There’s no better time than summer to meet some new furry — or feathered — friends across the Inland Northwest. From swimming with otters and hanging out with capybaras to guided horseback rides through the great outdoors, the region is full of ways to cuddle up with animals this season. Whether you want to learn about exotic creatures or stretch into a yoga class with some puppies, here’s a roundup of animal experiences worth adding to your summer bucket list.
Meet Elroy the llama and other furry friends at Big Red’s Barn.
ALPACA ENCOUNTERS
Ever wanted to meet an alpaca up close and see what all that fluff is about? At Snowy Range Alpacas in the Greenacres area, appointment-only private farm tours and specialty events bring you face-to-face with the everyday lives of camelids. (And yes, they do get dressed up for themed party photo-ops.) During the one-hour private visits, guests feed, pet, and walk alongside the alpacas and can also help cool them off with a splash of water on especially warm summer days.
But the experience doesn’t stop at alpacas. You’ll also get to meet a cast of barnyard regulars, including goats, mini donkeys, and Holland Lop rabbits.
Along the way, guides share fun facts about alpaca behavior, diet, biology, shearing and fiber production. Visitors also get a behind-the-scenes look at how alpaca fleece is transformed into cozy goods like hats, scarves and gloves. After the tour, guests can browse the barn store filled with alpaca-themed items, many made from the animals’ own fiber. Learn more at snowyrangealpacas.com.
Just a bit down the road in Coeur d’Alene, Seven Stars Alpaca Ranch offers a similar hands-on experience in a working ranch setting. Visits run about 1½ hours and kick off with a safety and educational intro before guests head into the pastures to feed and mingle with alpacas and other livestock. The animals live in open pastures year-round, so visitors are encouraged to dress for weather and wear sturdy shoes. Tours run by appointment and also accommodate private groups, making it a popular pick for celebrations and gatherings that want something a little different than the usual party venue. For details, call or text 208-755-4925, as the ranch’s website is currently under construction.
YOU OTTER KNOW
Ever wondered what it’s like to swim alongside an otter? At Wild Haven Animal Experience in Medical Lake, visitors can do exactly that during guided encounters with its resident Asian small-clawed otters. Pull out some swim shoes and choose an immersive experience that puts you in the water with these energetic swimmers, or opt for a guided dry-land encounter instead.
Wild Haven also offers hangouts with capybaras, the world’s largest rodents, which more or less live up to their reputation for being extremely chill. Depending on the experience, guests can feed, pet, or hang out with the animals during guided one-hour sessions that are designed to be both interactive and educational.
For those who want a little bit of everything, combo experiences split time between otters, capybaras and other resident animals like African crested porcupines. Every visit is in a small group and staff-guided, with safety and animal wellbeing at the center, but the vibe stays playful and hands-on. Book a visit at wildhavenanimalexperience.com.
BUDDIES IN THE BARN
Looking to escape the heat? Big Red’s Barn offers a more low-key indoor animal experience in Coeur d’Alene. Open year-round and walk-in friendly, it functions as North Idaho’s only indoor petting zoo and education center, making it an easy summer stop for families or spontaneous day trips.
Inside, visitors can meet a wide range of animals, from reptiles and birds to farm animals and more unexpected residents like sloths, wallabies, pythons and prairie dogs. Staff-led interactions focus on education, teaching guests about animal care, behavior and habitat.
Big Red’s Barn also hosts events and group visits, combining hands-on encounters with its relaxed indoor setting. It’s part petting zoo, part learning space, and fully built for close-up animal encounters without worrying about the weather. Get the details at bigredsbarn.com.
Just steps from the barn, Capy Hour Café extends the animal experience into a more intimate setting. The café and Big Red’s are now under shared ownership after the current operators took over in 2024. The reservation-only, Brazilian-themed space offers 30- or 45-minute sessions with two young capybaras, Miguel and Mario. Guests chill in a plant-filled room while the animals roam freely, nibbling lettuce and occasionally climbing into laps for scratches. Small-group bookings (capyhourcafe.com) often fill weeks in advance, so planning ahead is recommended.
Kitty Cantina’s feline “staff” is adoptable.
ARE YOU KITTEN ME RIGHT MEOW?
