The Resource Guide for Children's Products and Services

A: Year-round, the Ottawa Region www.ottawatourism.ca is a great place to visit. But as the weather outside gets a bit colder, the Nation's Capital does indeed deserve to remain on your vacation radar screen. In fact, there is nothing I like better than booking accommodations at Les Suites Hotel  www.les-suites.com, which is only steps away from the Rideau Canal, and go for a family skate in the great outdoors overlooking the Parliament Buildings.

Ottawa features a great Winterlude festival www.canadascapital.gc.ca/winterlude over the course of three fun-filled weekends in February (Feb. 2-18, 2007) , featuring spectacular ice carvings and amazing playgrounds made of snow. There is also the option of tubing at Edelweiss Valley www.edelweissvalley.com or snowshoeing and winter hiking in Gatineau Park. If you are looking ahead to next summer, I will share this first time experience. Ottawa also has some terrific beaches, notably Mooney's Bay at 3000 Riverside Drive. There is a food concession, clean washrooms, warm water and plenty of shady spots.

Nestled at the junction of three picturesque rivers, Ottawa is considered one of the world's most beautiful capitals. The city also borders (Quebec, creating a dynamic cultural milieu in which both French and English cultures are deeply rooted.) The result is a truly cosmopolitan experience-a North American city with a distinctly European charm and flair.

The city's rich ethnic diversity also includes thriving German, Jewish, Lebanese, Italian, Polish, Dutch, Portuguese, and Asian communities, among others. Throughout the year, these communities celebrate their heritage in many colorful multicultural festivals and events.

The seat of Canada's federal government, Ottawa is a major centre for the visual and performing arts. Yet the city retains the accessibility, atmosphere and charm of a smaller centre-rich in wide-open green spaces, parks and wilderness areas.

A four-hour drive north-east of Toronto and two hours west of Montreal, Ottawa presents visitors with a wide selection of sightseeing and outdoor-leisure options. In fact, with more than a dozen national museums and galleries-and a full calendar of festivals and activities-Canada's Capital Region has something for everyone.

If you are looking for an excellent vacation option which is close by, offers plenty of attractions and does not necessitate the use of American dollars then Ottawa and Canada's Capital Region should top the list.

This is a terrific destination for the entire family. Just log on to  www.ottawatourism.ca where Ottawa Tourism will respond to all your questions. They can also be reached toll free at 1-800-465-1867. Seniors who arrive by bus or train needn't worry too much about transportation in the area. Those traveling among a small group of friends and families who wish to find accommodations together should try to base themselves downtown.

ACCOMMODATIONS: As a whole, the Ottawa-Gatineau Region has more than 10,000 hotel rooms. The appropriately named Les Suites Hotel www.les-suites.com is located only three blocks from Parliament Hill at 130 Besserer Street and next door to the vast Rideau Shopping Centre. And, you are within walking distance of the Rideau Canal, the Byward Market, an array of museums, entertainment, galleries and dine dining. The attractive one and two bedroom suites come with fully equipped kitchens and even washer and dryers. There's a heated indoor pool, a whirlpool, an exercise room and sundeck patio. Young children will be delighted to receive a special Funtastic "kids" package of toys and coloring materials upon checking in. As a Child & Youth Friendly Accredited Hotel, Les Suites is dedicated to making their surroundings a welcoming and fun place for children. Kids are invited to enter a children's coloring contest. Entries are judged by a panel adults and children, with the winning artist being awarded a complimentary evening's stay for them and their family.

Les Suites really goes the extra mile for its clients, many of whom are regulars. A case in point is their full colour, attractive newsletter called en Suite. The bilingual publication features timely information for tourists, Ottawa trivia and some good reasoning for staying at their hotel.

And there is something you need to know about what makes Ottawa special - its tourism professionals. With this in mind, Les Suites GM Steve Georgopoulos is one of the key players behind the very unique Stars of the City program www.starsofthecity.ca which recognizes customer service excellence in Ottawa and Canada's Capital Region. Georgopoulos points to his hotel's own assistant executive housekeeper Rosie Arruejo who assisted a young guest in his search for a lost teddy bear, including the posting of "lost" posters in the hotel. When she was shopping a few weeks later she saw a bear that matched the description of the lost bear, so she bought it and sent it to the little boy. She was among those honored in 2005. There is a gala awards evening held each fall . Georgopoulos, meanwhile, organizes a conference and trade show in the spring at which time some 20 organizations participate as a means to promote their product and/or service to key front line staff

ATTRACTIONS: Only a few blocks from Les Suites is the swank National Arts Centre. The Canadian Museum of Civilization www.civilization.ca, a half hour walk or five minute drive from Les Suites, is located across the river in Gatineau, it features the Canadian Children's Museum, the Postal Museum and the world's first combined IMAX/OMNIMAX theatre. Screens here surround the audience and allow the viewer to feel sensations of being part of the action.

