Suncrest Orchard Alpacas and Fiberworks

If you have ever had a yearning to buddy up to a big-eyed, longnecked, cuter-than-heck alpaca, this is your agritourism must-stop. Alpacas in all shades of black, brown andwhite stroll around the Suncrest farm and orchards peering curiously at visitors. Inside a shop building, visitors can take a tour to see howthe fur from those furballs out in the pasture is spun, tumbled, dried, dyed, carded and woven in aminimill to become fine yarns, and ultimately socks, mitts, hats and even chic “jackets” forwine bottles.

In spring, visitors can catch the annual shearing. Visitors can also sign up for educational workshops on all things alpaca or reserve a short trek through nearby orchards with an alpaca in tow (or vice versa). Co-owner MikemcDermott says these 30-minute treks are a good way to learn “alpaca etiquette.”

Yarns and knit and felt items are for sale in the Suncrest shop. For those who fall hard for the fuzzy alpacas and want to start their own little home herd, Suncrest prides itself on matching customers to animals.

3608 E ¼ Road, 970-464-4862, suncrestorchardalpacas.net

Sage Creations Organic Farm

Palisade Fruit andwine Byway visitors are increasingly recognizing that there is a lot of lavender among the orchards and vineyards. Swaths of purple, rose and pale pink are bringing a touch of Provence to the traditional fruit country.

Sage Creations, one of the oldest and largest lavender farms, is tucked in greenery just off one of the byway’s sharp turns on East