I know I'm bringing the holiday cheer a bit early for some, but there's no denying the rapid approach of December. No matter the size, decorations, or setting, visiting a tree---especially for the lighting ceremony---is a great way to get in the holiday spirit.

What are your favorite Christmas trees in the US and why?

I had a magical experience ending up unexpectedly near the Rockefeller tree one year, and even with the NYC holiday crowds it was very special.

(I'm also posting this on the Europe board as well to get some other top trees.)

The tree in the Met Museum is elegant and graceful.

Aduchamp beat me to it - the Met tree is the only one I know of other than the tree in Rockefeller center. It's a great tree (the Met tree I mean).

Second favorite is the tree in my living room!

Rock Center - hands down. And it's the crowds that make it special - not just locals and their kids but tourists from all over the world.

Other great ones in NYC:

Antique Neapolitan tree and creche at the Met
Origami tree at Natural History

The tree in the dining room of the Biltmore...

Hotel Hana on Maui has a community tree competition. They all deserved a ribbon when we were there. Hope they still keep up that tradition of Ohana and Community.

>>

What Biltmore?

http://www.romanticasheville.com/biltmorechristmas.htm
top interior picture

thanks starrs...

Not a favorite necessarily, but a fun exhibit to visit--A few years ago an author/illustrator friend had a tree based on one of her books at the annual Family Trees: A Celebration of Children’s Literature at the Concord Museum. This is the 15th year the museum will have a collection of trees decorated in the theme of a favorite from children's literature. Here's the list of trees:

http://www.concordmuseum.org/pdfs/20...%2010%2013.pdf

Here's the museum calendar:

http://www.concordmuseum.org/visit/calendar.html

Oh, ellenem! That sounds wonderful!

I also like the National Christmas Tree in front of the White House even though there's a larger one at the U.S. Capitol.

Keep the festive ideas coming! Any living trees that stand out?

Actually, instead of the National Tree - I think I like the Nations Christmas Tree Best because it's a living tree. It's the giant General Grant Tree in Sequoia National Park.

http://www.fodors.com/world/north-am...ew-429209.html

The one at Disneyland in Anaheim. Main Street especially, but the whole of Disneyland takes on a Christmas theme and for us Southern Californians, even though the snow is fake, we almost feel like we are in a New England village in winter. With all the pretty lights and ornaments strung up,with the tree as the Centerpiece, it never fails to put a smile on my face.

Runner up is the one in my living room that's adorned with lights and ornaments that include antiques from the days my grandma hung them on her tree, ornaments from my childhood, ones from my son's childhood, and that one special ornament that my dad gave me. Now that he's passed away, just looking at his ornament brings him back. A memory tree. And making memories is what it's all about, really, at least to me.