Sloane Heffernan: Christmas tree trip
The official start to the Christmas season in our family begins with the annual Christmas tree trip. It’s a tradition that started with my cousins more than a decade ago.
Our children have grown up looking forward to this special weekend in the North Carolina mountains. We rent the same house between Boone and Blowing Rock on the Appalachian Ski Mountain nearly every year. We travel with my two cousins and their respective families. We even bring the dogs.
Our first stop is always downtown Blowing Rock. Blowing Rock has such a charming town center, like something out of a Hallmark movie. We love to begin our Christmas shopping at the cute little shops and boutiques, and the kids love to play in the local park. Each year, we always seem to end up at the same English pub on Main Street for lunch where we enjoy delicious fish and chips, and maybe a few pints.
At the rental house, we watch Christmas movies, shoot pool and relax in the hot tub overlooking the breathtaking mountains. It truly is a gift. Each family takes turns making a meal, and we always wrap up the night with a fun family game and birthday cake.
The weekend typically falls on two of my three kids birthdays. My cousin Liz has made a tradition of creating beautiful custom cakes for them each year. Her handmade designs always warm our hearts.
Our trip always ends with a visit to downtown Boone for shopping and candy at Mast General Store. And of course, the final stop is a local tree farm where we select and cut down our Christmas tree.
We have had so many wonderful memories. One of the most memorable was the year we couldn’t make it up the mountain because of snow and had to abandon our minivan and walk a mile to get to the house. Another year, we went home without a tree because we couldn’t find one because of a national shortage.
Every year is special, and after canceling the trip last year due to COVID, this one might be the best yet.
Sloane Heffernan is a two-time Emmy award-winning journalist and former WRAL-TV anchor/reporter. In June 2021, Sloane transitioned from journalism to launch Storymore, a brand storytelling business. Sloane now uses her storytelling skills to help businesses clarify their message and create a deeper connection with their desired audience.
