With October just around the corner, it's time to start thinking about how you want to celebrate Halloween 2018. One of the funnest things you can do to really get in the spirt is go to special Halloween themed event.

There are some amazing Halloween events held throughout October in Ontario and we are hosting several bus tours to the best two spooky seasonal events within driving distance of Ottawa! 

Canada's Wonderland is one of the best attractions in Canada on any day, but it gets turned up a notch during Halloween season. Along with it's 14 thrilling rides, they add horrifying mazes, scare zone and live shows with prowling monsters all over the park ready to spook you!

We are running two separate trips to Halloween Haunt at Canada's Wonderland on back-to-back Saturdays - October 13th and October 20th. Both trips cost $149+hst and include round-trip bus fare, admission to Wonderland, an all-you-can-eat buffer dinner, and special early-admission to select mazes and scare zones at Halloween Haunt.

You can view the full details and itinerary and purchase tickets online on our partner site via these links:

• Halloween Haunt | 13-10-18
• Halloween Haunt | 20-10-18

Fright Fest as Saunders Farm is the number one haunted halloween attraction in Canada. It features five fright sites, live shows, street theatre, many food booths, and a tavern. 

We are running three different bus trips to Saunders Farm Fright Fest on October 19th, 20th, and 27th. These trips all include round-trip transportation and admission to the event for only $59+hst.

You can view the full details on the trip and the itinerary on our partner's website for each date:

• FrightFest | 19-10-18
• FrightFest | 20-10-18
• FrightFest | 27-10-18

Spots are filling up fast for all these trips so don't wait to book your spot now! If you have any questions about the trips you can call us at ​613-699-8130. You can also view all the events and details on our ticket booking site here.

However you choose to celebrate your Halloween season, The Ottawa Limo Company wishes you a spooktacular time!

Sometimes being an adult can just mean that you have to consistently remember to bring things with you everywhere you go.  Remember going places as a kid and your mom had a bag ready to go for you? It was nearly impossible to forget anything at home.  Whether it was your sandwich for lunch, your back-up pair of underwear, your homework from the night before - mom always had you covered.  As an adult the things you need to bring with you change but the need to bring things with you does not. Does this mean we get better at remembering what to bring with us overtime? Some people probably do. Don’t worry though, this isn’t a place that judges forgetful people.  

Just as you need to remember to bring your own lunch to work,  your own briefcase or purse, and maybe even an extra pair of underwear (still no judgement) -  you need to bring essential things on a party bus ride. There are eight things for you to remember, so feel free to take notes.  First, you will need a bag with a zipper or Velcro pocket, or something that keeps small items secure during your party bus adventures.  The travelers will appreciate this tip because it is so easy to lose small items from a bag that isn’t properly secured. Don’t be the person to hold up the party because you lost your keys, phone, or wallet.  Besides the inconvenience this creates for other people, you are mostly inconveniencing yourself later on.
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Some of these small items are also things that you need to remember to bring.  Your identification and phone are usually the two most important things to have with you at any party - other than money.  If It isn’t set up already you should bring a device to play music on. Many party bus rental companies will have an awesome stereo system in the bus itself so this is actually an optional item to bring. It will depend on which company you call.  A thorough person will bring with them an itinerary for the evening either for themselves or for the guests to read. Make sure you have cash with you and keep it in your secure bag. Although it is rarer to have cash on hand, you can’t rely on all bars to accept credit card or debit.  

If you plan on drinking a lot, you might want consider bringing bottled water. This serves two purposes!  First, available drinking water will prevent anyone from becoming too intoxicated too quickly. Second, we all know the best hosts will serve water or at least have it available.  Once the water situation is handled you can figure out other drink options. Speak with a representative from the party bus rental company you are working with and ask them what drink options are available and if there are already some on board.  Lastly, if you had a great time, remember to give a small tip to your driver. This is another reason why having cash on hand would be a great idea. We hope you remember to bring all of your essential party bus items. Enjoy your next party bus experience!

Now that you know what to bring, you're ready for a party bus adventure!

More on Party Buses: Fun Things to Do on  a Party Bus

What is the Canada Aviation and Space Museum?  As the name implies the museum focuses on aviation in Canada throughout history as well as spaceflight. As you walk through the museum you will see over 130 aircrafts along with various historical artifacts. The museum offers exhibitions, tours, and visits as well as educational programming and other activities.  You can hold birthday parties and other social events at museum and it is a popular place for students to do research for their history papers.

