A must see when in Santa Cruz/Watsonville area. Scheduled a private visit for my family and it was…read morea blast. My 3 year old granddaughter had so much fun. The alpacas were so gentle to her. The alpacas were so friendly and just happy to be fed lol. Rene was so patient and helpful. There's also a gift shop in the farm. Need to know, no restrooms but we were warned. I definitely recommend this farm.

We had such a fun visit! Booking online was super easy, and Renee was very communicative ahead of…read moretime with clear parking instructions. We went on a Friday afternoon, and because the other party had rescheduled, we ended up having a completely private tour, such a nice surprise! There were more than 10 alpacas, so we were totally outnumbered. At one point it honestly felt like the alpacas were studying *us* like we were the animals! The kids had a blast feeding them pine needles. The alpacas were incredibly friendly and curious, walking right up to us and looking at us with those huge, beautiful eyes. Renee was warm and welcoming throughout the visit and even offered to take family photos for us without us having to ask. The ground was covered with small rocks rather than sand, which was a nice bonus -- our shoes stayed surprisingly clean throughout the entire visit. I'm so glad I found an alpaca experience that's an easy trip from the Bay Area. Such a memorable outing for the kids, and we'll definitely be back!

We went as a last minute family adventure for my birthday, and what an amazing birthday it was…read more From kissing alpacas, hugging them, and feeding them, I was in heaven! We all loved it and have memories to last a lifetime.

I have no idea where to begin. Vicki has one of the most lovable personalities. She welcomed us…read morelike we were family and we instantly fell in love with her. Her knowledge on the Alpacas was infinite. It was so fun getting to meet and learn about the Alpacas. So many different personalities. She showed us a little boutique with the different things that are created with Alpaca fur. I definitely see a future visit. Thank you so much for the amazing experience, Vicki!

I was able to spend one night on Paicines Ranch after booking a cottage with a short-term rental…read moreapp that starts with A and ends with B. This was truly a unique opportunity, as I'd never stayed on a ranch before. My room was upgraded to one with air conditioning, which was great, but I had not been aware I didn't have air conditioning in the first place! As this was summertime, it would have been nice for that fact to be made more clear. Nevertheless, I did definitely appreciate the upgrade. My room was clean and comfortable, with all the standard amenities including soap, shampoo, conditioner, coffee and creamer. A mini-fridge and microwave were also provided. I especially liked the location overlooking the lake. I was able to hike along the trails and to see wildlife including birds and frogs! Communication was clear with the management. Parking was ample and free. Wi-fi was also free. I would definitely stay here again; it's also super close to Pinnacles National Park.

We love everything about this place the meat is fantastic the property is a great venue definitely…read moreplan on coming back !

I've visited multiple times and every experience has been wonderful -- the staff, the animals, the…read morecheese... EVERYTHING. Easily 5 stars. For those considering a visit: know that the road is steep and you should take a car. It's a tasting, not a full meal, and the focus is on quality and authenticity. If you appreciate a genuine farm experience on the beautiful Central California Coast, you'll love it. If you're expecting a restaurant with big portions, this probably isn't for you.

I finally made it to @stepladdercreamery !! It was well worth the wait. I have had their cheeses…read moreyears ago and have been wanting to visit the farm and see all the baby goats. The drive into the farm was so beautiful with the rolling green hills. Our tour guide took us up to the farm where we got to hold some of the baby goats. That was one of my favorite parts of the tour. Then we learned how they milk the goats and got to see where perfection was made.... The cheese! After the cheese aging room we went into the tasting room. That was my second favorite part of the tour! I loved trying all the cheeses that are in season. I was also excited to join the cheese club. It's different signing up randomly vs learning about the cheese making process and all the hard work that goes into making it at the farm. That's what got me to sign up for the cheese club. It makes you more excited to join the cheese club when you're there in person. Plus I like the exclusivity factor of some of the special cheese and things I get to experience. If I could change anything it would be to spend more time with the goats. I love animals. I could have held my baby goat for hours. I almost wish they had a tour where you could just go hang out with the goats. And then I also heard a rumor that they used to have ice cream. I would love to try the ice cream produced at this farm!! But other than that I would definitely do this again! I can see my future charcuterie boards with the delicious @stepladdercreamery cheese all over my boards. And it's so exciting!

Such a wonderful family experience. The train ride was cute and Buddy, the elf, rode with us and…read morewas a really hype man with all the holiday singing. The kids all loved it. Upon arrival at the winter market, there are maybe 6-7 food trucks. Hot cocoa and S'more supplies are sold to make around their bonfire pits. It was crowded and we couldn't find a pit so we went into the barn to meet Santa. In the barn, the magician performed all sorts of fun magic for the kids. Later when the crowd dies down, around 1930, it was really nice. There were no lines for pony rides. The entire thing was pretty special. They have lots of things for the kids to do. The maze, fake snow, face painting and even drinks for the adults. I would do this again.

We attended their Holiday Event last night and enjoyed every moment! Great opportunity to unwind…read morewhile enjoying all the festivities being offered! Train ride was so magickal especially for our granddaughter. Thank you to everyone who works so hard to ensure all the guests enjoy themselves!

If you live in the Santa Teresa area, this is such a cool place! They have great hikes with great…read moreviews! The elevation gain can be quite tough if you are not in very good shape. It is uphill all the way! We did about 2.3 miles round trip and elevation gain was 625ft. They hike is rewarding as the views are beautiful! There are signs to watch out for rattlesnakes. We did not encounter and during our hike...phew! At the entrance there is a barn with some history of the ranch which is nice! Parking is on the street in the neighborhood.

