Ottawa's Pride: The Rideau Canal -- Built in the early 19th century under the leadership of Lt. Colonel John By, a civil and military engineer, the Rideau Canal was meant to bypass the Thousand Islands section of the St. Lawrence River, thought to be vulnerable to American attack in the hostile atmosphere following the War of 1812. It connected Kingston with the Ottawa River, allowing the transporting of troops and supplies to Canada's capital and from there on to Montréal. The fear of invasion never came to fruition, railroads soon became the desired mode of transportation, and the quickly outmoded canal was left to evolve over time from neglected historical artifact into one of eastern Ontario's most impressive visual and recreational assets. In summer, walk or cycle along the canal paths or row a canoe or boat on a gentle journey before stopping at the canal-side cafe at the National Arts Centre. You can rent houseboats to navigate its entire length. In winter, it's turned into an 8km-long (5-mile) skating course worthy of Hans Brinker, as people glide to and from work, briefcases in hand, and families take to the ice with children perched atop their backs or drawn on sleighs.
Construction of the 198km (123-mile) canal began in 1826 and ended in 1832. Starting in Ottawa, it follows the course of the Rideau River to its summit on Upper Rideau Lake, which is connected to Newboro Lake, where the canal descends the Cataraqui River through a series of lakes controlled by dams to Kingston. In Ottawa, a flight of eight locks allows boats to negotiate the 24m (80 ft.) difference between the artificially constructed portion of the canal and the Ottawa River -- a sight not to be missed. You can observe this fascinating maneuver between Parliament Hill and Château Laurier.
