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There are thousands of types of cheese that come from all over the world, making traveling to enjoy it easy with so many potential destinations. Whether you want to create your own trip, take a pre-determined tour, or just travel to the city where your favorite cheese is made, there are tons of interesting and delicious options for the cheese-loving traveler. Here are 25 destinations where you can indulge your appetite for travel and cheese at the same time.

United States

1. California Valley: Surely you’ve seen the commercials advertising California’s milk industry with its "happy cows." Those happy cows don’t only help make milk, but ultimately cheese as well, which is flourishing all over California and can make quite the nice accompaniment for those also interested in tasting fine Napa Valley wines. Since 1995, the number of cheeses produced in California has risen from 70 to over 250 and many are refined specialty artisanal cheeses. Take highway 99 between LA and San Francisco or travel the Northern California wine country to pass by some of California’s best dairies. From Monterey Jack to St. Jorge and prize winning Cheddar, California’s sunny climate, plentiful wineries and geographic beauty make it a great cheese destination.
2. Wisconsin Cheese: When you think of cheese produced in America, chances are pretty good that Wisconsin is the first thing to come to mind. And it’s no wonder, as the state produces 35 percent of the cheese made in the United States. There are hundreds of cheese makers both large and small dotted across the state, many of whom are more than happy to give you a tour. Try stopping off at Simon’s Specialty Cheese to sample over 100 varieties of cheese, learn how they’re made, and even get to see a bit of cheese making history. Or if you’re into more organic foods, sample the cheeses of the Bass Lake Cheese Factory. The cheeses made from goat, cow and sheep’s milk are all natural and made from recipes handed down through generations. And if you get tired of living off a diet of pure cheese, you can always make a side trip of one of Wisconsin’s numerous breweries and vineyards to wash it all down.
3. Beechers Cheese, Seattle: If you’re willing to get your hands dirty for a few days on your next vacation you could just score a spot on a VocationVacation working in, what else, a cheese factory. You’ll work with cheese making experts at Beechers Cheese in downtown Seattle to create some delicious cheeses including Monterey Jack and the company’s own flagship cheese. Your duties will include everything from heating the milk to creating the curds and whey to tasting the cheese you made. When you’re not hard at work making fancy cheeses, you can explore the other culinary delights of Seattle, including the nearby Pike’s Place Market where you can buy seafood, produce, flowers and of course, cheese.
4. Cheese School of San Francisco: What better way to celebrate your love of cheese than to learn to better appreciate it. The school states that its purpose is to "help people maximize their enjoyment and appreciation of cheese" which shouldn’t be hard if you’re already a die-hard cheese aficionado. Classes range from Cheese 101 for beginners to more specialized classes like Ga-Ga for Goat and Extreme Cheese. For about $60 a class, you can learn about everything from the cheeses of Spain to the intricacies of sheep cheese. And when you’re done with class, San Francisco has loads to offer you, from the famous Golden Gate Bridge to Chinatown to an afternoon trolley ride, there’s something to please everyone.
5. The Homestead Heritage School of Homesteading, Texas: If pioneering is more your style, head down to Texas for a schooling in the old fashioned ways of making cheese. You’ll have the option of learning to make hard or soft cheeses, or both if you’re really ambitious. In class you’ll get instruction on how to create such delicious cheeses as feta, ricotta, cheddar, Colby Jack and Gouda. Most materials are included in the cost for the class, but you’ll need to make sure to bring your own apron unless you don’t mind getting your clothes dirty. If you get tired of making cheese, the school also offers classes in quilting, baking bread, growing herbs and even blacksmithing if you’re feeling adventurous.
6. Vermont Cheese Trail: New England is also a major source of the cheese produced in America, beginning with the first settlers who brought cheese making equipment along with them from Europe. While you can find great cheeses throughout New England, Vermont is by far the most prolific producer and your best bet for planning a cheese road trip. Begin your trip with Lake’s End Cheese in Northern Vermont to get a taste of the mild, alpine cheese produced on a small, family owned farm. Continue on to the Vermont Butter and Cheese Company to taste fine, artisanal goat’s milk cheese like Feta and Chevre. Finish up your tour of Vermont with a stop at Peaked Mountain Farm for a selection of sheep and cow’s milk cheeses. And of course, you can also enjoy the beautiful scenery that Vermont has to offer, especially in the fall months when the trees display their vibrant colors.
7. Heini’s Cheese Chalet: If you’re looking for great cheese in the heart of Amish country, then look no further than Heini’s. Take a tour of the cheese making factory to see how the artisanal cheeses are produced, stock up on cheese to take home in the gift shop, and learn all about the history of cheese making through informational videos and artwork at the factory. Visitors will note that the cheese produced at the factory is made with milk coming directly from the Amish community, meaning no pesticides or harmful hormones added and that it’s all from local cows. When you’ve had your fill of cheese making, you can check out the rest of Holmes County, Ohio, the largest Amish community in the world where you’ll be able to shop at an Amish flea market, take a tour of an Amish farm, take in a game of golf or even visit a Victorian House Museum.
8. Marin French Cheese: French cheese from America, how can it be? Well you’ll find just that near California’s Sonoma Valley with the Marin French Cheese Company. Similar to European cheeses, California’s Brie and Camembert taste slightly different, likely due to the regional differences. While that might make them sound like like they aren’t as good, quite the opposite is true. Many of their cheeses have won prestigious medals, and the Triple Creme Brie even beat its French competitors in the World Cheese Awards. Marin Cheese Company isn’t just good, it’s also historic, remaining the oldest cheese manufacturer in the country. Plan a day trip there to sample their cheeses, see how they’re made, and enjoy a glass of wine on their extensive and beautiful grounds. When you’re done tasting cheeses, take a trip to the seashore, visit an oyster farm, or learn about native culture at the Miwok Indian Village, all located nearby.
9. Tillamook Cheese: If you’re looking to get away to scenic Oregon you can still incorporate your love of cheese into your vacation by taking a trip to the Tillamook Cheese Factory. Take a self-guided tour through the factory to see how the cheese is made and get a chance to taste some as well in the factory’s adjoining farmhouse restaurant. A bonus for those with a sweet tooth, the factory also produces over 40 different types of ice cream and 16 types of fudge. When you’re done, you can check out the local scenery, or head to other Oregon based dairies like Rivers Edge Chevre and The Estrella Family Creamery to taste some other types of cheese.

