"Alpaca my bags: Our first stop at the Green Apple Alpaca Farm!"
Our first stop at the green Apple Alpaca Farm in Auburn Wa was everything we could have hoped for.
The owners welcomed us with open arms, even though we came in pretty late because we took forever getting things situated…ahem Todd I’m looking at you.
On the second day, the ever-curious alpacas made a jailbreak and spent the day hanging out in the field we were parked in, just inches from where we sat drinking morning coffee. It was a real highlight for me seeing them play King of the Hill on a dirt pile while also doing some oddly flamboyant leaps off the top of the hill every so often.
There were not just alpacas here-don’t let the name fool you, there were sheep, lamas, chickens, ducks, geese, quail, and goats!
Levi the goat was pretty darn cute. He asked to be petted until your hands fell off, then he would be content to move on to the next able-bodied human…bonus points from him if you offered cookies. Me too Levi…me too.
We found this place with our membership to Harvest Hosts / Boondockers Welcome!
Once you become a member with Harvest Hosts you can find hosts. WIth the membership they offer a night free and they just ask that you support their business in some small way. It is usually Farms, Museums, or Wineries.
Boondockers Welcome is membership based as well. These are just folks sharing some of their land or property so travelers have a place to rest for the night.
This here is a picture of happiness. The host baked us a fresh loaf of sourdough bread ! It was AMAZING.
Then add fresh butter from the farmers market and some preserves. Why are my pants so tight!? The answer-this picture.
Not dead… It was 90 degrees. This was the vibe we all felt during the hottest part of the day.
Levi the friendliest goat alive.
One of the ducks happened to be named Jensen Quackles. If ya know ya know.
The Enumclaw Farmers Market was a fun surprise. Despite being small, we left the market with an assortment of treats that were delicious! From the spicy cheese to the lemon hummus and fresh pita chips, everything we snagged was a hit.
Food is my happy place.
Really dug this dude.
We made sure to get our fair share of fresh air and nature by visiting Flaming Geyser State Park. We do have a small piece of advice for future visitors: make sure to bring your own lighter to light the geyser!
Thank God someone tipped us off to this before we visited because, without a flame, the geyser was just another bubbling pool of water. But with a little help from our trusty lighter, we were able to witness the flaming spectacle (okay, very mildly spectacular) that the park is known for.
And our homeschooling is done for the day. Science.✔️
Read this for extra credit.
Teacher of the year right here.
A boy and a tree, Mira and I climbed it too but we didn’t look nearly as cool.
Being big horror movie junkies this is EXACTLY the type of place you do not visit in the dark unless you want to hang with some man wearing a hockey mask and carrying a machete.
Schlegels in the wild.
Rock skipping champ of the day. No prize needed when you get these kind of bragging rites..
We also made sure to hit up Deep Lake at Nolte State Park on a perfect day for paddle boarding—a favorite activity among Mira and me. ( We did drag Memphis around on a tube for a bit until he became bored of us and our girl gossip. We spent a lazy afternoon just basking in the warm sun with some good music and cocktails while gliding through the peaceful waters. Kidding. Mira was gliding like a water angel. I was trying to keep up but somehow kept going left and in circles the whole time.
Must note: I heard the lake is so deep that if you go to the bottom, there is still ice. I, being a mediocre at best swimmer at best, wore a giant, unattractive life jacket, so I would never find out if this is accurate.
Also, second note: don't drink and paddle.
The oldest Schlegel child came to visit and gifted us this celebration basket to cheers our first trip! We clinked glasses over a fire on a beautiful evening …but did I take a picture… NO! ( parent fail) There is a funny video though where my voice sounds obnoxious, leaving me to wonder if I sound like this in real life. I probably do. My apologies to all who know me.
Giddy up.
Memphis was finally able to ride his death mobile-I mean, dirt bike! Yay!
For new farm campers.
ALWAYS
ALWAYS
ALWAYS
bring a net tent.
The flys are no joke my friends.