Major's Hill Park, Ottawa (must see)
Major's Hill Park is one of the most distinguished parks in downtown Ottawa. It is situated above the Rideau Canal at the spot where it empties into the Ottawa River. Because of its prime location, Major鈥檚 Hill Park is the site for many of Ottawa's exciting events such as Canada Day celebrations on July 1, annual Tulip Festival in May and February鈥檚 Winterlude Festival.
Laid out in 1874, the park was originally named after Colonel By, the engineer who built the Rideau Canal, and had his residence located on the site of the park. After his succession by Major Daniel Bolton, the name was changed to Major's Hill Park in 1832. In 1849, By's residence was destroyed by fire; the ruins of it are still visible today.
The National Capital Commission manages the park and has placed many interpretative panels displaying historical information in the northwest corner of the park. Dozens of artists come to Major鈥檚 Hill regularly to sell their works 鈥� paintings, clothing, woodworking, pottery, glass and jewelry 鈥� in the designated area called Artisans in the Park. During the Tulip Festival, the International Friendship Village presents countries that have made a mark in the cultivation of tulips, among them Turkey, the Netherlands, and Japan. Many varieties of food are also available in the park, complete with many crafts activities to engage in.
Concert Stage operates day and night. During the day, it is open to all visitors free of charge. In the evening, the Concert Stage features big-name artists and requires a ticket. The Family Zone, located at the north end of the park, abounds in various activities and teems with kids.
Major鈥檚 Hill Park is a peaceful retreat in the middle of the city. With its grand trees and pathways, it offers picturesque views of Ottawa鈥檚 major sites such as the Rideau Canal, the Parliament Buildings, the National Art Gallery, the Ottawa River, Sussex Drive and ByWard Market. It is a great place to walk during the summer months, enjoy ice cream from the street vendors, or sit on one of the many benches and soak up the moments of tranquillity. It is also a great urban picnic spot to be found in a close proximity to some of Ottawa's best restaurants and shops.
Why You Should Visit:
Great location during the summer while festivals are going on and a sought-after place to watch fireworks. Lots of access point and parking nearby.
Tip:
Use this park to explore the shores of the river.
Having a picnic with family with children is a good idea.
Vantage points for seeing Parliament buildings and the National Gallery are stupendous.
Laid out in 1874, the park was originally named after Colonel By, the engineer who built the Rideau Canal, and had his residence located on the site of the park. After his succession by Major Daniel Bolton, the name was changed to Major's Hill Park in 1832. In 1849, By's residence was destroyed by fire; the ruins of it are still visible today.
The National Capital Commission manages the park and has placed many interpretative panels displaying historical information in the northwest corner of the park. Dozens of artists come to Major鈥檚 Hill regularly to sell their works 鈥� paintings, clothing, woodworking, pottery, glass and jewelry 鈥� in the designated area called Artisans in the Park. During the Tulip Festival, the International Friendship Village presents countries that have made a mark in the cultivation of tulips, among them Turkey, the Netherlands, and Japan. Many varieties of food are also available in the park, complete with many crafts activities to engage in.
Concert Stage operates day and night. During the day, it is open to all visitors free of charge. In the evening, the Concert Stage features big-name artists and requires a ticket. The Family Zone, located at the north end of the park, abounds in various activities and teems with kids.
Major鈥檚 Hill Park is a peaceful retreat in the middle of the city. With its grand trees and pathways, it offers picturesque views of Ottawa鈥檚 major sites such as the Rideau Canal, the Parliament Buildings, the National Art Gallery, the Ottawa River, Sussex Drive and ByWard Market. It is a great place to walk during the summer months, enjoy ice cream from the street vendors, or sit on one of the many benches and soak up the moments of tranquillity. It is also a great urban picnic spot to be found in a close proximity to some of Ottawa's best restaurants and shops.
Why You Should Visit:
Great location during the summer while festivals are going on and a sought-after place to watch fireworks. Lots of access point and parking nearby.
Tip:
Use this park to explore the shores of the river.
Having a picnic with family with children is a good idea.
Vantage points for seeing Parliament buildings and the National Gallery are stupendous.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Ottawa. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Download The 51爆料网 App
Major's Hill Park on Map
Sight Name: Major's Hill Park
Sight Location: Ottawa, Canada (See walking tours in Ottawa)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Ottawa, Canada (See walking tours in Ottawa)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Ottawa, Canada
Create Your Own Walk in Ottawa
Creating your own self-guided walk in Ottawa is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Ottawa Introduction Walking Tour
The name Ottawa comes from the Algonquin word for trade. It is an appropriate name for the Ottawa River, which was once the primary trade route for Eastern Canada. The capital of Canada gets its name from this river due to its location. Resting on the banks of the Ottawa River, Ottawa is a political and cultural city that also offers outdoor activities and beautiful natural sights.
Ottawa was... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles
Ottawa was... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles
Historical Buildings Walking Tour
The architecture of Ottawa 鈥� formalistic and functional, for the most part 鈥� is marked by the city's role as the national capital of Canada. As such, it represents a mix of styles, varying considerably based on the era of construction of any particular object, and reflects the nation's heritage and political significance.
Centermost among these structures is the Parliament... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.9 Km or 1.2 Miles
Centermost among these structures is the Parliament... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.9 Km or 1.2 Miles
Ottawa's Historical Churches Walking Tour
The city of Ottawa has a number of notable religious sites fit to spark interest in both ardent believers and those keen on ecclesiastical architecture. With most of the churches located in the downtown area or nearby, one can visit these locations without trouble.
The Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica, a splendid Gothic Revival masterpiece, is a centerpiece of Ottawa's spiritual landscape.... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.2 Km or 2 Miles
The Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica, a splendid Gothic Revival masterpiece, is a centerpiece of Ottawa's spiritual landscape.... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.2 Km or 2 Miles
Statues and Sculptures Walk
As a cultural city, Ottawa abounds in monuments and statues of various sorts. In fact, there are so many of them that the locals, accustomed to their presence, jokingly claim they hardly notice them at all. Still, these artistic creations serve as visual storytellers, sharing tales of courage, peacekeeping, and commemoration.
The Maman Statue, a prominent sculpture located outside the National... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.4 Km or 0.9 Miles
The Maman Statue, a prominent sculpture located outside the National... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.4 Km or 0.9 Miles