Trip Ideas Nature Travel 7 Hikes to Take Instead of Going Shopping on Black Friday Don't want to shop? Get outside instead. By Jess McHugh Jess McHugh Twitter Website Jess McHugh is a journalist, author, and researcher who has reported from North and South America, Europe, the Caribbean, and West Africa. She's written hundreds of stories, ranging from the fight to preserve world heritage in Palmyra, Syria, to the story of the first American dictionary. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, The Nation, The Paris Review, Time, New York Magazine, The New Republic, Fortune, Village Voice, International Business Times, CNN, Avidly (Los Angeles Review of Books), AFP Services, The Believer, Lapham's Quarterly, Teen Vogue, Business Insider, InStyle, Dame, Thrillist, Man Repeller, and Travel + Leisure, among others. She can be found between New York City and Paris. * 8+ years of experience working as a writer and researcher * Author of "Americanon" (Dutton, Penguin-Random House, 2021) * Bilingual in French and English * Former staff reporter at Time Inc. and International Business Times. * Received a bachelor's degree in comparative literature from Yale University Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines Published on November 17, 2016 Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: Jordan Siemens/Getty Images As crowds of Americans rush to begin their holiday shopping seasons with the sales of Black Friday, many others will be hiding in their homes, trying to avoid the department store madness. For those looking to get outdoors, here are a few ideas for great hikes around the country. Bear Mountain State Park, New York Less than an hour-long drive from Manhattan, Bear Mountain offers spectacular views of the Hudson River. Check out more of our favorite hiking trips and tricks here. Appalachian Trail, Maine to Georgia Residents or visitors to states along the eastern U.S. can take advantage of this winding trail that stretches more than 2,000 miles. Yosemite National Park, California What better way to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the U.S. National Parks service than by visiting one of the nation's most popular parks? Visitors can stand in awe of the great sequoias that cover the forest, while walking off some of those Thanksgiving calories. Jordan Siemens/Getty Images Mount Pisgah Trail, North Carolina Intrepid hikers can summit this 5,721-foot summit which is part of both the Appalachian Mountains and the Blue Ridge Mountains. Moraine Hills State Park, Illinois Carved by glaciers, this state park outside of Chicago offers city-dwellers the chance to escape to a rare natural haven. Hikers should be sure to stop at some of the designated viewing platforms to get the best views of Lake Defiance. Zion National Park, Utah Known for its steep red cliffs, this majestic natural wonder will have you forgetting all of the woes of the material world. Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook, California Even the celebrities of Los Angeles sometimes have to get away from the city, and this 500-foot peak is the way to go. With 360-degree views from the top, it's also not a bad place to snap a shot of your post-Thanksgiving glow. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit