These folks said no to malls, yes to NJ’s lovely outdoors on Black Friday

Not everyone hit the malls on Black Friday in New Jersey.

With highs around 65 degrees and clear blue skies, the Garden State served up a perfect day to get outside, away from the fluorescent lights and loss-leader deals. And plenty of New Jersey residents did just that.

Many shared their outdoor exploits with the world using the hashtag #optoutside, promoted by outdoor-gear retailer REI, which closed its doors for Black Friday and paid 12,000 employees to take the day off.

Some of the refreshing images they shared: