Looking for things to do in Ottawa? Our Ottawa Embassies scavenger hunt is a 3-hour self-guided walking tour with challenges around the diplomatic neighborhood. Learn about Ottawa’s international importance, and discover some of its attractions. Indeed, you will solve challenges to discover your next destinations.
Walk from Strathcona Park to MacDonald Gardens Park to Laurier House, passing by numerous embassies, the Rideau River, and some monuments. Have fun solving the varied challenges.
Scavenger Hunt information :
- Strathcona Park
- Rivière Rideau River
- Many embassies
- Laurier House
- MacDonald Gardens Park
- and more
Not pet-friendly.
- Starting point: in the parking of Strathcona Park, at Range Rd and Somerset St. E., Ottawa, ON
- Distance: 3.4 km / 2.1 mi
- Duration: 3 hours
- Method: walking
- Required: Fully charged smartphone with internet access (data plan) – Wifi will not be enough.
- Suggested:
- Water bottle
- Local map
History
Ottawa was founded in 1826 along the Rideau River for the construction of the Rideau Canal. Then, in 1857, the site was chosen by Queen Victoria to host the new capital of the province of Canada (province of the British Empire at the time).
It is mainly because it resides on the border of Upper and Lower Canada, and resolves the conflict between the cities of Montreal, Toronto, Quebec, and Kingston that are vying for the permanent title.
In 1959, Ottawa became the capital of the Canadian Confederation, under the British Parliament and Monarchy. On July 1st, 1867, it became the capital of the sovereign country of Canada, which only has links to the British Monarchy, but no longer to the British Government. As a matter of fact, all of its principal federal institutions, including Parliament, the residences of the Governor-General (British Crown’s representative), and the Prime Minister of Canada are located there.
Then, in 1916, a major fire burned down most of the parliament, except for the library which is located at the back. Reconstruction was completed in 1920.
Ottawa now has more than 900,000 inhabitants and is the fourth largest city in Canada. Its metropolitan area has more than 1.2 million inhabitants, spread over Ontario and Quebec. Indeed, 34% of the population is bilingual (French and English) in Ottawa.