The Canadian Children's Museum has a permanent collection of over 15,000 artifacts, props and hands-on items for use in its exhibitions and programs. This unique collection includes toys, games, clothing, art, photographs and objects that testify to historic and contemporary aspects of children's lives. Young visitors can take on the role of a ship captain and load cargo into port, shop for food and goods in the cosmopolitan marketplace, join in the preparations for a wedding in the Northern Indian home and experiment with drum beats in the Nigerian home. At other stops, children can design and learn about clothing from around the world, play chess with an authentic Arabic set, serve tea in a Bedouin tent, write in hieroglyphics, make an Indonesian shadow puppet and perform with it, do origami at the Japanese house or engage in an endless variety of creative activities that teach children about themselves and the world. Kids can travel by tuk-tuk, motorcycle, bike-taxi or camel, or climb aboard the spectacular Pakistani bus that was one of the first artifacts installed in the Museum and is a favorite of more than one generation of visitors.

There are a number of other museums worth putting on your "to do" list: the Canadian Museum of Nature, the National Aviation Museum, the Canada Science and Technology Museum, the Currency Museum, the Agriculture Museum, the Canadian War Museum and Canada's Cold War Museum ( a.k.a. the Diefenbunker). Sightseeing tours are offered by Grayline and Capital Double Decker and Trolley Tours. The heart of Ottawa, of course, is Parliament Hill where tours are available. The Byward Market is home to a variety of restaurants, shops and a farmer's market.

The Canada Science and Technology Museum www.sciencetech.technomuses.ca is located approximately some 10 minutes south-east of downtown Ottawa. Just Exit the Queensway (Highway 417) at "St Laurent South" and drive 2.6 km to Lancaster Road, then turn left. The largest of its kind in Canada, this Museum fulfills its mission through its collection, permanent, temporary and traveling exhibits, special events, school programs, workshops and demonstrations, publications, loans, conferences and lectures, expert advice, and joint action with other museums and organizations with similar goals and interests.
Dining Out At Red Lobster After The Museum

For a great meal afterwards, right next door at 1499 St. Laurent Boulevard is one of the best Red Lobster locales I've dined at. The menu features a wide selection of succulent fresh fish, seafood, beef, chicken and combination platters, as well as salads, appetizers, desserts and cocktail service. Start off with the signature Red Lobster rolls, baked piping hot and some clam chowder. Veteran General Manager Ian Forrester notes that their own Chef Laura puts together her own menu as well. Here staff like kind waitress Jennifer greet children with an activity guide, crayons and lots of enthusiasm. The children's menu has plenty of appetizing choices, at very low prices. For mom and dad, the selections seem endless: their famous lobster (broiled or stuffed), salmon, trout, arctic char and tilapia. There's a host of salads, yummy clam chowder, pastas, shrimp, steak, chicken and even pizza. Try the decadent chocolate wave cake for dessert. At the St. Laurent Blvd. location, the kitchen will go the extra mile to cut the lobster up for you, making for easier work at the table And like in the United States, there are free refills on soft drinks.

Q: Can you please tell me about Toronto, Ontario?

A: The city of Toronto www.torontotourism.com  is the capital of Ontario and home to 2.48 million people. Located on the north shore of Lake Ontario, it is at about the same degree latitude as the French Riviera and known as one of North America's safest and most multicultural cities. There are more than 100 ethnic groups in Toronto, and visible minorities account for nearly 50 per cent of the city's population. It has the world's largest freestanding tower (the CN Tower, at 553.33 meters) and the world's longest street (Yonge Street). Within the city, there are 187 kilometers of bike paths, 7.8 kilometers of walking paths and more than three million publicly owned trees (City of Toronto). The Greater Toronto Area (GTA) is a frequently used term. It refers to Toronto and the regional municipalities of Durham to the east, York to the north, and Peel and Halton to the west. These municipalities are far from the traditional image of the suburbs as bedrooms communities for the big city.


