The next couple months will feature plenty of events and things to do in the Ottawa area.  Let’s take a look at what’s happening in downtown Ottawa and area in June and July.  Most of these events are easily accessible from Albert House Inn.

Supreme Court of Canada  ongoing until the end of August. Many people don’t realize that tours are available.  The Court is just a short walk from the Inn.  The guides, who are all law students,  familiarize visitors with the operation of the Canadian judicial system and explain how legal issues of public importance are dealt with by the Supreme Court of Canada.

Chicken and Rib Cook-Off Sparks Street Mall  June 19-23.  The Sparks Street Mall hosts this annual event and teams from Canada and the United States  compete for the top rank of best rib choice, best rib sauce, best chicken choice and best chicken sauce. Each day, the ribbers will start their grills at 11am and continue cooking until the evening hours.  Head on over to the Mall (a ten minute walk from Albert House Inn) and chow down!

Ottawa Dragonboat Festival  June 20-23.  This is the 20th Annual Festival and is shaping up to shatter past participation and attendance records.  187 teams have registered with teams coming from Boston, New York City, Florida, Halifax, Montreal, Toronto, Hamilton and more. The Dragonboat Foundation was founded in  2004 to help efforts with fundraising for local charities.

The challenge has raised over $2.43 million. The event takes place at Mooney’s Bay on Riverside Drive and is free for spectators.  Free concerts and extreme sporting displays are also on offer.  Mooney’s Bay is less than a 15 minute drive from Albert House Inn.

Ottawa Jazz Festival  June 20-July 1.  Jazz musicians from Canada and around the world perform in open air venues and intimate studio spaces.  The main stage is at Confederation Park and performances will also be taking place at different venues such as the Dominion-Chalmers United Church, the National Arts Center  and the popular Late-Night Jamming sessions will be at AlphaSoul, located at 1015 Wellington St. West in Hintonburg.  Albert House Inn is central to all venue locations. This is the festival’s 33rd edition and promises “a diverse, expansive, and above all genuine Festival . . . .”

Canada Day  July 1.  The big event of the year draws thousands of people to Parliament Hill to enjoy music, dance and a great fireworks display. 

The festivities are also happening in downtown parks and on the streets. Get there early to ensure you have a good viewing spot.

Ottawa Bluesfest  July 4-14.  This great outdoor music festival  has become the largest blues festival in Canada and the second largest in North America.  The festival takes place at Lebreton Flats which is only a ten minute walk from Albert House Inn.  We are the closest accommodation to the festival.

The above events are just a few reasons to visit Ottawa in June and July.   Stay at our comfortable bed and breakfast inn in the heart of downtown Ottawa and you will be able to walk to many of these great activities.  Our heritage boutique hotel is just perfect offering fabulous, gourmet breakfasts, outstanding personal service and comfy rooms with modern amenities.

This is one of the many questions we get from people as some of the most popular things to do in Ottawa during the warmer  months are cycling, walking or jogging (especially before enjoying one of our sumptuous breakfasts).  Albert House Inn is in a great location in downtown Ottawa for easy walking not only to many of outstanding national attractions, businesses, great shopping and dining choices but access to one of the largest networks of pathways in North America is just a five minute stroll away.

Ottawa’s Capital Pathways has more than 300 kilometres of recreational paths which connect parks, museums and attractions in Ottawa.  The paths will soon be ready for use as they are cleared and repaired every spring and are usually open to walkers, joggers and cyclists by May 1st.

All you need to do is go west on Albert Street (go out the front door and turn left), cross the street to the north at the intersection, continue west through the lights and as soon as you get to the next street which is half a block (Commissioner) turn north (right) and you will see the Fleet Street Pumping Station.

Many people come to our fair city to enjoy what winter has to offer and Albert House Inn Boutique Hotel is the perfect downtown Ottawa accommodation choice. Yes, its really cold in Ottawa now but what perfect weather for getting the ice ready for skating.  Ottawa has a long history of skating, well before the idea for the Rideau Canal Skateway was conceived.

Did you know that there is an outdoor rink open to public skating at Rideau Hall, the Governor General’s residence?  This unique part of Canada’s heritage has been associated with the official residence since the time of Lord Dufferin, who was the Governor General from 1872 to 1878.  Whether you come to skate or just to walk the snow-covered paths, the historic grounds are a great place to enjoy winter.

