The Tibetan yaks don’t talk back but they sure do give a mean side-eye. This year, my birthday was spent eating crepes and petting yaks at Kiwidinok Farm and it was AMAZING!
Instead of hiding in bed, under the covers, crying all day, on my 54th birthday, I decided to embrace turning another year older and cross a couple of things off my travel Michigan bucket list.
First stop, Charlevoix. When we arrived, there was a parade (aka traffic nightmare), and a huge festival in my honor. Just kidding! It was the last day of Venetian Festival, but a girl can dream that the festivities were all held in her honor…right? We were lucky enough to find parking right away (birthday gift #1) and threaded our way through the crowd to That French Place. That French Place is located on the same street as the Venetian Festival fun but slightly removed so we were able to leave the crowd behind (birthday gift #2).
I hope to one day go to France, sit in a cafe preferably where Hemingway once sat, eat lots of bread and cheese, and drink (just a little) wine. I was hoping to capture a bit of that spirit at That French Place. A little bit of research would have revealed that this was an unrealistic dream. This cafe is not a sit, and leisurely take in the ambiance type of place. It is more of a take your pastry or hand-held crepe and go see the sights type of place.
Chuck and I each ordered a savory spinach, mushroom, and Swiss buckwheat crepe. It was perfectly packaged for an eat and meander the city streets adventure. It was packed full of ingredients (so cheesy!) and delicious! It was easily the best crepe I’ve ever had in my life. Macey opted for a cinnamon roll pastry which she said was flaky and also delicious.
After eating, we made a quick stop at Cherry Republic for sauces and road snacks. This is also where a certain political candidate wished me a happy birthday and paused his campaigning to pose with me for a quick picture (birthday gift #3, Thank you!)
Our bellies full, and eager to leave the crowded streets behind us, we headed out on our next adventure. The part of the day that I was looking most forward to, Kiwidinok Farm.
I signed up for our tour in advance on the Kiwidinok Farm website. A one-hour tour requires a non-refundable $25 deposit. A one-hour tour for three people will cost you $30 total. The farm is located in Boyne City, approximately 15 minutes from downtown Charlevoix.
Kiwidinok (means “of the wind” in Chippewa) describes its tour as immersive and hands-on. It also describes itself as a surprisingly clean farm. Before our trip, I joked that I would like to ride a yak through the field but would settle for petting it. I was joking, obviously, those yaks are scary looking, especially the horns. They were NOT joking though; the tour is REALLY immersive and REALLY hands-on. Even though they said their farm was clean, it’s still a farm, so I switched out my cute Reef sandals for a pair of Converse Chuck’s. Just in case.
Our tour, guided by Jim the owner, navigated us through the farm getting us up close and personal with each of the animals. We fed them (birthday gift #4), everyone getting an opportunity whether they wanted it or not. We pet them, Jim showing us just what each animal preferred. We learned about them. Jim was eager to answer any and all questions.
We were able to get right in the fenced area that housed alpaca mothers and their brand-new baby. No petting of this one, but they were so cute!
No, I didn’t get to ride a Tibetan Yak, but surprisingly we got right in the field with the moms and babies. Oreo took a “liking” to me, probably because I fed her a treat. Her baby to a liking to me as well. Note, don’t wear vanilla scented lotion around baby yaks. The little guy wouldn’t stop licking my legs! Oreo didn’t like the attention he was giving me, and I did fear for my life, just a bit, for a moment.
This is a great tour for both adults and kids alike. It is well-worth the money of $10/person for the hour. You will see, and feed, Tibetan yaks, alpacas, Shetland ponies, Katahdin sheep, goats, miniature ponies, etc. It was an extremely clean farm, but I still recommend closed-toe comfortable shoes.
Like all good tours, it ends in a cute little gift shop where you can purchase unique yak products (yes, including meat), drinks, snacks, and Kiwidinok merch. This tour is a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon, especially if it’s your birthday.
What you will need for this trip:
Wet Ones, just in case a baby Tibetan Yak gets a little friendly: https://amzn.to/4hI3V2Y
Reef Sandals, these are my absolute favorite sandals. They are so comfortable: https://amzn.to/4wAJrh9
Converse: https://amzn.to/4gabI8y
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