Ottawa offers a number of different ways to see the city, guided by someone who knows -really knows-the things to see and do.
Walking Tours
Blue Umbrella Tours offers tours of Ottawa including the scandals and scoundrels of parliament Hill, Capital Crimes., the Market in the morning, the story of Bytown, the Haunted Walk of Ottawa (613-232-0348)
By Land
There are a couple of interesting land-based tours of Ottawa, including the staple Gray Line, but also two local contenders using more interesting vehicles: a Double Decker and the Trolley Tours which cover 20 major attractions and offer a hop-off-hop-on convenience (613-749-3666).
By Water
Take a tour along the Ottawa River, below the Parliament Buildings on the Sea Prince II, which leaves from the Hull Marina at the foot of Jacques Cartier Park in Hull. The tours cover both sides of the river, and go from Portage Bridge downstream to around Kettle Island just past Rockcliffe Park. Options include a tour of the city’s historic sights, Sunday brunch, Chateau Montebello. These cruises are often combined with a Gray Line land tour.
By Air
Air Conquest offers airborne tours of the Ottawa area, from Rockcliffe Airport, providing aerial views of the Gatineau Hills, Aylmer, Kanata, Manotick , Orleans and Rockliffe. 613-745-6747
Unusual
Local storytellers and historians provide an evening moonlight walk to Ottawa’s spookiest attractions, including the ghosts of the Chateau Laurier, and the site of the murder of Thomas D’Arcy McGee. (613-232-0344)