Rideau Canal gets top history marks

Above, a view of the Rideau Canal and the Alexandra Bridge. Inset, National Geographic Traveler’s November issue.

Published: October 29, 2008 1:29 a.m.

Last modified: December 30, 2008 11:21 p.m.

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In the November issue of National Geographic Traveler magazine, which will be on newsstands as of Nov. 4, Ontario’s Rideau Canal Corridor places No. 2 out of 109 historic destinations around the world, a leader in the Best-Rated Places category in the magazine’s fifth annual survey of authentic travel destinations.

Here’s a compilation of what the magazine’s reviewers had to say about the canal: “Flowing 126 miles from Ottawa to Lake Ontario, the 1832 canal ‘displays a high degree of authenticity.’ Named a World Heritage site in 2007, it is a ‘cornerstone of economic and social sustainability.’ Lined by parks and historically alluring communities, the corridor is a ‘high-quality model of collaborative action in creating sustainable heritage tourism.’”

What was the world’s No. 1 historic destination? Austria’s Wachau/Melk Abbey, of which the magazine’s reviewers said: “‘You really step back in time’ at this ‘impressively maintained’ Benedictine monastery overlooking the Danube. Villages ‘seem to try to outdo each other in promoting their heritage.’ A ‘nice combination of agro-tourism and gourmet tourism.’”

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