Cast a line and put perch on your plate for dinner
Summertime and the noshing is easy in southwestern Ontario. Visit this lush region for a cornucopia of farm-fresh vegetables, heritage cheese, honey and lake fish.
Kayak fishing is one of the area's newest lake-to-table adventures, where your catch is barely out of the water before it lands sizzling in the frying pan. Groups of up to five strike out in the wee hours of the morning (later start times can be arranged) to cast and reel for perch, bass and pike in Long Point Bay – a world-class Lake Erie bass fishery that's home to a number of species.
"We started the tours last year and they are getting very popular," says Payden Shrubb, manager of operations for Long Point Eco Adventures. "We have a sunset fishing option that couples really enjoy. Sitting out on the calm lake watching the sun go down is a nice way to end the day."
In the tours that Long Point offers in partnership with Baer Kayak Fishing, there's no worry about tangling lines with paddles in the one-person Hobie Pro kayaks. "They have pedals instead of paddles," explains Ms. Shrubb. "You use your feet to propel the kayak, and your hands are free for fishing." If you opt to luxury-camp on Long Point Eco Adventure's 46-acre property, your catch will be pan-fried in a little butter for you at the neighbouring Burning Kiln Winery restaurant.
"We keep it simple, so you can really taste the flavour of the fish," says Ms. Shrubb. Come September, visitors can also head to Long Point for the one-day Mushroom Foray to learn how to identify and pick the forest's fungi bounty.
If cheese pleases you, Oxford County is a dairy paradise of award-winning producers, as well as B&Bs and retail outlets. Drop into Gunn's Hill Artisan Cheese for a tour and a taste of their handeck, a Swiss Alpine style cheese.
Stop by Mountainoak Cheese to sample velvety gouda or pop into Bright Cheese & Butter, which has been making naturally aged cheeses since 1874.
"We use a method called thermalization for our cheddar," notes Stefan Cartmale, Bright Cheese & Butter's general manager. "The milk is lightly heated, so that flavour-enhancing enzymes remain. And we don't skim off the cream. That's why it has such a rich flavour."
Smoked feta, Asiago, Mexican and Indian cheeses, crème fraîche, feta and Greek yogurt are other local specialties.
Oxford County has been dubbed the Dairy Capital of Canada because producers annually ship almost 300 million litres of milk.
Follow the Oxford County Cheese Trail and visit the Ingersoll Cheese & Agricultural Museum to learn about the region's heritage. At the back, kids can spin on a wheel of blue cheese or climb through a slice in the Cheesy Playground.
More family fun can be had at Clovermead, a honey farm near Aylmer, which features an adventure farm with gift shop, wagon rides, farm animals and lots of bee education stations. clovermead.com
At Leaping Deer Adventure Farm and Market, between Woodstock and Ingersoll, children can pet lambs or cheer on porkers in the pig race.
Shop for fresh produce, baked goods and preserves in the Country Store. Gooey, homemade maple butter tarts are a must-try.
For ideas on where to eat in the region, go to swotc.ca.
The Ale Trail runs between Niagara-on-the-Lake and Niagara Falls, and in the Kitchener-Waterloo area, with 22 breweries to visit along the way. Try a Very Berry strawberry lager from the Blue Elephant Craft Brew House in Simcoe or honour the memory of pachyderm performer Jumbo (tragically killed by a train) with Dead Elephant India Pale Ale at the Railway City Brewing Company in St. Thomas.
Not far from Port Dover is the South Coast Wine Trail, which features 11 wineries, including the Villa Nova Estate and Wooden Bear L, which also make crisp, sparkling apple and pear ciders. ontariosouthcoastwine.com
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