Things to Do near Ottawa Hotels:

Bytown Museum

540 Wellington St At Commissioner St
613/234-4570
Apr to mid-May and mid-Oct to Nov-  Mon-Fri 10 a.m.- 4 p.m.;
mid-May to mid-Oct -  Mon-Sat 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Sun 1 a.m.- 5 p.m.
Closed Dec-Mar
Admission charged.
Housed in Ottawa's oldest stone building (1827), which served as the Commissariat for food and material during construction of the Rideau Canal, this museum displays possessions of Lieutenant-Colonel By, the canal's builder and one of young Ottawa's most influential citizens. In addition, artifacts reflect the social history of the pioneer era of Bytown/Ottawa in three period rooms and a number of changing exhibits. The museum is beside the Ottawa Locks, between Parliament Hill and Château Laurier.

Byward Market

Contained within the square formed by Sussex, Rideau, St. Patrick, and King Edward Sts
May-Nov - Mon-Sat 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Sun 10 a.m.- 6 p.m.; Dec-Apr daily 10 a.m.- 6 p.m.
A traditional farmers' market here still sells all manner of foods, flowers, plants, and vegetables, while the central market building houses two floors of boutiques displaying a wide variety of wares and crafts. During market season, enjoy a snack or meal at more than 70 indoor and outdoor stand-up counters and cafes. The neighborhood is a mix of rehabilitated 19th- century brick buildings and some contemporary commercial structures. The many stalls of carefully arranged gleaming produce invite inspection of the offerings of regional farmers and food artisans.

Canada Agriculture Museum

Prince of Wales Dr. at Experimental Farm Dr.
Ottawa
(613) 991-3053
9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Admission charged. Call ahead for group rates and tours.
Learn how grain is made into flour and bread, or help collect chicken eggs in the Poultry House. With cows, pigs, sheep, horses, chickens and rabbits, the Agriculture Museum is a working farm that celebrates Canada's agricultural heritage, located on the grounds of the Central Experimental Farm.

Canada Aviation Museum

11 Aviation Parkway, 993-2010
9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursdays till 9 p.m.
Admission charged.
Free on Thursdays, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Daily 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 3:45 p.m.
Take a stroll down the Walkway of Time in this massive building, which houses one of the world's best collections of vintage aircraft. In addition to getting an up-close look at aircraft from different eras, visitors will hear some remarkable tales, from the adventures of Canadian bush pilots to the controversy surrounding the Avro Arrow project to the contributions made by women in wartime. Sit at the controls of a Cessna, 10 a.m., 1 p.m., 3:15 p.m. Wind-tunnel demonstrations, 10:30 a.m.

Canada Science and Technology Museum

1867 St Laurent Blvd
(613) 991-3044
Daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Admission charged. Free Admission during the last hour.
If the energy stored in a jar of peanut butter were transformed into oil or electricity, it could heat a house for several hours or drive a car 10 kilometers at high speed? That's just one of the many things you'll discover here. A lighthouse, a locomotive and rocket are located in the Technology Park in front of the museum. Interactive and hands-on activities.

Currency Museum of the Bank of Canada

245 Sparks St., 782-8914
Mon. to Sat. 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sun. 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Admission Free
July 2 to Labor Day: Daily tours 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. (English); 11:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. (French); afternoon tours only on Sundays.
Before coins and paper money became the coin of the realm, shells, teeth and cocoa beans were used. Trace the evolution of the world's money over 2,500 years. The museum has the most complete collection of Canadian bank notes, coins and tokens in the world.

Changing of the Guard

Late June to late August, a colorful half-hour ceremony is held daily on the Parliament Hill lawn (weather permitting). The parade of 125 soldiers in busbies and scarlet assembles at Cartier Square Drill Hall (by the canal at Laurier Avenue) at 9:30 am and marches up Elgin Street to reach the hill at 10 am. On arrival on the hill, the Ceremonial Guard splits, one division of the old guard positioned on the west side of the Parliament Hill lawn and two divisions of the new guard, or "duties," on the east side.

Casino de Hull

1 boulevard du Casino
1-800-665-2274
Daily 11 a.m. - 3 a.m.
At the Casino de Hull, a world-class gaming facility, visitors can try their luck at the gaming tables and slot machines.