Rideau Hall Skating Rink

Ladies playing hockey

Skaters can enjoy the outdoor rink on Saturdays and Sundays, from noon to 5 p.m., without a reservation.  For more information go to Rideau Hall.

No need to worry when the weather changes and you’re concerned about the ice conditions.  The newest addition to Ottawa’s skating scene,  the city’s Rink of Dreams, is a 12,500 square foot oval refrigerated outdoor skating facility situated on Marion Dewar Plaza at Ottawa City Hall, about a fifteen minute walk from Albert House Inn.  It is one of the largest outdoor rinks in the City.  The rink features LED lighting, a heated change hut and picnic tables and benches and it is right beside the Rideau Canal.

Rink of Dreams

 Of course, for the best skating experience by far there is nothing like the Rideau Canal Skateway.  If it wasn’t for the foresight of Douglas Fullerton,  the Chair of the National Capital Commission in the early 1970′s,  this wonderful skating area might now be an expressway.  The City of Ottawa actually proposed this idea, but thank goodness the skating plan was implemented on January 18, 1971, despite opposition by city council.  Some 50,000 people skated on the canal on the first weekend.  Now people come from all over the world to skate on the Canal. The cleared length is 7.8 kilometres (4.8 mi) and has the equivalent surface area of 90 Olympic hockey rinks.

Rideau Canal Skateway

Both the Rideau Canal Skateway and the Rink of Dreams are a fifteen minute walk from  Albert House Inn Bed and Breakfast.  When you return to the Inn after your skate you can enjoy a nice hot cup of coffee, tea or hot chocolate in our cosy lounge, warm up by the fireplace and then spend a relaxing night in one of our comfortable guest rooms.  Then after a good sleep you can enjoy the many choices of our fantastic breakfast selections and go for another skate!

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We are always eager to help our guests in any way we can and ensure that an enjoyable and comfortable stay is always experienced at Albert House Inn when you choose our Ottawa downtown bed and breakfast as your  accommodation.  In this post we would like to offer some help to our guests before arrival by explaining just how easy it is to get to our Inn when you come to Ottawa by train or plane.   We have detailed directions our our website as well.

Via Rail has recently added several scheduled Ottawa stops to their trains running in the Montreal to Toronto corridor.  Make sure you check their website for any specials available for the dates you are planning your trip.   Often these specials are only available online and for a very short period of time.

When you arrive at the Ottawa station you can certainly take a taxi to Albert House Inn (approximately $15.00) but many of our guests prefer to take the city bus, OC Transpo,  which offers great service, is more economical and usually faster.  Exit the main doors of the Via station, cross the two car lanes in front and you will see the entrance to the transit station. (To the left of the above photo.)  Go to the Downtown platform and take a route No. 95 bus.  You will need the correct change of $3.30 as drivers do not make change on the bus.  Click on this link for a details of the stop at the Via Station “Train” Transit Stop Map.  Once on the bus, listen for the Bay Street stop.  The trip should only take about fifteen minutes.  Exit the bus at this stop and Albert House Inn is just down and across the street.  Make sure get off at the Bay/Albert stop because it is a couple of blocks to walk if you miss this stop.

If you fly into Ottawa you can of course take a taxi to our downtown boutique hotel.  Taxi’s are about $30 from the airport and are  readily available outside the arrivals area  at the Ottawa International Airport.

However, if you wish to take the city bus,  Route 97 departs from pillar 14 outside the level 1 Arrivals area.  Route 97 uses low-floor, fully accessible buses.

Bus tickets are available at the Ground Transportation Desk located on level 1 at the central door of the Arrivals area.  Tickets are cheaper than cash fare.  Remember if you use cash you must have the exact change of $3.30 prior to boarding.  This bus from the airport also travels on a dedicated transit lane so traffic for the most part is not an issue. It takes about 25 minutes to get to Albert House Inn.  Exit at the Bay Street stop and cross the street.  Your comfy downtown Ottawa accommodation awaits you just a very short walk away.

One of the unique things to experience in the nation’s capital this time of year is the Christmas Lights Across Canada program.  From early December through early January the landmark sites across Ottawa are decorated and lit up with Christmas lights.  Over 300,000 dazzling lights will be used throughout downtown Ottawa with over 60 sites on display.

