Experience history in the making with a visit to Cornwall and SDG Counties this season. This is where Ontario began and exploring here along the St. Lawrence river uniquely combines heritage with memorable ways to discover the region. Read on to 7 five ways to write your story in Cornwall and SDG Counties this summer!
Embrace History
A historic walking tour in Cornwall gives visitors and residents alike a chance to walk back in time and experience the city’s rich history through a collection of 30 plaques erected at key points throughout the waterfront, Downtown and Le Village areas. Each plaque depicts an era, event or landmark from the City’s past and features the artwork of renowned Cornwall artist, Pierre Giroux. History comes to life at Upper Canada Village near Morrisburg while costumed villagers re-enact and live as though it’s 1860. Inspire awe at the village’s authentic buildings and activities.
The Historic SDG Jail is known as one of the oldest public structures in Ontario, dating back to 1844. But delving further into its storied past, reveals that men women and even children were incarcerated there for more than 168 years. During that time, five inmates were executed by hanging. Take a guided tour of the jail as it is today and experience life behind bars to see the holding cells, visitation and common areas, exercise yards and the gallows.
Can You Escape In Time?
Plan your escape from the hottest new entertainment attraction: Rush Hour Escapes Cornwall. To complete the mission in this challenging real-life adventure game, players have to work together to find clues, crack codes and solve puzzles to escape before time runs out. Your adventure awaits with one of the four escape room missions: Operation Mindfall; Magic Portal; Gallery Heist or CSI: Cornwall Murder.
Groups of four to eight players have 60 minutes on the clock to find their way around the mission by solving puzzles that test your brain and teamwork skills. Round up family and friends and see if you can speed through rush hour in Cornwall!
We’ve Got The Power!
Get a charge out of the Ontario Power Generation’s St. Lawrence Power Development Visitor Centre in Cornwall this summer. Located on the banks of the St. Lawrence River, the season centre is open to the public from mid-May to September. This impressive 13,000 square foot LEED building shares the stories behind OPG. Discover the fascinating history of the St. Lawrence Seaway and Power Project and explore hydroelectric, thermal and nuclear generation, the American eel and safety around power facilities.
Ontario Power Generation has been operating in South Eastern Ontario for more than a century, and now includes a thermal facility, as well as 10 hydroelectric generation stations. With historical insight and countless stories to tell, the visitor centre is an educational gem – and fun for the whole family.
Highland Games, Bourbon, And A Barbecue Bonanza
World famous highlands dancing competitions, caber toss, and North America’s largest performance of masses pipe bands – all combines at the Glengarry Highland Games annually for the largest gathering of its kind outside of Scotland. This event draws in thousands of visitors at the beginning of August each year from all parts of the earth to take part in piping and dancing competition.
Get your taste buds tingling this summer, with Cornwall Ribfest the four-day barbecue extravaganza in Lamoureux Park in July. Another promise of a fun-filled event is the Beer, Bourbon, BBQ and Blues Festival in mid-July at the NAV Centre. Enjoy a mix of craft beer, blues music, bourbons and barbecue treats. With 18 breweries on site, as well as four bourbon distilleries – happy hour can be all day long.
READ ALSO: Cornwall: Compelling History And Unforgettable Food
Country Fairs
No visit to The Counties is complete without the charm of a country fair. Cornwall and The Counties has numerous options, each with its own special flare. Whether you’re hopping on board a Ferris wheel or watching a tractor pull, fairs let everyone get their country on. From the Maxville Fair and the Avonmore Fair to the Williamstown Fair and South Mountain Fair, the summer is hootin’ and hollerin’ with fair season across Cornwall and the SDG Counties.
Get Outside
The outdoors are calling – answer the call and immerse yourself in nature. Being so close to the St. Lawrence River affords some stunning views from the waterfront trail that spans the city’s waterfront. Spend the day cycling or walking along the trail that runs through Lamoureux Park. Cornwall’s portion of the trail is a dedicated off-road multi-use trail that spans the waterfront through the entire city. Stop for a picnic in the park and marvel at the stunning views of the Cornwall Canal and the St. Lawrence River along the way.
READ ALSO: Cozy Family Camping In The Parks Of The St. Lawrence
Get swinging at golf courses in the area, as rolling hills and tricky greens make for a challenging game coupled with unique views of the river at a dozen courses in the area.
READ ALSO: 13 Amazing Golf Courses To Play In South Eastern Ontario
Acknowledged as a top international shore dive location, the waters surrounding Cornwall hold mystery and intrigue. Discover an underwater world rich in plant and animal life, as well as shipwrecks and the remnants of the famous Lost Villages, which were flooded during the construction of the St. Lawrence Seaway Project. With dive sites ready for beginner and advanced divers alike, this underwater world is silently waiting to be explored.
Summer On The Water
READ ALSO: 14 Perfect Beaches To Spend The Day At In South Eastern Ontario
A handful of beaches in Cornwall and the Counties make summer memorable! Pack up and head for the warmth of a day in the sun and surf, be sure to bring your camera too as the views are delightful as feeling the sand between your toes. Some beaches even have adjacent playgrounds or picnic areas like Farran Park Beach in Ingleside, that is a wide arching sandbank with playgrounds on a peninsula that juts into the St. Lawrence River. Check out our map at the end of the blog post for more beaches.