It has been a long winter and spring has been slow to arrive, so we could not be more ready! We can’t wait for our patios to open!!! The long wait means you may catch us sitting in parks or walking along the street, face up to the sunlight, with a huge smile on. No wonder Canada is considered such a happy place!
Book our TULIP PACKAGE today, which includes a pass for the shuttle that stops in front of the hotel enroute to
Dow’s Lake and Commissionaires Park (See SCHEDULE here for the Shuttle)
Canadian Tulip Festival
Celebrate “A World of Tulips” at the 2023 edition of the multi-award-winning Canadian Tulip Festival.
History: During WWII, Canadian soldiers bravely battled in Europe, culminating in their becoming the lead troops in the liberation of the Netherlands in 1945. During the war, then Princess Juliana and her family fled to safety in Canada. In 1943, Princess Juliana gave birth to her daughter in Ottawa. To ensure the newborn Princess Margriet was a natural-born citizen of the Netherlands, Canada temporarily declared the maternity ward of the Ottawa Civic Hospital to be extraterritorial. In the fall of 1945, in gratitude for Canadian hospitality and, more importantly, to honour Canadian troops for their leadership in liberating their homeland, the Royal Family provided a gift of 100,000 Dutch tulip bulbs. The Kingdom of the Netherlands has presented Canada with 20,000 bulbs every year since. In the hands of the National Capital Commission, the Dutch gifts have been transformed into over a kilometer of over 100,000 fabulous tulip blooms in Commissioner’s Park near Dow’s Lake. This forms the centerpiece attraction of the Canadian Tulip Festival. This year marks the 75th Anniversary of this remarkable relationship!
Lord Elgin has always had a special relationship with the Canadian Tulip Festival. In 1953, it was world-renowned photographer Malak Karsh who developed the idea of the tulip festival. His iconic photographs have forever immortalized the tulip, proclaimed as the city of Ottawa’s Official Flower in 2002 and now recognized worldwide as a symbol of friendship and peace. The Festival honors Karsh with the Homage to Malak Photography Exhibit in our Lobby Gallery here at Lord Elgin.
Uniquely Canadian and one of the largest events of its kind in the world!
And just in time for the Tulip Festival, Ottawa Boat Cruises begin their famous cruises down the Rideau Canal and the Ottawa River. Book early to get on board!!
We love our bikes here in Ottawa and have more trails than you can imagine. Explore our page HERE devoted just to Cycling in and around the Capital!!
Gatineau Park has officially opened its trails and beaches for the spring and summer seasons! The snow has disappeared and the sun is making its way through the trees, warming up all of the hiking paths. The trails continue to be a wonderful spectacle as the weather increases, with beautiful lakes and scenic routes.
Parc Omega offers many different options for families, animal lovers, and those who want to be outside all year round! They offer car tours as well as walking tours which allow you to get into nature and see a variety of animals in their natural habitats.
Visit the Arboretum, located on Ottawa’s experimental farm which is home to Canada’s Agriculture and Food Museum! Come walk through the park and enjoy the blooming flowers and the warm spring air this season.
Get on the water at Dow’s Lake. Since the beginning of May, canoes, kayaks, and paddle boats are now available for rental until the end of the summer.
Camp Fortune is known to Ottawa as a ski resort during the winter. However, starting in the spring those giant hills get a makeover and are turned into zip lines and high ropes courses! Leave your skis at home and bring your sneakers for an aerial adventure.
Just steps away from the Lord Elgin Hotel is Ottawa’s Marathon (Race Weekend- this year virtual) on the weekend of May 28 and 29, which has become one of North America’s premier racing events. This race weekend offers a variety of events ranging from 2 to more than 40 km for racing enthusiasts of all levels and those who come to encourage them. All you have to do is stay at the Lord Elgin Hotel to be at the starting line when you jump out of bed!
Race Weekend Ottawa
Spring fun continues in Ottawa with lots of great activities across the city! Don’t forget to share your pictures of this weekend on social media with #MyOttawa