There’s no shortage of adorable farm animals out in Willamette Valley wine country. From the Valais Blacknose sheep at Arlyn Vineyard to the Tennessee Walking Horses used by Equestrian Wine Tours, it’s easy to get the warm-and-fuzzies.
But allow us to spin a yarn about a place where whimsical creatures roam, melting the hearts of anyone they meet with their long ears and big, dark eyes.
Just a few miles outside of Sherwood, you’ll find Alpacas of Oregon, a family-owned and -operated farm that’s raised the animals for decades. Visitors must book a tour, where you’ll mingle with the many-colored huacayas, a breed known for their fluffy, crimped wool (they make up about 90% of the world’s alpaca population).
Feed them some treats (keep your palm flat and prepare to be tickled), learn what goes into alpaca breeding and day-to-day care, and browse the store’s scarves, sweaters, and other souvenirs. Additional products are available next door at Oregon Wool & Fiber Mill (you can also have your own sheep or alpaca wool processed here).
If you stop by Alpacas of Oregon during the spring and summer, chances are you’ll see babies bouncing around the fields.
