Ottawa

As the capital city of one of the world's most livable countries, it should come as no surprise that Ottawa boasts first-class tourist destinations. And though it may be a bit further down the list behind Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver when it comes to the most notable Canadian cities, Ottawa has all that would expect from a capital city.

Parliament Hill is the seat of government and the tourist set-up surrounding it makes for an easy and interesting day or so looking around. You can do that all on foot here and it's not an exaggeration to say that the Canadian Parliament buildings have now surpassed those of Britain in terms of visual beauty -- surprising given that the Ottawa version was based on those of Westminster in London.

The ByWard Market is located literally right beside the Parliament buildings and it's the nerve center for dining and entertainment options in Ottawa. It's a neighbourhood that has managed to serve as both a good night out but also an area for a pleasant day-time stroll.

Need a little culture and education? The National Gallery of Canada is also within walking distance of Parliament Hill, while the Canadian Museum of Civilization overlooks Parliament from the Quebec side of the Ottawa River. The Canadian War Museum, Canadian Museum of Nature, Canadian Science and Technology Museum and Canadian Aviation and Space Museum are also just minutes from downtown.

Golf weather and the climes needed for winter skating are mutually exclusive but no mention of Ottawa is complete without a tale of skating on the Rideau Canal. It's the world's largest skating rink in winter and early Canadian settlers honed their skills here in developing a game that the world would soon come to know as ice hockey.

Ottawa is also the adapted home of Terry Matthews, the man who brought the Ryder Cup to Celtic Manor in Wales. A dual Canadian-British citizen, Matthews splits time between his home in Wales and Ottawa. The technology tycoon has a clear soft spot for golf and he built The Marshes, just outside of town near the sprawling grounds of his tech conglomerate. The solid Loch March Golf and Country Club is also nearby and a little further to the west in Gananoque, lies Smuggler's Glen, long regarded as one of the gems of Eastern Ontario golf. Other options include Outaouais in Rockland and Briar Fox Golf and Country Club in Marysville.