Ottawa 
Credit: Upper Canada Village
Anchored by Cornwall and Morrisburg along the St. Lawrence River, Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry reaches halfway to the Ottawa River to the north, with countless joys to discover along the water and inland. As part of original Upper Canada, it is rich in history but still has bountiful natural areas to explore.
(All activities are free unless noted in the listing.)
- Explore Cornwall This Summer: Gateway to the St. Lawrence and SDG Counties
1. Go back to the roots of Upper Canada
Upper Canada Village showcases life in the 1860s, including the historic Battle of Chrysler’s Farm, and everyday life on the farm and at home. Buy your tickets ahead of time to ensure you get in the gates with admission costing $16 for kids over age five and $20 for anyone over age 13.
Address: 13740 County Road 2, Morrisburg
2. Take a long drive on this Parkway
The Long Sault Parkway is a sweet oasis made from a series of 11 islands left after the adjacent towns were flooded out. Wildlife and camping facilities are abundant along a level and welcoming bike trail.
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3. Fall in love with Lamoureux Park
This lovely greenspace in Cornwall is the largest waterfront park in Eastern Ontario. Visit the Cornwall Community Museum, admire the iconic clock tower and historical plaques or explore the Rotary Eco-Gardens and Arboretum. The kids will love the splash pad as well.
Address: 100 Water Street, Cornwall
4. Hang out with dinosaurs
Step back in time as you tour Prehistoric World, a theme park based on more than 50 dinosaur structures. If you ever wanted to walk up to a T-Rex, this is your chance for $4 per child, $6 per senior and $8 per adult.
Address: 5446 Upper Canada Road, Morrisburg
5. Give a dam
The Saunders Hydro Dam Visitors Centre tells the story of how the St. Lawrence Seaway and its hydroelectric dams changed the local landscape. This state-of-the-art building offers interactive games and exhibits to engage visitors.
Address: 2500B Second St W, Cornwall
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6. Dive in at Chrysler Beach
Sitting right next to Upper Canada Village, this lovely stretch of sand is a relaxing setting that gives quick access to the cool waters of the St. Lawrence Seaway. Bring a picnic lunch and enjoy the site anytime between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m.
Address: 13480 County Road 2, Morrisburg
7. Chip and a chocolate cone
Archie’s Golf and Ice Cream has been a fun landmark here since 1955. Drop in for a game of mini putt for $8 then treat yourself to a cone. You can also use the driving range or play foot golf.
Address: 1719 Vincent Massey Drive, Cornwall
8. Go wild in the countryside
Countryside Adventures gives you a chance paddleboat, fish or lounge at its beach. While you’re there, check out its three-kilometres skating trail through the forest, order from the food truck and visit the farm animals. Admission costs $8 for kids and $12 for adults for the day or $35 and $50 respectively for a season’s pass. The park is open from noon to 8 p.m. or later, depending on the day of the week.
Address: 16495 Sixth Road, Moose Creek
9. Break the code
Rush Hour Escapes offers two mysteries to solve: breaking into an air-force base to steal detonation codes or finding secrets in a jungle setting. Both require teamwork and ingenuity, plus $25 per player.
Address: 52 Pitt Street, Cornwall
10. Hike between two creeks
Two Creeks Forest Conservation Area shares its many gifts as a coastal ecosystem, lowland forest and grassland floodplain all in one. Hike along a 4.5-kilometre trail through its 457 acres while watching for forest denizens.
Address: 11267-11365 Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry, Road 2
11. Go to jail, just for the day
The Historic Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Jail opened in 1833 and had a rich history of characters and violent deaths until it closed in 2002. Take a tour through the old cell blocks and other facilities then try out its escape room. For larger groups, admission is $5 each.
Address: 11 Water Street West, Cornwall
12. Get creative at Priests Mill
The Priest’s Mill Arts Centre in Alexandria offers classes in various media, including tile rollups that you bake in a kiln. You can also do glassblowing or just admire the work of the artists there. Call for prices.
Address: 16 Mill Square, Alexandria
13. Take the kids for a swim or a splash pad
The Cornwall Aquatic Centre has a two-storey waterslide, six 25-metre lanes for exercise, a pool for toddlers and a whirlpool for those who just wish to relax. Fees range from $4.50 to $5.75 depending on your age.
