the Ottawa River. Inside, the Grand Hall's massive windows frame stunning views of the river, which serves as a breathtaking backdrop for the impressive totem pole collection. This museum is a must-see for anyone who values the combination of outstanding design and cultural history.

This place is a gem! So much about it is breathtaking, from the architecture, to the views of…read moreOttawa on the other side of the river, to the totems on display - everything! The layout is well organized, the history is thorough, the exhibits are interesting. One thing I truly appreciated is the total frankness of the documentation. They kept it real. Nothing was sugar-coated, nothing was whitewashed, they didn't attempt to erase or hide any history, and they made a point of trying to learn from past mistakes. Other places could learn from this. I hope the museum will be able to add on, to cover events in Canada's more recent history.

The Canadian Museum of Nature is an architectural masterpiece, blending Beaux-Arts symmetry with a…read morehistoric exterior and a striking glass tower. The Earth Gallery's gem collection and the Bird Gallery are exceptional, and the gift shop is high-quality. However, my visit was heavily disrupted by large school groups monopolizing the interactive displays. To avoid these groups, try visiting after noon, as morning hours are peak time for field trip arrivals.

It was as much fun touring this museum as it was watching the smaller kids get excited looking at…read morethe dinosaur fossils and the live insects. There was so much content even limiting it to just Canadian flora and fauna. The building itself is impressive, and everything is nicely organized inside. Parking would be my one peeve. You can walk to it from the light rail if you're okay with that and it's night weather, but we found that for a group, it was actually cheaper to take a Lyft, ironically. While this museum is designed to be a great source of information for kids, adults will like it too.

Founded in 1880, this art gallery in Ottawa Ontario Canada is a grand light filled structure of…read moreglass and granite. Featuring sweeping views of Parliament Hill and the Ottawa River. The iconic Maman Spider sculpture is right outside the entrance. The tickets are $15.68. This large museum premiers over 100,000 works. This includes the Group of Seven collection of Canadian landscapes, Indigenous and Canadian art, and International Masterpieces.

I had a great experience at this gallery. It was our first time with my family and we were able to…read morelearn about different art installations, it was cool. It wasn't too busy and it was clean and well-maintained. They also had multiple security stationed inside. Fairly priced and would definitely recommend checking it out at least once.

We were able to come here and use our ASTC passport which was awesome. The parking lots have plenty…read moreof space and some EV chargers which is great. The staff was friendly and got us in with our passport. They have a nice little cafe with Beavertails in the back, so we stopped there for a quick breakfast and coffee. The displays here are great, so many interactive displays from bicycles, to trains, to audio and visual displays there is a lot to take in. This is a great spot for families or just adults who can tolerate kids being around. The history of sporting for people with disabilities was really interesting. This place really has something for everyone, whether you are interested in the human body, space, housing, etc you will probably find a section that interests you. The kids specific area was a lot of fun, although one of the displays was a bit broken unfortunately. Being able to race cars you build on a track and climb a rock wall was a ton of fun for our daughter. Being able to go race other kids on the bikes was something she really enjoyed too. We certainly had a good family outing and I think we all learned a few new things.

We visited this museum. Parking is a bit confusing without proper signage. The other thing is…read morethat the parking near the front, the lines are marked with different coloured rocks but it's hard to see so people park very poorly and the spots are quite tight too. The exhibits were pretty interesting. Lots of things to see and read, somewhat interactive. There is a dedicated kids area for kids to play in which is nice for families. The huge train that you can go into was another fun highlight. The demonstrations were really fun, there was one on ice and one on fire that day though the ice one didn't quite work. Overall a pretty enjoyable museum especially if you have kids.

We came here to use our ASTC Passport. The staff was friendly, handed us a map and told us about…read morethe demonstrations that they were going to be doing over the next couple hours. This place is really large and they have a lot of planes, helicopters, and a few ground based vehicles. It can get quite loud since everything echoes in this massive warehouse. Most of the displays are static displays that you will pause to read. A lot of really interesting aviation history going back over 100 years. I was a big fan of the display regarding the engines used in planes. Their kid section is pretty small, so it can get crowded and chaotic. They did have a great demonstration for the kids and adults about how to land a plane. Being able to sit in a cockpit really makes you appreciate what fighter pilots go through. Overall it is a really interesting museum with a lot of interesting planes. It's not really a place I would bring a younger child as there isn't much for them to do and interact with. If you have time to walk and read this is a good place to go.

Up, up and away!…read more Canada Aviation and Space Museum is located at the Ottawa/Rockcliffe Airport. The museum hangar houses a large collection of aeronautical artifacts highlighting Canada's achievements in the area. Upon entering the building, we noticed an upside down Snowbird overhead. How typically Canadian! The exhibits take you through time, starting from original biplanes, to WWI fighters, WWII bombers, utility aircrafts, modern fighters and helicopters. A highlight is undoubtedly the nose section from the cancelled Avro Arrow. Other unique exhibits include the "Engines: Power to Fly" display, and a 9/11 display with Come From Away. I particularly enjoyed the small but interesting Canadian Space Agency exhibit "Life in Orbit: the International Space Station." It was too bad some interactive displays were closed due to COVID safety. We felt that 1-2 hours was more than sufficient to walk through the museum. There were limited interactive displays including one for kids to fly using their arms as the wingspan. Tickets are reserved ahead & free daily between 4-5pm. Thanks Bill N. for this recommendation!

