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Green Travel in Oxford County

It’s easy to practice green travel on your next getaway to Oxford County. The act of visiting Oxford County is sustainable in itself. By exploring regions outside of overly-touristed ones, you’ll be supporting local communities through your tourism dollars. At the same time, you’ll reduce your environmental impact by choosing less busy green spaces over the highly visited parks and trails.

Travelling more responsibly doesn’t mean scaling back on fun. Oxford County is such an amazing destination with so many lesser known gems to discover. In Oxford County, it’s possible to relax at a Nordic spa, make your own quilt using recycled fabrics, create your own delicious handmade chocolate bark, watch local live theatre productions, and browse Canada’s largest antique mall…all in one trip!

Skip ahead:

What to Pack

There are sustainable travel toiletries on the market that reduce plastic waste. These include solid shampoo and conditioner bars, toothpaste tablets, bamboo toothbrushes, and lip balm that comes in a sturdy cardboard container. Didn’t bring any of your own? Pick up some at Jarful Refillery, which you’ll learn about later in my green travel itinerary.

I recommend bringing a tote bag or reusable shopping bags for any purchases you make. It’s always handy to have a few of these on hand or in your car so you don’t forget them at home.

There are more ways to reduce plastic waste on your travels. Bring a reusable water bottle to stay hydrated, as well as a reusable mug for coffee and tea. Don’t forget a reusable straw if you use them. If you decide to do takeout at any restaurants, some restaurants no longer offer single-use plastics. It’s a good idea to bring your own little cutlery set. There are some portable cutlery sets that come with a metal straw that roll up to fit neatly inside your bag.

In addition, it’s a good idea to bring a cooler with you, especially in the warmer months. Some visitors enjoy bringing local products back home with them, and this will keep them at the proper temperature until your return back home.

Best Practices for an Eco Getaway

There are simple ways to make your trip to Oxford County an eco-friendly one. First, support local small businesses. This one is easy because there are so many unique and incredible local businesses in Oxford County. I’ve made it easy for you: every suggestion within my green itinerary below includes visits to local small businesses.

Next, park your car when you can. Get around on foot or by bike to reduce your overall emissions. For instance, a two-kilometre walk on trails in Ingersoll connects the town’s downtown core with a museum and arts centre. Downtown Woodstock is very walkable for shops, restaurants, and museums.

Speaking of walking and biking, Oxford County has many biking routes, whether they’re paved, gravel, or trails that are more rugged in nature. Additionally, there are many nature trails through forests with opportunities to see wildlife. Some of the most popular trails are the Woodstock Burgess Trail, Thomas Ingersoll Scenic Trail, Lawson Nature Reserve, Trillium Woods, Thames River Trail and sections of the Trans Canada Trail.

Be sure to stick to the trails to protect the natural habitats around you from foot traffic. In fact, it is best to explore parks and trails, like those mentioned above, that are meant for visitors to explore. Don’t post photos and geotag natural areas and rural locations that are not named as proper parks and trails.

When dining, opt for restaurants offering more sustainable food options. I opt for vegetarian or vegan meal choices. Also consider eating with the season and at restaurants sourcing local food. Restaurants with FeastOn certification have been reviewed confirming they are sourcing 25% or more of their ingredients from Ontario. Click here to search restaurant menu options in Oxford County.

When you spot wildlife, please watch them from a safe and respectful distance. Don’t attempt to chase down wildlife. It’s possible that they could be guarding their nest or their young if they aren’t running away from you.

Don’t enter private property, including farmers’ fields to take photographs. Please respect the quiet lifestyle of the Amish that live in the area. This includes abstaining from taking photos of them or their homes.

How to get here: Located in Southwestern Ontario, where Highway 401 and 403 meet makes Oxford County very accessible by car. It is also on several bus routes and has a VIA rail train station in Woodstock and Ingersoll. Once here the City of Woodstock has public transit and cab services are available in Woodstock, Tillsonburg and Ingersoll. Learn more about transportation options here.

Sustainable in Oxford County: Day 1

Now, it’s time to plan your eco-friendly getaway to Oxford County! Here’s my full itinerary that I really enjoyed, and now you can, too. This is a two-day, travel guide for Woodstock and the surrounding area. For the first day, you’ll park your car in downtown Woodstock and explore by foot. This includes a chocolate making experience, meals at two local restaurants, and downtown shops and attractions.

Chocolate Bark Experience at Habitual Chocolate

Oxford County is home to many tours and experiences that are truly unique to the region. I’ll be highlighting a couple of experiential activities in this itinerary, including the chocolate bark experience at Habitual Chocolate.

