It’s time to break out the hot chocolate, the ear muffs and the trusty saw.
That’s right, it’s time to get the family Christmas tree.
Whether you’re looking for a tree that will fit on the little table in the entry or something that rivals what they’ve got up at Rockefeller Center, you don’t want to get it at the grocery store.
To be clear, I’m not talking about a Clark Griswold-tree-finding mission here. I mean, you can do that, but my family loves heading out to a local tree farm, getting some hot chocolate to warm our hands and heading out into the (relative) wild to find the perfect tree.
We argue about size, color, bushiness. I’m not a big fan of patchy trees. I like a tree that has a nice silhouette. If you take a few steps back, squint and it looks like a nice tree … bingo! If it’s green all the better.
Sometimes going into the wild to find a tree is better, writes The Herald’s Jessi Loerch.
My daughter, on the other hand, wants a “BIG” tree. I’m talking about one that would require me to put an oversize load sign on my truck for the trip home. Skip that.
The boy wants whichever one gets him home fastest — his fingers are cold, he complains. Buck up, champ.
Tighten that grip on your hot chocolate, we’ve got a tree to find.
Alan Acres Trees: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily through Dec. 16 at 27314 36th Ave. NW, Stanwood; 360-629-3877; www.alanacrestrees.com. Nobles and grands, $45; Douglas fir and Norway spruce, $35.
Bowen Tree Farm: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays Nov. 28 through Dec. 14 at 19301 95th Ave. NE, Arlington; 360-435-9260; www.bowenchristmastreefarm.com. Noble, Grand and Nordmann firs. $51.50 for any size. Wreaths, free hot cider or coffee, family pictures, Christmas cottage with ornaments and crafts.
Campbell Tree Farm: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays until sold out at 12219 Springhetti Road, Snohomish; 360-568-8826; www.campbelltreefarm.com. U-cut and precut trees available, Noble, Grand, Fraser and Nordman firs; $40 to $75.
Carnation Tree Farm: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays through Dec. 21 at 31523 NE 40th St., Carnation; 425-333-4510; www.carnationtreefarm.com. Noble, Douglas, Fraser, Nordmann, Turkish, Korean and grand firs, Norway and blue spruce.
Country Farms Christmas Trees: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily through Dec. 23 at 480 S. Burlington Blvd., Burlington; 360-755-0488; www.countryfarmsmarket.com. Noble, grand, Douglas and Turkish firs. Flocked trees available in various colors. Custom flocking orders also accepted. Wreaths, mistletoe, tree-stands and garland available. Snohomish County locations: Edmonds: 22800 Highway 99; 425-774-3463; Everett: 1529 Broadway; 425-259-4702; Lake Stevens: 6602 Highway 92; 425-691-1466.
Farmer Brown’s Tree Farm: 9 a.m. to dusk Fridays through Mondays Nov. 28 through Dec. 22 at 12017 109th Ave. NE, Arlington; 360-659-6686; www.brownxtree.com. Noble, Douglas, Fraser and Grand firs, and Norway and Colorado spruce.
Fish Creek Tree Farm: 10 a.m. to dusk weekdays and 9 a.m. to dusk weekends through Dec. 21. at 18420 Third Ave. NE, Arlington; 360-652-9030. Noble, Douglas and grand firs, spruce, and Scotch and white pine.
Happy Valley Tree Farm: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekends through Dec. 14. Happy Valley Road and 212th Street NW, Silvana; 360-652-8612. Unsheared Noble, Nordmann, Pacific silver and grand firs. Bonfire and spiced cider.
Hemstrom Valley Tree Farm: 10 a.m. to dusk Thursdays through Sundays through Dec. 21 at 4329 Robe-Menzel Road, Granite Falls; 425-374-9308; www.hemstromvalleytreefarm.com. Noble firs and other. $40 to $60.
Holiday Forest: 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Fridays through Sundays through Dec. 21 at 3125 280th St. NW, Stanwood; 360-629-9097; www.holidayforestchristmastrees.com. Noble, Fraser, Douglas, Grand and Nordmann firs, Turkish, Norway and Blue spruce and others.
JP Landscape Tree Farm: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays until sold out at 29726 NE Cherry Valley Road, Duvall; 425-844-2816; www.duvallchristmastrees.com. Noble, Douglas, Grand and Fraser firs, Vanderwolf Pine, Blue and Norway spruce; prices vary.
Lochsloy Acres Tree Farm: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays, closed Tuesdays, through Dec. 14 or until sold out at 5511 Highway 92, Lake Stevens; 425-308-0355; www.lochsloyacres.com. U-cut Douglas, Fraser, noble and grand firs. Free hot beverages.
