Family Fun in Oxford County
Looking for new experiences or to simply sit back and chill? Explore Oxford County. We have a trip that’s just your speed, with room to roam and explore. Avoid the crowds and escape to small town Ontario.
Who We Are
Just 90 minutes from the hustle and bustle of Toronto and two hours from 3 border crossings, Oxford can be found where Highway 401 & 403 meet, halfway between Waterloo and London. You may know our communities Woodstock, Ingersoll, & Tillsonburg, home to many of our residents, with the remainder enjoying rural life in our small villages and country roads.
Family Fun in Oxford County
Stay in Woodstock | Close to Rural Stops (10-20 mins.), Ingersoll (15 mins.), Tillsonburg (30 mins.)
- Holiday Inn Express & Suites, Best Western Plus. Modern accommodations offering breakfast, pool and fitness rooms.
- Box stores and franchise restaurants are nearby (across road from Holiday Inn) and downtown is a short bus ride or drive away (2 hour street parking or $2 for the day in an all-day lot). Learn more about Downtown Woodstock.
- Early Bird Coffee is on Juliana, a minute from the Holiday Inn Express and Best Western. If heading downtown, visit their downtown location or try Beantown Coffee.
Close to Woodstock
Goat Recess and Alpaca Walks | Udderly Ridiculous Farm Life - 20 mins. East of Woodstock
Younger children will enjoy time with the goats and teenagers may want to take an Alpaca for a walk. Both activities are fun, but also calming spending time connecting with the animals. This is not a petting zoo, but a farm that educates visitors. Learn more and buy tickets online.
The Art of Soap Felting | Wild Comfort Body Care - 10 mins. South of Woodstock
Slow down and get creative with the family designing and felting a bar of soap to enjoy at home or gift to loved ones. Make felted soaps as gifts or to enjoy at home. Cost is $15 per person, pre-booking is required. Learn more and book an Experience.
Nearby Stops: Gunn’s Hill Artisan Cheese (Take a photo with the leaning tower of cheeza on the front lawn and sample some tasty local cheese. Fresh curds are available on Fridays!), Greener Pastures Eco Farm (Learn more about farming on this family farm tour. Book tickets online.)
Spend time with Horses | Transitions Equine - 14 mins. South of Woodstock
A great introduction to horses that will leave you feeling calmer and content while helping your family communicate better. Book the experience for your family or consider booking for date night or ladies night. Learn more and buy tickets.
Go for a Hike | Grand Experiences Guided Hikes - Guide will provide address upon booking
Book a Grand Experience guided hike complete with a chili cookout. Learn more and buy tickets. If you want to hit the trails on your own enjoy a paved linear trail along the water at Roth Park or a shorter gravel loop on the Youth Start Trail or just outside town at Trillium Woods – bonus Jakeman’s Maple Farm retail shop is across the road.
Learn, Run, and Roam | Beachville Museum - 10 mins. from Woodstock
Beachville Museum offers a chance to run and roam on their large museum grounds (download the outdoor grounds tour) but also get interactive indoors using an iPad for a self-guided tour of the museum. The museum tells unique stories including about the neighbouring limestone quarry (want to see a BIG truck), to the first recorded baseball game, mastodon bones, and local settlement in the area.
Say (BIG) Cheese! | Ingersoll Cheese Museum - 15 mins. from Woodstock (Beachville is en route)
Take a photo with the mammoth cheese, play on the cheese playground then head over to Louie's Pizza and Pasta, a fun roadhouse know for mammoth portions. Home of the Big Ass Panzerotti. Learn more about the Ingersoll Cheese Museum.
Keep on Cheesin' | Oxford County Cheese Trail - 25 Businesses across Oxford
Come together along the Cheese Trail to celebrate Oxford County’s past and present. Each of the 25 stops has a special offer to taste, purchase, or do on site. Sample cheese at a local cheesemaker, visit a cheese museum, taste gourmet chocolate, play with goats, or shop for pottery. Explore the county with stops in Woodstock and within 15 minutes, in Ingersoll, and rural Oxford. Visiting in May? Check out Big Cheese Days on Saturdays in May for meals, deals, and legendairy experiences.