Habitual Chocolate is a locally owned and operated chocolate shop in downtown Woodstock. They source cacao beans from small, family-run farms from around the world and create decadent chocolate all in-house.

At Habitual Chocolate, you can become a chocolatier for the day! This three hour experience starts with a chocolate tasting, with their chocolates made from cacao beans sourced from around the world. Sample their handmade chocolates and uncover the differences in flavour and taste.

Then, dive into the chocolate making process and make your own unique chocolate bark. Add in the additional flavours of your choosing - with many from Oxford County. For example, I added cacao nibs for crunch, maple sugar for sweetness, and a little bit of smoked maple salt. At the end of the experience, you’ll come away with your own container of delicious chocolate bark.

Lunch at Sushi Cove

As someone who loves Japanese food, I popped by Sushi Cove in Woodstock for lunch. There are quite a few great options for vegetarians and vegans at Sushi Cove, including veggie rolls, miso soup, edamame and seaweed salad.

Shopping in Downtown Woodstock: Light Street and Dundas Street

After lunch, it’s time for a stroll down Light Street. This cute street lined with Victorian homes also has a few interesting small businesses to check out.

Jarful Refillery belongs on any eco-friendly itinerary. As a bulk refillery with over 60 bulk items available, reduce your footprint and plastic waste by refilling items that you likely use everyday.

From cleaning products to laundry detergent and shampoos to lotions, most things you regularly use can be refilled in reusable containers. They also create many of their own products and focus on offering natural products made in Canada.

The Kiln Room is a local art studio offering creative workshops and ceramic courses. Gather your friends and learn how to make your own pottery on the wheel, even if you’ve never tried it before. It’s a welcoming and fun space to learn and create.

There are numerous dates for workshops each month or you can make your own private booking. The Kiln Room has a handmade boutique where you can shop beautiful works of art, too.

Soulful Spoon is a local soup shop with an ever changing menu of soup options. Stop by for lunch or a snack or bring some soup home with you for later. The soups are created in house using fresh and local ingredients where possible. I highly recommend trying their tomato basil soup. It’s so flavourful and one of the best tomato soups I’ve ever had.

Take a short wander down Dundas Street until you reach Fair/Square. It’s a charming little B-corp certified grocery store and gift boutique that’s 100% vegan. They’re locally owned and operated, and also offer a wide range of gluten-free products, too.

As someone who follows a vegan lifestyle, I love how Fair/Square has such a wide and unique range of products I can’t find anywhere else. If you’re not able to make it into the shop in person, Fair/Square offers local and Canada-wide shipping that’s carbon neutral and uses sustainable shipping materials when possible.

Woodstock Art Gallery

Support local arts and culture by stopping by the Woodstock Art Gallery. Founded in 1967, there are always rotating exhibitions featuring the works of local, regional, and national artists from across Canada.

There’s a specific focus on the works of Woodstock artist, Florence Carlyle who gained international recognition for her work. You may have seen her painting “The Tiff” at the Art Gallery of Ontario (on permanent exhibit). Their current collection includes over 1900 pieces with 10% of the collection certified as Canadian Cultural Property.

Woodstock Museum

The Woodstock Museum National Historic Site is a community museum located inside the Old Town Hall building. Not only are they committed to preserving this old architectural structure as a community space and museum, but the Woodstock Museum NHS showcases the local history of Woodstock and Oxford County.

Learn about the individuals, businesses, and communities that shaped Woodstock’s history going back centuries until the present day. The former city council chambers are refurbished and restored back to what it looked like in 1879. There are also fun learning opportunities for the young and young at heart, like their interactive science displays.

One of a Kind Antique Market

Did you know that Canada’s largest antique and vintage market is right here in Woodstock? One of a Kind Antique Market has over 1000 booths spanning three floors. This place is huge and filled with treasures and collectibles.

You may need to set aside at least a couple of hours, if not half a day, to browse every booth in the market. Bring your water bottle to stay hydrated! Naturally, this is a great way to shop sustainably as the items in the market are second-hand. 

Dinner at IRONWORKS Kitchen

After browsing the antique market, I bet you’ve worked up an appetite. It’s time for dinner at IRONWORKS Kitchen. They support local businesses and farmers in Oxford County for the freshest ingredients. IRONWORKS Kitchen collaborates with local wineries, breweries and bakeries, too. I tried their mouthwatering bruschetta and baby spinach penne, adding the marinated crispy tofu.

