This Pennsylvania farm lets you cuddle Highland cows
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
/2025/03/19/1742403176260.gif)
Need a break from the chaos? Recharge with a cow hug.
The big picture: Hickory Hearth Highlands in Washington County lets you snuggle and snap selfies with a charismatic cast of fluffy Scottish Highland cattle, mini donkeys, pigs and farm cats.
Zoom in: Owner Reagan Carter, 21, a Penn State ag grad, turned part of her family's farm into an agritourism destination three years ago after spotting the trend online — selling a dose of pandemic-era levity and a peek into farm life.
- Bookings jumped from 500 in year one to 2,500 last year, drawing visitors from as far as Budapest, she says, though most come from Western Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia.
- She's hosted all sorts of guests, from cartoonists studying cow quirks to TikTok influencers.
What they're saying: "We're lucky to have so much to do in Pittsburgh, but sometimes you just need to get out of the city," Carter says.
How it works: Reserve an hourlong farm tour on Airbnb Experiences, the only way to book.
- Meander down a long gravel driveway to join an eight-person tour led by Carter.
- Grab a brush and head out to pasture to meet cows like the affable Ellie, a 5-year-old Highland who loves the limelight, and Bonnie, the independent matriarch.
- Meet resident pigs Mabel and Martha, and Hank, a nearly 2-month-old black calf and the farm's future herd leader.
- Hit up the "mootique" gift shop on your way out, where you'll find bounties of bovine apparel, crafts and trinkets.
Fun fact: Scottish Highland cows, known for their distinctive shaggy coats and friendly, inquisitive nature, are one of the world's oldest registered cattle breeds, dating back to at least the 18th century.
The intrigue: For seven generations, the Carter family's 130-acre grain farm has stood strong. Carter aims to keep agriculture alive and reconnect people with their food as family farms vanish nationwide. She owns Hickory Hearth now, but will inherit the entire Carter farm eventually.
- "Someday, I will be the first female owner of this farm," she says.
💭 Chrissy's thought bubble: I booked with Reagan to get a little fresh air, but left with new insights on the future of farming and regenerative agriculture. Pick her brain — you'll learn a lot!
If you go: Hickory Hearth Highlands
📍460 Ridge Road, Mount Pleasant Township, Washington County (about 40 minutes from Pittsburgh)
💰 $55 per person (ages 10+)
📅 Two daily tours Wednesday-Sunday. More tours coming this spring.
