Events

National Get Outdoors Day falls on the second Saturday of June every year and opens a door for families who have never quite made it to a trailhead, a paddle, or a campfire before. Free events happen at national forests, parks, and public lands across the country, guided by rangers and volunteers who make a first trip feel easy and genuinely fun.

The day after Thanksgiving, millions of American families skip the shopping crowds and head outside instead. Opt Outside Day is a growing annual tradition that turns Black Friday into a celebration of trails, parks, and fresh air — and it is easier to plan than you might think.

The summer solstice falls around June 21 and delivers the longest evening of the year — plenty of time for a family hike that ends in a sunset worth remembering. This guide walks you through what the solstice actually is, how to build an evening hike tradition around it, and how to plan a full weekend your kids will ask to repeat every year.