GETOUT: Alternatives to shop-'til-you-drop in the Lowcountry

Whether you were among the thousands who ran or walked today's 34th annual Knights of Columbus Turkey Day Run, it's not an excuse to waste this long weekend in front of the TV or in a mall. There's so much more to Thanksgiving than feasting, football and frenzied shopping.

The weather forecast looks as stellar as it has been the past week -- sunshine, high temps in the mid-60s and mid-70s, and no rain -- until Sunday. So it would be a crime to stay inside with all this free time and great weather.

So get out there. Play. Explore. Relax.

One of my favorite Thanksgiving activities is playing pickup football with family and any restless neighbors. Part of the fun is turning a yard, vacant lot, park or expanse of beach (meaning low tide on Folly) into an imaginary football field, or occupying a recreation field that's legally accessible.

If you don't have enough people to create teams (though it only takes six total) or if your body's not up for a few sprints, leaps and twists, a more civilized stroll or pedal in nature is always nearby in the Lowcountry. And spectacular nature is often just a short drive away.

Besides the beaches (my favorite is Sullivan's Island -- Station 16 has a beautiful access), almost every town has green space with trails and/or views of nature, and most of the passive areas are open Thanksgiving Day.

Charleston, Mount Pleasant and North Charleston all have waterfront parks. If you're adventurous, how about going to all three -- via bike. It's do-able, but be alert of potholes and railroad tracks on the trip up and down Spruill Avenue.

My favorite urban getaway is the Pitt Street Bridge in Mount Pleasant, which has one of the best panoramic views of Charleston Harbor, along with access to the marsh for kayaks, canoes and stand-up paddleboards.

Any place with a gatekeeper likely will be closed, or partially closed, on Thanksgiving, but likely open for the rest of the weekend. Some of the easiest places to access are parks run by Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission. PRC's facilities are closed Thanksgiving Day, with the exception of the Holiday Festival of Lights that starts at 5:30 p.m. at James Island County Park.

Perhaps use this weekend to check out a PRC park that you haven't experienced yet, such as the wilder Caw Caw Interpretive Center in Ravenel. Caw Caw, built on part of 18th-century rice fields, has more than six miles of trails and elevated boardwalks through wetlands, which probably aren't that wet right now. And you might even spot a bald eagle.

Old Santee Canal Park in Moncks Corner features nature by day and holidays by night. The park is open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday for kayaking and hiking (admission is $3 person) and 6-9 p.m. Friday and 5-9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday for its Celebrate the Seasons event ($5 per car). Visit www.oldsanteecanalpark.org.

One of my favorite local road trips is up Interstate 26 to the Audubon Center at Francis Beidler Forest, where you can see old-growth trees amid the serene blackwater of Four Holes Swamp. If you haven't been, it is spectacular and open Friday, Saturday and Sunday. See http://sc.audubon.org/Centers_FBF.html.

For those with military identification, active or retired, another gem is Joint Base Charleston's Marrington Plantation off Red Bank Road in Goose Creek, featuring 13 miles of trails through a variety of ecosystems.

One option with ample of trails is the Francis Marion National Forest. While I've heard gunshots (presumably from hunters) in Francis Marion, it's often distant -- hunters are supposed to stay away from trails. And you may want to wear orange just for safety's sake. For information on trails and hunting activity, call the Sewee Visitor & Environmental Education Center (open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday and Saturday) on U.S. Highway 17 in Mount Pleasant at 928-3368 or go to www.fws.gov/seweecenter.

And if you just want to get away from everything for a while, Charleston also is home to an array of yoga centers and studios. See a consolidated schedule of classes at www.charlestonyogi.com.

Contact David Quick at 937-5516.