I never expected to do as many unusual activities in a capital city. When planning a holiday, a city nicknamed 'the most boring' might not seem tempting. That's the tongue-in-cheek award Ottawa, Canada's capital, has received from rivals like Toronto and Vancouver. Still, I wasn't put off and decided to explore it myself.
Getting to Ottawa
After being positively influenced by TikTok vlogs, I had one mission: to find out what to do in Canada beyond the obvious tourist route. Ottawa was a simple choice, with direct flights from London Gatwick via Air Transat and return fares from £357 per person.
Fairmont Château Laurier
Our base for the week was the Fairmont Château Laurier, set against Parliament Hill and the Rideau Canal. It looks like a fairy tale, with huge chandeliers, grand corridors, and an air of hosting state visits and celebrities for 114 years.
Exploring by E-Bike
To beat jet lag, we started with the basics—exploring neighbourhoods on an e-bike. Our guided tour with Escape Tours set off from Sparks Street. Within minutes, we were on a UNESCO World Heritage Site: the Rideau Canal, built to deter US advances after the Civil War but never used for that purpose. In winter, it becomes the world's largest ice rink. We spotted joggers, cyclists, dog walkers, and boats, crossing a bridge into Quebec.
Parc Omega Wildlife Reserve
A short drive away is Parc Omega in the Outaouais region, a vast wildlife reserve where animals roam freely. You can drive through or take an open-top bus to see elk, bison, deer, and wolves across 2,200 acres of forest and lakes. I forgot I was in a city at all.
Indigenous Culture at Mādahòkì Farm
Seeing how Canadians celebrate First Nations heritage was memorable. The name Ottawa comes from the Algonquin word adawe, meaning 'to trade.' Mādahòkì Farm is a working cultural and agritourism site in the Greenbelt, with Ojibwe Spirit Horses, walking trails, and a marketplace for Indigenous artists. It feels lived-in, not like a theme park.
Tulip Festival and Saunders Farm
Ottawa's tulip fields transport you to the Netherlands. In gratitude for Canada's role in liberating the Netherlands during WWII, the Dutch royal family sent 100,000 tulip bulbs in 1945. Spring brings city-wide blooms, especially in Commissioners Park. We headed 30 minutes outside to Saunders Farm, which becomes Tulipfest in spring with sweeping fields of color, hedge mazes in summer, and pumpkins in autumn. The owners hosted us with ciders, pizzas, and stories.
Food Scene
Ottawa is a foodie's paradise, from street food to Michelin-star meals. I tried poutine, French-Canadian comfort food, Asian-fusion, Indigenous-inspired dishes, and classic North American. Did you know Hawaiian pizza is Canadian? I didn't.
Nordik Spa Nature
After four days, we visited the world's largest outdoor spa: Nordik Spa Nature Chelsea Village. It has three zones—whisper, silent, and social—built around the Scandinavian thermal cycle. Saunas, cold plunges, waterfalls, and heated pools made six hours feel like two. At 11 am, I couldn't remember any problems back home in London.
By the time I landed at Gatwick, I was recommending Ottawa to friends and family, ready to join again to feed carrots to elk or float in a saltwater hot tub.