Europe

10. Burgundy on a Plate: One of France’s most prolific cheese-producing regions famous for Epoisses and Bouton de Culotte, Burgundy is a must-see for traveling cheese lovers. This tour from Burgundy on a Plate makes it easy to sample the gourmet offerings of Burgundy’s finest dairies and wineries. Spend 3 days and 4 nights in the region seeing the beautiful countryside, visiting chateaus, and touring small artisanal cheese makers to taste the freshest in goat, cow and sheep’s milk cheeses. You’ll also get the chance to eat at restaurants that serve food in the local style, which depending on the place, can involve an entire cheese course.
11. Normandy: Normandy may be best known for the famous D-Day invasions, but it is also home to some delicious cheeses and can be a great place to get away on a cheese themed holiday. Your best bet for a tasty getaway is the Le Manoir de l’Aufragere in Fourmetot, Normandy. Owned by renowned chef Nicky and her former cheese-maker husband Regis, this stately manor set on a scenic 8 acres is just the place for a gourmand to spend a weekend. Learn how to buy cheese at the market and turn it into delicious culinary delights. With wine and cheese tastings at each meal, you’re likely to sate your cheese appetite during your stay. If you tire of cheese, there are golf courses, scenic drives, and other outdoor sports well within driving distance.
12. C’est Cheese Tours: This tour company specializes in taking travelers to the best cheese tasting locations in the world. This year’s tour will take you on an exciting and tasty route between Paris and Burgundy. In Paris you’ll get a chance to meet and speak with a variety of experts in the cheese making process, and get a basic education in how to pair cheeses with wine, You’ll also get a chance to taste some of the unpasturized kinds of cheese which are not available everywhere, especially if you’re from the States. After departing the big city for the picturesque Burgundy countryside, you’ll be able to treat your taste buds to cheeses from fine artisanal cheese makers as well as visit some wine cellars where you’ll find a bit of something to wash it down. When you’re not tasting cheeses, you’ll get a chance to explore the charming city of Beaune or take a leisurely bike ride through a local vineyard.
13. British Gastrotour: Want to tour London through your belly? Try taking one of Celia Brooks Brown’s gastrotours. While they may not focus exclusively on cheese, that doesn’t mean there isn’t a fair amount to be had on any of the tours you choose. Whether you decide on sampling the Manchego from a Spanish Deli in Notting Hill or take an excursion to the Borough Market where fancy cheeses are in abundance, your cheese tooth won’t be disappointed. Plus, when you’re through, London is full of exciting and interesting things to do. Visit the Tower of London or take in the fine works of art at the British Museum.
14. Wensleydale Creamery: Take a trip to Yorkshire in Northern Britain to get a taste of one Britain’s most famous cheeses, Wensleydale. The creamery offers tours called the "cheese experience" every hour or so, though they don’t make cheese every day so make sure to call ahead to ensure you’ll get to see the good stuff. The factory creates around 5 different varieties of cheese including Mature, Extra Mature, Oak Smoked, Blue, and Sheep’s milk, though other combinations are available as well. When you’re done touring, check out the museum, viewing gallery, cheese shop and restaurant to further your cheese-centric trip. Located in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, you’ll also find plenty of natural beauty to keep your eyes entertained while your stomach digests all that cheese.
15. Henri Wellig, Holland: If your true cheese passion lies in a Gouda or an Edam, then a trip to Holland to see just where it comes from is a must. Henri Wellig has been producing cheese for over 30 years and many of the cheese farms owned by the company are more than happy to welcome visitors to see how the cheese goes from liquid milk, to it’s more delicious solid cheese form. Take a day trip to the Alide Hoove factory and learn how the cheese is processed from tour guides dressed in traditional Dutch garb and pick up a few wedges for yourself in the neighboring cheese shop. And if that isn’t enough, you can visit the nearby "de Vriendschap" where you can see how wooden shoes are made, learn a little of their history, and maybe even pick up a pair for yourself.
