Wade enjoys a rest on a rock formation at Blackhawk Park in Rock Island.

By Wade Ellett, Let’s Move QC Outdoors blogger

Late autumn and winter holidays are crazy times of happiness, gratefulness, and joy, yet we can quickly become overwhelmed. Thanksgiving is here; with Black Friday right on its heels, and then Christmas, Hanukkah, Yule, and Kwanzaa will be upon us!

The holidays can get pretty stressful, and that’s why my wife and I will be Opting Outside this year.

Blackhawk Park offers great hikes and spectacular views any time of year.

Say what? 

Outdoor retailer REI decided to close its doors on Black Friday for the first time in 2015, pay its employees to get outside, and encourage all its customers to spend the day doing the same.

They will do the same thing this year.

That’s right, on the busiest shopping day of the year, REI stayed closed and told us all to go outside and play! This is a brilliant idea; one that I think we should all fully embrace this year.

(Honestly, is there anything that you need at the store that day? Will any of the savings be better than a day spent getting fresh air with your family?)

Give it some thought, and then decide how you’d like to spend your holidays.

Think you’d like to Opt Outside this year, but not sure what to do? Read on for some of our suggestions.

QC Hiking:

The local places we’ve visited all summer long are sublimely beautiful in autumn and winter!

Illiniwek is one of Wade’s favorite places to hike!

Check out my favorite QC hiking spots and spectacular views.

Why not take your family to a nearby park or forest, and get moving on the trails? It’s a great way to get the blood pumping after feasting on Thanksgiving. Stellar views are still lovely, even when the weather gets a little chilly, so don’t be afraid to head out to explore.

Hit the Backyard or Neighborhood Park for Game Time:

In movies and on TV shows, I always see families heading out to the backyard for a family-wide game of football. In real life, however, I’ve never known anyone to do actually do this.

Maybe this year we can change that! 2018 sounds like a good year to start a new family tradition; grab a football, a Frisbee, a baseball and some gloves, and go play for an hour or so!

Overcome the Cold

Wool and fleece are great, and if it gets really cold, consider wearing a thermal layer (like long johns) under your pants. Doubling up on socks may be a good idea too; there’s nothing worse than cold toes!

Another trick is to do some simple weight lifting before you head outdoors. You can use hand weights or your own body’s weight with some pushups. Getting the blood circulating will warm you up all over, and leave you comfortable as you step outside.

Do you have a fun idea of how to Opt Outside this holiday season? Share with us in the comments and we’ll see you out there!

Meet Wade Ellett, Let’s Move Quad Cities Outdoor Blogger. Wade is an outdoor adventurer who shares his passion for QC outdoor adventures here! Read his other posts by clicking here.