Get out of town and enjoy a day by the water in Cornwall. From beautiful views of the St. Lawrence River, a hidden waterfall and unique shops and restaurants, there are plenty of things to do in Cornwall. I had so much fun spending the day here and exploring this wonderful city. Here’s some things to look forward to when you visit.
Grab A Bite At A Cornwall Restaurant
I was really impressed with the variety of restaurants in Cornwall. There’s so many great spots to choose from that you’ll have to make multiple trips. Whether you’re craving a deluxe burger, some surf n turf or a vegetarian meal, Cornwall has what you’re looking for.
Simply Jennifer
Head to this spot for lunch and enjoy it on one of the public picnic benches on the main street or head to the water. Simply Jennifer focuses on plant-based, organic and locally sourced ingredients. We loved meeting the owner and learning about the care that goes into developing her menu. This is a great spot to grab a sandwich and make sure to try one of their coffee items while you’re there.
ESCA
Enjoying pizza at ESCA was recommended by the team at Pure Organic Spa as one of the things to do in Cornwall. Enjoy a gourmet pizza and some wine on their patio. They offer a delicious mix of pizzas including spicy salami and goat cheese, philly, a vegan pizza and more.
Brunch on Pitt
Start your day with the best meal of the day at Brunch on Pitt. Enjoy a classic like eggs benny or one of their fun creations like cinammon roll pancakes.
Sheeps Head Bistro
Enjoy fresh and seasonal dishes at Sheeps Head Bistro in Cornwall. This is a great spot to head for brunch, lunch, or dinner. They have lots of east coast inspired dishes or creative dishes like wonton nachos.
Schnitzel’s European Flavours
Take a quick trip to Europe with Schnitzel’s European Flavours. Enjoy European faovurites like beer cheese dip and house-made pretzels. Order a classic schnitzel for your main or their own spin like a fiesta schnitzel.
Table 21
Enjoy surf and turf at Table 21 in Cornwall. What was meant to be a wedding venue was turned into an upscale restaurant by the creativity of the owners. Enjoy Diverse dishes and flavours at this restaurant.
Fairy Sweet
Satisfy your sweet tooth at Fairy Sweets. Enjoy macaroons, cannoli, creative cupcakes, donuts, and more.
Edwards Bistro
This scratch kitchen offers lunch and dinner Tuesday to Sunday. Edward’s Bistro offers brunch, lunch and dinner. Their menus are inspired by French and Italian cuisine.
Go Shopping in Cornwall
Add shopping to your list of things to do in Cornwall. I was impressed with the mix of independent and unique spots you can pop into. Park your car near the water or on the street and then spend a few hours exploring Pitt Street and all its wonderful shops.
Happy Popcorn Co.
Your trip to Cornwall isn’t complete without a stop at Happy Popcorn Co. They have an incredible variety of popcorn from nacho, jalapeno, blue raspberry, pizza and more. They also have a great mix of hard to find international treats from the UK, Japan, and more. Grab an old favourite you’ve had abroad or something new. Are you daring enough to try the ghost pepper watermelon candy?
Love and Lee Bridal
Make sure to add this cute shop to your list of things to do in Cornwall. Not only does Love and Lee sell bridal items but they also have great jumpsuits, dresses and more. The interior was beautiful and they had a fun interactive mural of wings on the wall that’s perfect for a photo.
This would be such a fun spot to come if you had a friend getting married. You could try on dresses, go to the spa and grab a bite at one of the restaurants.
The Kingslea
This shop had lots of trendy and fun clothes. We loved speaking with the owner and learning about his inspiration for sourcing items and which designers he featured. He only orders a limited quantity of each item so you’ll have a unique piece. They sell both men’s and women’s clothing.
Kid’s Korner
If you have kids or are a kid at heart yourself, make sure to stop by Kid’s Korner. From bouncy balls, floaties, fun games, and more, there are plenty of fun items inside this store.
Life’s Little Pleasures
Add Life’s Little Pleasures to your list of things to do in Cornwall. Inside you’ll find a fun range of home goods, candles, soap, socks, jewellery and more.
Echo Trends
Stop by this consignment shop for a great find at a good price. They have a fun interior and lots of great items to browse through. You’ll find gently used clothing, jewellery, handbags and more.
Crush Lane
Stop into Crush Lane and browse their jewellery collections. You’ll find special pieces inspired by pop art, fashion, music and more.
The Local Fill
At The Local Fill you’ll find sustainable, locally made and eco friendly products. Inside you’ll find a selection of household supplies, beeswax wraps, straws, body care products and more.
Visit the Pop-Ups
Explore the work of a wonderful mix of makers in this pop-up series. You’ll find some makers offering a range of different products. Browse the schedule of pop-ups here. You’ll find the pop-ups in these colourful shipping containers.
Find a full list of shops to explore in Cornwall here.
Pamper Yourself
Add relax and unwind at Pure Organic Spa to your list of things to do in Cornwall. Pure Organic Spa has a beautiful space with exposed brick. Enjoy services like pedicures, manicures, facials, massages, and more. Their team was so friendly. We left with some great shellac manicures.
Make your day trip to Cornwall into a girl’s getaway. Start the day at Pure Organic Spa for some pampering and then pop into the shops and the restaurants.
Beat The Clock
Head to Rush Hour Escapes and see if your team can beat the clock and get out in time. With 60 minutes on the clock, your team has to put clues together to find the way to escape. This is a great way for you and your friends to put your problem-solving skills to the test in a fun setting. Complete one of their escape rooms and then head to dinner to discuss how solving the clues went.
