A must do trip for you and your family would be soaking up the party atmosphere of the July 1st Canada Day Celebrations in Ottawa, Canada - The Nation's Capital!

Ottawa (population approximately 1 million), typically a proud, safe, conservative government and high tech city, pulls all the stops for the Canada Day Celebrations. A full throttle party with street buskers, renowned entertainers, local musicians and new musicians and bands from across Canada. Every park and band shell is a mecca for all afternoon, all evening entertainment, right up to the spectacular 10 pm fireworks display, seemingly synchronized at dozens of locations in and around Ottawa-Gatineau and the National Capital Region.

Ottawa on Canada Day truly is a opportunity for new musical groups to express their music to new and large crowds eager to hear, move and applaud new talent. So not only is Ottawa a must as your vacation destination, but Ottawa is a must for any musical band wishing to break into a broader audience than their local city or town!

The 2006 Canada Day Celebration was just this type of 'breaking out' event for a new Toronto based band, The Apollo Effect. TAE, an independent rock-alternative group, 'thrilled and was thrilled by' the crowd that gathered at Andrew Haydon Park. This 2000+ audience danced and moved to the sounds from TAE's debut CD.

The night was perfect - an 8:30 play slot, with perfect light, both on stage and in the late evening sky, and the crowd pumped in anticipation of experiencing The Apollo Effect. Perfect for listening, perfect for performing and perfect for photography too. It doesn't get any more magical than this.

Ottawa rocks on Canada Day - The July 1st Canadian Birthday Party is a must do destination in planning your next year's vacation. Come to the Nation's Capital to share and experience a redefined 'Happy', as only can be delivered in the Capital of Canada. Home to the country's largest number of history, art and technology museums, Ottawa, celebrates every season:

Spring - Tulip Festival, marathons, so many parks, walking and bike paths;

Summer - end-to-end concerts (Jazz & Folk Festivals), farmer markets and July 1st Birthday;

Autumn - community fairs, markets and the turning trees (Oh, the colors);

Winter - the Christmas lights on Parliament Hill, Winterlude, world's longest skating rink;

and every sport and recreation activity - swimming, boating, sailing, hiking, biking, skiing, skating, ATV'ing, snowmobiling .....or just walking.... you name it!

Ottawa is the definitive family vacation destination! And an incredible place to live and raise a family.