Funtastic Guide to Ottawa - A Guide to Family Fun in the Ottawa Area

The heart of Ottawa is the parliament buildings. Every year thousands of tourists visit the nation's capital and "The Hill" is usually where they start their tours. So how do we explore "The Hill" with children? There is much of interest here for school age children and some preschoolers may also enjoy seeing the sites.

Most people start with the Centre Block tour. This tour is aimed at adults and with groups of up to 50 people, children may not be able to see or hear the guide. Instead of taking the tour take a short tour of your own. Although most of the buildings are out of bounds the lobby is open to the public and is very ornate. Have the kids look for symbols representing the different provinces on the walls and ceiling. Ask a guard to direct you to the peace tower. You do not need to be on a tour to ascend to the top. If you can time it to coincide with being "on the hour", you may get a close-up through the glass elevator windows of the huge bells ringing. At the top of the tower (which is completely enclosed) you can view the whole region and get a birds eye view of all that is happening on the grounds below you. On the way back down stop at the chapel honoring Canada's war dead. The names are recorded in large books in glass cases and everyday a page is turned over. Older children will be impressed by the solemnity of this spot. When passing through the lobby pause at the gift kiosk and get a postcard to send. During the Christmas season a large Christmas tree graces the lobby and is decorated by children from throughout the region.

During the summer months tours of the East Block involve costumed interpreters which make tours far more interesting to school age children.

The eternal flame located at the beginning of the walk up to the centre block is always a draw for children. This centennial project has a flame on top of a fountain surrounded by the provincial crests. How many can your children guess correctly? Mounties in uniform are happy to pose for pictures during the tourist season and are very approachable. Even more impressive are the Mounties riding on horses. Flag them down to pose for pictures.

There are often different groups demonstrating on The Hill ranging from the fairly mild mannered to vocal and angry. This may present an opportunity to discuss politics with older children.

For general inquiries to the House of Commons call 992-4793.

It is sometimes difficult to believe that you are in the middle of the city as you sit on a sandy beach and watch the children play in the water. Mooneys Bay, located off Riverside Drive, is a rare treasure that many in Ottawa take for granted. During the summer months there is a charge for parking but since there is no reasonable legal parking near by there isn't much choice. Luckily for under $5.00 you can park all day and spend the day at the beach. Mooneys Bay is on the Rideau River which is still clean enough to swim in. Special overhead wires keep the gulls away from the beach and swimming area. There is plenty of sand but don't forget to bring your sand toys. The water is shallow and warm. Gentle waves roll in as the boats go by. Along the shore are plenty of little shells and fish dart through the shallows. Behind the beach is plenty of parkland with shade trees, grass and a playground. There are also tennis courts here. A concession stand and washroom are centrally located. It is easy to spend an hour or even wile away the hottest of days here. A great spot for families.

For beach conditions call 564-1023.

The Children's Museum located in the Museum of Civilization states that its mandate is to broaden children's cultural experience and provide them with a creative space in which to learn about the world. There has been considerable debate among adults about the role of children's museums and the type of learning that takes place. There can be no doubt about how the children view this museum - they love it. Within this setting it is hard to imagine that any child wouldn't absorb some of the educational elements and the way the museum is designed leads to plenty of interaction with parents and grandparents which is how the true learning takes place.

Located across the Ottawa River in Hull, Quebec, this museum is easy to get to. If you are lucky you can find on street parking or inexpensive parking lots but there is underground parking on site. Upon arrival you purchase your entrance tickets and there is often a line-up of anywhere from 5-10 minutes when the museum is not too busy, longer on busy days. The children's museum entrance is just to the left of the ticket sales. At the entrance the children pick up a passport which they will have stamped on their "journey around the world". The theme of the museum is an exploration of various cultures around the world. As you enter there is an area for traveling exhibits from other children's museums mostly from the United States. In general these are top quality exhibits which challenge adults as well as children and provide many interactive displays on certain themes.

The children go on to explore the different countries starting with Nigeria. Examples of activities in this area involve the child walking into a Nigerian home and surrounding courtyard. The children can dress in Nigerian clothing, pound corn for making a pudding, practice drumming by repeating given rhythms, play with a typical toy, listen to stories and look at books on the country. In Egypt the children explore a pyramid where they can see a mummified cat, write their name in hieroglyphics, and find a secret passage. In Indonesia a shadow puppet play station is set up and children are invited to try it out and even make their own shadow puppets or play a traditional Indonesian instrument. Many other countries are also represented. In addition there are other exciting areas. A theater is set up complete with costumes and sets where children can stage there own rather wild productions with any other children who may be visiting, a news room challenges older children to report on a certain topic and their reports are recorded, and a Kid's cafe allows children to pretend they are running a restaurant. The studio offers supervised themed activities and crafts on a daily basis. Weather permitting, the Tower Park will be open. This outdoor play area gives children a chance to run off some steam and get some sunshine as volunteers provide additional activities. The museum also puts on special shows and events throughour the year.

