heritage
Walking the Algonquin Anishinabe land - a heritage guide interview
Interview with an Algonquin Anishinabe heritage guide on the original meaning of Ottawa.
Magazine
Stories from Canada's capital
Editorial guides, interviews and seasonal essays on Ottawa and Gatineau region — written slowly, from the ground.
tours
Best hop-on hop-off bus tours in Ottawa — an honest review
An editorial review of hop-on hop-off bus tours in Ottawa — operators, routes, stops, ticket prices, audio commentary, and whether the format actually suits Canada's capital.
day-trips
Calabogie Peaks - the ski escape from Ottawa
A field guide to the Calabogie Peaks ski escape from Ottawa - the drive west, the lift system, the runs, the lessons, lift-ticket prices in CAD, and how it compares to Camp.
tours
Canadian travel glossary for US and UK visitors
A working glossary of Canadian travel vocabulary for US and UK visitors.
events
The Canadian Tulip Festival — 7 million flowers, one story
A field guide to the Canadian Tulip Festival: the Dutch royal family gift after WWII, Commissioners Park, Dow's Lake, the peak bloom window, photography routes, and how to dodge.
seasons
Gatineau Park fall foliage — the complete editorial guide
A field guide to Gatineau Park's fall foliage: the peak window, the Champlain Lookout, the Pink Lake loop, the leaf-peeper shuttle, and the alternative trails that avoid.
tours
The grand city tour of Ottawa — for first-timers
Interview with a local guide on the grand city tour route of Ottawa for first-time visitors.
tours
Hot air balloon rides over the Ottawa Valley
An editorial guide to hot air balloon rides over the Ottawa Valley.
food-culture
Inside a sugar shack - a maple syrup producer interview
Interview with a maple syrup producer near Ottawa on the sugaring season, the boil ratio, grading, the cabane a sucre tradition, and how to visit responsibly in February-March.
day-trips
Montebello chateau - the day trip from Ottawa
A field guide to the Fairmont Chateau Montebello day trip from Ottawa.
heritage
Inside the National Gallery — a curator interview
Interview with a senior curator of the National Gallery of Canada on the Indigenous and Canadian collection, the Maman spider, the rotation strategy, and which works visitors.
events
Ottawa Bluesfest — ten days, three stages, one capital
A field guide to Ottawa Bluesfest at LeBreton Flats: the three stages, the line-up patterns, ticket strategy, transit shutdown, the beer-line problem, and which nights.
tours
Ottawa tourism vocabulary — a working glossary
A working glossary of Ottawa tourism vocabulary: Centre Block, Peace Tower, NCC, OC Transpo, Bytown, ByWard, Outaouais, beavertail, federalese — and what each word actually means.
day-trips
Ottawa vs Montreal — the editorial weekend comparison
A side-by-side comparison of an Ottawa weekend vs a Montreal weekend.
heritage
The Rideau Canal Skateway — operator interview
Interview with an NCC field operator on the Rideau Canal Skateway — ice thickness measurement, the daily decision process, climate change, and what a season looks like from inside.
tours
Rideau River cruises — discover the capital from the water
Interview with a Rideau River cruise captain on what the canal looks like from the wheelhouse, the historic lock sequence, the evening sunset cruises, and the difference between.
tours
Top 10 Ottawa attractions — an editorial ranking
An editorial ranking of the ten Ottawa attractions worth a deliberate visit.
tours
Top 10 Ottawa places off the tourist trail
An editorial ranking of ten Ottawa places that fall outside the Parliament-Hill-and-canal loop.
tours
Top 15 family-friendly activities in Ottawa
An editorial list of the fifteen family-friendly activities in Ottawa that actually entertain children of different ages.
day-trips
Wakefield, Quebec - the village day trip from Ottawa
A field guide to the Wakefield village day trip from Ottawa - the covered bridge, the steam train history, the cafes on Riverside Drive, the hiking trails, and how to combine it.
events
Winterlude festival — the ice sculpture field guide
A field guide to Winterlude in Ottawa-Gatineau: ice sculptures in Confederation Park, snow slides at Jacques-Cartier, the skateway, the BeaverTail strategy, and which weekend.