Looking to cool off with a summer drink and a dose of fluffy cuteness? Kitty Cantina offers a drive-thru for a quick stop, plus an indoor space where you can sip while watching the cats mingle. Want more time with the kittens? Book the Kitty Corner for a 45-minute cuddle session ($15), which includes a $2 café credit. The café partners with SpokAnimal to provide a cage-free, comfortable space for adoptable cats and kittens, giving visitors a chance to meet — and even take home — their new best friend. Follow on social media for events, daily deals and weekly walk-in hours when reservations aren’t needed; when they are required, book at kittycantina.com.
ON THE LOOKOUT
Just look up and you’ll find a variety of feathered friends all around us, from blue jays in the trees to hawks overhead. The Spokane Audubon Society hosts guided bird walks throughout the summer, offering a chance to explore local habitats and learn how to identify species by sight and sound with experienced birders. Join an upcoming walk at Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge in Cheney on June 19 at 5 pm (preregistration required). Don’t have binoculars? They’ve got you covered, but it can also help to download a bird identification app before heading over. For more events, visit audubonspokane.org.
MORE MEOW TIME
For those hoping to make more feline friends this summer, another stop just north of Spokane offers the chance to meet some of the region’s most impressive big cat residents. At Cat Tales Wildlife Center in Mead, two relatively new arrivals have quickly settled into their habitats at the wildlife rescue and zoo teaching center.
The newest resident is Yipka, an 8-year-old African serval who arrived in January after being surrendered by a Savannah cat breeding operation that closed its doors. Cat Tales’ Executive Director Lisa Grey says the vocal feline earned the nickname “Yip Yip” as a kitten because of the sounds he made while begging for food. These days at Cat Tales, he still enjoys carrying on conversations with his caretakers.
Another newish resident is Taz (above right), a Carpathian lynx who arrived at Cat Tales in March 2025 after being surrendered by a Sandpoint man who’d kept him as a pet. Some North Idaho visitors may already recognize the infamous kitty. Before arriving at Cat Tales, Taz became something of a local celebrity for accompanying his owner around downtown Sandpoint and into local businesses, a habit that reportedly led to him being banned from every North 40 Outfitters in North Idaho.
Now at Cat Tales, Taz continues to show off his natural hunter instincts. Grey says he’s an accomplished hunter and regularly catches birds that wander into his enclosure.
Later this summer, Cat Tales plans to celebrate its 35th anniversary with the annual Wild Things Family Reunion in July, featuring vendors, food trucks, family activities and an online auction benefiting the animals. Learn more at cattales.org.
DOWNWARD DOG POSE
Looking for more face-to-face animal encounters? Several Spokane-area businesses offer experiences that pair hands-on interaction with an activity like yoga. And if yoga is already a favorite way to unwind, it only gets better when it’s done alongside cute animals.
At Paws and Pose in Spokane Valley, combine a guided yoga session alongside a cuddle puddle of puppies. The studio brings in mostly adoptable pups through partnerships with local rescues and breeders. Recently, it’s even expanded its offerings to include mini pigs and bunnies. Each 75-minute session includes 45 minutes of guided movement followed by 30 minutes of playtime with the animals. Learn more at pawandpose.com.
If outdoor yoga is more the move, Lilac Lotus Yoga, in partnership with Higher Ground Animal Sanctuary, offers goat yoga classes all summer long. Practice gentle poses in an open field while baby and miniature goats weave and wander around the mats, there are opportunities to visit the other farm animal residents as well. Register for a session at lilaclotusyoga.com.
HORSIN’ AROUND
Wanting an animal experience that’s a little “bigger?” Saddle up for a horseback adventure. Pacific NW Guided Trail Rides offers scenic rides along the Spokane River, with excursions ranging from one to three hours for groups of up to six riders. Closer to Idaho, Mountain Horse Adventures provides similar guided rides with sweeping views of Lake Pend Oreille.
For a more hands-on introduction to horsemanship, several local stables offer lessons tailored to riders of all experience levels. Legacy Farm & Stable (below) in Loon Lake hosts guided educational woodland rides and lessons, while its Level Up Program is designed to build riding skills and confidence while strengthening horsemanship.
Sunhaven Arena in Cheney also welcomes kids, teens and adults for one-hour lessons covering horse safety, grooming, saddling and riding. With instruction available for all experience levels and multiple riding styles, including Western riding, it’s a great place to build a connection with horses. And for those who can’t decide between yoga and riding? Sunhaven even offers horseback yoga. Head to sunhavenarena.com for details.