Our favorite thing to do at the Aviation and Space Museum in Ottawa as to hop aboard the Redbird FMX flight simulator. Sitting in the cockpit of the simulator will allow you to experience the latest in advanced flight simulator technology. There are multiple screens within your vision around the cockpit that show you the realistic views of the ground below. This is the best place to take anyone who is considering a career as a pilot, or someone who always wanted to fly but pursued a different path. It’s not quite like virtual reality, but you will be immersed in the flight simulation and it will give you a feel for the real thing.

The Canada Aviation and Space Museum is located at 11 Aviation Pkwy. in Ottawa, Canada. The museum is open daily throughout the year and on all statutory holidays except for Christmas.  Admission fees range from $10 for youth to $15 for adults, however, members and veterans can enter for free. A membership is a great idea for anyone interested in enjoying more than one exhibition or event.  There are many exhibitions held at the museum, so we wouldn’t be surprised if you want to see more! Upon signing up for a membership, you will also gain access to the Canada Agriculture Museum, The Canada Aviation and Space Museum and the Canada Science and Technology Museum.  The free admission benefit applies to each of these places as well as 10% discounts on merchandise at the gift shop and at the cafeteria.

Many people don’t know this about the Canada Aviation and Space Museum, however, there are many educational programs available to kids.  Programs vary depending on age. There are self-guided school visits (AKA field trips) and more intensive programs teaching kids about aviation and technology.  Learn how aircrafts are build and the technology that is used to keep pilots and passengers safe while traveling at high speeds. This is a program is available for teenagers in grades 9, 10, and 11.  For younger children there are adventure style educational programs which include scavenger hunts, building small machines, and dressing up in costumes. You may be disappointed if you’re no longer a student but think that these educational programs sound super fun.  You can consider becoming a volunteer and chaperoning a program, or just enjoy the exhibition and flight simulation while your kids do group activities.

No matter what you choose to do at the museum we hope you have a great time!

Next Fun Place to Visit - Parliament Hill

We highly recommend a tour of Parliament Hill to anyone who is visiting Ottawa.  It is a great tour for people of any age and is a unique outing for families. Parliament Hill is a building that was built over 100 years ago.  To visit a building like this can sound boring to visit at first, but once you’re there you begin to appreciate the historical decisions that has to made in the very building you are standing in.

Parliament Hill is unique because it presents the history of Canada alongside the present-day Canada we all know and love. If you’re interested in seeing Parliament Hill,  but not interested in dealing with all the tourists, we suggest you visit the Hill at night. This way you won’t have to fight crowds of people to get the best view and you’ll still be able to walk around the grounds.  The downside of visiting at night, however, is that you won’t be able to enter the building.

For many locals in Ottawa this building from an architectural view is a consistent favourite.  On a beautiful sunny day visiting Parliament Hill or a least walking by is a must for anyone in Ottawa. Some of the building was actually burned to the ground in a tragic fire in 1916, however, the library still stood standing.  This is one of the many interesting facts that can be learned during one of the many tours offered at Parliament Hill in Ottawa. The building itself has hundreds of gargoyles and reliefs carved into the stonework both inside and outside.

July 1 and Christmas are the busiest times of year which makes it the most exciting time to visit the Hill.  Hundreds of thousands of visitors including locals and tourists gather for fireworks and amazing entertainment.  The fireworks seen at Parliament Hill on Canada day are far from average. In addition, you can also experience a multimedia show called Northern Lights.  It lasts about 30 minutes and it highlights many of Canada’s milestones. It’s narrated and presented both in French and English in order to stay true to the bilingual nature of Canada.  The show is hard to miss because it is presented nightly from July to September. This special show is a great way to show Canada’s history and amazing innovations in technology.

The building sits behind a beautifully maintained lawn and garden which becomes filled with a lot of with enthusiastic Canadians during special holidays like Canada Day.  Each person has the common goal of celebrating Canada together. During the Christmas season, Parliament Hill is decorated with Christmas lights. It is the perfect setting for your annual Christmas Photo, if you can make it there through all of the snow. There are various events scheduled in Ottawa throughout the year and visiting Parliament Hill is always an event on that list. It is the centerpiece of downtown Ottawa and a place which all Canadians should be proud to visit. It is the physical centre and the political and cultural heart of the city. We hope you enjoy your visit to Parliament Hill in Ottawa and take many pictures while you’re there!

If you need a lift, give us a shout :) - The Ottawa Limo Company

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Next Place to Go in Ottawa - Canadian Science and Technology Museum

The Canadian Science and Technology Museum is the most popular museum in Ottawa. It’s a fun place to bring the kids during March or summer break, and it’s fun for adults too. 

