Parenting experts tell us it is important to spend one-on-one time with our children, especially when you have more than one child. But parents also know that times like that do not just happen. They require available time and intentional planning. So when my older child headed off to camp for a week, my daughter and I made plans to go horseback riding. It was something I did often as a child, but my daughter had only ridden ponies at fairs, and she was eager to give it a shot. I called up an acquaintance who runs a riding school, arranged a date for our lesson, and we were all set for a mother-daughter Fun Friday outing.
Parenting experts also tell us to expect the unexpected. Sure enough, the night before the riding lesson, strong storms swept through the area. That morning, I got a message from the instructor. Power lines were down across her road and we would have to reschedule. I dreaded telling me daughter, but she surprised me by understanding and being willing to make a new plan.
Since our original plan (horseback riding) stemmed off her love for all animals, we decided to head out across the county to the Oley Turnpike Dairy. Here, we read on the Internet, we could visit a petting zoo and even a monkey house before enjoying an ice cream treat. It was our first visit to the dairy, which we learned is open daily from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Despite the previous night’s storms, it was a beautiful, sunny day. The drive itself took about half an hour and was a treat. We drove through small towns and among corn fields; the topography was pleasantly broken by patches of woods and meandering creeks. Oley Township, located in Berks County, has a rich history dating back to 1712. As we drove, we passed a marker noting the area’s Moravian heritage. Another marker sat at the historic Henry Fisher house; here, we stopped at the property to visit a welcoming farm stand, selecting some fresh peaches and vegetables to enjoy that evening.
We found the Oley Turnpike Dairy on a rural highway, surrounded by corn fields. The petting zoo is located at the rear of the property and is free to visitors. Guests are encouraged to stop inside first to buy specially-made packs of crackers to feed the animals (feeding of outside food is prohibited) and we decided to purchase two packs. Then we were off, my daughter happily meeting different animal friends: a grunting pig, a friendly pony, and lots of curious goats of different colors and sizes.
Turning one corner, we were greeted with the braying of donkeys eager to get their share of the crackers. The donkey’s eager calls set off a cacophony of other sounds: crowing roosters, bleating goats and even snorting alpacas. A wild bird flitted around us, helping itself to water from the penned animals’ shaded trough before eyeing us cautiously and flying free. To our disappointment, the site’s monkey house was off limits that day (we did spy a primate or two through the thick, plastic partitions). Any disappointment, however, vanished when my daughter discovered two albino wallabies nearby. These shy animals (think kangaroo, but smaller) had to be coaxed over, but eventually they took bits of crackers from my delighted daughter’s hands and even allowed her to stroke a soft, white ear.
We also saw birds including wild turkey, ducks, peacocks and a somewhat grumpy emu (a sign warned that this bird might peck fingers!). In one enclosure, we were delighted to see a young deer, who eyed us cautiously from the back of her space. As we were ready to exit the petting zoo, we laughed at one last goat, who lay sprawled across a child’s slide as if eager to get a tan.
We used the zoo’s sanitation stations to carefully clean our hands, then headed inside to find out what treats we could find. Turns out, the dairy sells locally made ice cream from Nelson’s Dutch Farms, Royersford, in a dozen or more flavors (we recommend the peach and chocolate-marshmallow). The building also holds a homey diner; a small antique-style store is tucked in another corner. After enjoying our cones and perusing the store, we enjoyed another leisurely drive through beautiful Berks County toward home.
We would like to head back to Oley this fall when the dairy hosts a Fall Fest beginning the last week of September. The event will include hayrides, a car show and a corn maze. For details on the Fall Fest or other details on visiting Oley Turnpike Dairy, click oleyturnpikedairy.com or call 610-689-9366.
