Looking for the Perfect Christmas Tree in the High Country

We found our tree!

In the nearly 25 years that I have lived in North Carolina, there has been one item that I have always wanted to do - visit a Choose & Cut Christmas Tree Lot in the High Country.  Finally, this past weekend, my family and our neighbor friends all went up to West Jefferson to enjoy a little bit of snow, fun memories, and, of course, return home with a Christmas Tree!

We went to Frosty's Choose & Cut, just outside of West Jefferson in Ashe County.  Frosty's is one of the more popular Christmas Tree farms in the area.  It is part of the family-owned and operated Sexton Farms - which dates back four generations.  Frosty's began in 2002 as the brainchild of brothers Andrew, Matthew, and Thomas Sexton.

The old barn is the hub of activity at Frosty's.

There is a little bit of everything at Frosty's - food trucks, crafts, space for kids to run and play, and pet-friendly, too.  The Old Barn is home to various holiday items - fresh Fraser fir wreaths, garlands, kissing balls, decorations, and more.  There is even wine tasting from the Old Barn Winery, and don't forget Santa!

But the highlight is the seemingly endless amount of Christmas trees.  For a first-timer like me, going about choosing a tree can be a little intimidating - especially with as many visitors on the first Saturday of the season.  However, the staff is extremely patient, friendly, and knowledgeable.  The greeter outside the trolley or tractor rides up to the trees will hand you a tag upon request.  The gentleman who helped us kindly explained the process to my 11-year-old son, who was extremely excited to get our first real tree.

On the hunt for the perfect tree!

The process is simple.  Ride - or walk - to the section of the farm where the tree harvest is occurring.  Grab a pole, and search for the perfect tree - each tree is marked with a color-coded ribbon based on height and the associated price.  Stand at your tree with the marked side of the pole facing up.  A cutting crew will come by, cut the tree, hand you a small sample of the stump (more on that in a moment), and carry away your tree to be wrapped and ready for pick up.  Your tree is tagged with your name, and it is also written on the exposed trunk.

Meanwhile, you can ride or walk back down the hill, enjoy the festivities, get your tree stump stamped as a holiday souvenir, or grab something to eat.  When you are ready to leave, you can walk by and pick up your tree or use the pick-up drive-thru, where the staff will gladly bring the tree out to you.

Our tree headed toward packaging and then down the hill for pick up.

It didn't take us too long to find our tree. We found a tree that seemed just right for our home - not too wide and not overly tall.  This was our first real live tree, and we didn't want to go overboard!

If you are like us and originally didn't plan on getting a tree, don't worry!  There is plenty of string, rope, or twine to keep the tree safe on your vehicle's roof on the drive home.

There are endless acres of Christmas Trees in North Carolina's High Country,

If the larger crowds at Frosty's aren't your thing - there are plenty of smaller tree farms throughout Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, and Watauga Counties worth visiting.

We had an excellent time at Frosty's - it is a great place for families - as of this writing - we have two boys, 8 and 11. Getting a live tree in the High Country will be an annual tradition for us for years to come!

Our tree - at home - and decorated.