Local farms offer a chance to find a Christmas tree that's a cut above
As Christmas approaches you could dig your old plastic tree out of the basement. Or you could fill your home with the smell of a fresh evergreen by making a family trip to pick out your perfect holiday centerpiece. Local farms offer firs, spruces and pines choose from, and many supply tools and twine so you can get them to your living room.
"Families can spend all day looking for the perfect tree," said Jan Ide, owner of Ide Christmas Tree Farm in Downers Grove.
Along with groves of trees to pick from, many locations offer carriage rides, refreshments, visits with Santa and other treats to make it a great outdoor winter activity.
"It's a family tradition," said Kurt Straub, owner of Honeybee Acres Christmas Tree Farm in Elgin. "It's amazing how many of the customers come here year after year."
Ben's Tree Farm
7720 Ryan Road, Harvard, (630) 279-0216; benstreefarm.com
Hours: 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday; 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday through Dec. 20
Price range: $19.95 to $39
Stay toasty with free hot chocolate and coffee while you browse 6- to 13-foot trees, including red and white pines, three types of spruce and four varieties of fir. You can also visit with Santa, see farm animals and take a horse-drawn carriage ride. Trees are drilled for your stand for free, and you can also pick out a handmade fir wreath at the gift shop.
Camelot Christmas Tree Farm
16380 S. Somonauk Road, DeKalb, (815) 756-6599; camelottrees.com
Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; through Dec. 20
Price range: $40
A farm surrounding a 20-acre lake, Camelot offers up to 12-foot tall Fraser, Canaan and balsam firs and Scotch pines, plus shorter blue and white spruce and white pines. After picking out your tree, view antique farm items and snack on oatmeal cookies, hot chocolate and coffee.
The Family Christmas Tree Farm
24774 W. Petite Lake Road, Lake Villa, (847) 949-0172
Hours: 1 to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday through Thursday, Dec. 24
Price range: $40
Along with offering Scotch pines, white pines and spruces, the farm also features free tractor-drawn hayrides and goats kids can pet and feed. An antique sleigh is a popular spot to snap a picture. Hot chocolate, snacks and ornaments are available for sale.
Gengel Tree Farm
38614 N. Fairfield Road, Lake Villa, (847) 356-5661
Hours: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 20
Prices: $35-$55
Scotch pine, white fir and Douglas fir trees available.
Honeybee Acres Christmas Tree Farm
41W072 Bowes Road, Elgin, (847) 464-9627; honeybeeacres christmastreefarm.net
Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday to Sunday through Dec. 13
Price range: $29.95 to $49.95
You don't have to worry about your newly purchased fir, spruce or pine falling off your car on the way home from Honeybee, where pros will help you load and tie your tree. Each purchase comes with a picture of you and your tree along with free cider and cookies. Extra snacks are available for purchase, such as hot dogs, chili and cupcakes.
Ide Christmas Tree Farm
1500 83rd St., Downers Grove, (630) 743-4032; wix.com/idechristmastrees/farm
Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday; 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday through Dec. 20
Price range: $60
The farm primarily sells spruces, including Norway, Colorado blue and white spruce trees. Other varieties include white pine, Austrian pine and Canaan firs.
Oney's Tree Farm
16608 Route 14, Woodstock, (815) 338-4108; oneystreefarm.com
Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily through Sunday, Dec. 6
Price range: $49 to $125
Eight different varieties of trees can be found ranging from Austrian pine to Serbian spruce. Weekend activities include free visits with Mrs. Claus from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and free horse-drawn wagon rides from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. There are also pony rides and food available with a popular favorite being the homemade cinnanom rolls.
Pine-Apple Acres
41W651 Powers Road, Huntley, (847) 669-3251, pineapple-acres.com
Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, closed Mondays, through Sunday, Dec. 20
Price range: $75
Close to 2,000 trees are available including Norway, blue and green spruces, Frasier, Douglas and Concord firs, and Scotch and White pines
Pine-Apple Farm
309 Three Oaks Road, Cary, (847) 639-3248, pine-applefarm.com
Hours: 9 a.m. to dusk Saturday and Sunday through Sunday, Dec. 20, or by appointment.
Price range: $55 and up
Trees available include pines, firs and spruces.
Richardson Farm
9407 Richardson Road, Spring Grove, (815) 675-9729; richardsonfarm.com
Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily through Wednesday, Dec. 23
Price range: $44-$52
Choose from thousands of firs, blue spruce and Scotch and white pines while sipping free hot chocolate and coffee. On the weekend, there are free wagon rides out to the trees. Fresh-made kettle corn and doughnuts are available for purchase.
Sinnissippi Forest
3122 S. Lowden Road, Oregon, (815) 732-6240; sinnissippiforest.com
Hours: 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday through Dec. 23
Price range: $36.95 to $46.95
Make a day out of picking out your tree at Sinnissippi Forest. Trees peak at 16 feet, with varieties including Scotch and white pines, blue spruce and firs. You can also browse a gift shop featuring wreaths and ornaments and snack on popcorn, apple cider, apple cider doughnuts, coffee and hot chocolate. Through Sunday, Dec. 13, kids can visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus, take horse-drawn wagon rides and get free coloring books and candy canes.
Star Christmas Tree Farm