Please note: This post was originally published in 2017. Please visit the Trail of Hope Facebook Page for the most current information.
2017 Post:
Greetings Out and About Moms (and Dads)! Audrey here. As Shawna has updated you, my little family added a member in September and we’ve been very busy adjusting and welcoming our little “Bean.” Having two in tow definitely has a learning curve so I’ll openly admit I’ve been less than able to wrangle an almost 4-year-old, manage an infant, and simultaneously be even remotely observant about my surroundings, let alone take pictures, so I have yet to author my own debut post as a mom of two. BUT we’ve been getting out there, I swear! Here we are at Welles Turner Memorial Library in Glastonbury.
Checking out some books with Bug and Bean…literally!
See? But while I’ve been figuring out how to bring my multitasking game up to a whole new level, a dear friend from my home town of East Hampton sent in a wonderful recommendation for a FREE holiday family outing that we couldn’t help but share! I have yet to visit myself, but I can’t wait to stop by Hazen Tree Farm’s Trail of Hope.
Located adjacent to the small family-run Christmas tree farm at 166 Lake Road in East Hampton, the Trail of Hope was started by Kristine Hazen as a memorial to her mother and farm founder, Jessie Hazen, just a couple of years ago. Family and friends all chip in to donate decorations and set up this heart-warming holiday tribute that is free and open for the public to enjoy, even outside of the farm’s regular business hours.
Part of the Trail of Hope at Hazen Tree Farm in East Hampton.
The decorations go up right after Thanksgiving and stay there roughly through New Year’s. As mentioned, the public is welcomed to stroll through the woods any time while the trail is set up, but if you’d like to cut your own extremely reasonably priced (in my opinion) Christmas tree while you’re at it, you should go during Hazen Tree Farm’s operating hours – Saturday and Sunday 8:30am-5:00pm.
Candy cane field and Santa’s sleigh.
Also during the farm’s operating hours on the weekends, someone is stationed at the top of the hill to provide the backstory of how the Trail of Hope got started and add a fun Christmas narrative for kids involving Santa and what I’ve heard are some rather uncooperative elves, making the experience just that much more magical.
A beautiful family tradition full of love and holiday spirit if ever there was one. And I’m willing to bet the recent snowfall only makes the Trail of Hope even more festive! Let us know if you stop by Hazen Tree Farm’s Trail of Hope and, of course, let them know Out and About Mom sent you 😉
Happy holidays!
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