1. TOUR OPTIONS OPTION 1- Discover Ottawa by Land and Water Meet your Activity Coordinator and walk to the dock passing by the first eight locks of the Rideau Canal system where the Canal meets the Ottawa River. At the dock board a triple-decker riverboat for a cruise along the Ottawa River. It is from this vantage point where guests will experience the natural beauty of the region that captured the imagination of the first European explorer Samuel de Champlain including the Rideau Falls. You will see the magnificent Library of Parliament and other sites as you cruise along the Ottawa River, the border between the Provinces of Ontario and Quebec. After your cruise, meet your City Tour Guide at the dock and proceed to Parliament Hill where your Guide will tell you all about the seat of Canada s government and the story of the three buildings that make up our Parliament. Enjoy the grounds of Parliament Hill and the many statues depicting the people who helped form the Canada that we enjoy today. 11:15 am Depart for dock/cruise 12:00 pm River cruise and boxed lunch 01:30 pm Back at dock, meet with Professional Tour Guide 02:00 pm Parliament Hill grounds visit 02:45 pm Depart for Shaw Centre OPTION 2 - Royal Canadian Mounted Police Stables & Rideau Hall Enjoy a guided tour of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) stables, a short drive from downtown Ottawa. The stables house the magnificent horses that are bred specifically for the musical ride. Representing a colourful tradition and ceremony through the horse and the scarlet uniform, the RCMP created a spectacle known around the world as the Musical Ride. You will visit the stables and visitor centre, the Riding School, the Ferrier Station, the Tack Room and see the state Landau (carriage) used in royal escorts of Her Majesty the Queen.
Following your tour of the RCMP stables, board your motor coach for a short ride to the Rideau Hall. We will then proceed to Rideau Hall for a walking tour of the ground of the historic home and workplace of the governor general originally built by Thomas MacKay, in 1838, as a home for his family. MacKay was a stonemason and contractor who built the entrance locks of the Rideau Canal and the mills at Rideau Falls. Rideau Hall is named for these landmarks and has been home to every governor general since Confederation (1867). 11:10 am Depart Royal Canadian Mounted Police Stables by coach 11:30 am Boxed lunch at picnic tables at the RCMP grounds 12:00 pm Stables tour 01:00 pm Depart for Rideau Hall 01:30 pm Rideau Hall grounds visit 02:30 pm Depart for Shaw Centre OPTION 3 - Gatineau Park with stops at Pink Lake and Champlain Lookout Enjoy a picturesque drive through Gatineau Park, the Capital s conservation park, with many unique and diversified ecosystems and heritage features. It covers 36,131 hectares (361 square kilometres) of land. Stops will be made at Pink Lake, the Champlain Lookout and the Mackenzie King Estate. Pink Lake is Gatineau Park s most unique lake because it is meromictic meaning that, unlike a normal lake, its upper and lower water levels never mix. Of rare beauty, the site offers the opportunity to relax while learning about its ecology. Despite its name, the lake is green. It is named after the Pink family which settled the land in 1826. The next stop is the Champlain Lookout atop the Eardley Escarpment, 335 meters above sea level. The view is unique because it shows two of Canada's major geological formations side by side: the Canadian Shield and the St. Lawrence Lowlands. A series of interpretive panels describes the geological events that have shaped this landscape. The final stop will take you to the beautiful Mackenzie King Estate the country retreat of Canada s 10th Prime Minister, William Lyon Mackenzie King. The estate offers restored cottages, beautiful gardens and unique stone ruins that were collected by Mackenzie King during the 50 years he enjoyed this property.