ACCOMMODATIONS: The Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel www.sheratontoronto.com at 123 Queen Street West is simply one of the most gigantic places I have ever stayed at. In the heart of the business and entertainment districts, it is conveniently connected to Toronto's underground PATH, a 16-mile network of offices, shops, and services.. Each of the 1,377 redesigned guest rooms and suites offers the plush comfort of the new Sheraton Sweet Sleeper™ Bed.. This Sheraton Centre, which recently underwent a $60 million-dollar renovation, boasts Toronto's largest year-round pool, a 24-hour fitness centre, Business Centre, Senses Spa and two levels of shops, services, restaurants and lounges. The pool is indoor and outdoor-the latter part standing as a significant bonus in the summer. Families seeking ample space should ask for the parlor suite, which combines spaciousness, comfort and versatility. A rich mahogany dining table, overstuffed leather chairs, classic two-seater couches and warm plaid draperies ensure a stylish setting for entertaining guests. Two connecting bedrooms with the Sheraton Sweet Sleeper™ bed make this suite one of the hotel's largest rooms. Check out Waterfall Gardens. An oasis by day or night, the two-story waterfall and pond is the perfect sanctuary in the centre of the city. Enjoy the change of scenery and take a break from the urban bustle in 2.5 acres of picturesque waterfalls, gardens and terraces. You can take advantage of reasonably priced public parking, connected to the hotel. At the concourse level of the hotel, a food court offers a wide variety of options.

DINING: As the world's most ethnically diverse city, Toronto's dining scene is accordingly extensive. Immigrants from the four corners of the world have brought their culinary skills with them, and Toronto's more than 5,000 restaurants reflect the tastes, the cultures, and the ingredients available in this most sophisticated of cities. Connected to the Sheraton is Le Bifthèque, which traces its heritage back more than 70 years to a Montreal butcher shop run by Sam Seltzer. Decades of experience culminated in his grandson Michael opening the very first Le Bifthèque restaurant in 1981. The first Le Bifthèque was, and still is, an enormous success, with great value and great beef combining to create a clientele loyalty most restaurants can only dream of. Other restaurants soon followed in Quebec and Ontario as word spread that it is possible to reward one's taste buds without punishing one's wallet. The proof is in the pudding, as the saying goes, or in their case, the success is in the steak! The first thing you need to know about Le Bifthèque is that its prices are extremely reasonable for a high end steakhouse. The menu features great starters such as Cape Cod Crab Cakes, smoked salmon and calamari. From the grill, besides their trademark aged rib steak or strip loin, you can't go wrong with the roast prime rib of beef, the filet mignon, rack of lamb, a chicken entrée or seafood favorites such as grilled Atlantic salmon and scampi. The kids menu includes hamburgers, macaroni and cheese, a pogo dog and fries, quarter chicken leg served with mashed potatoes and a chicken finger plate, served with fries and plum sauce. For dessert, try their famous millefeuille.

ATTRACTIONS: You can start off exploring Toronto on foot from the hotel. Within close walking distance are the CN Tower /Rogers Centre (Skydome), Eaton Centre, the Hockey Hall of Fame, the Air Canada Centre, The Princess of Wales and Royal Alexandra Theatres, Roy Thomson Hall, Ontario Place / CNE, The Second City, the Hummingbird Centre, Queen's Quay Terminal and Harbourfront, the Financial, Theatre and Bloor/Yorkville Shopping Districts. If you plan to visit the CN Tower www.cntower.ca, the world's tallest building during the busier summer season, the following are a few suggestions from marketing director Irene Knight to shorten or eliminate any potential wait times at the CN Tower and also some cost saving tips: the busiest season to visit is from May to October so come outside of these months and you can usually avoid any potential waits; from May to October, the busiest time of the day is from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m; CityPass provides express elevation to see the world famous Look Out and Glass Floor observation levels at the CN Tower; Total Tower is a "do it all" CN Tower ticket providing express elevation to the Look Out and Glass Floor observation levels at the CN Tower as well as admission to all the attractions available here; online ticket purchases allow you to go directly to the ticket holder line and avoid the box office. At a height of 553.33m (1,815 ft., 5 inches), it is the world's tallest building, a Wonder of the Modern World, an important telecommunications hub, the centre of tourism in Toronto and a first class dining and event centre. Each year, approximately two million people visit . Each year, approximately two million people visit.