In Woodstock
Play all Day | Jax Jungle Playground - Downtown Woodstock
Jax Jungle Playground is a place for kids (age 2-12) to develop gross motor skills as they explore an indoor play space. The best part? Parents can relax with free wi-fi and beverages while the kiddos play. It gets even better –you can come and go all day! Only $3.95 each. 1 year and under and first adult receive free admission.
Drop-In for Fun | The Learning Hive - Downtown Woodstock
The Learning Hive is a locally owned and operated educational centre, play studio, and boutique. Enter their front doors to a welcoming space complete with an educational boutique with quality educational resources that make learning feel like play, two bright and inviting classrooms, a comfy seating area, and a play studio providing sensory and messy play. Check out their calendar of events before your visit to see available special sessions, boutique hours, and drop-in Play Studio times.
May the Fores be with You | Fore Oxford - 972 Dundas St, Woodstock
If you have teenage golfers, bring your clubs and hit the simulator with your best shot at Fore Oxford. Enjoy a golf course from around the globe.
Free Cultural Fun | Woodstock Museum, Woodstock Art Gallery - Downtown Woodstock
For free cultural fun visit the Woodstock Museum and Woodstock Art Gallery across the street from each other downtown. A great spot for young learners to explore. Family day weekend check out their special activities.
Simple Pleasures in a small town:
Library & Early On | If you have children, under six you can attend programming at Early On (program Saturday Mornings). Also check out the calendar of events at the Woodstock Public Library (library card required for some programming).
Gallery Cinemas | Head to the movie theatre, Gallery Cinemas, in Downtown Woodstock. See what’s playing now.
C&D Lanes | Go bowling at C&D Lanes. Book a row with bumpers for the littles or go for glow in the dark.
Hotel Pool | Enjoy your hotel pool. Make it a tropical getaway bringing tropical shirts and shorts to wear poolside and order in Hawaiian pizza for dinner.
Lunchtime in Woodstock
When lunchtime comes, enjoy a retro meal at one of two local icons:
Fritzies | Have old-fashioned burger or footlong and fries at Fritzies on Perry Street. Fritzies has been an economical treat for families for 40 years.
Mel's Fish n' Chips | Visit Mel’s Fish n’ Chips for classic British style Fish and Chips in a retro setting. Enjoy the old wall murals, watch how they wrap take-out in paper and admire the art-deco fryer.
Dinner in Woodstock
For dinner hit one of our local restaurants. If gastro pub is on the adult’s list check out Brickhouse Brew Pub, Ironworks Grill, Finkle Street or Charles Dickens Pub. You will also find Japanese/Korean at Sushi Cove, Vietnamese/Canadian at Bin Thanh, and multiple Indian restaurants. If you have, a gift card for a favourite franchise, you will find several choices in town including Crabby Joes, Boston Pizza, East Side Mario’s, Kelsey’s, Swiss Chalet, Montana’s and numerous fast food options (from burgers to pizza and souvlaki to burritos).
Treats and Retail
Reel Treats | Reel Treats is a candy and soda shop for fun beverages and retro/imported candies. Grab popcorn and snacks for when you cuddle up at night in your room.
Habitual Chocolate | Visit Habitual Chocolate to learn how they make chocolate from scratch. You can book a tasting (recommended for teens plus) or try samples at the counter.
Downtown Bakeries | Check out several local bakeries downtown including Two Guys and a Whisk, Whisk and Roll, and Deelights.
Record Works | Gamers or vinyl lovers in the house? Visit Record Works and browse their wide selection of vinyl records, cds, movies and an expansive inventory of pre-loved video games and systems.
One of a Kind Antique Mall | For a walk down memory lane visit One of a Kind Antique Mall, Canada’s largest antique mall with over 3 floors of antiques, vintage nostalgia and Pinterest dreams. Show the kids how you used to make a phone call, toys of days gone by, and grandma’s cookie jar.
FAQ
Can I enjoy Oxford County, car-free?
Updated 04/21/2023