Enjoy Lamoureux Park & Find A Hidden Waterfall
This park is right along the St. Lawrence River where you can enjoy some beautiful views. There’s lots of picnic tables if you want to spend some time here. There’s also a splash pad and public washrooms.
Make sure to add Lamoureux Park to your list of things to do in Cornwall because it will lead you to a hidden waterfall right downtown! You can use the Waterfront Trail to bike here or walk. Grab a coffee or lunch to go and sit by the rocks for a bit and listen to the stream of water. To find it, go along the Waterfront Trail. Once you’ve passed the wooden bridge you’ll find a gravel trail that will lead you here.
Bike The Waterfront Trail
The Waterfront Trail is an Ontario-wide route that spans 3000 km. The Cornwall position of the route is over 40 kms long and will bring you to Upper Canada Village. Park your car at the Cornwall Civic Complex and start your bike ride.
I love that the trail is completely dedicated to bikers and separate from traffic. The Cornwall portion of the route is my favourite because it’s right beside the water so you’re getting some of the best scenic views as you cycle through. This portion of the waterfront trail allows you to ride along the Long Sault Parkway that’s a series of islands connected by a quiet roadway just west of Cornwall.
I would consider myself a casual biker and enjoyed biking along the route in Lamoureux Park. There were also lots of more experienced bikers enjoying the path. This park also a great spot to refill your water bottle or stop for a bite. You can rent bikes at Marina 200 and reserve them by calling 613-932-8301. The bikes are stored in the colourful container below painted by @falldowng. This year is a test run and they have 6 bikes available for rent. You can also bring your own bike. Rentals are $10/hour, $25 for 4 hours, or $35 for the full day.
Interested in making it a biking staycation? Book one of Cornwall’s Cycle and Stay packages
Learn About Cornwall’s History
Self-Guided Tour
As you walk through the downtown core and by the water you’ll see signage that will share tidbits about Cornwall’s History. There are over 40 plaques that will share a piece of Cornwall’s Heritage. Walking through the main street I loved seeing the architecture of the historic buildings too.
Historic SDG Jail – Currently Closed
The Historic SDG Jail in Cornwall is nearly 200 years old. Go on one of the guided tours and learn about the history of the jail. They have a paranormal lockup where you have the opportunity to experience an evening filled with historical and paranormal intrigue in this old jail.
St. Raphael Ruins
In 1970 a fire consumed the church of St. Raphael’s. The outer walls were spared and today you can visit the ruins. It was declared a National Historic Site in 1999. Visitors are welcome to tour the site. Gates are open during the day in the summer months with a curator on duty in July and August. Admission is free and donations are accepted.
Address: 19998 County Road 18, Williamstown
Cornwall Community Museum
Learn about the history of Cornwall at the Cornwall Community Museum. Each room reflects a different time between the 1800s to the 1950s and will take you through a piece of the past.
Lost Villages Museum
The Lost Villages Museum tells the story of the lost villages of Long Sault. Step into the past and explore 10 heritage buildings that have been restored and assembled to represent a village-like setting.
Go For A Hike
Both Gray’s Creek Conservation Area and Guindon Park offer scenic spots for a hike in Cornwall. Gray’s Creek features 6.4km of trails that are open year round. The Gray’s Creek Trail is a lightly trafficked 1.8km trail that features a river and you can bring your dog.
Guindon Park covers 500 acres along the St. Lawrence River. It provides a great spot to escape into nature only 10 minutes from downtown and can be enjoyed in all seasons.
Explore The Long Sault Parkway
Explore this network of connected islands. Bike or drive along this parkway and enjoy picnic and beach areas along the way. Bridges connect the hilltops of the former villages that were flooded to make the International Seaway and Power Dam project of 1958. You can picnic and go swimming at Woodland Beach and Mille Beach. Make sure to make a reservation in advance here.
Attend An Event in Cornwall
Art Walk was taking place while we were visiting. Artists come to the street to showcase live art. There was music, painting, crafts and more. I loved browsing the different stands and seeing the artists work come to life. Check out their list of Cornwall events here before visiting.
How To Get To Cornwall and Parking
Cornwall is just over an hour drive from Ottawa and an hour and a half drive from Montreal. There’s lots of parking available in Cornwall. Parking is free for the first 2 hours, just make sure to register at the machines. Municipal parking lots and on-street parking spaces are free on weekends and weekdays after 6 pm. By the water you’ll find plenty of spots that you can park for free with a time limit of a few hours.
I loved the drive out to Cornwall. It’s an easy drive and you’ll get some nice views of farm’s on your way.
Have any questions questions? You can reach Cornwall Tourism via text at 613-938-4748.
Make It A Staycation
Add more time to your trip and make it a staycation. Search below to find a hotel in Cornwall.
Booking.com
This post was sponsored by Cornwall Tourism. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own. I hope you have as much fun exploring Cornwall as I did. I’d love to see your adventures. Feel free to tag me on social @littlemissottawa.
Connect with Cornwall Tourism on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Browse the Cornwall Tourism website for more resources on things to see and do while you visit.
Julia started Little Miss Ottawa as a way to explore her hometown as a traveller would. She’s always planning her next adventure, whether it’s local or abroad. You’ll find her exploring with her camera in hand. She hopes Little Miss Ottawa helps bring you on new and fun adventures. Happy exploring :)
Find me on: Instagram
