If you’re the Christmas type, it is time to start decking those halls for the most wonderful time of the year. And sure, you could haul the artificial tree out of storage, but why not go get some fresh air and create some lasting memories at one of Georgia’s many cut-your-own tree farms instead? Wander through the rows with a handsaw and some hot chocolate until you find your dream tree, then bring her home to be your new centerpiece. Here are 12 farms within an hour’s drive of Atlanta where you can enjoy some beautiful scenery, Christmastime activities, and the smell of fresh evergreens.

This family-owned farm has been operating for more than 20 years and has, for the last five years, donated trees to the Trees for Troops program, which gives real Christmas trees to military personnel and their families.

Offerings: Leyland Cypress, Murray Cypress, and Carolina Sapphire trees, fresh-cut Fraser Firs, wreaths, white pine garland, and tree stands. Trees start at $6/foot and go up from there, depending on the type, grade, and height.

Other activities: Santa visits and pony rides on Saturdays, hayrides, free hot chocolate and cookies, ornament-making, and a toy and canned good drive

Location: 14580 Wood Road, Alpharetta

Distance from (downtown) Atlanta: 32.5 miles (about 42 minutes)

Hours: Monday through Friday, 4 p.m. ’til dusk. Saturdays, 9 a.m. ’til dusk.

The Kinsey family refers to their farm as “agritainment” because they strive to provide an atmosphere that will help families leave with some lasting memories along with a lovely tree. It’s hard to go wrong with that attitude. Like the Hunter family, they also participate in the Trees for Troops program.

Offerings: Cut-your-own options include Leyland Cypress, Carolina Sapphire Cypress, and Blue Ice Cypress with around 800 to 1,000 individual trees to choose from plus garland, wreaths, holiday decorations, and tree stands.

Other activities: Roast marshmallows, sip hot chocolate, enjoy some holiday music in the barn, then take a wagon ride to the field to find your perfect tree.

Location: 7170 Jot Em Down Road, Gainesville

Distance from (downtown) Atlanta: 50 miles (about 51 minutes)

Hours: You’ll need to be in the field with enough daylight remaining to choose your tree and get back before dark, so the last tractor run to the field leaves at 5:30 p.m. They open at noon Monday through Friday and at 9 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

You’ll be hard pressed to find a more festive name for a Christmas tree farm. Then they throw in the “Talking Chicken Show” and some puppets and it becomes downright impossible to resist. They offer school field trips as well.

Offerings: Virginia Pine, Green Giants, and Leyland Cypress as well as fresh evergreen wreaths. Oh, and there’s a $5 off coupon on their website.

Other activities: There are free candy canes and hot apple cider for all. Reservation-only tours include a jumbo slide, obstacle course, petting zoo, hayride, “The Talking Chicken Show,” hot chocolate, cookies with Santa, and an earthworm exhibit. You’ll also see a bee house, puppet show, and a short film called “What It’s Like to Live on a Tree Farm” (you know you were wondering).

Location: 3565 North Highway 155, Stockbridge

Distance from (downtown) Atlanta: 25 miles (about 32 minutes)

Hours: Seven days a week, 9 a.m. until dark

Fear not, Sleepy Hollow is home to gorgeous trees, not headless horsemen. The family farm has been growing Christmas trees and making memories for Georgians for 34 years

Offerings: Leyland Cypress, Murray Cypress, Virginia Pines, Carolina Sapphires, Blue Ice, and Naylors Blue as well as wreaths and other holiday decor.

Other activities: The country store offers jams, honey, cider, and other tastiness for purchase.

Location: 628 Sleepy Hollow Road, Powder Springs

Distance from (downtown) Atlanta: 23 miles (about 31 minutes)

Hours: Seven days a week, 10 a.m. until dark

The farm “where the tops of the trees are as nice as the Bottoms” is owned by the Bottoms family, who have more than 1,500 options for the discerning tree buyer, including a field of 10 to 14-footers for those with soaring ceilings.

Offerings: Blue Ice, White Pine, Virginia Pine, Leland Cypress, Carolina Sapphire, and Murray Cypress trees, all $7 per foot. Plus fresh wreaths, homemade breads, jams and jellies, and tree stand.

Other activities: Enjoy marshmallow roasting, hayrides, hot apple cider, Christmas movies for the kids, farm animals and fish feeding, hay rides, and scenic strolls around the lake.

Location: 5880 John Burress Road, Cumming

Distance from (downtown) Atlanta: 49 miles (about 50 minutes)

Hours: Monday through Friday, 3 p.m. until dark. Saturday, 9 a.m. until dark

This mom and pop operation was the family’s dream for years before the farm finally opened 14 years ago.

Offerings: Choose-and-cut trees include Leyland Cypress, Murray Cypress, Blue Ice, Giant Green, and Carolina Sapphire. They also feature pretty North Carolina Fraser Fir pine garland and wreaths. There’s a $2 off coupon online.

Other activities: Free cider and hot chocolate, hayrides on weekends, goats and cows to feed, s’mores kits to use at the fire pit, and free pics with Santa on December 6 from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m.

