My son and niece had the best week last week at A-1 Horse Programs at Owen Ranch in Middletown…read more Helen, the ranch owner, and the instructor knew what each kid needed to be successful in their horsemanship journey, whether it was confidence, courage, encouragement, discipline, etc, she was there to provide what each kid needed to succeed. I was so impressed with her innate ability to understand the needs of the kids and provide what was needed at the moment to get the best results. It was really hot while we were there, like triple digits hot! The kids were hot and tired after each day, but they were still excited about camp and eager to go back each morning. Helen and her assistant Sam were good about keeping an eye on the kids and cooling them down frequently with a hose down, which the kids loved, lol. The kids also absolutely adored their horses. Both horses were very sweet and gentle. The kids loved rewarding their horses at the end of each day with an apple. From day one the kids were hands-on learning how to properly care for their horse and prepare it for a ride. On the very first day they learned how to securely tie it to a post when not being ridden and not in a pen, they learned how to harness and lead their horse out of the pen, they learned how to brush their horse before saddling, they learned how to bridle and saddle their horses. They learned how to walk their horses to warm them up before a ride, they learned how to properly hose a hot horse down to cool it down after a ride in hot temps. They did all that and still had some arena time so that they were also able to learn how to properly control their horse. Day 2 they did all their horse prep and care then had some arena time to strengthen riding skills and then they were off for a trail ride that was about an hour long. The rest of the week was about the same with the kids in the saddle a good 2 hours each day. On the 4th day they learned how to wash the horses and the last day was dedicated to a show the kids put on for the parents to show how well they had learned to direct their horses. On his first day my son was slouching in his saddle and saying he couldn't do a lot of what was asked of him. By mid-week his riding posture was greatly improved and Helen had him saying "I can, instead of I can't" She told him if he could control a 1000 lb horse at just 7 years old, he could do anything! I hope he remembers that forever! He was even excited to carry his horse's rather heavy saddle by himself by the end of the week because he knew he could do anything. Thank you Helen for the best week we had all summer, we will be back.

This place exceeded our expectations! Our non-equestrian family had an amazing time at the ranch…read more Helen was a patient, well versed trainer. She welcomed us to play with the goats while she saddled the horses. She matched us perfectly with the horses, from my 6'4" husband, my 60+ yr old mother, and my elementary age children. She was great with instruction and safety, and the trail ride, which included a walk through the running water was an hour perfectly spent. She even took photos that she shared with us at the end of the experience. Incredible customer service. Absolutely worth every penny!

FarmCamp is an absolute gem! The property is beautiful, with a large creek, a sandy beach, and…read moreplenty of space to relax and enjoy nature. The grounds and facilities were spotless, and everything was very well maintained. We stayed in one of the RVs, and it was comfortable, clean, and equipped with all the amenities we needed for a great stay. The pool and hot tub were fantastic, and there were always plenty of activities to keep everyone entertained. The food was delicious, prices were very reasonable, and the entire campground was welcoming and inclusive. We also loved that it's dog-friendly, so our pups got to enjoy the vacation too! If you're looking for an LGBTQ+ campground with a fun atmosphere, beautiful surroundings, and excellent value, FarmCamp is the perfect destination. We can't wait to come back!

I found my home here at farm camp. AS long as your kid doesn't mind a little dirt or poop, this is…read morea perfect home away from home.

Gymnastics for the sheer joy of it!: Our (then) 5-year-old daughter absolutely LOVED her gymnastics…read moreclass & also the free-play session on Saturdays at 11:15am. Sergey, the owner, is a serious athlete who once performed in the famed Moscow Circus & has also trained many serious athletes -- including a couple of Olympians. Yet, he also creates an easy rapport with children, hires excellent coaches & staff, & believes that gymnastics, movement arts & circus arts should be healthful & FUN. His programs are rigorous & disciplined, but also accessible & enjoyable. Sergey also continues to maintain a clientele of child & adult athletes to whom he provides one-on-one training. I especially enjoy the circus arts component of Sergey's curriculum. Watching kids juggle various objects, twirl plates on sticks, & tumble through hoops is a joy to onlookers & also for them. The facility -- a former warehouse space on Mill Street in Healdsburg -- is bright, spacious, & chock-full of fun stuff & gymnastics equipment. Parents who need to occupy their infants & toddlers while their older children take a class can climb up the stairs to the loft with the little ones for a lively assortments of mats, jungle gyms, equipment & toys designed for tiny bodies & hands. Prices are reasonable. Drop-in is $15 per session, but lessons are only $10 per session if you pay in advance before the beginning of the month.

I am not a fan of children, but if I were, I would wish for all children to have access to a…read morefacility as cool as the Healdsburg Gymnastics & Russian River Circus School. I was there over the weekend for a small child's birthday party, and everyone had a blast... even the timid kids. I don't wish I was 6 again, but if I happened to be 6, I'd be all over this. A surprisingly small amount of blood was shed, and the guy running the place was great with managing everything and getting everyone involved. Even if you don't live in Healdsburg, check it out as a party location.

