Historic Sites in Wakefield

"Rideau Hall, the official residence of the governor-general of Canada is open to the public and can be explored by taking free guided tours. You must explore the phenomenal and royal heritage gardens. The guided tours take you through the opulent Staterooms, tastefully done ballroom – the Tent Room and even know more about the Governor-General."

"An Ottawa landmark that features Regency, Norman Revival and Florentine Renaissance Revival architecture, Rideau Hall is out to impress. Along with the marvellous art and noteworthy cabinetry that fills the interior plus the gorgeous grounds; Rideau Hall is unquestionably Instagram-worthy. View this post on Instagram"

"Rideau Hall is a fascinating tour giving visitors a glimpse into the life of one of the most important figures in the Canadian Government. The Governor-General. Group and private tours are offered daily to explore the quarters of our Governor General."

"Laurier House is a National Historic Site that was home to not one but two Prime Ministers of Canada. Sir Wilfrid Laurier and William Lyon Mackenzie lived here in the heart of Canadian politics from the late 1800s to the mid-1950s. Visitors can tour the historic site to see how our prime ministers lived back in the day."

"Perched on a rise next to the fairytale Fairmont Chateau Laurier hotel, the neo-gothic Parliament of Canada overlooks the River Ottawa and neighbouring Québec and is one of the city's most distinctive landmarks. Sit in on question time at the Legislature, enjoy the sound and light show on the illuminated Parliament Hill or take a guided tour of Centre Block. Address: Parliament Hill, Parliament of Canada, Ottawa, K1A 0A9Telephone: +1 613 992 4793Opening times:"

"No visit to Ottawa would complete without at least one Instagram post of the iconic Parliament buildings!. Throughout the year there plenty of photo opportunities from fireworks at Canada Day, flowers at Tulip Festival, the Sounds and Light Show in the summer, or over the winter when the Parliament of Canada is lit up at Christmas."

"The Canadian Parliament was originally built between 1859 and 1878 in the Neogothic Style, similar to the Chateau Style. Inspired by French, English and Flemish architectural elements, its construction employed mostly wood. In 1916, a great fire ravaged the central building."

"This is another family favorite trail with historical ruins to discover!. The Carbide Willson Trail is an out and back style, 4.3km hike that takes you along Meech Lake and up to the remains of an old laboratory built by Thomas “Carbide” Willson, the inventor of Calcium Carbide. Kids can explore the ruins and marvel at the adjacent waterfalls, which together are a stunning sight!"

"Since 1977, Artistic Cake Design (on Clyde Avenue) has been making deliciously beautiful cakes for special occasions like birthdays. Choose from a variety of tasty flavours like chocolate, cherry or spice cake, and fillings like caramel or cherry. Whether you are ordering for your child’s first birthday or their 18th, these will definitely be popular."

"Artistic Cake Design is a local business located in Clyde Avenue. The bakery is completely family owned. The owners handle the day-to-day operations in the shop."

"Though war history may not be the first thing visitors to this largely peace-loving nation may consider exploring, the Canadian War Museum is a fascinating journey through the personal, national and international dimensions of the Canadian military as well as special exhibits on international and armed conflict. The Museum’s collection includes medals, works of art, military artillery as well as a CF-Voodoo jet fighter. These artifacts convey the experiences of women, men, and children who lived through the conflicts that have shaped Canada, Canadians and the world."

"Moriyama & Teshima Architects and GRC Architects enclosed this quiet space with grooved concrete walls divided into rectangles that recall cemetery grave markers. While Gagnon says, “it feels like Remembrance Day whenever you’re there — regardless of the date,” the room makes for an especially moving environment at 11 a.m. each Nov. 11, when sunlight shines through the lone window to perfectly spotlight the tombstone that once marked the grave of Canada’s Unknown Soldier, transported here from a war cemetery near Vimy Ridge."

"Canada's Cold War Museum is located outside of Ottawa in a large underground facility that was constructed in the early 1960s to protect important functions of the Canadian government in the event of a nuclear war. This was one of several self-sufficient, shock-resistant, radiation-proof underground shelters built across Canada during the Cold War, as part of Project EASE (Experimental Army Signals Establishments). Political critics coined the nickname "Diefenbunker" in reference to Prime Minister John Diefenbaker, who promoted their construction."

"Discover the the Cold War era on a tour of this 100,000 square foot facility and see the Medical Centre, the Bank of Canada Vault, the Prime Minister's Suite and more.". 3911 Carp Road, Box 466 Carp, Ontario K0A 1L0  tel.: 613-839-0007  toll free: 1-800-409-1965  e-mail: tours@diefenbunker.cawww.diefenbunker.ca"

"The Diefenbunker is a former Cold War bunker, built for the government and senior members of the military in case of a nuclear attack. It’s 23 metres underground in Carp, a small town half an hour from Ottawa. The top-secret hideaway was named after John Diefenbaker, the Prime Minister when it was built."

"Distinct features at The National Gallery of Canada, or the Musée des beaux-arts du Canada, are the majestic and bizarre sculpture of a spider by Louise Bourgeois, titled Maman. Once you get your fill of this strange photo-op, move on to yet another architectural beauty, the dome, designed by artist Moshe Safdie."

"The National Gallery of Canada displays world-class art which attracts the art-lovers across the world. It certainly is a great place for kids to learn more about the art and culture of Canada. The Giant bronze sculpture of Spider just outside the gallery captivates kids more than anything :)"

"The National Gallery of Canada is a striking structure housing an extensive collection of Canadian art. It is the giant spider out front that attracts people’s attention. Maman is a famous sculpture designed by  Louise Bourgeois and Ottawa isn’t the only city to have one."

"If cycling to your picnic spot is your goal, Parc des Cèdres in the Aylmer sector of Gatineau should be high on your list. You can bike there from downtown Ottawa and Hull via the scenic Voyageurs Pathway along the Ottawa River, and you can reward yourself with a swim on the beach, too. Showers, change rooms, washrooms, a snack bar, beach volleyball courts, a bike repair station and children’s play structures are among the park’s many amenities."

"Hog’s Back Falls, whose formal name is Prince of Wales Falls, is a series of waterfalls along the Rideau River outside of downtown Ottawa. Serving as an urban green space, the park is composed of several heritage locations, including a pavilion and historical displays with interpretive information. The park has several miles of hiking trails and walking paths, along with picnic tables and a concession stand that has snacks available for purchase."

"This is a great little park that’s by the water and also has a series of artificial waterfalls on the Rideau River in Ottawa!. This park also features walking/biking path that allows you to go “off the beaten path” if you will, that allows you to get closer to the water and makes for gorgeous photos in a not very populated area in Ottawa."

"This easy, 1.3km loop, is perfect for families with kids of all ages to get out and about in Ottawa. The Hog's Back Falls are a natural wonder and can be easily viewed right at the start of the trail. Follow along the river and duck under Heron road to enjoy a nice picnic and more wandering options in Vincent Massey Park."