R2 Hillside Ranch — Attraction in Watsonville Water Treatment Plant

We had the pleasure of visiting R2Hillside Ranch in Watsonville. My daughter wanted to visit an Alpaca farm and luckily, I got in touch with Rich and Renee while visiting Monterey for my birthday weekend. It is difficult to sum up the experience in so many words but to give you an idea it was fantastic. We visited on Sunday, November 3rd. Weather was amazing in Watsonville; and the farm is right off the freeway and easy to get to. We were greeted at the barn door by Richard himself and was joined by his wife Renee who greeted us so warmly. They have roughly 25 Alpacas out of which they inherited 9 of them from the previous owner and the rest were all the babies of those original ones.

Both Rich and Renee cordially educated us about the history of the farm and how them came upon it and absolutely fell in love with these gorgeous animals. After Renee picked some pine branches for us to feed them (they love pine needles); the Alpacas were let out in the bigger patch. It was amazing how human friendly these animals were and how they came so close and interacted so well with all of us. More of the story you can see within the pictures I share here and that will give you an idea how amazing it was to learn about them, interact with them (the cuddles and kisses were amazing). It was even more refreshing to see how this R2 couple knows each one of their Alpacas so well and can tell you about their personalities and behaviors. If you are a nature/ animals loving family like us, I would highly recommend visiting R2Hillside farm. You will have a great time. Please check their website/Facebook page and they have all the details how to arrange a visit and gives quite a bit of information beforehand; don’t forget to check out pictures also. The first question my daughter immediately asked when we got out of the farm was when we can visit them again 😊

Thanks so much for a wonderful trip to your farm Rich and Renee...we loved it and can’t wait to...

ALPACAS, EDUCATION, & A PERFECT DAY I booked a farm tour at R2 Hillside Ranch for my husband and me on a Saturday afternoon. Originally, we had to reschedule due to rain, but the process was super easy - huge shoutout to them for being so flexible! Finally, the day arrived and I was beyond excited since I’d never been up close to an alpaca before.

WORTH THE DRIVE The drive from San Jose took about an hour, but we had to stop to check our tire pressure, which made us 20 minutes late (oops!). Since the tours run every hour, ours was cut short, but TBH, we still had a great time.

MEETING THE ALPACAS For just $20, you get a one-hour session to feed, pet, and hang out with these adorable creatures. Renee, our guide, was so knowledgeable, kind, and patient, explaining everything from alpaca behaviors to what to expect if they aren’t in the mood to be touched (kicking, spitting, sneezing - the whole deal). Luckily, none of that happened to us.

A FUN & AFFORDABLE EXPERIENCE This tour is family-friendly, educational, and budget-friendly. Plus, if you’ve ever dreamed of living your farm girl (or farm guy) era, this is the perfect starter experience. Renee even took a cute photo of my husband and me and sent it to us after the tour. Such a sweet touch!

ENDING THE DAY AT THE BEACH On our way home, we made a pit stop at Capitola Beach to enjoy some delicious seafood and a stunning sunset, which was the perfect way to wrap up an amazing day.

TLDR If you’re looking for a unique, affordable, and fun experience, R2 Hillside Ranch is a must. Book a tour, meet some alpacas, and soak up the farm life - you won’t regret it! Check out their website for bookings...

I made a reservation to visit R2 Hillside Ranch on a day that happened to get a lot of intermittent rain. I’m glad that it didn’t deter my family from wanting to go, and thankful to Renee (owner) for continuing to host the visit. This was our first-ever alpaca experience. Renee was responsive with our inquiries and gave us plenty of directions and advice. We were given safety tips before entering the paddock. Alpacas, like any other animal in nature, are likely to shy away from touch, but Renee will share how can get a few in. They are adorable to look at while you are feeding them. The ranch is picturesque. The host is warm, gracious, and fun to swap stories with. Our family has 2 teen girls and they were happy for the up-close experience. The tour is not private. Other families may appear at the same time. If you need more info, just connect with Renee. Overall it was a great way to gain some serenity if you need to escape from regular life. We would visit again even just to chill with Renee in this...