Hello Ottawa & The ValleyPublished on September 6, 2010

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On a few occasions, I've pictured myself as a tour guide and have often thought I would make a really great one! I see myself sporting a headpiece standing at the front of one of those double-decker busses highlighting the local attractions. Honestly, I think I could get people all charged up about everything that this city has to offer!

Okay, so you won't find me actually performing on deck pointing left and right, but I am going to take on the role of an ambassador for our city with the help of a dynamic team who went the extra mile to make sure we found innovative ways to celebrate summer in the capital. As a result, the pages of the summer issue of Ottawa At Home are brimming with the discovery of a wealth of attractions and plenty of reasons to play host to visiting friends and family.

You'll also get to know some of the people behind the scenes of Ottawa's booming tourist industry and find out where the experts take their visitors. And if you've ever wondered what it's like to live as diplomats in Ottawa, come and meet the Netherlands Ambassador Wim Geerts and his family who welcomed us into their home-away-from-home.

I am always interested to learn what out-of-towners think of Ottawa. So when I heard that a Toronto designer, whose work I have coveted for years, was handling a local project, I jumped at the chance to interview her. In "Designer at Work", you can read all about Anna Simone and be wowed by her talents!

Go ahead and salivate over the stunning backyard captured by Mark Holleron and brought to life by Jane Whiting in our outdoor living feature. Feel stylishly inspired by Araina Bond's piece which showcases one of the capital's hippest families, and get inside the minds of mommy bloggers as Andrea Douglas researches this fascinating phenomenon.

Hats off to Paula Roy who made several gorgeous drives in the valley to unearth some gastronomic delights, in addition to scouting out a perfect downtown location to stop for lunch while touring the town. Both Hattie Klotz and Korey Kealey check out what the ByWard Market has to offer - one shops for furniture, while the other seeks out fresh, local asparagus.

Finally, it wouldn't be summer without a trip to camp. Catherine Clark had fun visiting Camp Smitty and meeting Tom Patrick, a former camper turned camp director, at a facility that makes a remarkable difference to the lives of many boys and girls.

However you spend your summer, we hope that this issue encourages you to take some time to get to know the world-class tourist destination that we call home. Even better if you do it, as Laura Byrne Paquet suggests, with eyes wide open!

 

Fun & Sun!

 

Mary Taggart

Editor in Chief

mary.taggart@transcontinental.ca

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