What a beautiful gem in our county for a bit of respite retreat or a group retreat. The grounds are…read morebeautiful and the accommodations clean and functional. Meals are healthy and made from scratch. A bonus is the Saint Stephen's chapel for meditation and Sunday service. I can't believe I didn't know about this before.

Great stay with amazing food. Perfect location for our small group to hold meetings. Great hiking…read moretoo.

When you unplug, magic happens…read more... No mobile phones, no watches, no internet. Leave your real name at home. No discussing work, and age is irrelevant. You won't need alcohol or cigarettes. What you'll gain is real human interaction. When you can't talk about anything shallow, conversation becomes deep quickly, and friendships form based on more than superficial commonalities. Also, it's super fun! Highlights for me were arts and crafts "playshops", the tea yurt, and Condor's fire session. Unlike camp when I was a kid, the food was excellent. It's truly impressive what they managed to make for such a large group. The morning coffee couldn't be better, and grilled cheese sandwiches turned out to be the perfect thing for a cold summer night. But, seriously, why aren't more of you people reviewing it? We're allowed on the web now that we're home.

Summer camp for adults without mobile phones, digital devices, watches, clocks. No work talk. No…read moreage talk. No real names. No alcohol. Annual June retreat. Arrival entails Tech-Check...you turn in your stuff until departure. It was a humorous cross between airport TSA and Star Trek. A hula-hoop is raised from your feet to your head to scan for any concealed contraband tech devices. ...Had to laugh. My favorite event was the Summer Solstice Dinner silent meal. ...One table setting as long as it takes to seat 130 people...on each side! At dusk, candle-lit, on the field, surrounded by redwoods, preceded by a bonfire ceremony, everyone dressed in white. Campers/guests are received by an escort and walked to the bonfire. After a moment with the universe, another escort guides you to your seat. Yes, the entire camp had been silent for the past two hours...and still is. 260 people - n o t o n e w o r d. Food is served and with a motion you are invited to begin. This was the most magical event I have ever been to. Ever. And my "ever" is relatively long. My second favorite event was the theme dance. In 2013 it was The 80's. In 2014 it was the 70's and disco. Those few who didn't buy-in to the costume/dress-up wish they did. DJ and live eight-piece soul/funk band for two hours. ...Well, it felt like two hours...don't really know. Friday night in the tea yurt the five-piece street band performed. They played at numerous times and places throughout the weekend. Other events were Talent Show and Pajama Brunch. Beyond that there were many choices of individual programs such as crafts, yoga, archery, et. al. Swamai Ananda was there. I asked him to teach me something and we sat on a log and talked for 20 minutes. The food was the best I've ever had in such a large group. Fresh, hot, plentiful, healthy. Staff was 1-to-5 campers. They were all high on the spirit of making everyone happy. Anyone who was bored here has only themselves to blame. GNT, aka Woodstock, Session 2, 2014

Absolutely in love with this special space and all the community here!! What a hidden gem, I…read morerecently discovered Clay Folk for a hand building pottery class and fell in love the second I walked in the door. Amazing teachers, fantastic energy in the space and so much creativity in the air! So much fun looking at all the works-in-progress from the other potters. Will be back for more classes! (PS get on the waitlist if you want to be a member, it's a long list! For good reason.)

Such a welcoming and cozy studio! Lots of space for throwing, hand-building, and glazing. I have…read moretaken 2 classes there now and they have been fun, informative, and creative. I am totally hooked now and am signing up for the next class! The open studio time is the absolute best, such a nice environment to be creative and be around other artist doing their thing. There are couches and a wood burning stove and so easy to grab a bite or a warm drink right there at the Altamont! I highly recommend this studio for anyone at any level!

A special place for events like Northern Nights Music Festival, and now Lumberstruck. Offers…read morecamping, swimming in the river, and the "Moonlight" mountain silhouette against beautiful star-filled sky at night.

Lark Camp is a truly incredible experience. Having attended each year from age 4 to the present, I…read morecan testify there is nothing else like it in the world that I know of - a non stop week-long musical journey incorporating traditional styles from all over the world, taught by the best instructors around and attended by some of the nicest and people I've ever met. It's a camp, but it's also a community that I'm proud to be a part of. People of every level of musical skill can have the time of their life at Lark.

Lark camp has been a hugely positive experience in my life and I'm happy to say this will be my…read morethird year attending. The setting in the middle of a redwood forest is just gorgeous. The experience of being able to wander around any time of the day and into the evening to experience people playing, dancing to, and singing music from so many cultures is just a magical experience. So far, I've taken Irish flute lesson, Irish/Galatian/Balkan/Swing dance lessons. I've had a chance to play with Hurdy Gurdy, Galatatian tamborine - and this is just so far. The opportunity to learn from any one 80 instructors teaching 139 workshops is such an amazing opportunity. Every evening there are performances and amazing dances to live music with hundreds of other enthusiasts. The question is not what am I going to do today, it is what do I have to skip this year ; )