Napa Valley California - 2020 - 160

THE GUIDE I FAMILY

I

t's a chilly Friday morning and the
welcoming committee at Connolly
Ranch in Napa is working overtime. One
committee member boldly nibbles on a
visitor's shoelace. Another softly butts
its head against a visitor's purse. A third
opens its mouth and lets everybody know
how it really feels about all the visitors
milling about the barnyard.
The feedback: "Baaaaaaaaaa."
No, the welcome wagon here isn't
human. Instead, the greeters are goats -
the perfect introduction to a magical place
that's all about giving visitors a true farm
experience.
Connolly Ranch is an education-centered working farm in the Browns Valley
neighborhood of Napa. According to
Heidi Soldinger, development director for
Connolly Ranch, it's a perfect place for
the whole family.
"It's not a complicated concept: Nature
provides all the learning resources kids
and adults need," she says. "Experiencing
science, life science, and environmental
science, through absorbing and interacting with a hands-on curriculum, leaves a
lasting mark and educational moments for
everyone who comes here."
There are three main spots to experience the 13-acre ranch: The barnyard,
N:
LY FU
home to more than 40 different
FAMI
animals; the edible garden; and the
grove, an open area surrounded by
towering redwood and eucalyptus
the shade and enjoy a sack lunch without
no critters (except for those
trees.
the distractions of cell phones and comwho buzz between flowers).
The barnyard, home to goats,
puters. Soldinger says that while visitors
There usually aren't many other
sheep, pigs, bunnies, and nearly two
love the barnyard, most spend the bulk
people. And the only being you feed
dozen chickens, is by far the busiest area
of their time building and playing in the
is yourself. Depending on when you visit,
on the farm. In the barn, visitors are
grove.
the "menu" might include cherry tomainvited to pull handfuls of hay and feed
"There's something about how
toes, sugar snap peas, blackberries, and
the animals, sit down in the goat pens
open-ended the grove is - you can go up
more.
and read to the animals, or just wait to
there and do pretty much whatever you
The grove is a place of endless possibilpet the critters when they come on by. In
want to do," she says. "There are a lot
ities. Take a spin on the tire swing. Play
the chicken coop and surrounding area,
of places on the ranch to relax, but that's
with the kiddos in the sand pit. Climb up
guests can feed chickens, hunt for eggs, or
usually where people go to connect with
into the old redwood logs for a game of
pet bunnies. If you're lucky, Earl Gray, the
nature."
role-play. Or just sit at the picnic tables in
gray farm cat, will make an appearance
(and proceed to follow you around for the
rest of your visit).
DID YOU KNOW? American Canyon is the closest town to neighboring kid
The vibe in the garden is exactly
attractions like Six Flags Discovery Kingdom and the Jelly Belly Factory.
opposite that in the barnyard. There are

?

160

VISITNAPAVALLEY.COM | 2020

TOP LEFT: COURTESY OF CONNOLLY RANCH; BOB MCCLENAHAN (4)

ens
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Napa Valley California - 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Napa Valley California - 2020

Contents
Napa Valley California - 2020 - Cover1
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