No sooner have we settled our full Thanksgiving bellies than local businesses are getting ready to open for Christmas sales. The day after Thanksgiving is not only prime shopping time, it's also the day most tree farms open up for business.

Picking out and decorating a Christmas tree is one of the quintessential family traditions of the season. When you visit a U-cut tree farm, you get to enjoy the cold, pine-scented air as you find a special tree that will bring your family joy the rest of the month. (Note to parents: measure your living room space ahead of time, because outdoor trees look deceptively small.)

My kids love our annual tree farm outing because they get to be involved in all tasks. Once we've chosen our tree, with dad's help, they each get a turn with the farm-provided hand saw. Both clutch the mid-section of the tree as we haul it up front. And they get a real kick out of the "tree shaker," which wobbles loose needles right out.

Bring warm boots and gloves on your tree farm visit. It can be muddy and their hands will get cold while handling the tree. Complimentary candy canes and hot apple cider await chilled little hands at most farms. And some offer wagon rides, Santa appearances and other cheerful holiday events.

IF YOU GO

Cutting Your Own Tree on Forest Service Land
With a $10 permit (trees larger than 12 feet require a $20 permit), you can head up to the mountains and cut your own Christmas tree. Pick up a map of permissible cutting areas and the permit at most ranger or public service stations as well as at REI stores in Seattle and Lynnwood. Getting a tree early, before snow falls, usually means better access on forest roads. Most trees are reached by narrow, unplowed mountain roads. For more information, visit the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest website.

Finding a U-Cut Christmas Tree Farm
Locate a nearby Christmas tree farm on the Puget Sound Christmas Tree Association website, which also features directions, hours and other holiday happenings at the farms. The list below has numerous U-cut locations, but visit your intended destination's website or call ahead of time to check on their hours.

The Great Christmas Tree Debate: Real or Artificial? And Other Tips on How to Green Your Holiday
The Nature Conservancy offers this thoughtful post on why real trees and better than artificial. As well, their story includes tips on how to stay "green" while decorating your prized possession.

KING COUNTY

A&B's Trees
www.abchristmastree.com
28641 132nd Ave. S.E., Auburn. 206-390-5292

Carnation Tree Farm
www.carnationtreefarm.com
31523 N.E. 40th St., Carnation. 425-333-4510

Cedar Falls Tree Farm
http://cedarfallstreefarm.com 
15200 Cedar Falls Road S.E., North Bend. 425-785-3571

Christmas Creek Tree Farm
www.yourchristmastree.com
15515 468th Ave. S.E., North Bend. 425-888-2099 

Coates Christmas Trees
www.coateschristmastrees.com
17225 S.E. Green Valley Road, Auburn. 253-709-6293

Country Tree Farm
www.countrytreefarm.com
18225 116th Ave. S.E., Renton. 425-255-5172.

Crown Christmas Tree Farm
www.crowntreefarm.com
805 S.E. 12th St., North Bend. 425-888-1836

Crystal Creek Tree Farm
www.crystalcreektreefarm.com
23604 S.E. 192nd St., Maple Valley. 425-432-1111

Enchanted Winds Tree Farm
www.enchantedwinds.net
18021 Issaquah-Hobart Road, Issaquah. 425-432-4573

Fall City Farms
www.fallcityfarms.com
3636 Neal Road, Fall City. 425-222-4553

Honeytree Farm
www.honeytreefarm.com
21606 S.E. Green Valley Road, Auburn. 253-333-8934 

Keith & Scott Tree Farm
www.kandstreefarm.com
42999 S.E. 120th St., North Bend. 206-909-6954

McMurtrey’s Red-Wood Christmas Tree Farm
www.red-woodfarm.com
13925 Woodinville-Redmond Road, Redmond. 425-482-6795 

Mountain Creek Christmas Tree Farm
www.mountaincreektreefarm.com
6821 440th Ave. S.E., Snoqualmie. 425-888-1770

Papa's Tree Farm
www.papastreefarm.com
26429 S.E. 200th St., Maple Valley. 425-433-8117

Pfaff's Christmas Trees
www.pfaffschristmastrees.com
29204 124th Ave. S.E., Auburn. 253-852-8244

Ronnei Christmas Tree Farm
www.ronneichristmastrees.com
11210 Carnation-Duvall Road N.E., Carnation. 425-788-1705

Serres Farm
http://serresfarm.com
20306 N.E. 50th St., Redmond. 425-868-3017

Three Tree Farms
www.threetreefarms.com
28033 S.E. 216th St., Maple Valley. 425-432-4372 

