A New Tradition - Let's Make Friday Green Instead of Black

Don't fight the crowds for deals on Black Friday, take the family to a Virginia State Park to walk off Thursday's dinner and enjoy some fresh air.

VIRGINIA STATE PARKS SHARES:

What will you be doing the day after Thanksgiving?

PICK ONE

Hiking at Sky Meadows State Park (or any state park)

OR

Black Friday Crowd from JoeinQueens (Creative Commons)

NO BRAINER???

You can wake up at 0 Dark 30

Stand in Line

Fight the Crowds

Maybe Even Cross Some Picket Lines

OR

Get Some Fresh Air

Walk Off the Thanksgiving Dinner

Enjoy the Beauty of Nature

Be Grateful for What You Have Instead of Buying More

We have some fantastic programs at our parks on Friday, November 23, 2012 that will help you get into the non-commercial holiday spirit.

Caledon State Park continues its tradition of providing a natural alternative to Black Friday with its Holiday Hayrides. Escape to the beautiful winter woods of Caledon. Bare trees make it easier to see the wildlife living in the forest. Join staff on the hay wagon decked out for the holiday season and take a ride to the Potomac Shoreline to see what the eagles are doing! Cost is just $3 per person $8 per family. Reservations required. Call (540) 663-3861 or email Caledon@dcr.virginia.gov.  Hayrides are at 2:00 & 4:00 p.m.

The annual Festival of Trees at Southwest Virginia Museum is always a holiday tradition. Eighty trees will be decked out for the season as will doorways, banisters and mantles. Area businesses, schools, churches, civic groups and individuals pitch in by creating variously themed decorations.

Natural Tunnel State Park will offer its always popular Christmas Lighting of the Tunnel that evening from 6 to 9 p.m. View thousands of twinkling lights and several Christmas displays while traveling down the chairlift to the mouth of the tunnel. Snuggle up to a cozy campfire sipping hot cocoa while listening to local choirs perform at the mouth of the tunnel.  The normal per car parking fee of $3 applies. Chairlift fees are $3 per person but if you bring in non-perishable food items to the chairlift you will receive the round trip ride free. Donated food will be given to a local food bank.

Christmas Lighting of the Tunnel, Natural Tunnel State Park

BRFAL Chapter of Virginia Master Naturalists have a few state parks to choose from in our area: Smith Mountain Lake State Park, Fairy Stone State Park and even Claytor Lake and Douthat State Parks are just an hour 45 from here...