Ottawa’s not merely a city of policy wonks and political junkies. As befits a capital, this summer offers an outstanding selection of blockbuster exhibitions, world-class museums, galleries and festivals.

TORONTO, ON

In a country that just doesn’t toot its own horn because it seriously doubts anyone’s listening, here’s a province that knows it matters. (And maybe the only one that particularly cares.) Ontario has enough steam to make noise globally.

It’s Canada’s national capital now, crammed with cool old architecture, tons of museums and the ByWard Market, my favorite shop/eat hangout. But hundreds of years ago, Ottawa, ON was Algonquin territory.

You’d think Canadians would jump for joy with Environment Canada’s recent prediction of a warmer and shorter winter. Not so. “We call it Winterlude, not Waterlude,” says Ottawa Tourism’s Misty Wade Hovey.

At home you may cater to everyone else (spouse, kids, the boss), but when you travel, it’s all about you. And hotels know it. Hoteliers across the country are in a friendly game of competitive one-upmanship in a battle for traveller dollars, and we are the happy recipients.

Built for work but famous for play, Canada’s best-known inland waterway — Ontario’s Rideau Canal — got a special present to mark its 175^th birthday this year: in June, 2007, it became Canada’s 14^th UNESCO World Heritage Site. Now you can join the party.