Hipcamp Reviews
39 reviews · 100% recommend — same animals, same family, now in Montana.
OMG! They really went all out with the winter Wonderland! There is coffee stations and tea stations, and candy stations and decorations everywhere! Of course, our favorite part was getting to meet the animals and learn about how to care for them. My children were entertained the whole time by the games and the scavenger hunt.
Really wonderful hosts and wow! The animals were such a treat! We will definitely be back to cuddle with more cows.
LOVED this!! Did the nighttime & morning feeding with the cows & animals. 100% worth the serotonin and farm fresh eggs 🥰 Spencer was so great at orienting us to the site and being super accommodating. 10/10 would do again!
We had a great stay at Howes Ranch! Spencer and Bixie are wonderful hosts. We had the place to ourselves. We brought of dog and they have a nice enclosed area away from the animals for her to run around! You get so much time with animals — such a special place. We will be back.
AHHHH! Where do I begin?! Bixbi and Spencer were absolutely amazing hosts! They are so kind, patient and informative about farm life! The pool and hot tub were so relaxing AND not to mention beautifully decorated. The view from the pool area is STUNNING! We could not get enough of the mini cows, alpacas, donkeys, goats and chickens! There’s lots of games to play as well as a lovely fire pit area for s’mores and hanging out. We’re so blessed to have experienced cow cuddles and excited for many more! We loved this experience SO much we’re already planning our next camping trip and will definitely become regulars. Thank you to Howe Ranch for a beautiful core memory (and mini cow therapy! All my worries melted away haha). Rating: 1000/10!!!
My 3 kids and my wife and I loved every minute at this camping farm. The 5 micro and mini cows were incredibly friendly and feeding the babies a bottle of milk and having them eat from our laps was a real unique treat. The 2 donkeys, 11 or so goats, 6 chickens, 4 ducks and farm cat were all wonderful. The couple who run the farm are extremely caring and attentive, and there is an evening and morning session where they take you around the farm and allow to get close and personal with all the animals. The camping on the sand was very comfortable and there was plenty of space, amenities and games. Truly a great experience!
This was the perfect trip to de-stress and unwind. Spencer came to greet us upon arrival and gave us a tour of the ranch. He answered all of our questions and was very helpful and informative. It was blazing hot, so we took advantage of the pool time and loved every minute of the pool and the view. That night we got hands on time with the adult cows and donkeys. I got to bottle feed one of the baby calves. In the morning we got a lot more time interacting with the animals before packing up and out. If you want cooler weather/ less flies - don’t visit in the summer.
Howe Ranch was absolutely lovely. The decor and amenities made for the perfect glamping experience. I loved how much free-time we got with the live stock and how involved the hosts were. Location was easy to find, location provided the seclusion we were seeking on this trip, while remaining close to certain luxuries like coffee shops and restaurants. If you visit in the summer, definitely snag a pool pass during your stay, it comes with a killer view!!
Spencer was super helpful. Campsite was great. Kids loved feeding animals
Amazing opportunity and quite the addition to your life experiences. I'd highly recommend going with your family to get an up close and personal encounter with the animals we take for granted. Spencer was incredibly accommodating, flexible, and kind.
A gem of Zen in a beautiful locale. The “glamp” site, with only 3 spots, makes a mini urban escape to paradise: for those who like petting zoo animals. If petting a rooster’s feathers, picking up goats the size of lab retrievers, or giving an oversized baby bottle to Petunia, the now 9 1/2 week old baby cow, there are also 2 donkeys. This duo, (we learned from Spencer who runs the farm and is a wealth of knowledge) are a mother-daughter team so cool that their presence has scared off coyotes for their barnyard friends Highly recommend for a night or two of glamping and relaxation.
So happy we found Brixie, Spencer & their fur kids spot on the way from Cali to PHX. Meeting all the animals and snuggling the the Highland cow trio was a treat. Thank you for a beautiful, welcoming and safe stay! Would defintley recommend this host.
Come for the cows, stay for Mango the cat! We recently had the most wonderful experience at Howe Ranch where we got to pet farm animals and even had the unforgettable opportunity to feed a baby cow named Petunia. This unique and charming experience was truly a highlight of my trip. When it was time to unwind, I loved relaxing by the campfire, roasting marshmallows and sharing stories with fellow campers. Overall, our experience was nothing short of amazing. It was a perfect blend of relaxation and connection with nature. I left feeling refreshed, rejuvenated, and with a heart full of memories that will last a lifetime. I highly recommend this ranch to anyone looking for a unique and heartwarming getaway.