The Ontario Science Centre www.ontariosciencecentre.ca is barrier-free, offering extra-wide parking, free wheelchairs and strollers, wheelchair seating in the Shoppers Drug Mart® OMNIMAX® Theatre and Imperial Oil Auditorium, barrier-free elevators, a washroom for special needs persons and safe areas of refuge in case of emergency.

Ontario Place www.ontarioplace.com is an internationally acclaimed cultural, leisure and entertainment parkland, extending throughout three man-made islands along the Lake Ontario waterfront. It opened in May 1971 and features a five pod pavilion complex- The Forum, pedal boats, a marina, restaurants and the world's first permanent IMAX®theatre, the Cinesphere. Built as a showcase for the province of Ontario, this is a great spot to cool off in the summer thanks to Soak City. Toronto's biggest outdoor water park, it features the Pink Twister, Purple Pipeline and Hydrorefuge water slides, as well as the Rush River Ride which allows up to four people to go down Rush River's eight-storey tower in a giant yellow raft. Soak City is also home to Canada's tallest tipping bucket. There are some 30 other fabulous attractions to explore here, including a variety of rides and live shows on stage. Guest services provides wheelchairs upon request.

Paramount Canada's Wonderland www.canadas-wonderland.com is Canada's premier theme park and features over 200 attractions, more than 60 thrilling rides, North America's greatest variety of roller coasters, and Splash Works, a 20-acre water park featuring over two million gallons of heated water fun. Check out The Plunge, Supersoaker, The Lazy River and Pumphouse. The park, located in suburban Vaughn just off Highway 400, opens in early May and closes on Canadian Thanksgiving Day Weekend. My family spent 11 hours there one day and we left itching for a return visit. It was that much fun. You can rent a locker for $5 at the water park and keep it until 8 p.m. The youngsters will love KidZville and Hanna-Barbera Land, an entire themed area full of attractions, shows and life-like characters, all designed for the young and the young at heart, including Jimmy Neutron's Brainwasher, the Wild Thornberrys Treetop Lookout and Dora's Dune Buggies. While you're in the park, make sure to check out their new feature: Paramount's Hollywood Stunt Spectacular, a live, high-action stunt show. It features spectacular special effects, including huge, fiery explosions, pyrotechnics, unbelievable sets, acrobatic stunt performances and characters based on blockbuster Hollywood movies. Kids will love the meet and greets with the Nicktoons: Dora-the-Explorer, Diego, The Backyardigans, Little Bill, Blue's Clues, SpongeBob SquarePants, Patrick, Chuckie, Angelica, Jimmy Neutron and Eliza. Over 60 rides include Tomb Raider: The Ride, Top Gun, The Fly, Cliffhanger, SkyRider and Drop Zone. Get soaked together on three different water rides, or take a spin on rides from mild to wild. As part of its 25th anniversary season this year, the park introduced - The Italian Job: Stunt Track, a multi-million dollar fast-track coaster experience based on Paramount Pictures' blockbuster movie, The Italian Job. Guests board their very own tricked out Mini-Cooper S for a multi-sensory stunt car adventure through movie sets and scenes inspired by the film's climatic chase sequence. Blue from Blues Clues, SpongeBob Square Pants and Dora the Explorer are also omnipresent on the scene.

To truly experience a local's Toronto, it is essential to visit two major markets, Kensington and St Lawrence Market. Not only do they provide a real sense of what it's like to live in Canada's largest city, but they each reflect a different aspect of today's Toronto: one a multicultural hodgepodge, the other a more traditional view of our agricultural past. Take a stroll through Toronto's many friendly neighborhoods and villages and you are assured of finding the most extraordinary shopping north of New York City, including these top shopping meccas: Bloor-Yorkville, Eaton Centre, Queen Street, Harbourfront, and Front Street East. Toronto's Financial District is walkable, even in inclement weather. That's because of the "underground city," which consists of 11 kilometers (six miles) of interconnecting paths under the streets that feature more than 12,00 retail stores and services. Taking visitors from the CN Tower to the Eaton Centre, it connects directly with five major downtown hotels, including InterContinental Toronto Centre.

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