By Sonia Garza
As a mother of two young children, the holidays are a special time to instill family traditions for us all to enjoy. What better way to celebrate the start of the season than with a family outing to a local Christmas tree farm? I’ve seen this many times on the Hallmark channel movies and wondered what it would be like to cut down a tree of our own, but growing up in Texas, we never had many opportunities to get the trees ourselves.
Living in the Pacific Northwest affords us the opportunity to do just that. Put on your rain boots and jacket, load up the car, and bring home the sweet smells of the season. It’s a fun-filled family tradition worth starting.
Snowshoe Evergreen — Orting
This 450-acre, family operated farm in the Puyallup and Orting Valley started out as a dairy farm more than 100 years ago. Christmas trees were planted in 1972 by Ken and Joann Scholz and became available for their first harvest about 10 years later, when the trees were finally the perfect size to cut. Snowshoe was even honored with providing the official Christmas tree to the White House in 1983, under the Reagan administration.
Snowshoe Evergreen
10720 WA-162
Puyallup, WA 98374
253-845-5199
www.snowshoeevergreen.com
Hours:
Open Friday November 28 through Sunday December 14
Monday through Friday: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Fields are open until dusk.
Riverlook’s Red Barn Farm — Puyallup
This tree farm is located just down the street from Snowshoe and offers a train ride to pick out your perfect tree. Also available are wagon rides and a gift shop where you can purchase fresh wreaths and garlands for your home.
Riverlook’s Red Barn Farm
11707 WA-162
Puyallup, WA 98374
www.smallfarms.wsu.edu/farms
Hours:
Opens the Friday after Thanksgiving (November 27)
Monday through Friday: 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Jo-El’s Tree Farm — Tacoma
Jo-El’s tree farm in Tacoma has been praised for great prices and a family friendly atmosphere. Jo-El’s Tree Farm has been operational for four generations and currently offers Douglas and Grand Fir trees. There is a lot of wildlife on the farm, so if you plan to take your pet, please keep them leashed.
Jo-El’s Tree Farm
4201 101st Street East
Tacoma, WA 98446
253-555-0055
www.facebook.com/Jo-El-Tree-Farm
Hours:
Friday through Sunday: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Cox Christmas Tree Farm — Eatonville
The Cox Christmas Tree Farm welcomes guests with Santa on the weekends, allowing you to take a picture with Old Saint Nick for a donation. The farm boasts some trees as tall as 15 feet. You can also expect to enjoy free candy canes for the kids, complimentary coffee and cider, a concession stand on the weekends, and wreaths, cones and tree stands for purchase.
Cox Christmas Tree Farm
40605 Meridian East
Eatonville, WA 98328
360-832-6673
www.coxchristmastrees.com
Hours:
Open november 27 through December 14
Monday through Friday: Noon to 4:00 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday: 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Honeytree Farm — Puyallup
This 3-acre farm is run by the Christianson family and has an onsite gift shop available Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to dark. The farm’s honey is also the Christianson’s trademark, made local in the Puyallup valley. They also sell one of a kind wreaths in the shapes of crosses, candy canes, snowflakes, trees and more — all adorned with a burgundy or red bow. Honeytree also has mini wreaths and centerpieces for your holiday mantle or table ranging in price from $12 to $50.
Honeytree Farm
7215 14th Avenue East
Puyallup, WA 98372
253-333-8934
www.honeytreefarm.com
Hours:
Friday, November 27 through December 21
Friday through Sunday: 10:00 a.m. to dark
Harters Tree Farm — Buckley
Harters is a family owned and operated Christmas tree farm that has been in business for 20 years and is one of the few that allows pets to join in with their families to pick out a tree. Children are welcome to play and run around the tree farm, as Harters is fully fenced, mowed and mud free. Harters also serves courtesy coffee, cocoa and apple cider, free to their customers. Be sure and get your photo snapped with Santa, too.
