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.

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.

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.

A really neat exhibition that outlines the role of Parliament in Canadian government; the first…read moreroom is like a usual museum space, but the second room contains a 30m-or-so video, projected onto three walls, that identify some of the images of the main parts of Parliament. Though touted as a "360-degree" experience, it wasn't domed or circular, more like four walls, onto which cinematic images were projected. The inner exhibits told the story of various highlights in Canadian laws being passed. This exhibit I believe was produced to help make up for lack of visits to certain areas of Parliament when it's under construction and renovation until 2032.

Amazing exhibit on Parliament as both the Senate and House of Commons meet at temporary locations…read morefor the next several years due to renovations. You can book a tour online and the staff will welcome you in during your time slot. Amazing pictures, texts, and videos that are accessible to all. Loved seeing how Parliament works in Canada compared to the US government and while the tours were great I learned much more here. Hopefully much of the exhibits will be available in the parliament buildings across the street when renovations are over.

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.

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 spent about two hours here as the last activity of a busy day touring around Ottawa. The museum…read moreis amazing with a wonderful collection of works by contemporary Canadian artists including indigenous artists. They also have galleries that include works by Picasso, Dali, Van Gogh and many others. Parking is easy and very affordable in the underground parking garage. This is definitely a good option if visiting the city! It is walking distance to parliament hill so easy to combine visits to multiple attractions.

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.

"Magic of Lights" is a light display at Wesley Clover Park. This year it is November 21, 2019 -…read moreJanuary 4, 2020, every night 5pm-10pm. It's $20 if you advance purchase online (any day of the week). If you pay at the gate, it's $25 Monday-Thursday and $30 Friday-Sunday. You can also tune into MAJIC 100.3 FM on your radio to hear Christmas music while you drive through the lights show. I thought the display was pretty, and I think it would be a fun activity to do with kids. They had different themes through the display such as fairy tales/nursery rhymes, Nativity scene, the 12 Days of Christmas, Christmas around the world, and a few others. This year is the 4th year of Magic of Lights. I'm glad I did it, but I think it's more of a one time thing. I doubt that I would go again.

One word. Spectacular! The place opens at 5pm, but be…read moreprepared for at least half an hour wait as the two long car lineups merge into one. Well worth the wait, driving at snail pace to the gate, as the 2 km journey inside takes just under 40 mins with lights display on each side of the one-way drive. Get your camera ready and as you tune in the 100.3FM, your video picks up all the Christmas Carols. Fortunately, it was not too cold and we were able to get lots of shots through the sunroof. Happy is see many Christmas themes in all the truly magic of lights coming alive. As we exit just before 7pm, we see the lineup way longer than we started. A must see annual attraction.

September 2014: need to update my review!! The city of Ottawa is spending wisely on museums!! The…read moredisplay changes every year. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable. And best of all is the local history! The older I get, the more I appreciate history. This museum used to be the financial district of Stittsville when people first started populating the area. There's a picture posted inside of two women sitting in front of the building in the early 1900's. Amazing how much it is the same! Best of all, on this last visit, I made friends with another knitter attending this event, only to discover that we knew each other and were friends years ago (when we were kids) in Toronto!! History is indeed amazing and fascinating! November 2014: I added a photo to show the museum being "yarn bombed" LOL! There's nothing more warming in a cold outpost than a good bit of knitting to warm things up! Besides, it'll brighten the outside of this lovely little piece of living history. December 2014: they had a marvellous and wonderfully organized craft fair at this site this past weekend (Nov. 29 and 30). There was handmade artworks for sale, music (recorded), hot chocolate around a fire pit, and the staff were all divinely dressed up in period costume. Well done! And lots of fun.