This week, I traded my desk for fields, fur, and fresh air at the Little Red Barn Alpaca Farm in Emporium, Pennsylvania. Tucked away in the Pennsylvania Wilds, this farm offered something I rarely find in everyday life—quiet moments shared with alpacas under a summer sky. The sky at night also showed me the stars in the dark sky and the fireflies against the mountain backdrop which were like fireworks!
This wasn’t just a vacation. As the creator of the Greater Than a Tourist series, I visited the farm to experience rural Pennsylvania through the eyes of those who live and work there. I learned how alpacas communicate, how a small farm welcomes guests through Harvest Hosts and Airbnb, and how these peaceful animals can teach us to slow down.
If you’re planning a getaway and want something beyond the usual, a stay like this gives you a new way to connect with nature, with animals, and with yourself.
For more unique ideas like this, check out the book Greater Than a Tourist – Pennsylvania: 50 Travel Tips from a Local. It includes tips from someone who knows the area well, from local eats to outdoor adventures you won’t find in traditional guidebooks.
📍 Farm Stay: The Little Red Barn Alpaca Farm – Emporium, PA
🐾 Travel Experience: Sitting quietly with alpacas, learning about farm life, and relaxing off the grid
📝 Local Tip: Use Harvest Hosts or Airbnb to book your stay. Emporium is a great launch point for hiking, stargazing, and peaceful farm experiences.
Explore more of the state with travel tips from real locals:
Greater Than a Tourist – Pennsylvania is available on Amazon in paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats.
50 Things to Know About Birds in Pennsylvania Birding in the Keystone State (50 Things to Know About Birds- United States) Speicher, Darryl, Speicher, Jackie, Know, 50 Things to: 9798739134622: : Books