Washrooms are located in the middle of the museum and are well designed for families and are clean. Water fountains are located outside the washrooms.

Although the Children's Museum is the biggest draw for children there are other exhibits in the Museum of Civilization not to be missed. On the top floor is the History Hall. A fantastic way for children to learn about the history of Canada, this exhibit allows the viewer to walk through life size displays representing different stages of Canadian history. The Grand Hall on the lower level displays different native cultures and is presented in a beautiful manner. The main floor has numerous exhibits some which may or may not appeal to younger children.

The cafeteria is located on the lower floor and has a fantastic view. The food is fairly expensive and the cafeteria is not always as clean as it should be. It can be difficult to juggle food trays, control active toddlers and clean off the table at the same time. However if you are planning to spend the day and don't want to pack your own lunches it is acceptable. The restaurant upstairs is very elegant and is appropriate for adults and business meetings as it is a top notch venue.

This museum offers excellent value for the money. On Sunday mornings admission is free but be prepared to arrive early or stand in line ups.

The museum is still being developed and is expected to be completed sometime after 1996. Regardless of this fact, there is still plenty to see and well worth a days visit.

For a recorded information message call 776-7000

Cineplus information (buy tickets in advance to avoid disappointment) 776-7010

Children's Museum (for daily activities schedule) 776-7001

The Gatineau Hills are a short 15 minute drive from downtown Ottawa and present a wonderful opportunity for children to explore nature just minutes from the city. The Gatineau Hills encompass 356 square kilometers and are full of lakes and streams waiting to be explored. There are countless trails and lakes which couldn't be covered in this type of publication. Here are just a couple of samples to whet your appetite. So where do you start with the family?

The Hickory Trail

The first trail you reach when driving along the parkway is also the one most ideal for families with babies and toddlers. People who are taking out elderly who have difficulty walking or are in wheelchairs will also find this trail ideal. This very short trail makes a loop about 15 minutes long at a leisurely pace. The path is paved and there are benches along the route. The trail leads through two distinctive ecosystems. The first is a young deciduous forest with thick underbrush and sunlight streaming in through the trees. Markers along the way indicate the types of trees and history of the area. You then pass into a mature fir forest where the canopy blocks out much of the sunlight, there is very little undergrowth and the forest is much quieter. Even the youngest toddler can manage this trail and the differences in the two sections are striking. A meadow in the middle allows for some running around space and picnic area. Never allow young children to leave your sight in a forest or woodland, it only takes a minute for them to panic and stray from the path. There are also many different animals in the park and children should be encouraged to never touch a wild animal, especially mammals.

A Lake and a Trail to Explore: The Larriault Trail

One of our favorite places in the Gatineau Hills is the serenity of Mulvihill Lake. Away from the hustle and bustle this quiet and lovely spot is ideal for families. The lake is wheelchair and stroller accessible from the parking lot. A dock built out into the lake allows for someone who is wheelchair bound to feel part of nature without difficulty. The dock is also a perfect place to park a stroller as it has rails all the way around and benches on one side. Be sure to bring plenty of bread. Standing on the dock and watching the 1000's of fish fight for crumbs is an amazing sight and holds the attention of even the youngest child. This is also a lake full of tadpoles, frogs and crayfish. Children enjoy picking up the frogs from the tinest to absolutely monstrous. Please note there is no swimming in this lake but there are picnic grounds and outhouses. Many species of birds can be viewed here including Blue Herons and small mammals can sometimes be seen including the occasional curious raccoon.

When the children feel like exploring head over to a wonderful hiking trail nearby. This trail is definitely not stroller accessible but can be managed by a 3 year old. The round trip takes about 40 minutes. Start the trail from the top of the parking lot on the right hand side. Be sure to bring drinks with you. It is marked the Larriault Trail. It follows a path around Mulvihill lake going up hill quite gently. It then turns away from the lake and follows a meandering stream which you will criss-cross many times. The first bridge is in very bad shape, and though safe to cross, little children should be held to prevent slipping. Continue up the hill. When you arrive at the 'T' turn to the right. Within a few minutes you will link up to the Moorside Trail, stay to the right again. This is the trail that kings and queens and heads of states have walked with Mackenzie-King on the way to the waterfall, the final destination of the trail. There is quite a steep ravine on the right hand side as you link up. The trail continues and you will pass through a tunnel under the road and pass over more bridges all the while following the stream. At the fork in the trail take the Waterfall Trail and within a couple of minutes you will be overlooking a lovely cascading waterfall. The air is cooler and this is a perfect spot to stop and enjoy the scenery before heading back. Even the youngest of children will love this trail and frogs, fish, snakes and birds can be seen all along the route. You can take the same route back or if you prefer turn left at the fork in the trail up the hill from the waterfall. This part of the trail is a bit steeper but has spectacular views of the escarpment and valley below. You will end up at a parking lot across the parkway from Mulvihill Lake. It takes about the same length of time to walk.