Take a Hike: Getting outside on Black Friday

Samoa, Ca., (KIEM)- Burning off those Thanksgiving Day calories, that’s the idea behind a guided two hour hike hosted Friday by Friends of the Dunes. Offering an alternative to the retail frenzy that buzzes around Black Friday, Executive Director Kim McFarland talked to visitors about the nesting habits of native bees. She also lead the free hike attended by more than a dozen people.

“We are a local land trust so we do have 118 acres that we have preserved and we open those to the public, so today’s hike is our post holiday dinner hike.” McFarland says, “The day after Thanksgiving after we’ve all been eating hopefully a lot or more than usual we go out for a hike. Right now there’s not so much blooming but there are still plants out there and we talk about the dunes, look for mushrooms, there’s ever insects out there this time of year so we’ll see what we can find.”

Friends of the Dunes is working diligently to remove invasive species from their 118 acres, restoring native plant and animal life to the ecosystem. They offer free hiking, beach access and educational programs for the community.