Little Known Ottawa Tourist Attractions – Canada's Capital Off the Beaten Path Sights Ottawa Canada Tour Tidbits

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Touring visitors around Ottawa is one of those pleasures that just gets better and better as you uncover more intricate history, attractions and unique sights. The Capital City of Canada, Ottawa, could also be dubbed 'The Museum Capital of Canada'. With over 13 major museums, a dozen government attractions, and an extensive Art Gallery, there is something to satisfy every curiosity, every history buff, every art connoisseur and every entertainment taste. You could literally spend months touring this Museum Gem of Canada.

Chatting with the local guides, Members of Parliament (MPs), security persons and even Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has uncovered a few 'off the beaten path' attraction anomalies that add to the intrigue and beauty of the Canada's National Capital Region.

1)The Acoustic Anomaly of the Baldwin-LaFontaine Statue on Parliament Hill. Tucked to the right and behind the main Parliament building, up behind the statue of Queen Elizabeth II sitting on a horse. Robert Baldwin and Louis LaFontaine established responsible government in Canada with the 1841 reunion of Upper and Lower Canada. Stand front and center and face this monument that looks like a mini stage. Speak in a normal voice and listen.. The sound has the natural acoustic amplification qualities like those of a mini Red Rocks Colorado amphitheater. Don't leave yet! Sit two people opposite each other; one at the extreme right and one at the extreme left edges of the 'stage'. Have the two whisper a conversation back and forth. WOW!

2)The Cat Sanctuary on Parliament Hill is to the left of the main Parliament building. For over 18 years and counting, volunteers have fed the 26 plus colony of stray cats. Formality and compassion in harmony. You can't get any more Canadian than that, eh!

3)Drive along Sussex Drive from Rideau Street and continue through the round-about at 24 Sussex and Rideau Hall (across the street) on up to the RCMP Musical Ride Training Facility. You might even get to feed the horses through the fence! On the return drive enjoy the Ottawa River look-off, zip up into Rockcliffe Park to see Embassies, Ambassadors' Homes and homes of the Ottawa elite. Park near Rideau Hall, walk its beautiful gardens and capture the Changing of the Guard.

4)No trip to Ottawa is complete with out a drive up into Gatineau Park, a short drive to an entrance just over one of the 5 bridges between the provinces of Ontario and Quebec. This park is a mecca for mountain bikers. On one excursion we watched a black bear eating by the side of road just a short distance inside this park. Drive right up to the Champlain Look-off, which overlooks the Ottawa Valley and Ottawa River. Gatineau Park is on the edge of the Canadian Shield. An incredible site any time, but particularly a perfect place in the Autumn. You might be lucky enough to view the excitement of hang gliders or para-gliders against this pristine valley backdrop. Oh! You must exit the park through Chelsea so you can enjoy the homemade ice cream and waffle cones of La Cigale.

5)Bicycle along the miles and miles of pathways throughout the National Capital region. And if that is not enough, every summer Sunday morning, sections of the River Parkway are blocked to regular automobile traffic for your biking, walking and running pleasure. Ottawans are serious cyclists – even through the cold and snowy winters!

6)Early September (Labour Day Weekend) is the time to catch the fun and color of the Gatineau Hot Air Balloon Festival. Since 1988, this annual festival has been attracting huge crowds and hundreds of balloons. To view these Aerial Art Flotilla drifting over the Ottawa River and the Peace Tower of the Parliament Buildings is a photographers delight. Just listen to that distinctive deep 'whooshing' sound as they ignite the burners.

Most of Ottawa can be enjoyed with a walking tour. But treat yourself to one of the river or canal boat tours, bus tours or hop aboard the old Wakefield stream train for a step back in time. Nature. History. Geology. Outdoor Activities. Politics. Animals. Take a little time to enjoy Ottawa's other amenities.

And what does Ottawa offer during those cold Winter months? That's another story for another day.

