Holiday rentals in Blue Ridge

Your visit begins with a meet up and quick safety briefing on how to interact with the Alpacas and Goats. Then it's off to the chicken yard where you’ll get a hands-on experience with our girls. We’ll talk about the rewards of raising backyard chickens. Collect some eggs to take home with you so you can have the freshest, most nutritious, delicious breakfast ever! Next we'll visit the goats. The goats will come when called and eat leaves from our hands. Everyone will have treats to offer the goats. There will be opportunities for pics all along the way. We'll then set off to our fluffy friends. Alpaca are gentle, friendly, wonderful creatures. You will be amazed at their incredible soft fleece and their large, expressive eyes which seem to exhibit both wisdom and childlike curiosity. Depending on time of day and the weather you may help bring alpaca to their fields to graze or help feed them their daily grain. Guests are welcome to go into the enclosures and interact with the Alpacas and Goats. All will be able to participate in farming activities which may include feeding, moving, or milking. Included in your tour is an “Alpaca Trek” A leisurely 1/2 mile walk across farmland and country roads(guest>7 yrs old). You'll be able to take some great alpaca selfies! Final stop is our farm store where you will have the opportunity to purchase some of our farm products.

Walk with me on my 7 acre mountain cove property as we follow the stream, crossing field and forest full of diversity and rich in woodland medicinals to discover all the wonderful uses of the plants around us. This is a slow walk and we will stop frequently to observe our surroundings. We'll learn about native uses, Appalachian folklore, and how plants can still help us in our modern world. Leave with valuable knowledge on what it takes to survive in Southern Appalachia and a new perspective of the plants around you. Come discover the natural world! We will be outdoors and there will be plenty of space for safe distancing. Please feel free to request a time or day not listed. Other things to note Be prepared to spend the full time outdoors and on your feet, and get ready to explore!

*If your desired date isn't available, ask me, it may be. This is the perfect experience if your celebrating a wedding, an anniversary, a birthday or any other reason you can think of. I'll meet you where you are staying, be your designated driver, area guide and your trip photographer. If time, weather and circumstances allow, we will make our way to a picturesque waterfall that we just drive up to. Then it's on to the first winery. We will eat a fabulous lunch at approximately 12:00 pm and do your first tasting. The views here are as spectacular as the wine. Our second winery has more of a large lodge feel to it. They have both covered and uncovered outdoor space with fires in the fireplace and fire pits when the weather calls for it. Their wines are highly acclaimed. Our third winery has more of a pub vibe going on. The views here are the best to be had. The friendliness of the staff and the spectacular selection of wine make this winery a cannot miss destination. Other things to note: Tastings and food are not included in the price since not everyone partakes and I'd hate to charge someone for something they don't want or worse yet, make someone think they have to drink. A 20% tip is requested. Cash or Venmo. Have breakfast and hydrate.

You'll arrive and we will start on your folk art painting right away. While we wait for the base coat to dry, we will take a stroll around the property with my dogs, visit my garden and chickens and walk along the creek. We will have a sweet iced tea, coffee or soda and a few snacks when we return to the studio and you'll begin to paint your "critter". You can choose to follow a template, or create your own animal, draw it, paint it, then while the paint dries, you'll pick out the bottle caps you want to hammer into your animal to finish the piece. Some guests choose to only paint and that's fine too! We will add all the framing hardware and you'll take the finished piece with you. We'll then have a fun photo shoot for your Facebook, Instagram or other social media platforms. If you don’t see your preferred dates listed, please message and let me know when you would like to schedule the experience. I am very flexible on dates and times.

Get a behind the scenes look at chimpanzees living in sanctuary in the Blue Ridge Mountains! This is a unique opportunity to see some of the chimpanzees and learn about their unique life in sanctuary. Because we aren't a zoo, you'll see the chimps in a relaxed, peaceful setting, unlike anything you've experienced before. The chimps have access to a 6-acre forest and, while chimp sightings are never guaranteed, they usually like to see who has come to visit! The walking tour lasts about one hour. You'll also spend time with our sanctuary team and learn more about the amazing lives of chimpanzees! Tours are limited to ten people and chimps love children (under 5 are free)! Having very little exposure to children in their former lives, they are absolutely fascinated by the smallest visitors. Service animals are also welcome, but the tour may need to be modified for the chimps' comfort. Walking tours are on gravel roads with a decent incline, so expect a moderate hike. We have golf carts available, as needed. We'll also provide bottled water. Strollers are not recommended. Please dress for the weather and wear closed-toe shoes. There is no contact between humans and chimps, but you will have the opportunity to see them up close and personal for a once in a lifetime experience. Other things to note You will not have direct contact with the chimpanzees. Experiences are held rain or shine, we do not reschedule unless there is a weather advisory that impacts travel. Chimps have the option to retreat to their villas out of sight at any time. Chimp sightings are very likely but can't be guaranteed.