Christmas tree shopping can be more than just finding greenery for your home during the holiday season. You can make it a family outing with everything from wreath making to petting zoos to pony rides to visits with Santa. Here are some of our favorite spots to find the perfect tree.
Bay Area
Rent a Living Christmas Tree. If you don’t want to go to a tree farm or lot, go green this holiday season with a live Christmas tree delivered to your door. Delivery available in the South San Francisco Bay Area and Monterey Bay. Trees are picked up after Christmas and before the new year.
East Bay
Alhambra Christmas Tree Farm. This historic, family-run farm has pre-cut and you-cut trees, as well as garlands and wreaths. Opening day is Nov. 23. 1-7pm Mon.-Fri., 9am-7pm Sat.-Sun.
2647 Reliez Valley Road, Martinez
Castro Valley Christmas Tree Farm. Choose from a wide variety of species and sizes and cut your own tree. Offers Monterey cypress, Monterey pine, Douglas fir, redwood, Sierra redwood, white fir and incense cedar. They provide site maps, saws and twine. There are also pre-cut noble firs. Opens Nov. 24. 8am-4:45pm Fri.-Sun. $120-150.
Redwood and Miller roads, Castro Valley
Smith Family Farm. This farm has a country store with holiday decorations and fresh cut Douglas, noble and grand fir trees in a wide range of sizes. Visit with Santa on the weekends. Open Nov.-Dec. 11am-6pm Mon.-Thu., 11am-7pm Fri., 9am-7pm Sat.-Sun.
4350 Sellers Ave., Brentwood
smithfamilyfarm.wixsite.com/smithfamilyfarm
North Bay
Larsen’s Christmas Tree Farm. Monterey pine, Leland cypress, Sierra redwood and Scotch pine are available to cut. Saws, carts and lumberjacks are available. Opens Nov. 29. 9am-5pm Fri.-Sun., Mon.-Thu. afternoons or by appointment.
391 Marshall Ave., Petaluma
facebook.com/larsens-christmas-tree-farm-147652881937846
Little Hills Christmas Tree Farm. Trees include Monterey pine, Leland cypress and Sierra redwood. The farm includes an animal corral and a gift shop. Opens Nov. 29. 10am-5pm Tue.-Fri., 9am-5pm weekends.
961 Chapman Lane, Petaluma
Peninsula
Lemos Farm. Choose from a variety of trees and enjoy hayrides, a train, pony rides, a play town, a petting zoo and more. Open weekends 10am-5pm during the holiday season.
12320 San Mateo Road (Highway 92), Half Moon Bay
Rancho Siempre Verde Christmas Tree Farm. Bring family, friends, your dog and good cheer to this family-owned tree farm. You can make wreaths, take tractor rides through the fields and then pick out your favorite tree. Cut-your-own trees include Douglas fir, Monterey pine, sequoia, incense cedar, Arizona cypress and swift silver. Precut are silvertip, noble and Nordmann fir. Open Nov. 29-Dec. 1 and Dec. 6-8, 13-15 and 20-22. 9am-4:30pm. $130-140.
2250 Cabrillo Highway (Highway 1), Pescadero
Santa’s Tree Farm and Village. Originating in 1972, this farm has a variety of trees that visitors can cut down with saws, as well as pre-cut trees. Trees include concolor fir, Douglas fir, noble fir and redwood. There are also visits with Santa, train rides, Mrs. Claus’ Kitchen and a gift shop. Tree cutting is Nov. 23-Dec. 23. 9am-5pm weekdays, 8am-5pm weekends.
78 Pilarcitos Creek Road (Highway 92), Half Moon Bay
4C’s Christmas Tree Farm. This family-run, you-cut tree farm has been around for more than 40 years. Includes Monterey pines, Douglas firs, spruce and pre-cut noble firs. Check Facebook page for updates on opening day and hours.
678-698 San Mateo Road, Half Moon Bay
facebook.com/cozzolinochristmastrees
San Francisco
Guardsmen Christmas Tree Lot. Every year since 1947, this lot has sold trees to benefit at-risk youth in the Bay Area. This annual tradition is run entirely by volunteers. Usually opens around Thanksgiving. Check website for updates.
Festival Pavilion at Fort Mason, 2 Marina Blvd., San Francisco
Silicon Valley and South
Battaglia Ranch Christmas Tree Farm. Cut your own locally grown tree or buy a pre-cut tree from the Battaglia family farm in Oregon. Open Nov. 23-27 9am-5pm, Nov. 29-Dec. 15 9am-7pm, Dec. 20-22 10am-5pm.
13580 Murphy Ave., San Martin
Black Road Christmas Tree Farm. Cut down your own Douglas fir, grand fir, white fir, Sierra redwood or Scotch pine. This destination is comprised of three farms, all of
which shun the use of chemicals. Picnic area available. Usually opens after Thanksgiving. Check website or Facebook page for updates.
20259 Black Road, Los Gatos
facebook.com/blackroadchristmastreefarms
Four Winds Christmas Trees. This 60-acre choose-and-cut tree farm offers many types and sizes of trees. Usually opens Thanksgiving Day. Check website for hours, prices and details.
19679 Skyline Blvd., Los Gatos
Lone Star Tree Farm. This farm features Douglas firs, white firs, fresh wreaths and
local honey. Opens the day after Thanksgiving. 9-4:30pm weekdays, 8am-4:30pm weekends.
20514 Gist Road, Los Gatos
Patchen California Christmas Tree Farms. The town of Patchen is one of five ghost towns in the Santa Cruz Mountains that flourished during the last half of the 19th century. Offers a variety of trees you can choose and cut, living trees, and noble firs and silvertips imported from Oregon. They also recycle artificial trees. Usually opens mid-November. Check website for updates and hours.
17430 Old Summit Road and 22217 Old Santa Cruz Hwy., Los Gatos
Ward Ranch Christmas Tree Farm. This family-run choose-and-cut tree farm is dog-
friendly. It has a large variety of trees including Douglas fir, white fir, incense cedar,
Sierra redwood, grand fir, Monterey cypress, Arizona cypress, Leyland cypress,
coastal redwood and Monterey pine. It offers a kids’ craft table, popcorn made on an open fire, and hot chocolate and tea. Pre-cut trees are available. Usually opens the day after Thanksgiving.
4820 Bonny Doon Road, Santa Cruz
Teresa Mills-Faraudo is an associate editor at Bay Area Parent.