Address: 100 Water Street East, Cornwall
Cornwall has five outdoor pools that are 25 metres long and have wading pools on the side: St. Francis Pool – 419 Second Street West, Terry Fox Pool – 304 Mercier Street, St. Joseph Pool – 1310 Easton Avenue, Reg Campbell Pool – 637 Fraser Avenue, and Mattice Pool – 30 Edward Street.
In addition to Lamoureux Park, Cornwall has two additional pads for kids to play in: a pirate-theme structure at St. Theresa Park at Thirteenth Street and Churchill Street and the nautical-themed splash pad at Riverdale Park at Dover Street and Riverdale Avenue.
14. Fill your food bags
Head to the Maxville Farmers Market every Friday from 2 to 6 p.m. to stock up for the weekend. You’ll love the local produce and baking that is as fresh as can be.
Address: 4 Main Street, Maxville
15. Cornwall Multi-day Bike Tour
Join for a self-guided or guided 2-day cycling adventure and discover Upper Canada Village to Cornwall riding the scenic waterfront trail of lost villages of Long Sault Parkway. Cost varies from $69 to $399. (Tour starts from Ottawa)
16. Fly away for the day
The Upper Canada Migratory Bird Sanctuary provides a wonderful natural setting for cardinals, blue jays, nuthatches and other winged creatures to enliven your day. Hike along its nature trails as you watch for their colourful feathers. Visits are free but memberships of $15 for adults are welcome to support its operation.
Address: 13740 County Road 2, Morrisburg
Camp in a treehouse: Stay in a treehouse called Robin’s Roost while you are at Upper Canada Migratory Bird Sanctuary. Per night cost $313.77
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17. Have a picnic
Get a delicious picnic basket that includes some of the best bites in downtown Cornwall and enjoy a picnic in any of the region’s parks. The basket will be packed with everything that you need for a perfect picnic including a cooler bag, all of your delicious bites, plates, utensils, cutting board and knife for sharing, glasses and a bottle opener! Picnic basket costs $40 per person including taxes.
18. Hike and treasure hunt
Gray’s Creek Conservation Area has 6.4 kilometres of meandering trails to take your forest bathing for as long as you can. Its 43 hectares of foliage allows you to relax. For more adventure, look for the geocache along the trail.
Address: 18045 SDG County Road 2, South Glengarry
19. Get away to Guindon Park
Even though this forest is just outside Cornwall, you will feel like you are far from the city once you hit the trails in this 500-acre park. You can hike or bike as you relax and enjoy the scenery.
Address:Floral Drive, near Trillium Drive
20. Go picking and playing
Avonmore Berry Farm promises not to weigh you on the way in so you can enjoy strawberries, raspberries, apples and pumpkins galore. They also have a children’s area with swings, slides and a sandbox.
Address: 16365 Fourth Rd Avonmore
21. Trek on lovely trails
The Trails of Glengarry take you along 15 kilometres of trails and boardwalks. Please stay on the trails since some of them cross private properties.
21. Dive deep to see wrecks
With the St. Lawrence Seaway as a major shipping route and the cold preserving waters within it, shipwrecks offer a glimpse into the boats that have gone down in this area. Head out with your own gear or hire a charter to explore further.
23. Sip away summer
Two breweries and a winery offer their unique tastes of the area with locally produced beverages to share with friends or family. Stop by Rurban Brewing, Wood Brothers Brewing Company or Stone Crop Acres Winery to brighten up your taste buds.
- Rurban – 412 Cumberland Street, Cornwall
- Wood Brothers Brewing Company – 2980 Wylie Rd, Glen Robertson
- Stone Crop Acres Winery – 5242 Smiths Road, Morrisburg
24. Visit Summerstown
Summerstown Trails welcomes cyclists and hikers on its 15 kilometres of trails near Williamstown. The trail is more than three metres wide, fairly flat and cleared of protruding roots or rocks so you can look up at the birds and stay on track.
Addres: 6150 County Road 27, Williamstown
25. Splash it up with friends
Paul Rozon Memorial Park has a great play structure and a splash pad where the kids can cool off afterwards. It also hosts a Fun ‘n’ Friends in the Park program in the summer.
Addres: 19715 John St, Williamstown
26. Have a Beach Day
St. Lawrence Seaway boasts of several fabulous beaches. In addition to the Crysler Beach mentioned above, checkout
- Glengarry Beach, 20800 South Service Rd, Lancaster
- Mille Roches Beach & Woodlands Beach, Long Sault Parkway
- Farran Park Beach, 14704 County Road 2, Ingleside
Credit: St Lawrence Parks