We had an amazing time! The hosts were extremely accomodating. It was fun getting to know the other campers, learning about the animals, and utilizing all the amenities. The interactions were truly very special and made for an experience we will never forget. Our family thoroughly enjoyed our stay and can't wait to return!! Description of the site and offerings are all very accurate.
Our trip started off a little stressful (we got in later than planned & we forgot our tent!) BUT Barn Site Howe Ranch is truly a magical place! Bixi & Spencer are warm, welcoming & wonderful people they made it stress-free with a renting a room last minute (bed was like sleeping on a cloud). Jacuzzi was awesome, the scenery & gardens are incredible. Our breakfast were eggs that were from their chickens! Spending time with the animals & being educated about the life on the farm was so refreshing. It is truly is a gem & offers many types of experiences all the way from camping to events like weddings. Hope to go back soon to visit with Bixi & Spencer and the farm yard gang!
My family and I had a great time at the farm. Finally got to get up close and personal with farm animals. The highlight for sure was being able to bottle feed the baby highland Petunia. The available campfire at night, making smores with my kid was fun as well.
amazing animals! a must-see adventure. The hosts were amazing and very helpful and informative.
Spencer and Birgit were both such welcoming hosts. We had a wonderful time meeting the animals and swimming in the pool.
Our 3 night stay was great. Parking was level with electrical hookups. We fell asleep to the sound of toads from the pond and in the AM got to bottle feed the baby goat, itty bitty. The fenced in sand area was great for our daughter to play with all of the provided toys. The hosts were friendly and happy to show us around to the animals. Less than 10 minutes to the grocery store and 20 minutes to hiking trails. This property has great areas for tent or RV camping.
We had a great time sharing this camp site with our son and grandson. The hosts were very kind and hospitable and clear with the directions and rules of their property. The animals were so nice to interact with and our dog had her own space to roam free. My grandson told me this was a 5 star campsite and that's really what we were aiming for on this weekend!
We absolutely loved our time at the Barn Spencer and Bixi were such amazing hosts! We absolutely every moment with the animals and my kids were so sad to leave especially Mango the cat. Their spot was so inviting and relaxing. Thank you guys!
Spencer and Brixie were amazing host. The farm is a bit of a private oasis as the animals are chill and we got to do a feeding. Our 5 year old daughter LOVED hanging with the goats and chickens. She said good night to all the animals and made sure that they were all safe. Star gazing while enjoying s'mores was a perfect ending to the night. 5 min from town but it doesn't feel like you are in town as you are nestled up against the Santa Ana mountains. Highly recommend staying here on your next adventure!
We loved camping at Howe Ranch. Bixi and Spencer were the best and gave us lots of opportunity to interact with the animals. Our 12-year-old animal lover had the time of her life and was very sad to leave. We will definitely be back.
I can’t say enough wonderful things about Howe Ranch. Spencer and Bixi were wonderful hosts and care so deeply about their animals and the experience they provide to their guests. If you are considering this site for your stay, look no further; you will not be disappointed. I know that we will be back!
Spencer and Bixie have really thought of everything here. We especially enjoyed the opportunities to feed the animals and tour the grounds where they live. Our 3-year-old was in heaven, and announced that her favorite part of camping was seeing the animals. She also loved playing in the huge sandpit area with the yard toys and with the extra toys available (trucks, little animal figures, shovels, rakes, etc). The property itself is decorated adorably with thoughtful touches at every turn. The hosts are so friendly and accommodating- we truly loved our time spent here and would not hesitate to return!
My kids had a great time feeding and petting the animals. It was a relaxed environment and Spencer was a great host. We enjoyed learning about the personalities of all the animals, from the specific chicken and goats that like to escape to the stubborn donkeys. We had a great time and look forward to returning.
Really fun experience taking the kids there and getting the farm tour! Outside of the camp, you do need a car to go anywhere else like hiking or wineries nearby, but this was a fun little getaway for the weekend. The hosts were incredibly kind and accommodating, and the hot tub was a nice way to end the evenings.
Amazing stay at Spencer's Hipcamp cite. Loved all of the animals. Really cute and animals are really well taken care of. Can't wait to be back!
This was my 4 and 1 yos first camping trip and Howe Ranch made it the most memorable and fun weekend. Getting to be so interactive with the animals during their feeding time was such a beautiful experience for our whole family! The hosts were super great with communication before we arrived and were so kind and helpful throughout our stay. The toys they provided were just the extra touch of care and genuine hospitality that was so special to us! The location is amazing. It’s close enough to a town if you needed to grab something like extra firewood, but when you’re at camp you feel secluded and cozy. There’s also plenty of family fun hikes and activities a short drive away. We drove 30 minutes to the Tenaja Falls trail and about 20 minutes to Old Town Temecula. Our boys played outside from sun up to sun down and even though it isn’t a huge acreage to explore we had more than enough to enjoy and do even if we didn’t venture out of the camp. The enclosed sand pit was a huge win for us parents. Already ready to plan a trip back!