Luduc Christmas Trees: before 10 a.m. or after 3 p.m. daily through Dec. 24 at 5930 267th Place NE, Arlington; 360-435-9503. Noble, Danish and Douglas firs.
Misty Meadows and Walker Forest Nursery: 10 a.m. to dusk daily through Dec. 24 at 16809-16905 Jordan Road, Arlington; 360-691-6260. U-cut, precut and live potted trees.
Papa’s Tree Farm: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 7, 14, 21 or by appointment at 10029 Wagner Road, Snohomish; 206-718-1708; Noble firs, five to 14 feet; $50 any size.
Paterson’s Lazy Acres Tree Farm: 8:30 a.m. to dusk daily through Dec. 22 at 1315 188th St. NE, Arlington; 360-652-7661; www.christmastreesucut.com. You can also view the farm’s red Chinese pheasants. Noble, Douglas, Fraser and grand firs, and Norway spruce. Wreaths, free candy canes and cider.
Pilchuck Secret Valley: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily through Dec. 22 at 9533 Mose Road, Arlington; 360-435-9799; www.pilchuckxmastrees.com. Douglas firs up to 15 feet, Norway spruce and noble, Balsam and Grand firs. Precut available. Wreaths, swags and holly.
Point Valdimar Farm: 9 a.m. to dusk Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 22 at 4921 Silvana Terrace Road, Stanwood; 360-652-2291, 425-501-6295. Unsheared grand and noble firs, and sheared Norway spruce. Wreaths available.
The Produce Place: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily through Dec. 24. 12319 State Ave., Marysville; 360-658-1300; Noble, Douglas and grand firs. Cider available.
Promised Land U-Cut Christmas Trees: 9 a.m. to dusk weekends until sold out at 22502 Dubuque Road, Snohomish; 425-737-5310. Grand, Douglas and noble firs up to 24 feet. $8 per foot. Free campfire, cocoa, marshmallow and cider.
Reiner Farms: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 15 at 168th Street SE and Highway 203, Monroe; 425-344-2940. U-cut or precut Noble and grand firs. Free coffee, cider, cocoa, cookies and candy canes.
Seasons Christmas Tree Farm: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 7 at 12806 84th St. NE, Lake Stevens; 360-659-5839. Douglas, noble and grand firs. Free hot cocoa, coffee, cider and candy canes.
Seven Springs Tree Farm: 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 9 at 3729 Menzel Lake Road, Granite Falls; 360-691-6459 (weekdays) 425-334-2402 (weekends). Noble and grand firs. Wreaths, cider available and gift and ornament shop.
Sleigh Bells Christmas Trees: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekends through Dec. 14 at 25231 Ben Howard Road, Monroe, 425-344-4213, www.sbchristmastrees.com. Noble, Nordmann, Grand, Shasta and Douglas firs. Covered tractor rides, bonfire and hot beverages. Assistance available.
Stillyridge Tree Farm: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekends from Dec. 6 through Dec. 20 at 20811 99th Ave. NE, Arlington; 360-435-3435; www.stillyridgetreefarm.com. Douglas, Fraser, Noble and grand firs. Free hot cider and candy canes.
Stocker Farms: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 14 at 8705 Marsh Road, Snohomish; 360-568-7391; www.stockerfarms.com. Choose-and-cut Fraser, Douglas, noble and grand firs. Complimentary hot drinks and free shaking and bailing.
The Tree Farm: 9 a.m. to dusk daily through Dec. 24 at 3133 268th St. NW, Stanwood; 425-244-7179. U-cut Noble and Grand Firs, priced $32 for any size; wreaths available for $12 to $16; cash or checks only; leashed dogs welcome.
Twin Lakes Tree Farm: 10 a.m. to dusk weekends until sold out. 16332 19th Ave. NE, Arlington; 360-652-5090. U-cut noble firs. Free cocoa, coffee and candy canes, plus carrots to feed the horses.
Warm Beach Christmas Tree Farm: noon to 4 p.m. Fridays; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 14 at 20031 Marine Drive, Stanwood; 360-770-6635; www.warmbeachchristmastrees.com. Grand and noble firs.
Wintergreen Tree Farm: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays through Sundays through Dec. 14 at 13606 S. Machias Road, Snohomish; 425-903-4020; www.wintergreentreefarm.com. U-cut or precut trees. Free family photos at decorated cabins. Leashed-dogs welcome.
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