Location: 1829 Prospect Road, Lawrenceville

Distance from (downtown) Atlanta: 47 miles (about 40 minutes)

Hours: Monday through Friday, noon until 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, 9:30 a.m. until 6 p.m

With pricing of no more than $4.50 per foot and a cap of $38 for a tree, regardless of size (yep, that 12-foot tree will still only be $38), Old Barn is one of the more affordable spots to get your holiday evergreen. It’s also one of the oldest farms on our list, having been in operation in one form or another since 1930.

Offerings: Carolina Sapphire, Leyland Cypress, and Virginia Pines plus wreaths, cut Fraser Firs, and crafts.

Other activities: Hot apple cider, a relaxing forest nature trail, free coloring books for the kids, and a gift shop with Chistmas decor, ornaments, gifts, seasonal fruits, and baked goods.

Location: 24 Slaughter Road, Sunny Side

Distance from (downtown) Atlanta: 30 miles (about 42 minutes)

Hours: Monday through Friday, 1 p.m. until dark. Saturdays, 8 a.m. until dark. Sundays, 1 p.m. until dark.

This West Georgia farm has been offering choose-and-cut Christmas trees since 1976 but spends most of the year selling shrubs and trees to landscapers, retail nurseries, and other growers.

Offerings: The choose-and-cut trees are all Leyland Cypress or Deodora Cedar but others (Frasier Fir, Scotch Pine, Douglas Fir, Grand Fir, Noble Fir, and Blue Spruce) are available pre-cut. Wreaths, in your choice of Christmas tree form or candy cane form, are also available.

Other activities: Wagon rides, fire pit, boiled peanuts, marshmallow roasting, and Christmas music.

Location: 86 Redland Bend Road, Temple

Distance from (downtown) Atlanta: 41 miles (about 41 minutes)

Hours: Seven days a week from 9 a.m. until dark.

You can score a tree for as little as $10 at this 37-year-old family-owned farm… or go BIG and get a monstrous 25-footer.

Offerings: Virginia Pine, Cedar, Green Giant, Leyland Cypress, Carolina Sapphire, and Blue Ice as well as wreaths and tree stands.

Other activities: The Santa Shop has gifts and decor aplenty, and unlike many of the other farms on this list, Fourakre welcomes pets, so bring your pup for a walk through the woods.

Location: 13887 Woolsey Road, Hampton

Distance from (downtown) Atlanta: 26 miles (about 36 minutes)

Hours: Monday through Friday, noon until 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, 9 a.m. until 6 p.m.

Poor Worthington has had a tough time with the pumpkin crop for the last couple of years, but their Christmas trees are booming after a year with good weather. Bring the family and have a scenic and peaceful day out on this 20-acre farm, which became Atlanta’s first choose-and-cut Christmas tree destination in 1970. They participate in the Trees for Troops program.

Offerings: Virginia Pine, White Pine, and Cypress trees plus a wide range of gifts and holiday decor from area crafters at O’ma’s Gourd Haus & Craft Barn.

Other activities: Hay rides, picnic areas, giant hay mounds for the kids, and a gorgeous, Instagram-worthy setting.

Location: 145 Twin Oaks Drive, Hampton

Distance from (downtown) Atlanta: 26 miles (about 39 minutes)

Hours: Monday through Friday, 2:30 p.m. until 6 p.m. Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. Sundays from 12:30 until 6 p.m.

No, you won’t find Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush there singing country songs (at least, we don’t think so), but you will find a nifty third-generation Christmas tree farm run by a woman nicknamed Sugarmom and her family.

Offerings: Virginia Pine, Cedar, Leyland Cypress, and Blue Ice for cut-your-own. The Sugarhaus features handcrafted floral arrangements, fresh wreaths, lights, ornaments, stands, gifts, and crafts.

Other activities: Santa Claus hangs out at Sugarland on weekends. Bring your camera on the first three weekends of December from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. to capture those Christmas memories. You’ll also find complimentary hot chocolate and coffee and giveaways.

Location: 3933 Highway 155, Stockbridge

Distance from (downtown) Atlanta: 24 miles (about 31 minutes)

Hours: Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. until dark. Saturdays and Sundays, 9 a.m. until dark.

Don’t be surprised if you show up to find a classic car show, the Hallmark Channel passing out reindeer antlers, or a new pair of pygmy goats. You just never know what you’ll find at Berry’s Tree Farm… except the trees, of course. You’re sure to find those.

Offerings: Leyland Cypress, Carolina Sapphire, Murray Cypress, Cedar, Blue Ice, and Virginia Pine as well as pre-cut Fraser Firs as well as fresh wreaths, snow flocking, fresh garland, and tree stands. Here’s a coupon.

Other activities: Berry’s offers train rides, hay rides, pictures with Santa, a gift shop, holiday movie viewings, and pygmy goats named Bullhead and Shorty.

Location: 70 Mount Taber Road, Covington

Distance from (downtown) Atlanta: 31 miles (about 33 minutes)

Hours: Seven days a week, 10 a.m. until 7 p.m.