Is your regular family trip to the local farmer’s market starting to feel a little old? Shake up your weekend routine with a family escape that provides an authentic taste of farm life. Just a short drive from much of Southern Ontario, exploring the rural roads of Oxford and Middlesex counties is an ideal activity for families who are curious about what life’s really like in the country.
Day One Morning
Wow the kids at your first stop of the day with a bit of dairy history and a cheesy scavenger hunt at Ingersoll Cheese Museum. In addition to over 45,000 artifacts, the greenspace behind this re-creation of a 19th-century cheese factory is home to Canada’s only cheese playground!
Next, head to Jakeman’s Maple Syrup to shop maple goodies, check out the local vendors in the gift shop, and trek Trillium Woods 1km loop.
Now it’s time for some delightful dairy at Golspie Dairy. This dairy farm has been operating for almost 150 years but has recently switched things up with the addition of one of the first vending machines in Canada for white milk & chocolate milk, and cheese. Bring your own container to fill or get one out of the vending machine. Don't forget your travel cups to drink your delicious milk on the road!
Lunchtime in rural Ontario calls for country comfort foods. Visit the Fritzie’s in Woodstock for a kid-approved meal that won’t break the bank. For dessert, stop by Dee-lights Bakery, Two Guys and a Whisk, or Whisk and Roll Bakery and Café for tasty baked treats.
Day One Afternoon
Once you’ve secured the sweets, head north to Udderly Ridiculous Farm Life for your day’s cuteness quotient with a 45-minute Goat Recess experience. There will be plenty of time for pictures, play, petting, snuggles and hand-feeding the farm’s Pygmy and Nigerian Dwarf goats.
Keep the family farm fun going with a visit to Thames River Melons Farm Market and Pick-Your-Own Patch. The farm has an extensive selection of vegetables available for picking in season, including beans, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, peas, peppers, potatoes and more. In the summer, there’s also an on-site Farm Food Truck with milkshakes made using the farm’s homemade strawberry or blueberry purée!
Heading to Middlesex from here? Fall is the perfect time to visit Appleland Station for some family fun in the country! You can enjoy apple and pumpkin picking and a fun train ride tour of the farm. Sip on some fresh pressed apple cider, visit the barnyard animals and enjoy playing on Sand Mountain. The onsite bakery whips up amazing fruit pies and turnovers that smell and taste absolutely heavenly. While on-site, be sure to challenge the whole family to a race through the corn maze! It's the perfect place to enjoy tasty treats, make some furry friends, and pick the best fall produce to take home.
Staying in Oxford a while longer? If there are art lovers in your family, wrap up your afternoon with a visit to the Creative Arts Centre in Ingersoll. If your trip falls on one of the dates available, book a Perennial Palettes Experience with Aggie Armstrong.
Day One Evening
If the kids want to end the day with a splash session in the pool, Holiday Inn Express in Woodstock has an indoor pool with a slide. The Best Western Plus, also in Woodstock, has an indoor pool as well. For dinner, enjoy a brew and a pizza, made with fresh and local ingredients including Backpaddle Blonde Ale at Upper Thames Brewing Co. You can also head to Middlesex County and spend the night at the new Holiday Inn Express Strathroy which also has an indoor pool and kids stay free!
Day Two Morning
As you head North for your second day of fun, swing into the new Red River Café located on the property of the historic Arva Flour Mill. Here you can enjoy a breakfast scone or decadent freshly baked brownie or butter tart and explore the beautiful mill property while admiring the resident Muscovy ducks on the pond.
While you’re in Arva, don’t miss Picard’s Peanuts, home of the Ontario peanut! Within their famous blue barn building, you can choose from one of the many flavours of the Chip Nut, which is Picard’s famous potato covered peanut treat! You will find all kinds of other confectionery here as well to satisfy the sweet lovers in the family!
As you head West, be sure to stop in at Proof Line Farms onsite creamery, where they craft small-batch gelato and non-dairy sorbet with a rotating selection of seasonal flavours. For a jolt of caffeine, visit their coffee bar! Their espresso roast from O Joe Coffee Co. is ethically sourced and freshly roasted locally in Strathroy. Proof Line Farm whole milk is the star of the show in their lattes, cappuccinos, and tea lattes, bringing unparalleled creaminess to your favourite hot drinks. They also steam their very own chocolate milk to bring extra depth to their hot chocolates and mochas!
Day Two Afternoon
Keep heading Northwest and take the whole family for a nature-filled adventure of horseback riding! Explore the beautiful sun dappled trails while on horseback at Willow and Water in Coldstream. For lunch, pop into the quaint country tavern The Crown and Turtle in Ailsa Craig for a friendly pub fare menu that both adults and kids will enjoy!
Head Southwest and spend a few hours exploring the Longwoods Road Conservation Area. Admission to the Ska-Nah-Doht Village and Museum, also located here, is free with your parking pass. This interactive museum showcases a fascinating selection of First Nations history, including a recreation of a Longhouse Village and log cabins.
If you’d like to keep the farm fun going, Jireh Hills’ Farm Stay Experience is an excellent option. Your stay in a 31’ trailer includes a personalized, hands-on farm tour, and you can also add on experiences like goat encounters, alpaca hikes, and cheese making.
