City of Cornwall has stunning riverside bicycle paths, exciting events and low cost of living

Imagine visiting the City of Cornwall and enjoying 17 kilometres of traffic-free bicycle paths alongside the sparkling St. Lawrence River on a sunny, breezy summer day. As the summer sun dips below the horizon, you pop into a locally-owned restaurant for a delicious, fresh dinner with friends. You then retire to a nearby hotel or inn after an evening at a lively festival. The next morning, savour brunch before the picturesque drive back to Ottawa. This is the reality if you take a trip just an hour east of Ottawa to the City of Cornwall, which has a lot more to offer than many people know. 

The City of Cornwall features many kilometres of uninterrupted bike paths, whether for a family of four on a leisurely ride, seniors on e-bikes or serious riders training for a triathlon. The paths feature unbeatable views of the St. Lawrence as well as the Historic Cornwall Canal. For those seeking more of a challenge, you can tackle the Long Sault Parkway, which hops from island to island. 

“Enjoying nature is really at the heart of Cornwall and at the heart of a lot of the recreational cultural activities that are here,” says Bob Peters, manager of Cornwall Economic Development. 

In addition to an active lifestyle that incorporates the city’s nature and water features, there are more reasons to consider Cornwall, whether it is to relocate or simply for a day or weekend trip with family and friends. 

The city boasts a healthy stock of affordable housing, as well as a wealth of job opportunities and a lower cost of living. And if you are living there, Cornwall never fails to offer up something to do every weekend. 

This includes the four-day Cornwall Ribfest at Lamoureux Park (July 25-28), Poutine Feast (August 1-4) also at Lamoureux Park, the Cornwall Waterfest (August 10) on the Historic Cornwall Canal and the always popular Cornwall Night Market (August 16), which is one of the largest of its kind in Eastern Ontario. The Night Market features a live DJ and more than 50 vendors selling local goods and services. Cornwall Chaos (August 17-18) is an all-ages musical event that features live music. There are too many other events to list, but perhaps among the most popular that must be mentioned is the Pitt Street Beer Garden on Saturday afternoons and Cornwall Motor Speedway racing on Sunday nights. 

“We have a really strong offering with festivals and events,” says Kevin Lajoie, tourism officer with the City of Cornwall. “For people in the Ottawa region who are looking for a quick day trip or even an overnight trip, I think we’re a great option. You could match some of these festivals and events with a bit of cycling.” 

When you are attending all these events, another perk of enjoying downtown Cornwall is free weekend parking in the core area, making for a stress-free experience. If you take a trip to Cornwall, whether it is for a bike ride, a festival or the beer garden, it is an experience you will not forget anytime soon.

For additional information or to plan a visit to Cornwall, make sure to check out www.CornwallTourism.com or text the Cornwall Tourism team anytime at 613-938-4748.