Enjoy a 30-minute scenic drive East of the McIntosh Country Inn to the small friendly city of Cornwall
Jump in the car and take the Highway 2 east from the McIntosh Country Inn for a scenic 30-minute drive to the small city of Cornwall. With a population of around 50,000, Cornwall offers the perfect mixture of small-town friendly community and the perks of city living.
Cornwall, now a thriving and vibrant community, has a rich history as one of Canada’s earliest settlements. Visit Cornwall and discover its fascinating history, take in a delicious food festival or outdoor concert, or stop by the mall. There’s no lack of events and interesting things to do in the City of Cornwall.
Explore Cornwall’s Vibrant History
Cornwall Community Museum
Visit the Cornwall Community Museum, located on Water St. West in the beautiful Lamoureux Park. This stone building is a restored 1840 Loyalist home and displays a variety of historic furniture, textiles, and household items.
Cornwall Historic Walking Tour
Get some fresh air and exercise and learn about Cornwall’s history! Enjoy Cornwall’s 3 Historic Walking Tours featuring 40+ plaques. Each plaque highlights a feature of Cornwall’s fascinating history, accompanied by artwork by renowned local artist Pierre Giroux.
Stroll down the Waterfront Walk and learn about the Stormont Mill, the Paper Mill and the Cornwall Canal. And don’t forget to enjoy the view of the St. Lawrence River. The historic Downtown Walk reveals the history of many of the original streets and buildings, including Pitt & First Streets, the Town Hall, and the King George Hotel. Finally, the Le Village Walk explores the culture of the city and offers intriguing insights into the Cornwall Dry Dock, the Roxy Theatre, and the Cotton Mills.
Discover Cornwall’s Many Tourist Attractions
Annual Festivals: Rib Fest and Beer, Bourbon, BBQ, and Blues
Cornwall is perhaps best known for its popular summer festivals. Occurring each summer, Rib Fest is a 4 day long FREE event in Lamoureux Park filled with fun, music, entertainment, and of course, delicious ribs and other food! Whole families will enjoy the midway rides, vendors, and the kids’ zone.
The Beer, Bourbon, BBQ, and Blues Festival is held at the Nav Centre. This event has featured over 20 breweries, 10 distilleries and various wineries and cideries. Delicious Canadian, Texas and Carolina BBQ style goods are offered by the Nav Centre chef and a local grill master. To top it all off, visitors can enjoy award winning blues musicians. It’s a summer festival not to be missed!
Historic SDG Jail
Interested in history with a gruesome and paranormal side? Visit the almost 200-year-old Historic SDG Jail and learn about it’s creepy past.
The jail operated from 1834-2002 and although the jail cells are no longer in use, unclaimed bodies are still buried in the exercise yard…rumour has it their spirits still haunt the walls of the old building. Are you brave enough to take the tour? Book your visit at https://www.historicsdgjail.com/ today.
Cornwall Square Shopping Mall
While you’re in town, take advantage of the Cornwall Square Shopping Mall located across the street from Cornwall Civic Complex and Lamoureux Park. Browse the mall and enjoy the various stores featuring electronics and games, jewellery, home décor, books, health and beauty, ladies’ apparel, and more.
Aultsville Theatre
Named after one of the villages submerged in the flooding of the St. Lawrence Seaway, the Aultsville Theatre is a community gem. You’ll find the Theatre on the campus of St. Lawrence College and on the shore of the picturesque St. Lawrence River. Established in 1976, Aultsville Theatre offers productions in a comfortable 658-seat theatre. For more information about Cornwall’s local theatre, visit https://www.aultsvilletheatre.com/
Arts in the Park
Are you ready for free, family friendly music in the outdoor concert area? Come on over to Lamoureux Park! Bring your own chair, blanket or picnic basket and prepare to enjoy. Music is presented by popular local artists and performers. Afternoon performances start at 2:00 pm and you can catch an evening show, weather permitting, at 7:00 pm. Visit https://www.cornwall.ca/en/play-here/arts-in-the-park.aspx for information about the current lineup!
The Nav Centre, Restaurant & Pub
Stop by the Nav Center, Eastern Ontario’s largest hotel and conference centre. The Centre features 70 elegant meeting rooms and more than 500 guest rooms! Enjoy the delicious menu options and outdoor seating at the Propeller Restaurant and the Jet Set Pub. For more information, visit https://navcentre.ca/
Parks of the St. Lawrence Waterfront Cycling Trail
The Waterfront Trail is a cycling trail like no other! Enjoy paved and gravel paths, winding through trees, over bridges, and along the shores of St. Lawrence River. The Morrisburg to Cornwall trail passes by many of the Waterfront Walking Tour historic plaques. Take a moment to read them and learn more about Cornwall’s fascinating history.