11:15 am Meet your Activity Coordinator in the lobby of the Shaw Centre pick up boxed 11:30 am Depart for Gatineau Park by coach 12:00 pm Pink Lake walk along trail and time for boxed lunch 01:15 pm Champlain Lookout 01:45 pm Depart for Mackenzie King Estate 03:00 pm Depart for Shaw Centre 03:30 pm Back to Shaw Centre OPTION 4 - Cobblestones and Courtyards Walking Tour & National Gallery of Canada For those interested in experiencing the history of Ottawa unfold while walking through its historic downtown core. Highlights of this picturesque and informative walk about include: Ottawa s ByWard Market - a hub of the city s street level activity since 1846. Your guides will take you back in time with many stories and anecdotes of the market as you meander through cobblestone courtyards. The ByWard Market is one of Canada's oldest and largest open-air farmers markets, and within an area roughly four blocks square, you will find specialty food shops, boutiques, galleries, restaurants, cafés and more! Situated just at the outskirts of the ByWard Market is the National Gallery of Canada where you will enjoy a guided tour of the Permanent Collection. The Gallery houses the largest collection of Canadian art anywhere in the world along with works by internationally renowned artists. Located just steps from Parliament Hill in downtown Ottawa, the National Gallery of Canada is the country's showcase of the visual arts and a spectacular architectural landmark. Created in 1880, the Gallery is one of Canada s oldest national cultural museums. The Gallery s current building was opened in 1988. After your tour, enjoy time in the boutique before walking back to the Shaw Centre. 11:00 am Meet your Activity Coordinator in the lobby of the Shaw Centre enjoy your boxed lunch and beverage before proceeding on your tour 11:30 am Depart Walking Tour 01:15 pm Arrive at National Art Gallery for guided tour of the Permanent Collection 02:30 pm End of visit National Art Gallery
OPTION 5 - Discover the Capital with the Canadian Museum of Nature Your professional tour guide brings the nation s capital Your professional tour guide brings the nation s capital to life during a tour of Canada s Capital and the National Capital Region. Hear all about the history of Ottawa from the early explorers to the fur traders to the lumber industry and the vibrant cosmopolitan city that it is today. Sit back and relax while you enjoy hearing about the creation of the Rideau Canal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Continue your tour as you board your motor coach and enjoy the sites of the Capital including the Supreme Court of Canada, the Bank of Canada and the Canadian War Museum. Cross the Ottawa River into the Province of Quebec to get off the bus and enjoy the architecturally impressive Canadian Museum of History and its unique views of the Ottawa River and the Parliament Buildings. From there the tour will pass the National Gallery of Canada on the way to Rideau Hall, the official residence of the Governor General of Canada and 24 Sussex Drive, the official residence of the Prime Minister of Canada. You will also pass by the Royal Canadian Mint and many Embassies and High Commissions. There will be photo opportunities at the Parliament Buildings and at the Canadian Museum of History. The group will stop and take a guided tour at the Canadian Museum of Nature. During the tour you will visit: The Vale Earth Gallery Discover the richness and origins of the Earth. This fascinating exhibition showcases dazzling minerals and rocks, and explains how geological forces have shaped our planet. See the gorgeous, colourful specimens from the Museum s world-class collection steal the spotlight, with even more rocks and minerals to behold than before! The Water Gallery This Gallery is all about our greatest and most precious natural resource. Discover the amazing diversity of life found in our marine and fresh waters, and explore the critical role that water plays in sustaining all living things. And meet the star attraction a real skeleton of a blue whale the largest animal ever to live on our great blue planet.
The Mammal Gallery In the Mammal Gallery you will see remarkable specimens of grizzly bears, bison, moose, caribou, pronghorns, cougars and more, and discover the ways they have adapted to survive in Canada. You will see how the mammals live in fascinating three-dimensional scenes that reveal the beauty of Canada s wild places. 11:15 am Depart on city tour by coach 01:00 pm Arrive at Canadian Museum of Nature and enjoy your boxed lunch 01:30 pm Guided tour of the three Galleries 02:30 pm End of visit at Museum 03:00 pm Back at Shaw Centre OPTION 6 - Bike tour along the Ottawa River Duration: 3 hours Canada s Capital Region is home to the Capital Pathway network, one of the largest in North America. More than 600 kilometres of multi-use paths link superb natural areas, parks, gardens, museums and attractions. Join your guide and enjoy a leisurely bike ride along the local bike paths in the Ottawa/Gatineau area. 11:00 am Meet your Activity Coordinator in the lobby of the Shaw Centre enjoy your boxed lunch and beverage before proceeding on your tour 11:30 am Group departs for Rental Bike location 11:45 am Get your gear, bikes and helmets 12:00 pm Proceed on your bike tour 02:15 pm Return to Rental Bike location 02:30 pm Return to Shaw Centre For your delegates, please advise them that they should dress comfortably and bring sun protection.