"Rickey got a big ranch. Rickey got a big bull. Rickey got horses. Rickey got chickens and…read moreeverything. And Rickey got a 20-gallon hat."―Rickey Henderson The Bernal-Gulnac-Joice Ranch (BGJR) ―try saying that 10× fast!― is a historic Ranch House and Barns built on the original Rancho de Santa Teresa sometime around 1885. Currently a part of the 1,600-acre Santa Teresa County Park, the BGJR is now a small museum, of sorts, that pays homage to the Valley's farming and Cattle Ranching industry. Admission- Free! Times- The Ranch site is open daily from 8 a.m. to sunset. The Ranch House and Barn exhibits are open to the public Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m Parking- Private lot with ×10 parking spots (×9 regular and ×1 ADA). There is also plenty of street parking available, as well. Highlights and Fun Facts: -Restrooms -Access to the Joice Trail at the South end of the Ranch. -Chickens!!! -The BGR served as an active Cattle Ranch up until 1980. -Because people lived in the house up until the '80s most of the historic period pieces inside the Ranch were purchased later to give the house a historic feel. -The Ranch House is supposedly haunted! http://goo.gl/N5Mhpp -The Barns are really cool and full of awesome antique farming implements. -Make sure to do the short loop trail that extends East of the park and you'll be rewarded with a visit to the Santa Teresa Spring! -The name is a combination of the original owner of Rancho Santa Teresa José Joaquin Bernal, whose granddaughter, Rufina, married Carlos Gulnac (who built the Ranch) and their daughter married Patrick Joice. I really like the BGR and would highly recommend it for anyone with young kids, as it's a nice short adventure with lots to see in a short amount of time. The only reason I'm giving it 4-stars instead of 5 is because of the limited availability of the Ranch House and Barn Exhibits. Otherwise, definitely check it out if you're in the area.

Great place to check out in South County…read more.. Original Town in tack with breath taking views.

My husband and I had our wedding here in early May of 2021 and I cannot rave about it enough! This…read moreis a truly stunning venue with so much to offer you and your guests. Our guests were so impressed with this venue and how put together and smooth everything was, they said it felt like a destination wedding with how unique and private it is (even though we all live relatively close)! It has a beautiful rustic feel without being to themed, with first class amenities of all forms! In addition to the gorgeous functional venue, Christin (our day of coordinator) is absolutely incredible! She stuck with us for over a year as we planned, had to reschedule due to COVID, planned again, then had to reschedule a second time due to COVID. She was so responsive, helpful, and creative in all aspects of the day and helped make my constantly changing vision a reality! I changed my mind on the flowers until the very last minute and she was able to pull together the most gorgeous floral arrangements that were more beautiful than I even imagined. Her team was also so great the day of. Casey (our personal assistant for the day) was there for my husband and I every moment we needed her. She made sure we did not get dehydrated, hungry, or overwhelmed by guests at any point. She helped me stay calm right before the ceremony making sure I didn't pass out from nervousness. She helped make sure we were comfortable with pictures and that we had everything we needed up until the minute we drove away for the evening. The rest of the team was also fantastic. The decorations were above and beyond and they made sure our guests felt comfortable and cared for. During the reception they did an amazing coordinated reveal that I won't spoil for anyone, but man it wowed our guests! This venue is also a wonderful option because they do it all! You can choose other vendors if you like but they provide the catering, the DJ, the flowers, the decorating, and the bartenders! All we really had to do separately was the Cake and booze! DJ Sergio is one of the nicest and most considerate people you'll ever meet and a darn good DJ. He got people to dance who I have never in my life seen dance. It was fun and light and all timed so well. He got to know our music style and matched it perfectly. The ceremony music was timed so well and there was never a moment were someone wasn't dancing at the reception! Another incredible aspect of this venue besides it beauty, secluded-ness, and wonderful staff, is the fact that there is a honeymoon cabin on the property! This is no shabby cabin, this my friends was luxurious! It is tucked up behind the venue in the hills making it a close but private place to escape to at the end of the night. This was also a perfect place for my bridesmaids to spend a long relaxed morning getting ready with me. It has a kitchen and comfortable seating (along with a breathtaking master sweet and huge bathroom) and made us all feel so special while getting our hair and makeup done. There are also adorable long horn cattle grazing the hillsides on the drive up! We had several guests come in from long distances and just five minutes down the road is a Thousand Trails Campground, which we all stayed at the night before and many people stayed at the night of. This location has Cabins as well as tent and RV sights. Overall this place was more than we ever could have imagined. We are so grateful to have found this place and for all the hard work their team put into it. If you want a fun, secluded, beautiful, and luxurious country venue for your wedding day, we highly recommend here!

Wow what a beautiful experience! We did the horse tour. Chelsea was great! She taught us so much…read moreabout horses. She made us feel comfortable being around these big beautiful creatures. My boyfriend and I were both nervous because we'd never been around horses but Chelsea taught us exactly what to do. We felt very comfortable around them. We got to visit with the mini horses and some burritos. They were so cute! It was so much fun! She also gave us some great business advice as we are planning on opening our own farm in the future. We can't wait to go back to visit!

We did the Hands on Horses tour while in town and Chelsea and her animal family are delightful!…read moreWe were able to meet, interact with, and learn about large horses, mini horses, mini donkeys, and a goat! The horses are very friendly and it was fun to brush them and see their various personalities. The mini donkey is my favorite because he's quite snuggly, he leans into you. This was a relaxing experience, perfect way to spend an hour or so in the morning or afternoon while in the area. They also have a goat experience and other activities. You can tell that Chelsea takes excellent care of her animals, she takes pride in sharing them with others.

Nice big place for boarding! It was a bit too far to travel from San Jose and they had some…read morepotholes in the dirt roads.

Wonderful place to ride. Excellent horses and very experienced instructors. Just off 280 in…read morePortola Valley.