KINGSTON, N.Y. (November 21, 2014) —As we reach the holiday season, there are numerous tree farms in Ulster County giving families the opportunity to pick out and cut down their very own Christmas tree.
To help ring in the season, three local bed and breakfasts are offering special discount packages, starting the weekend after Thanksgiving and ending Dec. 19. Tree cutting has been a popular activity and tradition in the region for many years, offering a unique and environmentally friendly experience for the people who take part.
“Ulster County has numerous tree cutting farms throughout the area, providing virtually any type of Christmas tree you might want or need,” said Ulster County Tourism Director Richard J. Remsnyder. “We invite people from throughout the Northeast to come visit and check out all that our County has to offer when it comes to this rich holiday tradition. And with some outstanding rates from local B&Bs, you don’t have to just come up for the day.”
The B&Bs offering special packages include the 1850 House Inn & Tavern in Rosendale. Centrally located in the Hudson Valley, the boutique hotel provides hot buttered rum to guests upon their arrival during the winter season, along with gourmet breakfasts prepared before guests head out to Bell’s Tree Farm as part of the Sugarplum Dreams & A Tree Package. The 1850 House Inn’s tavern will also have small dishes and flatbread pizzas after guests have selected their tree.
At the Inn at the Ridge in Wallkill, guests stay in a 1796 farmhouse. This year, the innkeeper has offered to pay for, up to $59, any Christmas trees guests cut down at a local tree farm with a three-night stay. Plus, the third night is offered at a 50 percent discount. Guests that book the entire four-bedroom B&B with friends and family are in for a treat; the innkeeper will personally cater a turkey dinner for all at a discounted rate (to be negotiated upon booking).
Captain Schoonmaker’s B&B offers a complimentary bottle of wine to enjoy next to a roaring fire in its 1760 Stone House, along with a $40 gift certificate to The Egg’s Nest in High Falls. After breakfast served at the B&B’s large pine table, guests can venture up the road to Bell’s Tree Farm to pick out the best tree for the holiday season.
According to the New York State Christmas Tree Association, cutting your own Christmas tree is an environmentally sustainable practice, as the trees eventually decompose and provide valuable nutrients and organic matter to the soil. Many people mulch their old trees for compost or to even provide small habitats for wildlife. It takes about 10 years for the average Christmas tree to reach full maturity.
“There’s nothing quite like the experience of heading out to a tree farm, picking out the exact right tree for you and then cutting it down yourself,” said Remsnyder. “Many families find that it’s the only way to truly kick off the holidays in a positive way.”
For more information on tree cutting and B&Bs in Ulster County, visit ulstercountyalive.com