16. Swiss Chocolates and Cheese: Double up on your vices and sample both the best cheeses and chocolates that Switzerland has to offer on this tour. You’ll take a train from Montreaux to Gruyeres, where you’ll get to disembark to take a tour of the local cheese factory that produces the eponymous cheese. After sampling the wares at the factory, explore the halls of the local castle before departing for Broc. Broc is the home of world-famous chocolate maker Nestle. You’ll tour the factory and get a few sample for yourself while you’re at it. The train then returns to Montreux so you can visit the Castle of Chillon and fill up on all the chocolate and cheese you purchased on the way.
17. A Taste of Spain: Spanish cuisine is quickly becoming the darling of chefs worldwide, so why not keep up with culinary trends and give Spanish food a sampling on your next vacation. This tour will take you to the famous plains of La Mancha for the yearly harvest of one of the most expensive spices in the world, saffron. See how the flowers are processed and celebrate the harvest with the Festival de la Rosa del Azafran. Where is the cheese you ask? Central Spain is home to the delicious sheep’s milk cheese Manchego. Roughly following the route of Don Quixote himself, you’ll get to sample this cheese, locally produced paprika, as well as visit some of Spain’s finest restaurants.
18. Italian Cheese Tour: Even non-cheese fanatics can appreciate a good parmesan on their pasta. Take a trip to Italy to see where this delightful cheese comes from. For nearly 800 years the Emilia Romagna region of Italy has been producing delicious Parmesan cheese the old fashioned way. Take a trip along the Via Emilia, an ancient Roman route, to get a chance to visit several of these artisanal makers. Stay in the Le Lame Villa, a rural bed and breakfast, where balconies overlook fields of specially fed cows whose milk is used to produce the cheese. Meals served at the Villa will reflect the local love of Parmesan, though may be a tad adventurous for those who are especially picky. If you’re really up for learning about Parmesan, contact the Consorzio Del Formaggio Parmigiano-Reggiano to arrange a tour of one of the local dairies.
19. Allgau Cheese, Bavaria: Bavaria is a striking region of Germany, with fairy tale castles, and snow topped peaks that almost look too perfect to be real. It’s also home to the famous Allgau cheese. Travel along the West Allgau Cheese Trail to see this impressive scenery and fill your stomach with excellent cheese. The route is short and varied enough to be traveled by bike, those those particularly out of shape may not want to traverse the 46 km of Alpine territory by their own locomotion. Cyclists will pass by alpine dairies, breweries and restaurants, perfect for taking a rest or a quick break from biking.
20. Vestfold, Norway: Jarlsberg cheese, similar in appearance to Swiss cheese is a delicious, mellow and nutty cheese and the finest qualities of it are produced only in Norway in limited quantities. Why travel to Vestfold for Jarlsberg? The country was originally named Jarlsberg and it was not until 1918 that it’s name reverted to the original Vestfold, confusing cheese lovers worldwide. The largest producer of Jarlsberg in Norway is TINE BA, which is actually a cooperative of several thousand individual farmers, and you can find the cheese they produce just about anywhere. If you’re feeling a bit more adventurous, sign up for a Norwegian tour that will take you to small villages like Undredal where you’ll get to see how the local goat cheese is made and sample a bit for yourself as well.
21. Great British Cheese Festival: What could be a better getaway for a cheese lover than to an entire cheese festival? Visit Oxfordshire in the fall to have your cheese loving senses overloaded with variety at this festival. The farmer’s market at the festival has over 450 different varieties of cheese that you can sample and purchase. You’ll also get the chance to talk with local cheese makers, sample a variety of other foods, and even take classes like the Whiskey Workshop or a Cheese making Demo. In addition, you’ll be nestled in the charming countryside of England, where you can stroll down the street to check out historic homes and pubs or take a look at the famous Vale of the White Horse, a prehistoric figure carved into the hillside.

