Toward Ottawa

Toward Ottawa

After a good rest, it's time to move on to the rest of the journey. This time we are heading to the capital of Canada, the city of Ottawa. It is about 200 km from Montreal, and there are many interesting and worth seeing places along the way. Vankleek Hill, a town that organizes several nice festivals each year, is definitely a must. Step-dancing and Squaredancing Competition takes place here in July, Vankleek Hill Fair in August, and Victorian Christmas Home Tour in November. It is worth adding that the last festival is associated with the city's main attraction - magnificent Victorian -style houses . Tourists are also attracted by the beautiful murals that can be seen on the walls of historic buildings in the center.

We will make the next stop on the way to the capital in Hawkesbury. If someone likes to play golf or would like to learn, Hawkesbury Golf & Curling Club is waiting for him. If, on the other hand, we just want to eat something good, we'll find some great restaurants. For a light lunch, it's best to go to Bakery Le Petit Pain - the popularity of the cafe is evidenced by the fact that tourists often have a big problem to find at least one free place in it.

Eternal green and luxury

Approx. 33 km away, across the river (through which The Long-Sault Bridge was thrown ), lies Montebello, a charming town with unique hotels. Since we travel in a camper, we do not need this type of accommodation, but it is worth at least to slow down when passing through the town to look at these beautiful buildings. The eyes of every traveler will be caught by the Fairmont Le Chateau Montebello, a luxury hotel advertising itself as "family friendly". It is difficult to say which adjective describes it better - "huge" or "atmospheric". A giant fireplace in the dining room, giving the impression that we are staying in a place built by a giant, swimming pool, SPA salon, sailboat rental - in short, everything you can count on in a 5-star hotel. The castle of Auberge Montebello and the dignified Domaine Montebello are also beautiful.

If, however, someone would prefer to travel the route on the other side of the river, there should be an interesting place. This is Evergreen Camping & Resort (5279 Chemin de Comté 17 Alfred), a family-run campsite spread over 50 acres of lush greenery. The prices for 2 adults (or families) stay in the range of $ 35-50, and staying at the campsite guests have at their disposal a swimming pool, restaurant, small shop and picnic tables located throughout the area.

Meanwhile, we are going further towards the capital, and on the way we stop in Papineauville, a beautiful green corner located in a small bay. Being here, you must go to the Parc du moulin seigneurial Papineau - a park with a magnificent view of the river and the ruins of a former mill. Also of interest is the sundial in the Parc du Cadran-Solaire. It is located exactly on the 75th meridian and, in addition to determining the time, also acts as a local attraction - it looks like a modern sculpture.

Ottawa - the capital of the giant country

Finally, we reach the capital of Canada, Ottawa. It is an extremely attractive city for tourists, tempting with a large number of museums (including the Canada Science and Technology Museum) and galleries, as well as a beautiful, extensive park. Gatineau Park stretches over 361 km², in winter it attracts skiers, in autumn lovers of the riot of colors of falling leaves, while in summer it is an ideal place for sports such as swimming, cycling and mountain climbing. The park is crossed by numerous walking paths, and many species of birds and mammals live among the lush vegetation.

Notre Dame Basilica in Lowertown is also noteworthy. It is a gigantic temple with a golden interior, a ceiling resembling a starry sky, and rows of pillars extending far into the building. Here you can feel really small.

It is definitely worth visiting the Parliament's Library as well. It attracts both with the richness of its collections (600,000 volumes) and the facade itself - its squat structure with a large number of turrets and decorations was designed with panache typical of the Victorian style, also known as the Gothic Revival style. Equally stately as the Library is the main building of the Canadian Parliament, built in the Gothic style. It is located on the Parliamentary Hill and attracts around 3 million tourists to the city each year.

It's time to rest

The Ottawa area is tempting to stay here longer, so it's a good idea to find a campsite as close to the city as possible. The Ottawa Municipal Campground (411 Corkstown Road), which is just a 15-minute drive from the Houses of Parliament, is a point of interest. For the accommodation of 4 adults you have to pay about $ 50 here - depending on the standard of the chosen place. Those who come here at the end of May will have the opportunity to take a look at the amazing festival - The Odawa Pow Wow. It is a great celebration of the culture of Aboriginal peoples, during which performances, dances and various types of shows take place. You can also get to know the Aboriginal culture and taste the specialties of their cuisine. The festival was held for the first time in 1976 and has been organized regularly since then.

We are getting closer to Toronto. However, before the end of the trip, we'll have time to get to know a few more interesting places - including Kingston, a city located at the mouth of the Saint Lawrence River into Lake Ontario. Next stop in Smiths Falls, 78 km away.