My fiancé and I had a great time camping at Howe Ranch. Spencer and his wife were friendly and accommodating. We hope to be back again!
Our family loved camping at Howe Ranch. Our kids age 5 and 9 loved being apart of the feeding the animals and getting to play with them. Spencer was quick to take them on a tour as soon as we arrived and welcomed them to help with both morning and evening feed times. The campground was well lit up, had a nice clean restroom and a grill for use. They also offered toys for the kids and games like Cornhole for the adults. Would highly recommend this little farm to others, especially to families!
Spencer is a great host. I would recommend this place to anyone and the animals were adorable.
Our camping trip was truly an amazing experience. Who would’ve known that we could go to a place that had so many wonderful things for our toddlers to do a whole dedicated play area the sand, picnic tables. Also, of course the entire barn with the donkeys, the goats, the cows, the chickens, all for us to feed to With. And that’s not even mentioning the common area and the swimming pool.
We loved the farm and the animals!! Spencer and Bitsy were marvelous hosts. They were so nice and patient with the kids, and super informative about the animals. Most of the animals are rescues and you can tell that they’re well cared for and very loved.
Our family had a wonderful time at Howe Ranch, making it the perfect setting for our children's first camping experience. The highlight was undoubtedly the petting zoo, which brought immense joy to our kids. The well-maintained facilities and friendly staff added to the overall delightful experience. Howe Ranch is truly a gem for family-friendly camping with its blend of nature and enjoyable activities.
It was really fun and an excellent place to camp at with young children. We have a 5 year old and a 2 year old and met another family camping there that also had young children. All the children enjoyed it very much. Spencer was very kind and introduced us to all his animals. The kids got to feed the animals multiple times on our trip. They also have a ton of yard toys in the camp area plus even more indoor toys up in the club room (like Legos, coloring books, toy cats etc.) A huge plus that I know many parents would love is that the entire camping area is in an enclosed fenced area with a gate you can close. Your kids can safely run around when it gets dark out and you know they can't wander off. The bathroom situation is wonderful. They have a very clean toilet and sink you can use in the barn which is a short walk from the camp area. I highly recommend this place for families 😊
My family and I spent the entire Thanksgiving week parked at Spencer's ranch and had a wonderful time. The property is near freeway access, local restaurants, and the old-town Temecula area. The ranch itself was amazing. You can tell Spencer and his wife put a lot of love into decorating and caring for the property, and that made us feel right at home. Spencer and his wife were extremely accommodating and would not only respond to our messages very quickly but spent a lot of time with my daughters to let them interact with the animals there. The animals were very well taken care of and were friendly. I really appreciate them going out of their way to help make memories for my daughters. As their listing mentioned, they have a lot of amenities on-site and we had no issues with things like electricity, trash, restrooms, etc. Although we did not use it, it was great they offered for us to use their pool and game room as both were very nice. If we ever need another camping trip in this area, we will absolutely not hesitate to come back to Spencer's property.
We enjoyed our stay at the farm! The animals are well cared for and bring so much to the experience. The hosts were very friendly and helpful and available. We had a nice fenced in sandy area where we could camp, gently lighted all night, which felt very safe. We shared the space and fire pit with other friendly campers. One night we all gathered and sang together. The barn has a clean bathroom, which is all well lighted at night. We used the outdoor kitchen for our meals it was all incredibly convenient and made car camping feel really unique and special. The site is in a neighborhood nestled among other farmsteads and some highway / neighborhood noises are to be expected. Our hosts were just so accommodating and welcoming I felt right at home with my two children. The kids enjoyed a dip in the pool, playing with the goats and the chickens too.
Fantastic experience on a small farm! This is especially great for families with small children. We had 4 kids who loved running all over, petting the animals and getting dirty in the sand. It’s right near amenities while also being surrounded by nature. The owners were fantastic in offering to let us interact with the animals many times and feeding all of them. It was very hands on. There was also tons of stuff to do on the land from swimming to camp fire to sand games. Beautiful views from up top at the pool of the entire canyon. The hosts also have been very thoughtful with providing so many thoughtful touches like a cooking stove, bathroom, shade, even a game room. To us, this was a bargain to get so much for a few nights of camping. You won’t be way out in nature and roughing it, you will feel like you are at a camping Airbnb. Definitely recommend.
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