TRAVEL

#OptOutside: Visit Michigan state parks for free on Black Friday

Kathleen Lavey
Lansing State Journal
Mountain Biking, Grand Traverse Co.

Here's an idea for Black Friday: Make your leftover turkey into sandwiches and take them with you on a day hike in any of Michigan's state parks.

Entry to any state park or recreation area on Nov. 25 is free as the state has joined the nationwide #OptOutside movement started by camping cooperative REI Inc. last year.

Michiganders are invited to take a hike, ride a bike or even book a campsite for the night, said Maia Turek, statewide recreation programmer for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

"It's really just an open invitation for people to come and do their own thing," Turek said.

She said some families might make a Friday bike or hike into a regular Thanksgiving weekend tradition.

"If you're traveling for Thanksgiving, this is a really great opportunity to see a state park you don't regularly get to go to," she said.

Next Friday's weather forecast is pretty favorable for outdoor activity, with a prediction for partly cloudy skies and a high of 46 degrees.

Michigan has 103 state parks and recreation areas and 138 state forest campgrounds. Hunting is not allowed in parks, but it is allowed in recreation areas, so if you choose a recreation area wear hunter orange for safety.

Turek said anyone who does go out on Black Friday is encouraged to post about their experiences on social media, using the hashtags #OptOutside and @michiganstateparks.

"We'd love to know who's opting outside," she said.

Learn more about Michigan state parks and recreation areas at www.michigandnr.com/parksandtrails/.

Learn more about REI's effort to get more people outside at www.rei.com/opt-outside

Contact Kathleen Lavey at (517) 377-1251 or klavey@lsj.com. Follow her on Twitter @kathleenlavey.