Why I Regret Not Holding a Baby Alpaca
June 29th, 2012
Annie Bailey from Clackamas Co. Tourism holding Marquam Hill Ranch's award-winning alpaca, "Conopa Royal."
How often do you have the chance to hold something as cute as this, as fluffy, as special? Rarely. But I was the kid in school who would have been the last to join 4-H club, and I chickened out.
This sweet thing was just one of the many cuties I got to see up close a couple of weeks ago, and it made me feel like a kid again. I was touring the Molalla Country Farm Loop, a group of farms out in Clackamas County.
So close to Portland, Molalla feels like a world away with its rural reality of pastures, barns and fields. I saw elk, horses, sheep, geese, chickens, pigmy goats, and even a wallaby. It was so much fun, and a perfect way for a family with kids to spend a day this summer.
In the fall, there are farm stands, orchards and wineries to check out as well. You can download a map and brochure here. This video shows a lot more of what the area is all about. Enjoy!
