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The Chris Robinson
Travel Show
Saturday June 25, 2011
11:00 am – 12:00 pm EST
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Weekly Prize: Expires June 25, 2011
Click the yellow Enter Contest box to send your CJAD 800 email question to Chris on Ottawa and for a chance to win a trip for two to Ottawa with VIA Rail, two nights in the Suite du Grand Patron at the Holiday Inn Plaza la Chaudière, tickets to the National Gallery of Canada Caravaggio exhibit - and festival passports to the Capital Hoedown OR general admission to the Ottawa International Chamber Music Festival.
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Enter
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Get outdoors this summer in Ottawa!
It's official! The Royal Couple – Kate and William - will visit Canada this summer and will be front and centre as hundreds of thousands gather in Ottawa to celebrate Canada Day this July 1. Canada Day this year promises to be filled with more pageantry and a heighten sense of excitement and celebration as the Royal Couple kick off their first foreign visit as a married couple. Ottawa will mount a celebration fit for a future king, with a full day of activities and entertainment showcasing the best of Canadian traditions and culture.
Ottawa hotels are already booking up fast! Canada Day this year falls on a Friday, allowing visitors to extend their stay and make the best of the long weekend. Visit www.OttawaTourism.ca or phone 1-888-OTTAWA-8 for some great short break ideas. For example - the Celebration Vacation package includes dinner for two at Le Cordon Bleu Bistro @ Signatures - plus two nights’ hotel accommodation - from only $159 per night.
And for some additional fun - for its 15th anniversary the Casino du Lac-Leamy offers you $15 in slot machine promotional credits when you book your hotel or getaway package with Ottawa Tourism. Offer valid until October 31, 2011, some conditions apply. The Casino also presents an ongoing lineup of entertainment and events in its theatre - Le Théâtre du Casino.
The Greater National Capital Area's most explosive event of the summer is the Sound of Light Show @ Casio du Lac-Leamy! Recognized as one of the top 100 events in North America, the Casino du Lac-Leamy Sound of Light show lets you experience fireworks as you never have before - during one of its 5 unforgettable evenings of international pyromusical (fireworks synchronized to an original soundtrack).
No family trip to Ottawa will be complete without family fun at the Calypso Water Park - Canada’s largest theme Water Park. Guests will enjoy the warm and enchanting Caribbean atmosphere that permeates every corner of the entire theme park. All pools are heated and there are 35 waterslides, 66 water games and 2 theme rivers to enjoy – plus Whitewater rafting and hydrospeed. Young kids will be enchanted by the Zoo Lagoon as they play on its mini slides, enjoy its various water toys and meet friendly animated characters.
Hot off the press - the new VIA Rail Bike Train with twice daily service from both Montreal and Toronto to Ottawa. Ottawa boasts 220 km of bike paths and now you can experience them with your own bike! This is a great opportunity to see the capital in a new way.
The Rideau Canal Festival (July 28 - August 1, 2011) is a true celebration of Ottawa’s UNESCO World Heritage Site! Whether you’re an heritage buff, an art lover, active living enthusiast - or just want a great day with the family - the Rideau Canal Festival has what you’re looking for.
River raft or learn how to kayak during your trip to Ottawa! Or get on the water aboard the Capital’s premier sightseeing vessel, the Empress of Ottawa, and capture unique and spectacular views of some of the city's attractions such as the Parliament Buildings, Museum of Civilization, Rideau Falls a UNESCO world heritage site, and the Prime Minister’s residence. With these landmarks as your backdrop, Capital Cruises adds a sound track to complete the floating theatre experience. Using state of the art wireless technology a professionally produced commentary will captivate you with the story of Ottawa.
There is music in the air in Ottawa this summer as world class festivals bring fantastic headliners to the city to perform in various venues – from outside under the stars, to intimate shows in bars and nightclubs, to stunning churches and cathedrals.
Ottawa Jazzfest (June 23 – July 3, 2011) features the finest jazz musicians from Canada and around the world. Concerts take place outdoors at Confederation Park in the heart of downtown Ottawa next to the Rideau Canal, the National Arts Centre and various other locations; club venues are also part of the mix. This year it features: Robert Plant and the Band of Joy, Elvis Costello & the Imposters, James Cotton, k.d. lang, Lucky Peterson, Matt Anderson, Pink Martini, Daniel Lanois to name a few.
Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest (July 5 – 17, 2011) is held this year on the grounds of the Canadian War Museum. It is one of Canada's largest outdoor music festivals and is ranked as one of North America's most important music events. The festival features hundreds of acts on five different stages. Some highlights from this year are: Billy Talent, Buck 65, Blue Rodeo, The Flaming Lips, Jennifer Hudson, Joe Satriani, Peter Frampton, Soundgarden, Steve Miller Band, The Tragically Hip, Bedouin Soundclash, Buddy Guy, Cheap Trick, Huey Lewis and the News, Tegan & Sara, Theory of a Deadman, Three Days Grace, The Black Keys and more!
Chamberfest (July 23 – August 5, 2011) showcases an eclectic repertoire of traditional and contemporary arrangements in various venues all over town including outdoor concerts and shows in stunning churches and Cathedrals. The festival includes 90 concerts, with performances ranging from American pianist Simone Dinnerstein, to a late-night performance with retired ballerina Evelyn Hart. And it is not just for adults - Chamberfest offers family programing. Sounds of the String Quartet (ages 3 to 8), is a delightfully interactive romp with the Cecilia String Quartet. And True North Brass presents Brass Magic, a participatory fun-filled hour of rhythm and sound for audiences of all ages.
Ottawa’s 2nd Annual Capital Hoedown (August 11 – August 13, 2011) will be held at LeBreton Flats Park.. The largest country music festival in North America promises a star-studded line up including Kenny Chesney, Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert, Rascal Flatts, Doc Walker, Sara Evans, Billy Currington, Easton Corbin, Tara Oram, Justin Moore, Jason Blaine and The Keats.
There is always something new going on at Ottawa's many museums.
At the National Gallery of Canada (June 17 – September 11, 2011) you can see the exhibition “Caravaggio and His Followers in Rome”. Not since Michelangelo or Raphael has one artist in Europe affected so many of his contemporaries over such a broad geography and irrevocably changed the course of painting in Italy's major cultural centre. Presented exclusively in Canada at the National Gallery of Canada, this ambitious exhibition explores the profound impact of the work of Caravaggio on a wide range of painters of Italian, French, Dutch, Flemish and Spanish origin who resided in Rome either during his lifetime or immediately afterwards. Approximately 60 paintings by some of the most important artists of the Baroque period will be included in this exhibition together with other major artists who were inspired by Caravaggio's example. And art lovers – watch for news of the Canadian exclusive Van Gough exhibit coming next year from May 25 – September 23, 2012.
At the Museum of Civilization is “JAPAN: Tradition. Innovation” (May 20 – October 10, 2011). This exhibition explores the relationship between tradition and innovation, creativity and necessity, culture and design. And Canada's most visited museum is innovating with a “first of its kind” iPhone and Blackberry app to give you tours of the museum.
The Canadian Museum of Nature is a great family destination with learning based fun for all ages. At the “Extreme Mammal” Exhibition - June 3 to November 6 , 2011 – discover the largest land mammal, to the smallest, to the just plain weird, Extreme Mammals explores the extraordinary world of extinct and living mammals. Find out what makes a mammal "extreme". Learn why some species died out while others thrived. And discover what you have in common with all other mammals.
The RBC Blue Water Gallery is all about the amazing diversity of life found in our marine and fresh waters, and the critical role that water plays in sustaining all living things—including us! Observe live specimens and participate in hands-on activities. Ask questions... and get answers! Learn all about tides, what it's like to live and work aboard a special Arctic research vessel, why some mysterious deep-sea creatures glow in the dark, and much more. Interactive displays, models and videos will educate and delight visitors young and old. You can also see a real skeleton of a blue whale—the largest animal ever to live on our great blue planet.
And the Talisman Energy Fossil Gallery is a “must see”. Visitors can see more than 30 complete skeletons from the end of the dinosaur era (85 to 65 million years ago), as well as vivid diorama scenes with 15 fleshed-out, life-sized models produced by some of the world’s top model makers. The Talisman Energy Fossil Gallery presents a unique look at the dramatic events that led to the extinction of dinosaurs and the rise of mammals approximately 85 to 35 million years ago.
And the “The EverGreening of Energy: A Canadian Opportunity“ exhibits at the Canada Museum of Science and Technology, Canada Museum of Aviation and Space, and Canada Agricultural Museum will comprise three energy-themed exhibitions at three sister museums with themes of consumption, production, and conservation of energy. This will be a six year project spanning June 2011 – June 1017. And while you are checking out the Canada Museum of Aviation and Space – it is offering biplane and helicopter tours starting at just $60!
Tune in Saturday to win a trip for two to Ottawa including:
For your chance to win, phone into the show at 514-790-0991, 1-800-491-CJAD, or *TALK on your cell, or send your question any time this week by entering the contest here online by clicking on the Yellow "Enter Contest" button.
Photo Credits: Ottawa Tourism and Calypso Water Park