Rideau Canal National Historic Site

The Rideau Canal is the thread that stitches Ottawa together. Built between 1826 and 1832 under Colonel John By as a military supply route between Montreal and Kingston (the British feared American invasion after the War of 1812), this 202-kilometre waterway never saw a single military engagement. Instead, it became something more enduring: a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the oldest continuously operated canal system in North America, and arguably the most versatile public space in any national capital.

In summer, the canal is a working waterway. Pleasure boats navigate the hand-operated locks — the same mechanism used since 1832, still cranked by Parks Canada staff in period-inspired uniforms. The flight of eight locks between the Ottawa River and the canal basin, right at the foot of Parliament Hill, is mesmerizing to watch. Boats rise or descend nearly 24 metres through a staircase of water, and the whole process takes about 90 minutes. You can watch for free from the pedestrian bridges and paths alongside.

The paved pathways along both banks transform into a continuous cycling and jogging corridor stretching from downtown to Dow's Lake and beyond. Boat cruises depart from several points — the most popular runs between the locks and Dow's Lake, passing under stone bridges, through old-growth trees, and past the backs of some of Ottawa's grandest homes.

But it's winter that makes the Rideau Canal truly singular. The canal freezes into the world's largest naturally frozen skating rink — 7.8 kilometres of groomed ice stretching from downtown to Dow's Lake. The Skateway typically opens in January (weather permitting) and attracts over a million skaters each season. BeaverTails pastry stands and hot chocolate vendors line the route, and the experience of skating through the heart of a capital city, with Parliament Hill visible in the distance, is unlike anything else in the world.

Dow's Lake at the southern end hosts the Canadian Tulip Festival each May — over a million tulips in bloom, a gift that began when Canada sheltered the Dutch royal family during WWII.