Are you looking for super special, fun outdoor adventures for the entire family this Thanksgiving?  Do you want to make your celebration extra meaningful?  You do not need to stay inside the house.  You and your family can enjoy the great outdoors while you wait for the turkey to cook.

We have listed a mix of outdoor activities that your kids and the entire family will enjoy. These are the kind of activities that can help bring your family closer together in the spirit of the holiday.

• Watch the Parade

It doesn’t have to be the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.  We bet you have your own Thanksgiving Day Parade in your town.  Bring the kids, and watch the parade.  If you’re in New York, you’re in luck.  Your children will enjoy the huge floats, giant balloons, marching bands, and the myriad of sounds, sights, and colors of the parade.  This is a magical way to celebrate the holiday.

• Turkey Trot

Work up a big appetite for a huge dinner by participating in the community run or walk.  A Turkey Trot is fairly common during Thanksgiving.  There’s probably one in your area. Often, you will need to pay a small registration fee to participate.  This activity is getting more and more popular.  This is a great way for an entire community to come together, have fun, support a good cause, and celebrate Thanksgiving.  Turkey trots are usually 5K or 10K walk or run.  You can always go at your own pace.  Burn those calories before or after a big meal.

• Play Touch Football

If your family is a huge football fan, you might want to play touch football with the entire game-crazed fans.  You can pry their eyes away from the televised football game and get everyone to play an actual game!  Of course, you can also try other kid-friendly backyard games.  Playing games outdoors with your family is a memorable way to spend the holiday.

• Pumpkin Hunt

Kids and adults love treasure hunts.  They’re always a blast with everyone.  Why don’t you hide mini pumpkins around your property, and send everyone on a treasure hunt?  A pumpkin hunt is one of the best fall-themed outdoor activities you can do with the kids.  Of course, you can also hide pumpkins indoors if you want to.  Let your family loose!  You can think of it as your Easter egg hunt on autumn.

Make sure to give the winners a prize, and let them know beforehand there’s one.  This will pump up everyone for the game.  Whoever finds the most number of pumpkins wins the game.  You can also play “Fill the Cornucopia,” where you ask kids to find hidden things like apples, corns, and gourds to fill up their basket or cornucopia.

• Capture the Flag

This is another fun outdoor game for the entire family.  Get everyone to play Capture the Flag.  This is a really great way to get a little competition going.  Kids love this game.

In playing this game, two teams will hide an object (their flag) on their territory.  Usually, the territory is created by splitting the playing area in half with markers.  One team will try to take the other team’s flag and bring it back to their territory.  

To defend their flag, members of one team can tag any opponent and send them to “jail” until the jailed opponent is tagged by his teammates to be set free.  The first team to capture the other team’s flag wins.

• Go on a Hike

It won’t be long before freezing temperatures settle in, so you might want to take this opportunity to go on a short hike with your family.  Bring a camera, and use this outdoor adventure as a chance to take fun pictures with your family.  This is also an opportunity to take some holiday card photos.

• Pick a Christmas Tree

Take the family out to pick a Christmas tree.  You can make a tradition out of this activity. Many tree nurseries are already set up.  Enjoy the smell of fresh pine trees.  This can get everyone in a happy holiday mood.

Outdoor adventures need not be uncomfortable.  Grab a huge, dry and comfortable blanket to lay on the ground, and enjoy your time with family and friends.  After all, this holiday is about giving thanks for all your blessings and spending time with your loved ones. You can get an outdoor blanket here.