Offbeat Ottawa: Must-do things in Canada’s capital

Sure, Canada’s capital city is rich with historical and political culture, but there’s much more to Ottawa than that. With the upcoming 150th anniversary of Canada’s Confederation, we look at the city’s unmissable and unique.

Guerrilla yoga

Active wear juggernaut Lululemon Athletica (one of Canada’s greatest exports), runs free ‘guerrilla yoga’ classes on Parliament Hill each Wednesday at noon, from May to the end of September (weather permitting).

Up to 1000 people participate on a weekly basis, so bring your yoga mat and join in the fun, or just enjoy the spectacle on the grassy lawns of Parliament Hill.

Shop like a local

The ByWard Market in Lower Town is as historic as Ottawa itself.

It was here back in 1826 that extra wide streets were incorporated into Ottawa’s initial town planning to accommodate the horse-drawn carriages that brought foodstuffs to the market each day.

Today it’s one of Canada’s oldest and largest public markets, home to over 500 businesses, a local farmers’ market and artisans with over 260 stands.

It’s also the best place in town for shopping, dining and entertainment, drawing some 50,000 visitors per each in the summer.

Skate the world’s largest ice rink

The Rideau Canal, which connects the city of Ottawa to the city of Kingston, has two main claims to fame. As well as being North America’s oldest operating waterway, during winter it transforms into the world’s largest naturally frozen ice rink.

During the colder months you can skate around this local icon, or when it’s warm, you can cruise down it, passing impressive landmarks like the Parliament buildings, National Gallery of Canada, the Prime Minister’s residence and Rideau Falls.

Play prisoner

For a stay with a difference, rest your bones at the HI-Ottawa Jail Hostel in the heart of downtown.

Formerly the Carleton County Gaol, you can stay in an authentic cell, now with added creature comforts like electricity and free wifi.

But be warned, this hostel is considered one of the most haunted buildings in Canada, as you’ll learn on your complimentary tour of the heritage jail, which also gives an insight into the daily lives of inmates.

Indulge in the blues

Renowned as one of the greatest music festivals on the planet, Bluesfest takes over Ottawa every July, showcasing the world’s best musicians across blues, indie, rock and pop genres.

Originally a one-stage, three-day event, it has grown in size (and popularity) to become a multi-staged, two-week music extravaganza.

Weekly travel news, experiences
insider tips, offers, and more.

Sleep like an A-lister

Celebrating 100 years of history, Fairmont Chateau Laurier is one of Ottawa’s most iconic hotels, which has hosted heads of state, celebrities, dignitaries and guests from all around the world.

Matching its impressive guestlist is the regal décor, art-deco pool and central location.

From as little as $359 you can rest your weary head at this legendary chateau.

Canada celebrates 150 years!

The countdown is on for Canada’s sesquicentennial! On 1 July, 2017, Canada will celebrate 150 years since Confederation – when three colonies got together to form one united maple-syrup-hockey-and-poutine-loving country. And, as the nation’s capital, Ottawa is the focus of the birthday festivities, with 12 full months of events.

Visit www.ottawa2017.ca for the full lineup of events, including these highlights:

Head to Shaw Centre – Canada’s Meeting Place on Canada Day for incredible Canadian cuisine prepared by some of the nation’s top chefs.
Ignite 150 will present a series of 17 epic stunts to turbo-charge every corner of the city. Savour a gourmet dinner 50 metres in the air, relax during a yoga session on a barge floating down a local waterway accompanied by a live orchestra, or watch a movie on a downtown terrace rooftop
Picnic on the Bridge on July 2, will see the majestic span above the Ottawa River transformed into a grassy green for one special day.

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.