Tinseltown Tree Farm
http://tinseltowntreefarm.com 
100 Milwaukee Blvd. S., Pacific. 253-848-4657 

Trees 'n Bees, Inc.
www.treesnbees.com
34747 162nd Ave. S.E., Auburn. 253-939-1149 

Trinity Tree Farm
www.trinitytreefarm.com
14237 228th Ave. S.E., Issaquah. 425-391-8733

Uncle Eek's Trees
www.uncleeekstrees.com/eek_trees.html
12202 S.E. Kent Kangley Road, Kent. 253-887-8406

Westover Farm
www.facebook.com/WestoverFarm
24030 S.E. 192nd St., Maple Valley. 425-432-1597

Wilson Hill Tree Farm
http://wilsonhilltreefarm.com 
20241 S.E. 232nd St., Maple Valley. 425-432-2805 

SNOHOMISH COUNTY

Alan Acres Tree Farm
http://alanacrestrees.com 
27314 36th Ave. N.W., Stanwood. 360-629-3877 

Big Lake Trees
www.biglaketrees.com
19117 State Rte. 9, Mount Vernon. 360-422-5124 

Bowen Tree Farm
http://bowenchristmastreefarm.com/
19301 95th Ave. N.E., Arlington. 360-435-9260

Campbell's U-Cut Christmas Tree Farm
www.campbelltreefarm.com
12219 Springhetti Road, Snohomish. 360-568-8826 

Farmer Brown's Christmas Tree Farm
www.brownxtree.com
12017 109th Ave. N.E., Arlington. 360-659-6686 

Fish Creek Tree Farm
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fish-Creek-Tree-Farm/275690452463337?sk=wall
18420 3rd Ave. N.E., Arlington. 360-652-9030 

Hemstrom Valley Tree Farm
www.hemstromvalleytreefarm.com
4329 Robe-Menzel Road, Granite Falls. info@hemstromvalleytreefarm.com

Holiday Forest U-Cut Christmas Tree Farm
www.holidayforestchristmastrees.com
3125 280th St. N.W., Stanwood. holidayforest@frontier.com

Lochsloy Acres Christmas Tree Farm
www.lochsloyacres.com
5511 State Road 92, Lake Stevens. 425-308-0355

Paterson’s Lazy Acres Tree Farm
www.christmastreesucut.com 
1315 188th St. N.E., Arlington. 360-652-7661 

Pilchuck Secret Valley Christmas Tree Farm
www.pilchuckxmastrees.com
9533 Mose Road, Arlington. 360-435-9799

Seven Springs Tree Farm
www.facebook.com/pages/Seven-Springs-Christmas-Tree-Farm/248313998560680
3729 Menzel Lake Road, Granite Falls. 360-691-6459

Sleigh Bells Christmas Trees
www.sbchristmastrees.com
25231 Ben Howard Road, Monroe. 425-344-4213

Stocker Farms
www.stockerfarms.com/christmas-trees.asp?pid=9806&tid=9806
8705 Marsh Road, Snohomish. 360-568-7391 

Tazor Valley Farm
www.tazervalleyfarm.com
7314 300th St. N.W., Stanwood. 360-391-3352

Twin Lakes Tree Farm
https://sites.google.com/site/twinlakestreefarm 
16332 19th Ave. N.E., Arlington. 360-652-5090

Warm Beach Christmas Trees
www.warmbeachchristmastrees.com
20031 Marine Drive, Stanwood. 360-770-6635

PIERCE COUNTY

Clyde 'n Dale's Holiday Trees & Gifts
www.olympiacarriage.com/clyde.html
10712 Tracie Ct. S.W., Olympia. 360-352-8733

Cox Christmas Tree Farm
www.coxchristmastrees.com
40605 Meridian Ave. E., Eatonville. 360-832-6673 

Double Four Tree Farm
www.double4treefarm.com
4217 72nd St. E., Tacoma. 253-535-9267 

Harvey's Harvest Christmas Trees
www.harveysharvestchristmastrees.com
7315 166th Ave. E., Sumner. 253-863-0533 

Hillside Tree Farm
www.hillsidetreefarm.info
13100 198^th Ave. E., Bonney Lake. 360-897-2144 

Honeytree Farm
www.honeytreefarm.com
7215 134th Ave. E., Puyallup. 253-333-8934 

Holiday U-Cut Christmas Trees
http://gochristmastree.com
39908 Dean Kreger Road. E., Eatonville. 360-832-8733 

Snowshoe Evergreen Christmas Tree Farm
www.snowshoeevergreen.com
10716 State Rte. 162 E., Puyallup. 253-845-5199

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