From milk and ice cream to cheese and general cuteness, there are plenty of reasons to be grateful for cows year round. On July 11, though, show the bovines a little extra love by visiting one of these four places for Cow Appreciation Day.
MOOmers Ice Cream, Traverse City, Michigan
When temperatures creep toward the triple digits, who doesn’t love to cool off with a little ice cream? The original version of this frozen dairy treat wouldn’t be possible without our dear cow friends, and at MOOmers Ice Cream in Michigan’s Traverse City, you can experience ice cream so fresh, you can see the cows grazing from the porch of the ice cream parlor. You’re sure to have a newfound appreciation for the dairy cow as you dig into a generous scoop of MOOmers’ iconic Cherries Moobilee.
McGinnis Meadows Cattle & Guest Ranch, Libby, Montana
Giddy up, cowboy! If you want to get hands on with cattle in honor of Cow Appreciation Day, head on up to McGinnis Meadows Cattle and Guest Ranch. Tucked away in the northwest corner of Montana, this working cattle ranch offers guests a crash course in cowboy living. You’ll start your cow appreciation getaway on another four-legged farm animal: a horse. Once you learn the basics of riding, though, you’ll be herding cows on cattle drives and tracking them through the rolling fields of Idaho’s high country.
The Farmer’s Cow Farm Tours, Lebanon, Connecticut
Are you a self-professed dairy lover? Is your love affair with cows largely based on their ability to provide you with milk, cream and ice cream? Then you’ll enjoy a chance to meet the cows and farmers that make it happen on one of The Farmer’s Cow Farm Tours through Lebanon, Connecticut. A coalition of six local dairy farms, The Farmer’s Cow offers themed dairy farm tours throughout the year. July 20, for example, is The Farmer’s Cow’s Ice Cream and Bluegrass Bash, while guests can celebrate the harvest on Sept. 6 with The Farmer’s Cow’s corn maze. All year long, The Farmer’s Cow’s tours will show you what life on a dairy farm is all about, complete with cow visits and dairy samples.
Shelburne Farms, Shelburne, Vermont
Say cheese! If this is the dairy product that makes you swoon, plan on heading up to the countryside of Vermont on Cow Appreciation Day for a visit to Shelburne Farms. This 19th-century farm offers mind-blowing cheese in its farm store, but it’d be a shame if one didn’t explore the rest of the sprawling grounds. Meet calves, take a stroll to meet the cows along more than 10 miles of walking trails, or take a tour on an open-air wagon to have a guided introduction to the cows of this working dairy farm. If you find yourself falling hard for this quaint estate and the cows that call it home, you can always book a stay at The Inn at Shelburne Farms or at one of the property’s cottages.
(Main image: mdalmuld)