Buildings along Confederation Boulevard in Ottawa and Gatineau attract visitors from all over the country during this time of the year.  Many visitors schedule holiday shopping trips to Ottawa in time to see the lights. The lights across Canada program extends to other provinces and territories across the country.

On December 6^th, the twenty eighth lighting will be take place in a ceremony on Parliament Hill with residents, visitors and dignitaries all sharing this special celebration.  This is one of the most wonderful times to come and visit the capitol.  Between the shopping, Christmas décor and spirit, there’s not a better time to come and check out our great city.   We’ll provide warm housing and delicious hot breakfasts to get the day started.  After experiencing the lights, come back to a welcoming pot of tea or cup of hot chocolate by the fire and then end your day in your comfortable, cozy room.

The next couple months will feature plenty of events and things to do in the Ottawa area.  Let’s take a look at three different things to do in November and the months following. Most of the information is gathered from the official Ottawa tourism site.

European Union Film Festival – The Canadian Film Institute presents their annual showcase of the best of contemporary European cinema. The festival will run from November 15th-December 2^nd.  Head over to the Library and Archives Canada for the 18 day festival.  The event is presented by two organizations, the European Union Member States and the Delegation of the European Union to Canada.  The films are unique to the capital cities in that they’ve never before been seen.

Library and Archives Canada

395 Wellington Street, Ottawa, ON

Christmas Marketplace – Discover delicious local food products and lovely handcrafted objects at a traditional shopping

experience inspired by outdoor Christmas markets. Enjoy live music and children’s activities at the Canadian Museum of Civilization. Come and meet local vendors, discover delicious regional products and unique handmade objects, and experience the creativity and enthusiasm that drives area artisans.

Canadian Museum of Civilization

100 Laurier Street, Gatineau, QC

War of 1812 – Even as Napoleon’s vast armies sought to conquer Europe, dramatic events were shaping the future of North

America. Discover the War of 1812-1815 through the eyes of its Canadian, American, British and First Peoples participants. The exhibition will take place at the Canadian War Museum until January 6^th, 2013

Canadian War Museum

1 Vimy Place, Ottawa, ON

Nature Unleashed – Inside Natural Disasters Explore the dramatic power of Earth’s forces through the natural phenomena of earthquakes, volcanoes, hurricanes and tornadoes. Head over to the Candaian Museum of Nature until May, 5^th 2013.

Canadian Museum of Nature

240 McLeod Street. Ottawa, ON

All of the events are within a short distance of the Albert House Inn.  Spend a weekend in Ottawa to enjoy all the festivities in the area.  We’ll provide a comfortable stay with delicious breakfast each morning to get your day started right.

Next month the Ottawa Food and Wine festival will hit the Ottawa Convention Center from November 7-11, and the consumer trade show also taking place the 9-11.  Tickets go on sale tomorrow, October 5^th.  There are over 30 events to experience and enjoy.  One of the most popular events, sure to sell out as it did last year, is Tasting Alley.

“Always a sell-out, the Tasting Alley is a two-hour tasting that allows a limited number of participants to sample over 75 wines from around the world and indulge in individual tasting plates featuring gourmet food stations created by the Canadian Culinary Federation. Featuring guest sommeliers industry guests who answer questions and assist in appreciating this special experience.  This is a grazing event and food served does not constitute a full meal.”

The event is really one of a kind, with unique opportunities for food and wine enthusiasts.  Try out the tasting exhibitions.  Take a ride from the convention centre to three local farms, or have fun enjoying culinary theatre.  You can also learn from the kitchen demonstrations.

“Be delighted and inspired as you learn how to prepare the favorite dishes of celebrity Chefs from top restaurants and cookbook authors at the Show’s Demonstration Kitchen. It’s good fun and a great way to learn culinary techniques – and walk away with great free recipes!”

Come and stay with us at Albert House Inn.  After a comfortable night at our bed and breakfast boutique hotel, start you day off with one of our fabulous breakfasts.  Enjoy some of the local attractions and then head out to the festival.  The Convention Centre is a fifteen minute walk from the Inn and is easily accessible by taxi or city transit.

