Grab the Fam and Hit the Road for Big Cheese Days

On Saturdays in May, Big Cheese Days are back! With loads of family fun, grab the kids and hit the road to enjoy a day filled with delicious eats, fun activities and more. Read on for an easy-to-follow itinerary for a kid-friendly day. 

Want more ideas? Check out our other Big Cheese Days itinerary for families. 

A Family-Friendly Saturday During Big Cheese Days

Ready to roll? Read on our skip ahead.

• Tour a Cheese Factory
• Enjoy a Grilled Sheep Cheese Sandwich
• Select a Scoop, or Two
• Delicious biscuits, cheesy heritage and playground
• A meal for the whole fam
• Brie Ice Cream
• Stay the Night

Stop 1: Tour a Cheese Factory 

Where: Gunn's Hill Artisan Cheese, 445172 Gunn's Hill Rd. Woodstock, ON. (View Map)
When: 10 am -11:15 am (Book online at gunnshillcheese.ca)
Open: 9 am - 5 pm, tours available at 10 am and 1 pm, book online in advance. 

You and the kids will love exploring an award-winning cheese factory. Learn about the art and science of making cheese as you see where the magic happens with a pre-booked tour. Gunn's Hill specializes in washed-rind Appenzeller-style cheese inspired by the cheesemaker's time learning in The Swiss Alps. 

Check out the cheesemaking process 'from herd to curd' and of course, snap a pic in the beautiful aging room before you go. Try their cheese with a Charcuterie cup for $4 plus HST, while you take in rural views under the pavillion. Let the kids climb on the play equipment and stretch their legs on the lawn.

Drive Time to Next Stop: 13 mins

Stop 2: Taste of Wales + Grilled Sheep Cheese Sandwiches

Where: Red Dragon Dairy, 383723 Salford Rd. Salford, ON. (View Map)
When: 11:30 pm
Open: 10 am - 5:30 pm

Next stop: Red Dragon Dairy.

Located on a scenic rural road, Red Dragon Dairy is located in a lovely wood building and brings a taste of Wales to Oxford. Owned by the Morris family, Welsh immigrants who brought their love of sheep milk cheeses to Oxford, the whole family will love checking out this spot. 

Inside, you'll find their cheeses ranging flavours from gruyere and geta to pecorino and manchego as well as a number of local groceries including some produce, coffee, chocolate and more. Also, you'll find a number of treats from the United Kingdom like Cadbury chocolate, juice concentrate and so much more. 

During Big Cheese Days, Red Dragon Dairy is serving up fresh, Welsh rarebit sandwiches made with their sheep cheese (free when spending over $20). See how a Sheep's cheese compares, or try one of their other treats.

Drive Time to Next Stop: 18 minutes

Stop 3: Select a Scoop or Two

Where: Dad's Ice Cream, 2 Vance Dr. Tillsonburg ON. (View Map)
When: 12:05 pm
Open: 12 pm - 9 pm

Up next: Dad's Ice Cream.

Hit the walk-up window at this local favourite - the perfect spot to stop and chill.

For Big Cheese Days, try their Cheesecake Sundae with your choice of  Cherry or Blueberry Cheesecake ice cream loaded with cheesecake pieces, cherry or blueberry sauce, finished with nuts, whipped cream, and a cherry.

Spend some extra time in and around Tillsonburg to check out these spots: Station Arts Centre, GoodPud, Makkink's Flower Farm & Cafe, Two Girls and a Cheese Shop, Betty's Marketplace, New Galma Dairy, and Coyles.

Drive Time to Next Stop: 9 minutes

Stop 4: Oxford's Cheesy History and Crafts

Where: Ingersoll Cheese Museum, 290 Harris St. Ingersoll, ON. (View Map)
When: 1 pm
Open: 10 am - 4:30 pm

After all these delicious tastes, you may want some time on your feet!

Head to the Ingersoll Cheese Museum where the kids will love their crafts, scavenger hunt and cheese-themed playground.

Afterwards, head into the museum or the replica cheese factory to check out some of the area's dairy heritage, learn the story of the mammoth cheese and many other interesting tales along the way.

Drive Time to Next Stop: 15 mins

Stop 5: A Cheese-Filled Dinner

Where: Louie's Pizza and Pasta, 440 Bell St. Ingersoll, ON. (View Map)
When: 3 pm
Open: 9 am - 9 pm

When lunchtime rolls around, there's no better place to take the whole family than to Louie's Pizza and Pasta.

For Big Cheese Days, Louie's has a great menu of gourmet grilled sandwiches. Adults will fall head over heels for their Grilled Cheesehead, Turkey Avocado, or Beef n' Cheddar but Better, served with choice of side.

Kids will love Louie's great selection of cheesy dishes like their panzerotti, pizzas and smoked mac n' cheese. 

Drive time to next stop: 17 mins

Stop 6: Brie Ice Cream

Where: Habitual Chocolate, 389 Dundas St. Woodstock, ON. (View Map)
When: 4:30 pm
Open: 10 am - 5 pm

End your day with a visit to Habitual Chocolate in Woodstock where they'll be offering Ice Cream and Chocolate tastings for only $10/per person (plus HST).

Also in-house, you can shop a number of bean-to-bar chocolate treats from actual bars to dipped fruit and more as well as other local goods like maple syrup, local coffee, soaps and more. 

Stay the Night

Want to make this trip an overnight? Great idea! 

Along the Cheese Trail, The Elm Hurst Inn is a legendairy place to stay. Book their Oxford County Cheese Trail package and you'll receive a beautiful local cheeseboard to your room as well as a bottle of Ontario wine and some chocolates made nearby. 

Looking for a different, slightly more kid-friendly option? No problem. The Holiday Inn Express & Suites in Woodstock and The Best Western Plus Woodstock Inn & Suites both have indoor pools!