Make animal friends during your farm stay.
Courtesy of Sarah BrunnerFarm stay agritourism has seen an increase in recent years, and the travel trend continues to rise. Farm-hosted stays have been popular in Europe since the 1990s, where agriculture is promoted to attract tourists and visitors. Agritourism can span very different environments and offer varied experiences, but they all strive to connect guests to nature and animals.
A chance to stay on a farmstead will require some planning on your part, such as determining what to bring. While some of the farms are close to a hub of activity, others are more remote and will require you to pack some essentials.
Staying on a farm presents an opportunity to fully embrace the moment and interact with famnily and friends as well as the resident animals. Here's a few standout places you can book for your next experience.
Brunner Family Farm – Fieldbrook, California
A cozy room at the Brunner Family Farm.
Courtesy of Sarah Brunner
Located in Humboldt County, this family-run 10-acre farm welcomes guests to stay in their 700-square-foot barn loft, which offers spacious quarters including two bedrooms and a bathroom. The full kitchen comes with a restored Spark gas stove where meals can be prepared, and the living room is equipped with a comfortable couch that also serves as a queen bed for extra visitors. While retaining its old-world charm, the home offers modern amenities such as efficient Wi-Fi, a television and a fireplace. A thermostat regulates the pellet stove to provide heat and a ceiling fan offers relief during warmer months.
Sarah Brunner and her family have been involved in farming since 2005, when they decided to raise their own chickens. This led to producing their own meat, vegetables and flowers. In 2013, they purchased their current property and have been thriving, raising Angora goats for their fiber. Everything raised on the farm sustains them and they enjoy being able to share the experience with people who visit.
Though the location is remote (Fieldbrook has approximately 800 residents) the farm has lots of activities for both adults and children. Full of action and vocal goats, dogs, and chickens, guests are invited to participate in the fun by collecting eggs and interacting with the animals as much as they want. You can make an appointment for a detailed tour of the working farm, build a campfire and make s’mores at night, or just lounge on the property with a good book. Rates start at $178.
Address: 3628 Fieldbrook Rd McKinleyville, CA, 95519
Hartley Farms - San Miguel, California
This 37-acre organic farm is located along the beautiful California coast and sits in the heart of thriving wine country. The farm grows plenty of fruits such as blueberries, plums, apricots, and pears, which they make into organic jams for sale. Book the cottage, a 900-square foot guest house which includes a fully equipped kitchen, one bedroom with a comfortable California King bed, one bathroom, and Murphy-style bunk beds. The spacious living room has many areas for lounging and gathering, and the covered patio offers spectacular views of the vineyard and orchards. Other accommodations available include a campground with two solar-powered restrooms as well as RV/Camper sites.
The farm is situated around a 200-year-old oak tree with plenty of chickens and goats to say hi to, along with a lush garden and walking paths. There is a 2-acre garden and waterfall, which the farm offers for hosting weddings and retreats. They also host seasonal events such as farmers' markets and wine gatherings.
San Miguel is quaint, with an adorable downtown area lined with boutiques. There are also wineries along the Pleasant Valley Wine Trail that are nearby should you choose to venture off the property. The farm is also about a 20-minute drive from downtown Paso Robles with farm-to-table dining. Rates start at $252.
Address: 6770 Estrella Rd, San Miguel, CA 93451
Donkey friends at Tabula Rasa Farms.
Courtesy of Maggie KirklandTabula Rasa Farms – Carlton, Oregon
A visit to this regenerative farm allows you to be part of the inspiration and passion of owner Brenda Smola-Foti, who was an artist in her previous career. Though her advertising career brought her to big cities, she didn’t forget her small town roots of growing up on a cattle farm in Oklahoma. Driven by a yearning to know about where her food came from, in 2009 she acquired a plot of land that is today called Tabula Rasa Farms.
According to their website, “Tabula Rasa” means "clean slate" and is Smola-Foti’s commitment to responsible farming practices and being a steward of the land. The farm raises grass-fed meat and harvests their own vegetables. Situated on rolling hills, the 22-acre property’s farmhouse has two bedrooms and three bathrooms with an open-concept living and dining area. Spacious and comfortable, the house sits on a hilltop and overlooks the thriving farm.
