Cheese, yes, but dairy belt Oxford offers more to milk

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Canadians opting to explore their own country this year amidst the heightened tensions between Canada and the United States will find plenty to do in Woodstock and Oxford County. With bustling cities and towns, and some of the richest farmland in Ontario, Oxford County bridges the urban-rural divide by offering a flourishing arts and culture scene and a growing culinary community, as well as conservation areas, beautiful parks and more than 100 kilometres of scenic trails.

Known as the Dairy Capital of Canada, Oxford County and its 130,000-or-so residents are proud of its agricultural heritage and its growing reputation as a leader in sustainable growth.

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When it comes to savouring and celebrating the summer, Meredith Maywood, the region’s top tourism boss, offers plenty of choices – from gastronomic adventures to an afternoon of fine art. 

Here is a list of her top picks for what to see and do in Oxford County.

Oxford County Cheese Trail

The Oxford County Cheese Trail is at the top top of Maywood’s list because Woodstock and Oxford County have a well-deserved reputation as the Dairy Capitals of Canada, producing more than one-billion glasses of milk annually. The trail includes heritage stops that celebrate the dairy industry of the 1800s to today’s award-winning cheesemakers, artisans and farm experience. The trail includes a group of “cheesemakers, attractions, restaurants and retailers with fun activities, unique flavours and offers you can purchase – all related to dairy,” Maywood said. The trail is a self-guided tour of 30 or more stops across the county, including destinations like Moutntainoak Cheese, Gunn’s Hill Artisan Cheese, Bright Cheese and Butter Manufacturing, Red Dragon Dairy, Udderly Ridiculous Farm Life, Golspie Dairy, Dad’s Ice Cream and New Galma Dairy. With so much to see and do, Maywood recommends five stops a day from a central hub, like Woodstock or Ingersoll. Woodstock’s Cheesy Cow, a new boutique cheese and meat store, joined the tour for the first time this year. If you need help planning your adventure, email  tourism@oxfordcounty.ca and they will be happy to lend you a hand. Visit www.tourismoxford.ca/things_to_do/culinary_and_farms/cheese_trail.aspx to watch a video about the experience and download Oxford County’s cheese trail guide.

Woodstock Art Gallery

Explore the largest collection of artwork by renowned Woodstock artist Florence Carlyle at the Woodstock Art Gallery on Dundas Street in the city’s downtown. Carlyle (1864–1923) moved to Woodstock at the age of seven and later travelled to Paris with artistic mentor Paul Peel to study painting before returning to Canada at the age of 32. In Canada, she became a well-known portrait and figure artist, culminating in a exhibition with the Art Association of Montreal. In 1897, she became the first woman in Canada to be elected an associate of the Royal Canadian Academy. As her home-town gallery, the Woodstock facility boasts the largest collection of her work.

Annandale National Historic Site

Explore Canada’s best example of the Aesthetic Arts Movement popularized by author Oscar Wilde at the Annandale National Historic Site in Tillsonburg. Originally owned by Tillsonburg’s founding father, E. D Tillson, the majestic home was built from 1881 to 1882. The house has been described as an excellent example of the pattern-book design of the late Victorian age when home design reflected status. The home is decorated with paintings on its ceilings and walls, and features painted and stained glass windows, as well as exuberantly decorated fireplaces.

Beachville Museum

Visit the Beachville Museum to learn about the first recorded baseball game in North America, which took place in the rural community in 1838. You can book the museum’s Baseball Making experience and make a ball similar to those used in that historic game. You can also learn how to play since the rules of the game were different back then, Maywood said. You will also learn about historical baseball equipment, such as bats and gloves, and hear stories about the first recorded game ever played.

Back to the farm

Get a taste of a true farm experience at Udderly Ridiculous Farm Life, which offers a variety of tourist packages at its bucolic Bright location. Think chowing down on a charcuterie board while alpacas photobomb your selfies or engaging in a session of goat yoga. At the Berrylicious Fruit Farm, visitors are invited to pick their own elderflowers, raspberries, blueberries, apples and pumpkins, as well as enjoy a picnic or afternoon tea in the patch or take part in a photography session in the sunflowers with their favourite canine. In Innerkip, a visit to Thames River Melons means picking your own fresh strawberries and veggies. Thames River Melons also offers pre-picked produce, preserves, baked goods, and Black Angus beef.

Tour Oxford

Meet the county’s makers and story tellers at www.tourismoxford.ca/experiences. You can choose from such unforgettable experiences as spending some calming time with horses at Transitions – Encompassing Wellness, trying watercolour painting at Golden Hour Palettes with Aggie Armstrong, or booking a flight with the Tillsonburg based not-for-profit Canadian Harvard Aircraft Association.

Trans Canada Trail

Travel a piece of the Trans Canada Trail that runs 17 kilometres through rural Oxford County. The trail that winds through Oxford is mainly an old rail line with a few roadway sections. The easy-to-moderate level gravel trail is accessed at Tillson Avenue in Tillsonburg, just south of North Street. In Norwich Township, hikers can access the trail at  Zenda Line, just south of Cornell Road on the east side.

Plattsville and District Heritage Society

For small-town vibes, Oxford County has a great community museum that is run by a passionate group of volunteers with the Plattsville and District Heritage Society. This museum is a bit different that its typical small-town counterparts since it does not have a permanent collection. Instead, its volunteers work with individuals who have items and collections they offer to display. This year, the museum is embracing a theme of the 1970s and ’80s. Given its regularly changing displays, this volunteer-run museum always has a diverse and fun mix of items on exhibit. www.plattsvilledistrictheritagesociety.com/2025-exhibit.html

Take part in a local festival

Cowapolooza, a two-day summer festival in Woodstock, offers plenty of family fun and entertaining music, including a headlining performance this year by the multi-platinum Big Wreck. www.cityofwoodstock.ca/en/live-and-play/cowapolooza.aspx.

Hit a local food truck

There’s more than a few local food trucks scattered throughout Oxford County, offering a wide variety of cuisine, as well as catering services. PB’s Fries on the corner of Thames Street North and Victoria Street in Ingersoll is a popular lunch-time destination, as is Woodstock’s Todd’s Dogs, which specializes in gourmet hotdogs. Food trucks have become so popular in Oxford County that Tavistock’s Grace United Church hosts a Food Truck Monday during the summer months with an ever-changing rotation.

HRivers@postmedia.com

We are highlighting the places and people that make our community worth celebrating in a 10-week series called How Canada Wins: Love Where We Live.

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