Very powerful museum and maybe the best one we have been. We came here about an hour before close…read moreon Rememberance Day so only saw the Women and War exhibit and parts of the permanent collection. What is unique is they show various aspects of war from all perspectives including persecuted populations. Highly recommended for all and we hope to see the rest of the museum sometime.

The fam and I came here during a quiet Saturday, and ended up spending the afternoon here. The…read moremuseum itself is stunning and I love the grand hall when you first walk in. With someone who is sensitive to light, I do enjoy that this museum is on the darker side. They made good use of the space in the museum and split each section into four galleries, plus a room for the special exhibit and a room for the tanks. There are a lot of nooks to check out and I feel like I missed a lot of things, so I may have to take a second trip back. I loved the small nook( I believe in gallery three) that we stumbled upon. We almost walked right past it, but I noticed this shiny red diner seating and grabbed a seat. There was an option to play some oldies music and it was so fun and took us back in time. The fam and I spent a good 20 minutes jamming out to some music and dancing. Of course we had to check out the cafe. They didn't have a lot of prepared items. A couple salads, cookies, typical egg sandwiches. They did have staff to prepare fresh food though like fries, poutine, chicken nuggets. We went with the poutine and it was outstanding to be honest. Tons of cheese curds, perfect chip wagon style fries and a tasty gravy. Plenty for sharing, but I ate most of it myself. The food was pricey, so bring extra snacks if you want to save some $$$. The LRT stops close by, and there is plenty of green space for picnics. I can totally see myself coming back in the Summer.

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.

TLDR: Fun museum for kids. Lots of farm animals. Some parts are very smelly, lol…read more My husband and I went here with a friend and his kids. I think it's a great museum for kids, especially if they like animals or are interested in farming. There are lots of farm animals. They had horses, cows, goats, sheep, pigs, alpaca, turkeys, ducks, chicken, quails and rabbits. You can even pet some of them. They had some live demonstrations, which are amusing for kids. They have lots of exhibits, some of which are interactive. They had quizzes, and even video games like tractor driving simulators. There's a park with a play structure if kids need to burn off some energy. They have lots of picnic tables, some of which are covered. The only food sold on-site is from vending machines, so feel free to bring your own food. They do have an indoor area to eat by the vending machines if you don't want to eat outdoors. I like that they have lots of washroom throughout the site and also a few handwashing stations. They have water fountains where you can also refill your water bottles. They also have lots of hand sanitizer everywhere. They encourage you to sanitize your hands before and after touching the animals. I support good hand hygiene! Lol. There's lots of parking on-site. It's $3.75 an hour and the daily max is $9. (107)

Wonderful Place to take children. There was an ice cream…read moremaking demonstration and many lovely farm animals to be seen and learn about. The property itself is gorgeous and with many shaded areas to take refuge was a great place for the kids in a sunny afternoon.

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.

I've never been to a mint and was very excited to learn more about coin making. Canadian coins used…read moreto be made in the UK but the production shifted to Ottawa last century. Today, they only make collector and investment coins while the facility in Winnipeg makes normal coins that circulate with the public. The Ottawa mint offers a 45 minute guided tour and has a boutique where you can shop for coins afterwards. You will learn a couple of things here and there during the tour, but it's nothing to write home about. Overall, it's a fun way to spend an hour if you're near the National Art Gallery or the Basilica. I would also suggest checking out the Bank of Canada Museum, which has a free admission and an interactive exhibit about money.

I came here for the Vintage Village of Lights…read more Similar to Upper Canada Village,closer for the "east enders" It was just under $20 to get in. Babies are free. Free parking, and everything was included in the entry free: parking, visit with santa, gingerbread cookies that you can decorate, wagon rides and games. If you come here during the winter, I recommend dressing VERY warm as most of the activities are outdoors, and to skip the stroller and bring a sled if anything. Strollers are also not allowed in the indoor exhibits, so your stuck leaving them outside. Much smaller than Upper Canada Village, but did the trick for a festive night out.

This place was such an amazing, fun and educational way to spend the afternoon. It was inexpensive,…read moretoo. What's more, the staff were very friendly, helpful and the demonstrations of skills from the period were interesting and informative to watch. Having travelled to Ottawa more times than I can count, the only thing I wonder is why I hadn't discovered this gem sooner. The place is very family-friendly and has lots of space for young ones to burn off steam - as they often don't have the patience to see everything that's offered. If you want a great way to spend a few hours with the family, it's worth considering the Cumberland Heritage Village Museum.