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5 Boston Black Friday Activities That Aren't Shopping

Save some money and your sanity, this Black Friday in Boston.

Arnold Arboretum

Grab a warm jacket and some good boots, and get yourself out to the Arnold Arboretum. Despite this week's high winds and November chill, colorful fall leaves are still clinging to the trees. Temperatures are currently expected to be in the upper 40s Friday (not so bad). Plus, you don't even have to leave the city to get there. Hop in your car, or just take the Orange Line out to Forest Hills.

Get out of town

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The Trustees' sites around the state—from Crane Beach to World’s End—are offering free admission, part of R.E.I's #OptOutside Black Friday alternative push. Find more information and their full list of locations here.

Find out what's happening in Bostonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Run off those mashed potatoes and turkey

As usual, the November Project is offering an easy way to work out with a supportive group of early birds. Join them for a morning run to work off some of that carb-filled Thanksgiving feast.

Make it a museum day

Maybe the great outdoors isn't for you (or the weather's just too gross to bother). If so, consider a museum. The Boston Children's Museum, the Science Museum and more will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, but reopen on Friday. You can also join the MIT Museum for its annual Friday After Thanksgiving chain reaction building extravaganza, the 19th year of the family-friendly event.

Get started on Christmas

No, we don't mean "get started on Christmas shopping." We mean that fun family tradition kind of stuff. Take the governor's advice, and turn Nov. 25 into "Green Friday," aka the day you support our local farmers by buying Christmas trees and wreaths. Go skating on Frog Pond, watch the light show at Faneuil Hall, do something similarly classic but significantly less tourist-clogged.

Really, whatever you choose, we hope you get a chance to relax and to enjoy the holiday time off with friends, family and loved ones.

Have a great Black Friday alternative idea we didn't mention here? Please, share it with us! Comment below or email alison.bauter@patch.com

Arnold Arboretum photo by Alison Bauter/Patch staff

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