Rideau Canal

Ottawa's only designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Rideau Canal is an artery that runs through the heart of Ottawa and is a focus for activity all year round. In summer, it's bordered by parklands and cycling paths, and in winter, when it freezes; it becomes the world's longest skating rink. Winterlude, Ottawa's major annual festival, is a celebration of winter, and the Rideau Canal is a primary focus for many of the activities. People skate the canal, stopping for hot chocolate and BeaverTails, a local specialty snack made of fried dough that's hand-pulled to resemble a beaver tail (Canada's national animal is the beaver). The scenic place where the Rideau Canal meets the Ottawa River is at the base of Parliament Hill, right in the heart of Ottawa. It's a historic spot with lots to see, including the Celtic Cross, which honours the workers who built the canal, the locks that lower boats to the river and the Bytown Museum.