Situated on the southern Ontario/Quebec border, Ottawa, the capital of Canada, lies just an hour's drive from the US border and is a pleasant distinctly Canadian city. It gets very cold here in the winter but luckily has some good skiing nearby, while the famous Rideau Canal offers top skating.

There are loads of things for kids to do in Ottawa, both in the summer and wintertime, with fun parks, hands-on museums and sporting options galore. In addition, adults will find the cycling and the cross-country skiing in and around Ottawa superb. For spectator sports, catch the Ottawa Senators home ice hockey team at the Corel Center.

The revamped MacDonald-Cartier International Airport is the main airport in Ottawa, receiving flights from all over Canada and the US, as well as from overseas with the likes of Air Canada, American Airlines, British Airways, and Northwest Airlines. The airport is located eight miles to the south of town and has just one terminal which features ATMs, currency exchange, duty-free and restaurants.

Banks: 10.00 to 17.00, Monday to Friday; some banks open to 15.00 on Saturdays
Post Offices: 08.00 to 18.00, Monday to Friday
Government Offices: 08.30 to 17.00, Monday to Friday
Business Centres: 08.30 to 17.00, Monday to Friday
Shops: 09.00 to 21.00, Monday to Friday; some shops open to 21.00 on Saturdays; early closing on Sundays