Black Friday is a chaotic day that instead, could be more focused on spending time with friends and family and giving thanks for what we have. Skip the madness this year and show your thanks to Truckee’s beautiful landscape and #OptOutside. And be sure to celebrate Small Business Saturday and Giving Tuesday, great times to shop local in Truckee and to give back to Truckee-Tahoe’s local nonprofits.
What Is #OptOutside
Back in 2015, REI looked around and realized that there was too much focus on consumerism. Putting their money where their mouth is, they shuttered their stores, stopped accepting online orders, and let every employee take the day off so they could go outside. Even in its first year, 1.4 million people RSVP'd to the company’s call to spend time outdoors. And 170 organizations (including the Sierra Club) helped to publicize the idea. This movement has continued to grow and become a new alternative holiday.
Create A New Tradition
Another aspect of holidays is tradition. Having something to look forward to. It’s great to Opt Outside, but to make it really stick for years to come, pick an activity that your family or friends will enjoy. Make it a hike or snowshoe to take in the changing of the seasons in Lacey Meadow. Or maybe it’s the last fly fishing outing on the Truckee River for the season. Squeeze in a few more mountain bike rides on crisp trails. Take big gulps of fresh mountain air as you walk or ride Truckee's scenic paved trails, over 20 miles of which are plowed and clear of snow throughout winter. Or, your new Opt Outside tradition could be as simple as enjoying the first turns of the ski season.
If the weather is more suitable for indoor activities, find a yoga class everyone will enjoy or monkey around and scale the walls at Truckee’s indoor climbing gym, High Altitude Fitness.
Support Local Businesses
Even if you skip Black Friday, you still need gifts for Christmas. Instead of another item that collects dust, get friends, family, and team members a Sustainable Truckee Gift Card. They can redeem it at over 60+ locations! Enjoy a pint of beer at Alibi Ale Works. A warm chai from Coffeebar. Stock up on supplies for your next craft night at Atelier-Bespoke. Men who enjoy the wilderness that want function AND form will find a variety of options at Grizzly Menswear. And women can find the latest fashion trends at Nomad Boutique.
Support Truckee Both Outside AND In
What makes Sustainable Truckee Gift Cards special though isn’t just that you’re supporting local businesses… which is awesome in the first place. It’s that 25% of EVERY card sold is matched by Visit Truckee-Tahoe for Sustainable Truckee stewardship projects. This has included a wide array of projects such as TART Connect, the FREE on-demand shuttle in Truckee, trailhead enhancements at Johnson Canyon, winter plowing at West End Beach to increase access to snow play and backcountry skiing, trailhead signage, and much more.
Give An Experience
Whether it's shopping local in Truckee’s quaint Historic Downtown, sipping craft cocktails at a restaurant or bar, or getting a relaxing deep tissue massage, the Sustainable Truckee Gift Card can be redeemed for year-round Truckee experiences. No matter the season, outdoor adventure can be found here! Cards can be redeemed for everything from guided backcountry skiing to rock climbing. To help give you an idea of all the ways they can enjoy it, here’s 20 examples of how to redeem Sustainable Truckee Gift Cards.
