We had a very cool opportunity recently to go out and visit one of the more talked about attractions in North Central Washington, the Leavenworth Reindeer Farm.
The Leavenworth Reindeer Farm is located just a couple minutes north from Leavenworth on the Chumstick Highway. When you pull into the driveway and park at the top of the hill, you’ll be overlooking a beautiful little farm surrounded by some of the best local scenery. Walk down the driveway and you’ll immediately feel welcomed, both by what you see and what you hear.
The tour starts with a brief overview of the farm before your guide breaks into a friendly, funny, and enjoyable talk about the farm, its beginnings, and of course the reindeer. After this short introduction, we were given a few tips on how best to get the reindeer to welcome us, including some ideas on the best methods of feeding them. Then, armed with bowls filled with feed pellets as well as willow branches with what we were told were very tasty leaves, we entered the reindeer pen.
The reindeer immediately recognized that it’s feeding time and some slowly meandered our direction while others came a little more urgently. Smiles came to the faces of the kids and adults alike as these very gentle creatures that you never think you’ll be this close to stand right in front of you, snout first in your bowl or lazily munching on the leaves from your branch. Reach out and touch them, though not their velvet covered antlers, and feel their fur. It’s something you’ll never forget.
The laughter from the kids as the reindeer followed them was about the only sound as the animals themselves are very quiet. After awhile, our hosts helped set up some great photo opportunities for the families and groups that were there. Soon the feeding time was over and we exited the enclosure.
The farm offers some great atmosphere as we saw other animals around too, including chickens, geese, pigs and one very friendly cat.
Soon it was time to go and as we were very near Leavenworth, a town packed with fun things to do, there were more entertainment options to be had. But you can bet the hot topic of the day, the thing that was discussed the most, was that amazing opportunity to have an up close and personal experience with real reindeer.
Check them out online:
Website: Leavenworth Reindeer Farm
Facebook: Leavenworth Reindeer Farm
Instagram: Leavenworth Reindeer Farm