Little Known Ottawa Tourist Attractions – Canada's Capital Off the Beaten Path Sights Ottawa Canada Tour Tidbits

Russell Peters – A Comedy style that creates the newest Cultural Laugh-In. Laughter the Best Medicine Especially Laughing at Yourself - Yuk-Yuks

“And what is your background, Pinky?” Russell Peters looked directly at me from the stage at Yuk-Yuks in Ottawa Ontario at the 8 pm Saturday, Sept 9th show.

I was wearing a blue shirt, so I wasn't getting the 'Pinky' comment until my wife, Janet, pointed out that I was all red-in-the face from laughing. Hey, we were seated center stage right in front of the microphone, so we knew we were potential targets for Russell's smooth and engaging wit. I was mentally prepared. Not! I blurted out, “Czech European Cape Bretoner!”

Did I just say that? Not even a sentence! Now it was out there for Russell Peters to mould into an interactive dialogue about “rouge children”, “dirty Czech talk” and “hitting people in the face with a fish if I was an angry Cape Bretoner”. He even got the east coast accent right. I believe I might be the first Cape Bretoner to be exposed 'Russell Peters Style'. This evening with Russell Peters is one that “Pinky” will cherish forever.

Russell Peters is redefining 'Cultural Comedy'. Russell Peters, a comedian from Toronto, Canada, who has South-Asian roots, is touring the world and amazing audiences with his hilarious exploration of various races, including his own East Indian heritage. His brilliant comedy investigates culture clashes, viewed from the perspective of sublimely ridiculous, as he skillfully addresses racism and both cultural acceptance and non-acceptance even as it occurs within the race boundaries.

Laughter of any kind is one of life's most effective medicines for ensuring good health. And being able to laugh at oneself is even healthier. Laughter promotes the emotion of happiness. Happiness, in turn, releases beta-endorphins that science has determined make your body feel good, naturally. Comedy focused on a particular social, ethnic, geography, political or religious matter can be enlightening while producing 'side splitting' endorphin- releasing feel-good-all-over laughter.

Life now determines that who delivers the message in paramount in how effectively it is received by the listening audience. Not surprisingly a Cape Bretoner or Newfoundlander is most effective in delivering joke after joke about their culturally inherent traits or local idiosyncrasies. These two geographic cultures have spawned many comedic successes - Mary Walsh, Rick Mercer, General John Cabot Trail, Hughie and Allen, Cathy Jones, and Bette MacDonald. Overall, both Cape Breton and Newfoundland peoples are fun-loving, good-natured people. Laughing at ourselves comes with the territory.

Like a Cape Breton comic, Russell Peters personifies how laughing at yourself is an excellent venue towards cultural understanding and acceptance. Laughter is the best medicine. And a most effective way to unite all people in the world's global community.

Want to experience more of Russell Peters in Action? His first DVD CD “Outsourced” is available. GO buy THIS DVD or CD today! You will love his style of comedy!

We cherish an autographed DVD sleeve of this first of many Russell Peters DVDs! You're gonna love this guy!

Russell Peters – A Comedy style that creates the newest Cultural Laugh-In. Laughter the Best Medicine Especially Laughing at Yourself - Yuk-Yuks

They will Clamor for this Clam Dip! A Simply Delicious Party Clam Dip

They will Clamor for this Clam Dip!

Been serving up this simple Clam Dip for Years and it always gets a two-thumbs up!
A can of clams, French Onion Dip and a few additional ingredients will have you preparing this simply delicious Clam Dip for your next party or get together. Perfect with plain chips or various snack crackers. For the complete Clam Dip Recipe go to Home And Body How To Family Room Snacks.

They will Clamor for this Clam Dip! A Simply Delicious Party Clam Dip

Carp Ontario Canada – Ottawa Air Show, Experimental Aircraft Association, Diefenbunker, Carp Fair, Drive-In Bingo! Historic Travel Destination

Unofficially boasting the second highest UFO sightings behind Roswell. Home to Canada's largest nuclear bunker! On again, off again, Carp is once again host to the annual Ottawa Air Show! Annual destination for the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Fly-In/Drive-In Breakfast. A location for a Tom Clancy movie shoot staring Ben Affleck and Morgan Freeman.