Harters Tree Farm
24615 142nd Street East
Buckley, WA 98321
253-223-0492
www.pscta.org/place/harters-tree-farm-2
Hours:
November 29 through December 21
Saturday and Sunday: 9:00 a.m. to dusk
Ohop Ridge — Eatonville
Started in 2003, Ohop Ridge is a 20.7-acre farm that offers 10 varieties of quality trees at affordable prices. You can enjoy a ride through the fields on Ohop’s “People Mover,” which is pulled by a Kubota 329 tractor. During your visit, you’re likely to see wildlife, including deer, elk, rabbits, quail and many other kinds of birds. Once you’ve chosen your “perfect” tree, an Ohop’s employee will bring it to the retail shop so you and your family can get warm by the fire and enjoy complimentary hot coffee, tea, cider, hot chocolate and candy canes.
Ohop Ridge
40707 Ski Park Road East
Eatonville, WA 98328
253-691-1862
www.ohopridge.com
Hours:
Open Friday, November 27 on Saturdays and Sunday through December 13
Holiday U-Cut — Eatonville
Holiday U-Cut Tree Farm is operated by Rick and Sharee Thompson. The duo has been growing Christmas trees since 1983. This is the third site they offer sold u-cut trees from.
Holiday U-Cut
39908 Dean Kreger Road East
Eatonville, WA 98328
253-832-8733
www.gochristmastree.com
Hours:
Open November 23 through December 16
Friday through Sunday: 9:00 a.m. to dusk
Double 4 Tree Farm — Tacoma
The Double 4 Tree Farm was established in 1981 as a family business on 22 acres in south Pierce County. Each year, approximately 3,500 seedlings are planted to insure an ongoing supply of trees for future generations. Onsite visitors will find a gift shop with items for the holiday season, like free coffee and apple cider. Hot dogs, chili and hot chocolate are also available for purchase, which you can enjoy under Double 4’s covered picnic area.
Double 4 Tree Farm
4217 72nd Street East
Tacoma, WA 98443
253-535-9267
www.double4treefarm.com
Hours:
Open November 27 through December 19
Monday through Friday: Noon to 4:00 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Glenwood Christmas Tree Farm — Tacoma
Glenwood Christmas Tree Farm is a family owned and operated tree farm located in Tacoma on an 11-acre lot. Enjoy fresh baked cookies, hot cocoa and coffee while you shop for your favorite Christmas tree.
Glendwood Christmas Tree Farm
14716 Bingham Avenue East
Tacoma, WA 98446
253-686-5466
www.facebook.com/Glenwood-Christmas-Tree-Farm
Hours:
Friday through Sunday: 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Hillside Tree Farm — Bonney Lake
Hillside Tree Farm is a family owned farm since 1989. Hillside offers Nobel, Grand, Shasta and Douglas Fir trees. Hillside also plans to sell market size Nordmann Fir as well.
Hillside Tree Farm
13100 198th Avenue East
Bonney Lake, WA 98391
360-897-2144
Hours:
November 27 through December 19
Monday through Friday: Noon to 4:00 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Harvey’s Harvest Christmas Trees — Sumner
In the 1960s, Steve Harvey, a retired forestry professional and his wife, Vassa, known county-wide for her home-baked cookies, planted Christmas trees on the Irle family farm, just east of Sumner, in the Puyallup Valley. The Harvey’s helped start a trend toward friendly family operated small tree farms. From berries and bulbs to rhubarb, fruit, cows and school teaching, the Irle family now has the 5th generation working in the field. The farm includes a variety of trees, including Grand Fir, Turkish (Nordman) Fir, Douglas Fir (the all-American favorite), Noble Fir, Scotch (Scots) Pine, and Colorado Blue Spruce trees.
Harvey’s Harvest Christmas Trees
7315 166th Avenue East
Sumner, WA 98390
253-863-0533
www.harveysharvestchristmastrees.com
Hours:
Open November 27 through December 20
Monday through Thursday: 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Friday: Noon to 5:00 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.