Returning from my amazing trip to South Africa and Swaziland, I had more than just memories, pictures, and two or three souvenirs – I had a new mantra: travel often, and get off-continent at least every other year. Since I don’t have the money necessary to travel full-time, I got out into my own city more. I walked more frequently, visited several museums, and went on one of the more interesting sight-seeing tours I’ve ever been on.

Allow me to introduce you to Lady Dive’s Amphibus!

This strange vehicle has the ability to drive on land and float on the water. At the time, I had somewhat worriedly asked the tour guide if the engine would be flooded with water, and his response was something along the lines of it being blocked off enough to never be an issue.

With a little bit of doubt, but a lot of curiosity, Brit and I boarded the bus.

The tour begins on the ground, in the downtown heart of Ottawa. If you’re a visitor and you’re searching for where to go, head for the War Memorial along Elgin Street and you’ll see a series of tour buses lined up along the side of the road.

You’ll pass notable landmarks along the way as you travel through the downtown area and into Byward Market, such as City Hall, The Fairmont Chateau Laurier, and of course, Parliament.

It was hard to get overly decent pictures, since we were in a moving bus. If you’re looking for an easier way to get pictures, I’d suggest the double decker tour bus option. If you’re interested in a different type of tour, the amphibus could be it!

By far the strangest moment of the tour comes when you begin to enter the water alongside the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, Quebec.

Once in the water, though, you’re treated to spectacular and less common viewpoints of a few of Ottawa’s most notable landmark structures, mainly Parliament and the library.

This post may be short, but I would recommend this tour to Ottawa visitors. The unique vantage point, the friendly guides, and the amount of landmarks you see are worth it.

Have you been on an amphibus?