Punching high above its weight, Tillsonburg is chock full of tastes and experiences. Located at the intersection of the Cheese Trail and the Barn Quilt Trail, artisans and artists have emerged to put this charmed-town on the map, where it has vaulted to the fore of not-to-be-missed getaways in the lustre of hidden gems in Oxford County.
Cyclists stream in from off the Trans Canada Trail, park their bikes, and chill in the café of Makkink's Flower Farm to cool off with local beer, wine and a wholesome lunch. While we enjoy local cheese and coffee, the aromatics of lilacs and lemon cake perfume the air. Our Floral Workshop includes creating a keepsake of dried flowers set in a glass cloche. It should be no surprise that flowers attract everyone. It is such a meditative activity and a pleasure for guys too.
This is such a hot spot for a date! Bike along the bucolic setting of the Trans Canada Trail, pump water from an old-fashioned water pump, cut some flowers, and unwind by the fireplace with local cheese and wine. There are 2.5 acres of flowers to pick—fifty varieties of seasonal flowers, a spectacular proliferation of peonies, dahlias and sunflowers to compose a perfumed bouquet in full bloom.
Off to make a charcuterie board! At Ottercreek Woodworks Inc.'s From Tree to Table we walk through the calm of the Carolinian forest to learn about the surrounding nature while plucking leaves for steeping in our tea. Drinking-in our walk in the woods, we then choose from local, sustainably harvested boards to carve in the workshop. I'm partial to cherry wood. Time flies when you're sanding, and it's wonderfully meditative to chisel at the knots, split the bark with a vintage drawknife, sand and polish a beautiful piece of wood to all its lustre.
Carving our own charcuterie boards at the award-winning Tree to Table Experience from Ottercreek Woodworks, under the guidance of a professional woodworker, is followed by a smorgasbord of ingredients from Southwestern Ontario's rich terroir. A cornucopia of local produce, cheese and meats are spread on the most gorgeously carved boards that set our palates and imaginations whirling.
From charcuterie boards to flipper boards, and the chirping of birds in the woods to the three-tone xylophone ringing of a silver ball bouncing off bumpers and ramps in vintage pinball machines, we slingshot ourselves to Skill Shot Pinball. With trigger-happy fingers on the flipper buttons, we fire that ball up through gates and switches to hit targets and gain points.
Skill Shot Pinball parlour in Tillsonburg is home to an amazing collection of classic pinball machines from the 1930's to the 1990's. We play them in chronological order. The earliest machines are pre-flipper. Seven balls cost only one cent! The parlour is wide and wheel chair accessible, and there is even a remote flipper button for those with limited physical abilities—proof that pinball is for everyone!
As my score rapidly increases, my eyes darting right to left to follow the speed of the ball. The intensity is addictive; the lights and bells are hypnotic; the electricity of the ball bouncing off kickers is insane! These games bring out the kid in everyone, and remind us all there is no substitute for the real thing. My partner is next up. Dare to beat my score?
From the rush of pinball, we head to the Tillsonburg Regional Airport to check out vintage Harvard Aircrafts from WWII. Want to fly one? Reserve a session with one of the pilots for an exhilarating scenic or aerobatic ride with the canopy open or closed. Here we learn the history of these magnificent machines, hop in the back and enjoying a once-in-a-lifetime thrill in sky.
Back on the ground we fossil-hunt and rock-hound. Just outside Tillsonburg we discover Toth’s Fossils and Minerals, a gem of a shop for geologists, collectors of unique jewelry, or those in need of healing crystals. Geodes and tumbled stones bedazzle the shelves. These polished beauties are awe-inspiring. An astonishing collection of fossils inspires our minds to wander through time, but it’s the treasure hunt for kids that brings out the pirate in us all. Gently hidden in the grass, fossils abound, while young, budding palaeontologists, seek to find each one. This activity sets imaginations alight. and has my child engrossed. Every stone is a story; every new discovery, a fascinating memory.
