Ottawa, the capital city of Canada, is situated in the province of Ontario, but the city is actually at the border with the province of Quebec. This is why the region is usually referred to as Ottawa-Gatineau. Ottawa is relatively close to Montreal (190 km) and Toronto (399 km).

Here are the driving distances or travel distances between Ottawa and other major Canadian cities. Read also about the driving distances within Canada and check all articles related to travel distances in Canada. Continue reading »

Climate of Ottawa is humid semi-continental, with an extreme range in temperature, from up to 30°C and above to minus 30°C and below during some winters.

Weather in Ottawa is warm and humid in the summer and very cold during the winter. Summers usually have a generous number of warm or hot sunny days, but winters see rather less sun than in the prairie cities of Alberta. Continue reading »

There are over 6,000 km to travel Canada from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. Best Canadian cities are usually found either close to the East Coast or to the Pacific Ocean. Vancouver and Victoria are part of this last group. They take advantage of the moderate climate and the proximity to the mountain and ocean. A special mention for Calgary, a city close to the Rocky Mountains.

Another group includes cities from Ontario and Quebec: Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa, to name just a few. Distances between these cities are relatively short. Continue reading »

The May 2008 survey of Most Prosper Places to Live, of the Canadian newspaper MoneySense, also compiled a derived list of the best Canadian Places to Retire. It is not a surprise here the capital of British Columbia, Victoria, comes on top, followed by Ottawa and Kingston, both from Ontario.

Most important factor has been the good medical care and the number of doctors available. Weather (especially the number of days above freezing) has been also another important criteria. Other factors such as the household income and the discretionary income, or the percentage of new cars on the road and the unemployment rate, have been considered not so important for the retirement. Continue reading »

To visit Ottawa, there is a guided trolley bus. Lasting around two hours, the tours feature an experienced local guide and can provide a door-to-door service if necessary.

Tours are always popular and provide a real insight into many of most impressive tourist attractions and historical districts. Ottawa’s main tourist attractions range from scenic river cruises along the Ottawa River to winter cross-country skiing alongside the Dows Lake Pavilion in the city center. Continue reading »