The sound of metal wheels rolling on metal cable is as popular as Christmas carols this time of year in Lake County.
"Don't be scared Santa,” a spectator said as Kris Kringle climbs more than two stories off the ground.
"Mrs. Claus is trying to get me on a diet. Walking up those steps helped a lot,” Santa said.
Here, the hills of Lake County are alive with the sounds of the season. In Eustis, that's not the sound of sleigh bells, rather zip lining.
'Tis the season at Santa's Christmas Tree Forest where Santa Claus himself practices for his night flights on the zip line. Below the zip line, await 14 acres of fresh Christmas trees ready for the picking at Santa's Christmas Tree Forest.
"It's a lot of work. Especially in middle sheering when in July, it's a real killer out here during the heat,” explains Jack Ewing, a Christmas tree farmer who operates Santa's Christmas Tree Forest each holiday season.
For 25 years, the Ewing family has grown Christmas trees in the Florida sun. Just after Thanksgiving, families arrive and ride a hay wagon out to the fields where more 14,000 trees await.
"Families come out and pick the tree together,” Jack said like a proud father. Even man’s best friend is welcome.
"You can bring your dog,” Jack said. “They are welcome to come out."
After cutting the tree down and riding back in on a hay wagon, where O’Tannenbaum gets a good shake down before hitching a ride on top of your ride for the ride home.
Before you hit the dusty trail, roasting marshmallows, train rides in a barrel, jumping on a giant pillow are popular with the kids. While daughters across Florida may not get the pony on their Christmas list, you can ride one at Santa's Christmas Tree Forest, along with the zip Line… if Santa’s not on it.
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