Raise the Tree (Christmas Tree Farm, Louisville)

Come December, this is one of the easiest Christmas outings to do with kids without driving deep into the mountains. Raise the Tree is a family-run Christmas tree farm in Louisville, Tennessee, just off the Topside exit of Pellissippi Parkway and an easy drive north of Maryville. They bring in grade-1 Fraser Firs from a North Carolina nursery, stand them up on the lot, and string lights above the rows so you can wander with the kids while they warm up with cocoa and s'mores by the campfire. Pick a tree and take it home the same night, or order online and they will deliver a fresh-cut Fraser Fir to your door for free in Knox, Blount, and Loudon counties. I also like that ten percent of profits goes to local nonprofits each season. The farm opens around Thanksgiving weekend and runs through mid-December, so it pays to go early in the month for the best selection. Standard hours are Monday through Friday 3 to 7pm, Saturday 11am to 8pm, and Sunday 1 to 7pm.