Farther Flung

22. South Africa Cheese Festival: South Africa probably isn’t the first place to comes to mind when you think of cheese, but you must remember that many of the first colonial people in South Africa came from big cheese producing regions of Europe and certainly haven’t forgotten about their cheese heritage. As a result, South Africa hosts this large cheese festival in late April of each year. Enjoy a multitude of cheeses produced locally and abroad, as the entry fee will cover all your sampling, and for a small additional fee you can sample local wines as well. With over 30 varieties of cheese produced in South Africa, and many variations on those, you’ll find plenty to eat and maybe even something to take back to your room with you for later.
23. Oaxaca, Mexico : Oaxaca has a little of something for everyone. With interesting architecture, a sunny climate, and tons of activities near to the city, it’s much more than a cheese destination. Of course, those in search of cheese will find what they came for as well, as the region produces a cheese by the same name. This white, semi hard cheese is often called the "Mexican Mozzarella" and just like Mozzarella is good with just about everything. Because of its excellent melting quality, the cheese is delicious in locally made quesadillas and cheese dips. Visit Etla’s Wednesday market which is famous for it’s sale of this cheese, located near the center of the town.
24. Monteverde, Costa Rica: The Monteverde Cheese Factory is famous throughout Costa Rica, and visitors can take a trip to the factory to sample or buy a taste of the local cheese for themselves. The factory offers 17 different varieties of cheese including Gouda, Emmental and Swiss. The factory is Quaker owned and as such does as much as possible to protect and preserve the local environment, even recycling unused by-products into pig food. After the factory tour you can take an excursion to the local Cloud Forest where you might catch a glimpse of the Quetzal or a sloth, or tour an active volcano.
25. Hunter Valley Cheese, Australia: Nestled in Pokolbin, New South Wales, this cheese factory forms part of the larger Hunter Valley Vineyards. If a place that produces both wine and cheese sounds like heaven to you, then a stop off at this place is a must. Free cheese making talks are given daily, and guests are welcome to peek through viewing windows at how the process works and pick up some cheese to take home in the accompanying shop. The company is also home to a yearly cheese festival in early April, so if you time your visit right you’ll get to enjoy an even large assortment of cheese, as well as demonstrations, entertainment and more.

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