Intrigued? Well you should be! The Historic Village of Carp has nothing to do with the fish by the same name. The seemingly sleepy rural community sits on the northwestern fringe of the city of Ottawa – just a bit 'up the valley' as they say in the (Ottawa) Valley. Carp, though a small village and predominantly a farming community, has some of Canada's defined history running through its veins.

The [debatable] secret building of the four-storey nuclear fallout Diefenbunker, was a massive Federal Government construction project completed in 1961. Now part of Canadian Cold War history, a tour through this concert and steel underground fortress will stimulate your senses with the intrigue of espionage, spies and covert operations. Come prepared to walk up and down stairs.

Carp, in the 1960s and 70s, was noted for the unusual number of UFO sightings. This is not surprising, since the Diefenbunker was a military commissioned, secure defense communications installation. Department of National Defense (DND) personnel would cycle through a tour-of-duty for up to three months inside this bunker facility.

For about 40 glorious seconds in the Tom Clancy suspense movie “The Sum of all Fears", the Diefenbunker was Mt. Weather, Virginia, USA. The inclined tunnel leading to the huge steel-vault-like doors and locations inside the complex were used as a backdrop for the movie, scripted around a nuclear attack on America.

Nice being picked by Hollywood, but the real enticement to visit Carp is its local character. Rooted in agriculture, adds that 'country fair' feel when in June, the Carp Airport hosts the Ottawa Air Show and again in August, the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA Chapter 245 ) fly-in breakfast. Both of these Aviation spectacles boast aerial displays, vintage and modern airplanes and always a taste of aerial hot-doggin'. Although hosted on a smaller scale, rivals the big heart and excitement of the Abbotsford BC International Air Show.

It's all morning fly-in action surrounding the Annual EAA Chapter 245 fly-in breakfast. Sometimes landing back-to-back the pilots, in their kit-built aircraft, circle, land and taxi to designated parking spots. Over 50 to 60 planes are flown in during this much anticipated event. Pilots eat a hearty breakfast, fuss over their aircraft, catch up on news from other pilots, and some then take off into the wild blue yonder. Others, like August Lehmann, veteran pilot of 49 years, flew in from Dawson Creek, British Columbia, to attend the annual EAA Fly-In/Drive-In Breakfast. Mr. Lehmann, who flew his custom made 2005 Cessna 230 H.P. Cyclone at an average speed of 130 mph, took the opportunity to visit with friends and relatives along his flight path to Carp, Ontario.

One plane that draws a lot of up-close attention is the prop-version replica kit of the Canadian Snowbird Team CT-114 Tutor jet, right down to the paint. One bi-plane had vintage enthusiasts crowding around for a closer look. Wow! Beautifully lacquered wood throughout the cockpit and on the wings. Lots of photo opportunities everywhere you turned. It was hard for shutterbugs to keep up.

It may start with the Carp Airport, but Carp charm doesn't stop there. It has a few more unique long-standing attractions:
1) Home to Canada's longest running drive-in Bingo as highlighted on the CBC Show 'On The Road Again' with Wayne Ronstad. Started in 1954 and still going strong!
2) Over 142 years of the Carp Fair, held during the last weekend in September!
3) Incredible sunsets and easy access to some of the best Snowmobiling and ATV trails in Canada!

Enough said! C'mon over! Chat with the locals. Bring your family and friends for a visit to one of Ottawa Valley's gems.

Check out additional images of Carp at Flickr.com (search on 'Carp Charm') or click on the title above or below this article.

Carp Ontario Canada – Ottawa Air Show, Experimental Aircraft Association, Diefenbunker, Carp Fair, Drive-In Bingo! Historic Travel Destination