Are you feeling the urge to find some fresh scenery with lots of wide-open spaces? Oxford County is calling! Exploring in and around Woodstock, Tillsonburg, Ingersoll, Norwich and Tavistock, you’ll be amazed at the treasures that await around every country corner. 

 

Start Your Engines

 

Just under an hour from downtown Toronto, Oxford County is closer than you think. That means you can skip breakfast and hold off your hunger to enjoy a decadent brunch upon arrival. From May through October, you’ll want to schedule your trip to coincide with the Harvest Brunch Experience offered at Thames River Melons. This extended experience is so much more than a meal and includes an interactive farm tour, workshop and cooking class led by Registered Dietician and farmer, Alex Chesney. After gathering ingredients and exploring the property, you’ll head back to the Farm Kitchen to help prepare a brunch to enjoy with the other guests. Learn more and book your Harvest Brunch.

 

Thames River Melons Brunch

 

Make Room For Cheese

 

After brunch, a little bit of exercise is in order to prepare for an afternoon of sipping and sampling. There’s a lovely four-kilometre trail at Chesney Wilderness Area that will take you through a beautiful hardwood forest. If you’d prefer to walk with some very cute company, the 75-minute Alpaca Walk at Udderly Ridiculous Farm is a can’t-miss Oxford County experience!

 

Wheel Around The Oxford County Cheese Trail

 

With the exercise portion of your day complete, you’ll be ready to enjoy some Oxford County Cheese Trail touring. This self-guided tour features 24 delicious stops showcasing the County’s cheese and dairy producers and related experiences. If you’re unsure of how to best plan your stops, browse the collection of itineraries here that break the trail into smaller, themed sections.

 

Churn Back Time

 

Raise A Pint To A Delicious First Day of Oxford County Touring

 

If tasting all that delicious cheese leaves you in search of something to quench your thirst, make a pint stop at Upper Thames Brewing Company in Woodstock. With 15 taps of unfiltered, preservative-free beer showcasing local ingredients, you’re sure to find something you love. You can also check out their second location, the Brickhouse Brewpub. Since it is a second location, half of their taps serve Upper Thames Brewing Company beer and the other half serve other local beers.

 

Check In And Check Out For A Bit

 

Before hitting the town for dinner, get yourself settled at a great local hotel, inn or bed and breakfast. Excellent options include the historic Elm Hurst Inn and Spa in Ingersoll, Best Western Plus Woodstock Inn and Suites and Holiday Inn Express and Suites Woodstock South.

 

Elm Hurst Inn - Check In

 

Savour An Oxford County Dinner

 

Oxford County is home to a talented collection of chefs who celebrate the region’s bounty in their kitchens every day. For the ultimate taste of Oxford County, reserve a table at Woodstock’s sixthirtynine for the seven-course prix fix experience. Get a sneak peek of the forage-to-table fare you can expect by watching this Next Stop: Taste video.

KALOS, in Mount Elgin, is another excellent restaurant showcasing Oxford County ingredients in a delicious assortment of small plates, pizzas, mains, desserts and signature cocktails.

To enjoy treasures from the Oxford County Cheese Trail incorporated into tasty dishes like Gunn’s Hill Poutine, a lobster burger or a delicious vegetarian panini sandwich, book at table at Finkle Street Tap and Grill.

 

Start Day Two Off Right

 

Begin your second day of Oxford County exploring with a carefully roasted cup of coffee at Woodstock’s Early Bird Coffee. The on-site café also has a decadent selection of pastries from Sweet B’s Custom Cake Studio that are the perfect complement to what’s in your cup.

 

The Early Bird Coffee

 

Make The Morning Yours

 

Spend a few hours doing something you love. If you adore scoring cool vintage finds, swing by the One-of-a-kind Antique Mall, Canada’s largest antiques and collectables market. If leaving a lighter environmental footprint is a priority, you’ll adore the products and philosophy at Jarful Refillery and Fair/Square. Cyclists wanting to clock some miles on Oxford County’s rolling hills can download the free Ride Oxford map to plan their perfect paved road, gravel road or mountain biking route. If you’re overdue for some self-care, spend some time making your own beautiful soaps to enjoy at home at one of Wild Comfort Body Care’s hands-on soap-making or soap felting experiences.

Enjoy Some Global Flavours For Lunch

 

Don’t let Oxford County’s rural charm fool you! This area loves global flavours too! Tandoori Knight is an excellent option for an Indian lunch straight from the tandoor. Sushi Cove has a fantastic selection of fresh sashimi and rolls as well as Korean favourites like bibimbap and bulgogi. Pho Binh Thanh makes a phenomenal Pho by simmering its signature broth for over six hours.

 

Squeeze In A Few More Cheese Trail Stops

 

As your first afternoon of touring will probably have left you hungry to do a little more exploring on the Oxford County Cheese Trail, save some time in the afternoon to work in a few more stops.

 

couple reaching for cheese at Gunn's HIll

 

Dine Like A Local For Dinner

 

No one does comfort food quite like Oxford County! From a juicy burger at Richies Ice Cream and BBQ, Flippin’ Mikes or Fritzies to the County Fried Chicken Dinner at Quehl’s, follow the locals' lead for the reward of one delicious dinner!

 

Sleep In and Stock Up Before You Go

 

Treat yourself to a few extra hours in your hotel bed on your last morning but leave time for a little bit more touring! Once you get a taste of Oxford County, you’ll want to take its fantastic flavours home with you. The Oxford Fresh map is a great resource to help you identify what’s in season and where to find it at area farmer’s markets, pick-your-own farms, produce stands, and specialty shops.