My family makes the quick drive to The Rocks Estate each year to find our Christmas tree. While the experience varies from year to year, it’s
always festively fun – and a bit magical.
Last year, the kids tromped
happily through the fields to find our perfect tree. I lost track of how many
gleeful cries of, “This one is perfect!”
we heard before finally settling on the tree we would cut and bring home to
trim. There’s a common idiom about “a kid in a candy store”… well, a kid in a
field of Christmas trees is just as happy!
On tree seeking day this year
it was a bit chilly and windy, even for my hardy North Country kids, so we
opted for the easy route and headed to the retail tree lot. There, we found a
fantastic selection of already-cut Christmas trees. We hemmed and hawed between
the Fraser firs and the Balsam firs and ultimately selected the latter. (We had
measured the space our tree holds at home before heading out. These tree selection tips are helpful!)
Each holiday weekend at The Rocks, there is
a local group whose members are standing by to help tree seekers (and who
happily accept tips to help fund their organizations). Our Christmas tree elves
were from Littleton’s Daisy Bronson Middle School Student Council. We showed
them which tree we wanted, and they carted it off to be processed for pick-up
out front. Other groups helping this year are the sophomore and 8th
grade classes from Littleton High School. Inside the Rocks Marketplace, the
Profile Booster Club sells beverages and treats for hungry holiday shoppers.
A visit to The Rocks really
feels like a community event!
Before picking a tree, my kids wanted to say hello to the huge horses who pull the wagons carrying
visitors around the historic Estate. While time didn’t allow us to take the
tour this visit, we’ve enjoyed it in the past, and each time we learn something
new about The Rocks from the friendly guides on board. This trip we said hello
to the 1,900-pound Sampson and his wagon mate Giovanna. Their handler cheerfully answered our questions
about the huge and beautiful horses and their special shoes, which allow them
to gain traction in the snow and dirt they work in, both at The Rocks and in
their other job – logging the woods of Vermont.
(Reservations are recommended
for the wagon rides, although walk-ons are allowed if there is space. To make a
reservation, email info@TheRocks.org or
check in when you arrive at the farm.)
After selecting our tree, we
popped into the Farm Store to peruse the ornaments, wreaths, Rocks Estate maple
syrup and other holiday goodies. Next, we headed up to The Rocks Marketplace
and all the fantastic holiday fun it holds. From locally made chocolates and
pottery to fun home décor and beautiful scarves, the Marketplace is bursting
with festive holiday and gift items – and friendly Rocks workers, too! For more
about the shops, check out this post.
On our way to the
Marketplace, we ran into The Rocks’ very own Green Father Christmas, all decked out in his evergreen-hued robe. He approached us and handed each
child a small fir tree seedling. We’ll follow the instructions on the attached
tag (which also indicated the trees are sponsored by the Bank of New Hampshire) to pot our seedlings through the winter and plant them outside when the
ground thaws.
Throughout this year’s outing
to The Rocks, we could smell sugar in the air, as the friendly folks from
Kingdom Kernel Kettle Corn cooked up fresh batches of their kettle corn. Tradition dictates that we bring
a bag of the salty-sweet goodness home along with our Christmas tree, so we stopped in on the way to the car.
We sampled their yummy Snickerdoodle flavor, but ultimately stuck with our
favorite Maple Kettle Corn.
There are as many ways to
enjoy the holiday season at The Rocks as there are visitors to the farm. Some
families visit the nearly life-size wooden snowpeople (made locally and available in many sizes for purchase at the Marketplace). Others make a weekend out of
their Rocks visit with the Christmas Memories vacation package, offered in conjunction with area inns and hotels. And many folks who have moved
away order a Rocks tree or farm-made wreaths for friends and family every year
from the online shop.
If you’re lucky enough to
visit The Rocks during the holidays and find your perfect Christmas tree, you’re
guaranteed a grand time and plenty of holiday cheer!
No comments:
Post a Comment