Christmas time in my home was always exciting as a child, not just because of gifts, but because of traditions. My mom hung up the same garland on the stairs, the same stockings on the mantle, and my dad usually attempted to rival his outdoor light show with the Griswold’s. But I think my favorite tradition was bundling in warm clothes and cramming into my dad’s truck to go pick out a Christmas tree. A trip to a tree lot was Christmas blasphemy to my dad. Instead, we’d drive to the nearest u-cut tree farm and spend a solid hour or more finding the perfect tree.
Every year, my mom would shout out the door as we were leaving, “find something smaller this year!” We would all nod. And then promptly pick out the most majestic tree we could find. Our final year of larger-than-life trees came when my dad stuffed the tree into the living room and scraped up our ten-foot ceiling. But if my mom’s wails were not enough to convince my dad he had overdone it, than having the tree topple over on top of him did the trick. My dad’s feet, peeking out from under the fallen evergreen marked the end of an era, and each consecutive year resulted in a progressively smaller tree.
My parents have since moved to a house with higher ceilings, so it will be interesting to see if the tradition revives itself. Either way, I know the tree will be cut by my dad’s own hand and my husband and I will carry on this Christmas hallmark. Tree cutting may involve mud, rain, and pine needles, but it always involves creating a memory.
Check out the options we have here in Grays Harbor for Christmas tree memory-making!
Hockett’s Christmas Tree Farm
Probably the most centrally located and easy to find, this tree farm is right off Highway 12 in Central Park. Family run, this location is tidy, friendly, and bustling.
Noble, Silver, Grand and Douglas Fir trees
Open daily from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
141 Clemons Road in Montesano
You pick, they cut at this 60 acre far. You’ll have about 13,000 trees to choose from and each day the farm offers candy canes, hot cocoa, and for you to share in their daily bonfire. This location is built around creating family tradition and Christmas fun.
Noble, Grand, and Douglas trees
Open daily beginning on November 21 from 9:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
447 Cloquallum Road in Elma
Hedlund is a U-Cut farm with about 30,000 trees from which to choose. This farm is known for their award winning trees – two of which have made it to the White House! Hedlund trees won the National Grand Championships in 1998 and 2002, giving them the honor of providing trees for both the George Bush and Bill Clinton families.
Noble, Fraser, Nordmann, Grand, and Douglas Fir trees
Open daily from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
266 Middle Satsop Road in Montesano
Located on your way out to Westport, this is a great option for those who live in the far-west corners of Grays Harbor. Take advantage of fun photo opportunities, not just with trees, but with face-cutout snowman paintings
Danish Noble and Grand Fir trees
Open daily the day after Thanksgiving from 10:00 a.m. until dark
950 State Route 105 in Aberdeen
Rustemeyer offers $3.00 coupons on their website and are also conveniently located for those in the west part of Grays Harbor. They also give you the option of cutting the tree for you or cutting it yourself.
Noble and Grand Fir trees
Open daily from 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. the day after Thanksgiving
17 Rustemeyer Rd on the corner of SR 105 and Rustemeyer Rd between Westport and Aberdeen