Wondering what to do at the Science and Tech Museum? The possibilities are endless. A typical visit to the museum will involve visiting the current exhibition. The most talked about upcoming exhibition in 2018 is called “The Art of The Brick” and it will be showcasing new work by artist Nathan Sawaya. Nathan’s work is made exclusively from a toy you may be familiar with: LEGO® bricks! Nathan has created original masterpieces from the Lego bricks as well as re-created famous artworks from history, like the Mona Lisa. What separates the Canadian Science and Technology Museum from other museums in Canada is the importance it places on interaction with the visitors. For example, the museum has created a call to action for aspiring artists to submit ideas for what Nathan should make next. Before the grand opening of the exhibition Nathan will select a winner and make the piece in time for it to be displayed in the exhibition. This is just one of example of the cool interactive experiences you can be apart of at the Canadian Science and Technology Museum. 

​Another interesting exhibition to look forward to is called “To What Degree? Canada in a Changing Climate.” This exhibition will be a display of photography, but not displayed in the typical, boring on-the-wall fashion. The changing climate in Canada is something we have all been wondering about. What will our weather look like in the future? Climate change is already affecting Canada and this exhibition of unique travelling photography captures some of the changes happening so far. In the spirit of interactivity, there are stories and explanations typed beside every photograph. It’s also worth noting that the photographs are blown up and scattered through the room, so you have to walk through a photography maze to discover the changes in climate.

Parking is available at the Canadian Science and Technology Museum, however, we suggest arriving earlier in the day if possible. Due to the popularity of the museum, the parking lot can become a little hectic. The parking rates are based on how long you have stayed in the museum. As for admissions into the Canadian Science and Technology Museum, ticket prices range between $11 and $17 per person depending on age. The museum remains open on holidays except for Christmas Eve. This is another reason why the Canadian Science and Technology Museum is a great place to bring the kids when school is out. Not many fun places are open on holidays.

The museum is located at 1867 Laurent Blvd, nearby downtown Ottawa. If you’re taking the car exit at St. Laurent Blvd South, drive 2.6 km south, to Lancaster Road, and then turn left on Lancaster Road. If you get lost, ask a local where to go. Everyone in Ottawa knows where the Canadian Science and Technology Museum is located – and they will probably want to go too!

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Next Place to Go in Ottawa - National Gallery of Canada

​The National Gallery of Canada is a place that every Canadian should visit in their lifetime. The National Gallery’s mission is to expand their collection of artwork, preserve their existing collection, and interpret and research existing works. The dream this gallery was built on was dreamt in Canada in the late 19th-century. The idea was that all Canadians should have a gallery to call the gallery of Canada. At last, this gallery is one of the world’s most respected due to its collection of more than 65,000 works. To compliment the massive collection of art, the gallery offers tours and art talks during each exhibition.

Plan your visit today on the National Gallery of Canada website by viewing the operating hours, general admission fees and various parking options. The Gallery is located in Ottawa, Ontario and is a popular place for people to bring their family and friends for a nice day out of the house. Currently, the running exhibitions include Canadian and indigenous Art: 1968 to Present, James Wilson Morrice: Collection in Trust to The Nation, and 2017 Canadian Biennial. Art galleries, in general, are a fun way to learn about the vast history of our nation. The 2017 collection is an excellent example of the growing world of contemporary art. 

We hope you enjoy your family fun day at the National Gallery of Canada. If you absolutely loved your experience at the National Gallery, you can sign up for a membership. You will be immersed in the creative world of art and art history and able to see each new exhibition without going through the hassle of buying new tickets each time. The memberships are also a large source of the Gallery’s revenue stream in addition to sponsors, donors and patrons. Not only will you be enjoying the beautiful works of art for yourself, but you will be supporting the word that is involved in keeping all of the art protected and looked after. 

Last but not least, don’t forget to exit through the gift shop and check out all of the cool souvenirs you can buy for friends, family, or yourself. The gift shop offers many fun and unique products ranging from books and stationery to fun socks and cooking ware. You can relive your favourite exhibition once you leave the gallery by buying and piecing together a beautiful puzzle with an image of one of the famous works in the Gallery. For the less ambitious, but still creative art enthusiasts, the gift shop offers posters, jewellery and accessories, magnets, postcards, and toys for children. Check out the sale section to get the most out of your dollar. Once you decide on the perfect souvenir or memorabilia, head over to one of the nearby gourmet restaurants to talk with your friends about which exhibition or artist you loved the most. The best part about going to the National Gallery of Canada is the memories you create for years to come.  Let us know if you'd like a lift! - ​​http://www.ottawalimo.org/

Next Place to Go in Ottawa - Canadian Museum of Nature