Goat yoga, hikes and hijinks: Where to have fun with goats in Hunterdon County
They don't make eggs. Their meat isn't common in American cuisine. They don't produce nearly as much milk as cows.
But Hunterdon County farmers have realized that spirited, inquisitive and downright funny goats are the perfect additions to farms, whether it's simply to attract agrotourism visitors or to create goat's milk cheese and other products.
Goats tend to be friendly and love to hop and play, making them the perfect additions to yoga, hikes and snuggles — especially in the springtime, when babies are born.
These Hunterdon County farms are offering just that this season.
The Bubbly Goat, Delaware Township
The Bubbly Goat uses its herd of 20 Nigerian dwarf, Oberhasli and LaMancha goats to make goat milk products including soaps, lotions and raw goat milk for pets. But owner Barbara Leone has seen the farm’s goat activities — including bottle feeding and snuggling with baby goats as well as goat yoga — become so popular and therapeutic that at some point it may become their focus.
“I have seen people change their whole attitude after being here for five minutes,” said Leone. “We have people come from two hours away. Once, a father had passed away and a mother brought their two young children. The kids soon were smiling, and it was just a great release and distraction from what was going on in their lives.”
For this reason, 45-minute sessions — including goat yoga for $36, snuggle sessions for $16, and bottle feeding for $18 — book up in advance, said Leone. One-hour guided visits are also available where visitors can meet the goats and learn about goat handling.
Go: 248 Locktown Sergeantsville Road, Delaware Township; 908-468-2540, thebubblygoat.com.
Gorgeous Goat Creamery, Delaware Township
Gorgeous Goat Creamery makes cheese, yogurt, skin care products and pasteurized bottled milk from its herd of 75 Alpine goats, which it has done since originally purchasing goats to manage surrounding invasive plants.
However, from March through November, the goat dairy farm also offers baby goat bottle feeding and snuggles, as well as forest hikes. Through Sunday, May 7, visitors can purchase $13 to $19 tickets to either bottle-feed, or snuggle and play with baby goats for about 45 minutes.
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After that, through November, hour-long farm tours are available for $12 to $15 per person so visitors can see how goats are handled and how goat cheese is made. From August through November, visitors can also sign up for a half-mile, leisurely hike with a small herd of goats.
“The goats are off-leash and enjoy nibbling on the shrubbery,” said co-owner Maria Stewart. “Visitors get to watch them jump on logs and rocks and do funny goat things.”
Go: 71 Featherbed Lane, Delaware Township; 908-274-1295, gorgeousgoat.com.
Mad Lavender Farm, Alexandria
Mad Lavender Farm makes a special effort to make their goat yoga with their Nigerian dwarf goats both playful and fun, as well as relaxing and therapeutic. It’s combined with "sound bath therapy" — immersive sound that fills the room.
“The first thing you hear is vibration from the sound bowls, so you get a really chill vibe and a little bit of meditation. Then we bring the goats in, and it’s hilarious,” said farm co-owner Adrienne Crombie. “It goes from really chill to really chaotic and fun.”
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At the sessions, which take place on select Saturdays and Sundays from May through October for $80 per couple, goats crawl into visitors’ laps, play with one another, and even get atop a human “goat bridge” made up of people in table pose.
Baby goat petting sessions are also available in May and June for $15 per person in 20-minute sessions.
Go: 452 Route 579, Alexandria; 908-310-5973, madlavenderfarm.com.
What a View Farm, Hillsborough
When What a View Farm was established over a decade ago, it was full of usual farm suspects like chicken and pigs. But when pygmy goats were added to the family about six years ago, What a View Farm realized that the small, playful animals were the perfect laid-back yet enjoyable additions to the Sourland Mountain destination.
These days, What a View Farm offers goat yoga on weekend mornings and Wednesday evenings with some of its 26 goats, which includes recently-born baby Cinnamon. One-hour sessions, hosted by local yoga instructors, cost $45.
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“The whole point of yoga with goats is to have something that can distract you and help you be in that moment,” said farm manager Jonah DiCorcia. “There’s nothing quite as distracting from all of those external thoughts like an animal jumping on your back.”
Go: 585 Montgomery Rd., Hillsborough; 732-877-5256, whataviewfarmnj.com.
Contact: JIntersimone@MyCentralJersey.com
Jenna Intersimone has been a staff member at the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey since 2014, after becoming a blogger-turned-reporter following the creation of her award-winning travel blog. To get unlimited access to her stories about food, drink and fun, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Goat yoga in Hunterdon County this spring offers fun, relaxation