The historical landmark of the old Pea & Barley Mill is now the rustic setting of the The Mill Inn + Eatery. Originally built in 1878, a peaceful patio overlooks a verdant park that slopes into Otter Creek. The menu is sourced from local ingredients. Lake Erie perch and pickerel, local trout, sustainably raised and caught Atlantic Haddock in a crunch of Ramblin Road Purebred beer batter, and charbroiled local beef, are all the rage. Our poutine of fresh cut crisp fries with Brights squeaky cheese curds are enrobed in a rich beef gravy that satisfies our midday craving. All the desserts from decadent pies to the lush ice creams are made locally.
Desserts in Tillsonburg reflect the bounty of the county. After all, Oxford County is home to the Dairy Capital of Canada.
Dad’s Ice Cream is an institution that scoops Shaw’s Ice Cream for everyone in-the-know with a sweet tooth. Shaw’s was founded in 1948, and purchased by the three industrious sisters from Dad’s who could not let a good opportunity go. Together they have maintained a family business and the tradition of this small-town ice cream shop by using fresh 100% Canadian cream. It’s all natural—no artificial flavours or colours—and there are non-dairy and no-sugar options as well as scooped yoghurt too.
A scoop above the rest! We line up at Dad's for one velvety textured scoop after another, and take a seat in the adjacent park to indulge in original flavours like Unicorn Toots, a melange of vanilla cake batter ice cream with a pink frosting ripple and rainbow chocolate chips; and Port Stanley Sunken Treasure, a vanilla base with a caramel core ribbon and chocolate covered toffee and almond pieces. While these new flavours keep us on our toes, Dad’s classics like Coffee & Cream, an intense coffee flavoured ice cream with chocolaty espresso flakes and a chocolaty ripple; and Polar Eclipse, a cool blend of mint and chocolate ice creams swirled together with pieces of cream-filled cookies throughout, keep us swooning.
Good Pud starts with pure cream from a dairy just up the road. That is the secret to their success. And the proof is in the pudding, as they say. Is it decadent? YES! But there is less sugar in one of these jars than you might think. It’s the cream. Really good quality pure Ontario cream, Belgian chocolate and a pinch of sea salt. The rest is the magic and the love of the two co-owners, sisters, Polly and Sarah, whose motto is, “You don’t need more; you just need better!” Their innate jovial nature is shared in every spoonful of this luxurious pudding, and it is pure bliss.
Flavours like Belgian Dark Chocolate with Sea Salt and Belgian Milk Chocolate are to die for, but the refreshing burst from the Lemon pudding is like the crescendo of a sweet citric symphony. Wowza! Beware, these good puds are as seductive as they are smooth. Good Pud is the new taste of place in Tillsonburg, and not to be missed when traveling through Oxford County.
…And then, there’s the cheese. Oxford County is chock full of award-winning cheesemakers. Just outside Tillsonburg is one of the newest and most innovative dairies on the Cheese Trail, the New Galma Dairy and Creamery.
While touring the milk barn, what stands out most is how quiet it is. The cows are content. They are grass-fed. No hormones. They range from newborns to ten years old, and they’re bred in a family-run operation that loves cows. New Galma extracts milk from its own herd of 300 cows by a robot with precision and quality control. We watch this process in amazement. Everything is clean, and we can tell the utmost care is taken.
In the cheese barn, we see the process of how the cheese is made--Dutch-style Gouda cheese, which they offer in a variety of flavours. We sample from a range of Black Pepper, Chili Pepper, Clove, Cumin, Fenugreek, Pesto, and one of their best sellers, Italian, which includes basil, thyme, garlic, and paprika. The texture is rich and velvety, and the flavours taste wholesome. This is artisanal cheese at its finest.
Local artisans and artists alike gravitate to The Station Arts Centre. This is home of the Saturday Farmer’s Market, and showcases a diverse range of local art work. Located in a former train station, this historic site is a hub of activity including an art gallery, artisan gift shop and pottery studio where we can fire our own ceramics to take home!
There is so much to discover in Tillsonburg that should climb the ranks of every Ontario-travel bucket list. It’s the best of small-town Ontario. They say, "The second mouse gets the cheese," and yet, Oxford County churns epicurean delights for insatiable cheese lovers at every stop along the way.