The largest animation festival in North America is coming to Ottawa again in 2012. From Sept 19th through the 23rd, animators and artists will convene in the Nation’s capital for a weeklong event of screening their works at ByTowne Cinema, National Gallery of Canada, Empire Theatres Rideau Centre and Arts Court Theatre. Ticket information is available here, or individual tickets for all venues are available at the door 30 minutes before show time or 15 minutes for Gala and Pass Holder Priority screenings. For those interested in schedules of the events or screenings, the Ottawa International Animation Festival official website is here, and they also have a link where you can buy passes to various panels, events and dining occasions. Right now, there are temporary talks scheduled throughout the week from Friday Sept 21st through the end of the weekend. Various speakers show multiple screenings of their work and will discuss a variety of topics. It’s a great chance to meet your favorite animators or get to know some new ones.

For those looking for a place to stay, hotels will sell out pretty quickly. September is one of the busiest months of the year with multiple events taking place. Our inn is located within a fifteen minute walk to the Empire Theatres Rideau Centre and the Arts Court. Enjoy the festival from only a short distance away within the downtown core. You can take a break from the festival and still be within walking distance to enjoy Parliament Hill, the National Archives/Library, Museum of Civilization, the Canadian War Museum and multiple shopping, dining and entertainment spots.

The summer of 2012 brings a unique opportunity to The National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa.  One of the most famous and well decorated artists in history is featured in a exhibition of his great work.  Upwards of 40 paintings and artworks are on display for the public, some of which have rarely been shown before.  Van Gogh: Up Close will be featured until September 3, and has already been on display since May.  Vincent Van Gogh, one of the most famous artists in history, is on display in Canada for the first time in 25 years.  The Dutch artist displays his love for nature in this collection of various landscapes and beautiful settings.  The show includes Iris (1889), from the National Gallery of Canada’s collection, as well as paintings depicting another corner of the garden where Van Gogh painted Iris.

Van Gogh: Up Close is a chance to see expressionism at its finest.  If you love art, Van Gogh, or are looking to do something different in the nation’s capital, we highly suggest you take a look at this exhibit.  The Albert House Inn is only a short distance from the gallery and less than a 12 minute drive away. Created in 1880, the National Gallery of Canada is among the oldest of Canada’s national cultural institutions. The Van Gogh experience is open Daily from 10 am to 6 pm, Thursdays to 8 pm with the last ticket of the day issued 90 minutes before exhibition’s closing. Collection galleries close at 5 pm, Thursdays at 8 pm. Admission fees range from $25-$10 with group and family options available.  Visit here for more information on tickets and admission.

We encourage you to take advantage of this wonderful experience.  Staying in our downtown Ottawa hotel is an easy solution to visit this exhibition as well as the rest that Ottawa has to offer.  We are a bed and breakfast as well, so you can have our fabulous breakfast while enjoying a comfortable stay.

Guests have been asking us what the DMF is all about.  Well, here is why it is being implemented and what it means for visitors who stay in Ottawa and other major cities in Ontario.

Funding for tourism and therefore promotion of Ottawa as a destination has been drastically reduced by the provincial government.  The new DMF is supported by the provincial governent to generate funds for local tourism promotion agencies such as Ottawa Tourism to allow them to market themselves to potential visitors, tour operators and convention planners .  This amount is remitted by the participating hotel to be used by Ottawa Tourism to promote Ottawa as a destination.  It is not used for hotel marketing.  This mechanism is very common in Canada as well as internationally.  Hotel room taxes or fees have become an accepted method for funding destination marketing programs.

The alternative to the DMF would have been  a provincially mandated Hotel Tax which would in all likelihood be higher  and would not necessarily be entirely directed to promoting local tourism.

The DMF is only applied to the room portion of your bill, not incidental charges such as parking, long distance calls, room service, etc.  The 3% DMF will be subject to HST.  An example would be:

Room Charge:       $100.00

DMF                               3.00

HST                              13.39

Total                        $116.39

The following list shows the current taxes and charges that are in place in other Canadian cities:

- Montreal – 18% …. (QST+HST=14.5% = 3.5 lodging tax)

- Charlottetown – 18% …. (5% GST + 10% PST + 3% Tourism accommodation levy)

- Winnipeg – 17% …. (5% HST +7% PST + 5% Accommodation Tax)

- Ottawa -16.4% …. (13% HST + 3% DMF + HST on DMF)