ST. PAUL, Minn. – (Nov. 19, 2015)- This Black Friday instead of waiting for that deal on your next must have item, state parks are offering you something free. On the Friday after Thanksgiving, entrance fees into Minnesota State Parks and recreation areas will be waived.
“So, imagine that it is the day after Thanksgiving, and you had a great Thanksgiving, you ate a lot of turkey, had a lot of gravy. Maybe you were cooped up inside a lot with your parents or your kids, and you’re thinking about what to do on Black Friday. Well, we have a great idea, and our idea is to come to one of Minnesota’s 76 state parks or recreation areas, visit one of our 26 state trails, and you can do it for free on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving,” said Lt. Gov. Tina Smith.
The goal is to share the benefit of being outdoors with family while burning off some of the meal from the day before.
Erica Rivers, the Minnesota State Parks and Trails Director shared, “It’s a great opportunity for you to get outside and have that opportunity to give yourself the gift of serenity and physical fitness the day after thanksgiving. The average American eats about 4,500 calories on thanksgiving day and so I just want to tell you, you can probably burn about three hundred calories on an hour long walk in a state park. So, get out their and give yourself that gift.”
Minnesota is known for beautiful landscape and the variety of opportunities for outdoor activities.
“When I look at some of the research about why people travel here, they travel here for a lot of reasons, but high on the list is the love of the outdoors. In Minnesota when you look at the lakes and the rivers and the forests and the prairies that we have, it just makes Minnesota incredibly unique and State Parks gives people all throughout the state, residents and non-residents alike, a chance to explore the wonders of Minnesota,” said Jon Edman, Explore Minnesota Tourism Director.
So enjoy the time outside with family and friends and take a moment to breathe amidst the bustle of Holiday preparations.
“Getting out with your family is really a great way to bond, to get some good exercise, to build some relationships with your family, to reduce stress. So, we really encourage people to get on a bike, get on a trail, get out and really just enjoy the outdoors,” encouraged DNR Commissioner Tom Landwehr.
With winter approaching take advantage of the opportunity, and do something a little different this Black Friday.
Lt. Gov. Smith concluded, “But I can promise you that if you go to the parks on the day after Thanksgiving, you won’t be with 8 million people, you’ll have the chance to appreciate a little bit of peace and quiet.”
Nearly every Minnesotan is no more than 30 miles from a state park, so a fun day is only a short drive away. For more information and to find parks near you, click here.