Thoughtfully designed with a minimalist Scandinavian feel, the fully equipped kitchen is a great area to make meals with items purchased from the farm store, which is several minutes walking distance from the house. Relax on the large outdoor deck, which also has a grill handy, and take in the beauty of the farm. Modern conveniences such as fast internet, air-conditioning, heat, and a washer and dryer are at your fingertips. The hosts provide breakfast items such as pasture-raised eggs and sausage as well as coffees and teas.
Carlton is an idyllic town, with over 50 wineries nearby, and close to world-class dining. A 20-minute drive takes you to the quaint town of Newberg, where you can book a wine tasting at Et Fille Vineyards, which means “and daughter” in French. Founded in 2003 by father and daughter team Howard and Jessica Mozeico, the winery is now in its second generation and specializes in Pinot Noir, Rosé, Viognier, and Sparkling, which are all derived from sustainable vineyards.
For lunch, drop by McMinnville's MAC Market, which is a converted warehouse that sells food, drinks, and much more. Book dinner reservations at Humble Spirit, where you will be treated to meat raised from Tabula Rasa Farms, accompanied by produce to match the seasons. Don’t miss their seasonal salads and vegetable dishes as they reflect the delicate flavors of the Willamette Valley. Their meatballs are savory and rich, and dessert will leave you more than satisfied (but you won’t regret it!). For a casual dinner, head over to Pizza Capo, which serves mouthwatering pizza pies and hearty salads. Rates start at $570.
Address: 14820 NW Meadowlake Rd, Carlton, OR 97111
Silvies Valley Ranch – Seneca, Oregon
Set in the Blue Mountains of Eastern Oregon in the remote town of Seneca, Silvies is a 140,000-acre working farm. With the town’s population of less than 170 residents, Silvies has been an authentic homestead since the 1880s. The western-themed ranch offers luxe log cabins and suites, with set-ups for families and large gatherings. Choose from a lakeside cabin which offers a hot tub, fireplace and roomy accommodations, or a buddy cabin designed for groups with a common gathering space. Suites are located close to the ranch’s 18-hole golf course, with flat-screen TVs and jacuzzi baths for relaxing. There is also an option to book and park your RV on the property and have use of the amenities.
The resort is huge and provides lots of activities to keep busy. Guests can choose to play golf, go fishing, horseback riding, or go on a wagon ride. The luxury full-service spa is a great place to relax and refresh. The property also arranges for wine and whiskey tastings, goat herding and other outdoor escapades including Razor ATV tours. The farm is home to about 4,500 cattle, 3,000 goats, numerous horses, goats, as well as other animals. Guests can inquire about feeding and interacting with them.
The Dining Room serves the farm’s certified organic, grass-finished beef and other meats along with locally sourced vegetables and herbs grown on the farm. They also offer private dining, boxed picnic lunches, and an expansive wine selection. Despite its remote location, once you get there, you won’t want to leave. Rates start at $345 per person and are subject to change depending on type of package.
Address: 40000 East Cowboy Lane, Seneca, OR 97873
Cedar Mountain Farms – Athol, Idaho
Set on a 440-acre working family farm about 30 minutes away from Coeur d’Alene, the charming establishment has been operating since the 1950s. Book the bunkhouse, which is a log cabin originally built in 1978 from timber harvested off the property, with two upstairs bedrooms, a dining area, living room, and bathroom with an antique tub. The full kitchen is great for families and travelers looking to prepare their own meals. There is a laundry room as well as air conditioning for convenience and comfort. (Notably, this rental is not appropriate for wheelchairs because of the spiral staircase.)
They also offer other lodging options such as the main farmhouse that operates as a bed and breakfast, renting out individual rooms which come with a homemade meal every morning. The farm also has an RV campground with picnic tables and a barbecue grill.
Activities on the farm include a petting zoo that has everything from bunnies and chickens to goats, sheep, as well as ponies and Scottish Highland cows. Because the property is expansive, there are miles of hiking and biking trails. In the winter, there is snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and sledding.
The owners, Daryl Ann and Al, third-generation loggers, also offer passes for day visitors who wish to experience farm life. They want to share the property with visitors looking for outdoor activities and getting closer to nature.
The town of Athol is home to the popular Silverwood theme park, which has rides, water activities, and entertainment. Also nearby is Farragut State Park, a 4,000-acre park that has a disc-golf course, fishing, many trails, and picnic areas as well as campgrounds. Rates start at $100.
Address: 25249 N Hatch Rd, Athol, ID 83801