Options for Enjoying County Parks on 'Green Friday'

SAN DIEGO COUNTY -- Green Friday is an alternative to Black Friday, where instead of spending the day shopping, people spend the day enjoying the great outdoors.

Admission at all 116 California State Parks is free this Friday, and the San Diego County Parks & Recreation Department has some suggestions for those who'd rather enjoy the green of nature than spend their green in stores.

Friday, Nov. 25:
Hike at Santa Ysabel East Preserve
Get outside and enjoy the crisp Julian air among the area’s oaks and sycamores. You can bring the youngsters for the guided 3-mile hike or if you’re part of an older crowd, you can walk off that Thanksgiving feast with a 5 or 9-mile hike.

• 9 a.m.
• Farmer Road Staging Area of Santa Ysabel Preserve East, 500 Farmer Road, Julian, CA, 92036
• (760) 765-4098
• Registration

Meet the Animal Ambassadors
Real, live animals actually live at some County Parks. All ages are welcome to come find out about the feathered, reptilian kind at two separate parks. Rangers will be on site to talk about the habits of these critters, like what they eat, where they hunt, where they sleep and why they are important to San Diego’s ecosystems.

Sycamore Canyon/Goodan Ranch

• 9 – 11 a.m.
• Goodan Ranch Staging Area, 16281 Sycamore Canyon Road, Poway, CA 92064
• (858) 513-4737

Meet chickens Sammie and Ruthie, with “special guests” in the form of a red-tailed hawk, Harris hawk, American kestrel falcon and great horned owl.

San Elijo Lagoon and Ecological Reserve

• 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
• 2710 Manchester Avenue, Cardiff-by-the-Sea, CA 92024
• (760) 634-3026

Sunset Hike and Picnic
Pack a picnic and then check out the historic Flume Trail. As the sun sets over the mountains, get out the picnic goodies and enjoy the view. All ages welcome.

• 3 – 5 p.m.
• El Monte County Park
• 15805 El Monte Road, Lakeside, CA 92040
• (619) 443-1474
• Wear layered clothing and sturdy shoes

Image via Shutterstock