CAPITAL VENTURE

Rediscover Ottawa, which walks the line between charming town and cosmopolitan city, with first- class cultural and historic experiences.

Modern Digs

Alt Hotel Ottawa Rest your head STAY at the Canadianowned Alt Hotel in downtown Ottawa, where you can grab snacks (or full meals) in the lobby and keep up your yoga practice with the hotel’s new Nama- Stay yoga videos. Bonus: The Alt is eco- friendly, with geothermal energy used for heating and cooling, plus energy- efficient lighting.

Historic Haven

The Century House Bed and Breakfast Ottawa With just four rooms, The Century House offers a quaint stay without skimping on modern amenities such as free parking and Wi- Fi. It’s known for its gourmet breakfasts (think indulgent waffles or a hearty frittata), served up familystyle in the dining room.

Morning Munch

Benny’s Bistro Hidden behind EAT The French Baker in the Byward Market, this is a tiny gem that serves some of our all- time favourite brekkies. Order the buckwheat crêpe, which is stuffed with ham and Gruyère and topped with an egg.

Dinner Hour

Absinthe Café Stop by this Wellington West hot spot for French- inspired cuisine and a taste of its namesake drink. On Monday nights, there’s a special fondue menu; go with friends and order cheese and meat varieties to share, then finish with the Valrhona chocolate fondue for dessert.

Sweet Treat

Moo Shu Ice Cream & Kitchen Try small- batch ice creams and ice cream truffles made with Ontario dairy and fresh, sometimes surprising, ingredients, like craft beer or lime leaves.

Spring

C’est Bon Gourmet Food Tours Take DO a guided walking and tasting tour of one of Ottawa’s famed foodie neighbourhoods: the Byward Market, Wellington Street, Preston Street ( Little Italy), the Glebe or Chinatown.

Summer

Yowttawa This outdoor music fest will celebrate the country’s 150th anniversary with performances by Canadian artists, plus contributions by other international artists. ( For more sesquicentennial offerings, see opposite.)

Fall

The Canada Science and Technology Museum After $ 80.5 million in renos, the museum will reopen in November, just in time for its 50th anniversary of celebrating Canadian innovations, such as a prototype of the world’s first pacemaker and a cobalt- 60 therapy machine from the ’50s— at the time, a revolutionary new way to deliver radiation to cancer patients.

Winter

Nordik Spa- Nature Spend a day rotating between the spa’s seven outdoor baths and eight saunas. Book a massage for ultimate R& R.