Perth County is home to some of Ontario’s favorite tiny towns. At its heart is Stratford, home to the award winning theatre and festival. In the surrounding area, you’ll find St. Marys – a charming creek side town with a delicious reputation – and Shakespeare, home of antiques, pork and seriously good pie.

The area is peppered with farms, cheese makers and more recently, brewers and distillers. Touring through their shops means tasting all manor of cheeses, sipping on sours and stouts and of course, eating your fair share of heritage breed pork — something the area has long been famous for.

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It’s should be no surprise that one of our favorite Ontario weekends would include a trip through Perth County! Here’s how we’d spend it.

1. Upon arrival, check in at Mercer Hall. Staying here means you’re in the heart of the city and just a staircase away from one of the best beer lists in the province.
2. Once you’re settled, take a walk to Black Swan Brewing Company for a flight. We love their seasonal sours — but their stouts are great too!
3. A little further uptown, you’ll find Junction 56 distilling, where they make moonshine, whisky, gin and vodka from Ontario grown grains. Pop into their tasting room for a taste.
4. Back in town, we suggest dinner and drinks at Pazzo Taverna. The handmade pastas, pizzas and cocktails do not disappoint! 
5. In the morning, wake up with a coffee at Revel. Linger over the paper or latest edition of Edible Toronto. If you’re feeling rough after the night before, make sure to snag a bottle of The Farm Juice Co. fresh, locally sourced juice.
6. We suggest taking the time to wander town, maybe pick up some chocolate or peruse the antiques. It’s a great way to work up an appetite before stopping in at Monforte On Wellington for lunch!
7. Bellies full (and bags stuffed with our favorite Monforte Cheeses) we’d head for Stonetown Cheese in St. Mary’s for a tour — and a meet and greet with their adorable herd of cows.
8. For some more rural fun, we’d make a stop at McCully’s Hill Farm. They’ve got chickens, horses, bunnies and a seriously grouchy – albiet adorable – cow on site. 
9. For dinner, we’d stop in Little Red’s Pub in St. Marys for a ploughman’s platter and a serious dose of small town charm.
10. Back in town, we’d, make sure to stop for a pint of whatever cask ale is on tap at Mercer Hall that night. Still hungry? We hope so — because the japanese inspired bar snacks are to die for!

For more on Stratford and the surrounding area, make sure to check out Stratford Tourism.