Live Performance by Theatre Woodstock

Theatre Woodstock is a thriving community theatre in downtown Woodstock with live performances spanning over the past 75 years. Watch talented singers and dancers perform a variety of musical productions. I attended a performance of the beloved classic, Cabaret that was highly evocative, entertaining and sensational.

Stay at the Elm Hurst Inn

The Elm Hurst Inn & Spa is a charming boutique hotel within a historic mansion, built in 1872. There are 45 elegant rooms and three luxury suites. This was a dignified family home for over a century and was eventually transformed making it into the property you can stay at today.

There are three electric vehicle charging stations outside the hotel, which are complimentary for all guests. I charged my hybrid-electric vehicle overnight and didn’t use any gas throughout the remainder of my stay in Oxford County. For breakfast, the chef thoughtfully prepared a special plant-based meal with veggie sausages, eggs and potatoes.

Sustainable in Oxford County: Day 2

On the second day, we venture outside of the city to villages and rural destinations near Woodstock. We’ll go for a nature walk, learn how to sew Victorian quilts, relax at a Nordic spa and more.

Go for a Walk at Lawson Tract

There’s nothing like a morning walk in nature to set the scene for the perfect day. Lawson Tract offers an easy, 2 km loop trail to get some exercise and appreciate the wildlife. The Ingersoll Nature Club, in association with the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority, have established a wetlands project and regularly maintain the trails.

There are bird feeding stations in the wintertime, so it’s easy to do some birdwatching (and squirrel watching). Furthermore, there are informational plaques set up along the trail, so you can learn about the ecology and natural history of the area.

Victorian Quilting Experience at Beachville Museum

Try your hand at Victorian Crazy Quilting at the Beachville Museum. The Beachville District Museum shares the history of one of Oxford County’s earliest settlements. The quilting experience begins with a tour of the textiles exhibit at the museum, highlighting the historic significance of handcrafted textile production.

Then, you’ll be instructed on how to create your own “crazy quilt” using handsewn techniques by an experienced textiles artist. The fabrics are sustainably saved from landfills and repurposed into inspiring creations by you! You will make one quilt panel to take home.

Oxford County offers a wide variety of sustainably minded learning activities that encourage participants to slow down and enjoy the moment. From building your own charcuterie board to socializing with horses or miniature highland cows. View local experiences here.

Lunch at Finkle Street Tap & Grill

Finkle Street Tap & Grill offers an upscale dining experience in a comfortable and warm atmosphere. The ingredients are sourced as locally as possible, and their local partners are listed right on the menu. Each meal starts with a complimentary cup of herbal tea to highlight their extensive tea menu.

The chef offers eco-friendly plant-based dishes that are quite innovative, like the King Oyster Vegan ‘Scallops’ and Braised Leeks that have a beautiful presentation and exciting flavours to match. Their wood-fired pizzas also steal the show - try the Wild Funghi (can be made vegan and gluten-free).

Golspie Dairy

Golspie Dairy is a family owned and operated farm for over 150 years, specializing in fresh dairy products and small batch cheeses. They aim to use reusable and compostable packaging wherever possible. Bring your own glass refillable containers to the shop and try their milk vending machine that minimizes waste. They also have a pollinator garden on their property to help sustain populations of bees and butterflies.

Terra Nova Nordic Spa

Finally, it’s time to relax all afternoon at the Terra Nova Nordic Spa. This peaceful retreat provides tranquility and rejuvenation for the mind and body. Transport yourself between hot and cold pools, eucalyptus steam rooms, wood-fired and electric saunas, and relaxation areas to reduce stress and enhance wellbeing.

There are numerous indoor and outdoor rest areas on site, including heated waterbeds and other beneficial spaces. Their cafe offers light bites, specialty coffees and loose leaf teas. There are also massage therapy sessions, spa treatments and yoga classes.

I hope this itinerary about sustainable travel in Oxford County inspires you to take a trip there soon. Explore this website for more sustainable travel opportunities in Oxford County.

Perhaps you’ll be inspired by this itinerary to include green travel options throughout all of your upcoming travels, both locally and afar.

By Lauren Yakiwchuk

Author Bio: Lauren Yakiwchuk is a travel blogger and content creator at Justin Plus Lauren and Ontario Hiking, based in Georgetown, Ontario. She loves outdoor adventures and nature, and exploring big cities and small towns alike. Lauren promotes sustainable travel, especially supporting local small businesses and responsible wildlife tourism. As a longtime vegan, she aims to find and share the best plant-based meals around the world. You can follow her travels with her husband, Justin on Instagram and YouTube.