Finalizing your meal plan for Thanksgiving? Don’t forget to plan some premeal activities to work up your appetite! King County Parks offers 200 parks and 28,000 acres of open space for you to explore. Get off the couch and get outside to make that extra serving of mashed potatoes worth it.

Here are our recommendations for the best ways to spend your Thanksgiving before you head inside to cook.

Tire out the dogs so they don’t keep wandering into the kitchen

Head over to Marymoor’s 40 acre off-leash dog park and let your pooch burn off some energy on the trails or in the river. A tired dog makes for easier family gatherings.

Spin your wheels or hike some trails to make room for dinner

Do your own Turkey Trot and hit some of our 175 miles of regional bike trails or our 215 miles of backcountry trails. If you haven’t checked out our new Granite Creek trailhead, it is a great place to meet up with friends and family.

Bike with the entire family

If you have some new riders this Thanksgiving Day, check out the Bike Playground at Dick Thurnau Memorial Park in White Center. This playground features a small-scale, closed course streetscape, complete with realistic lane markings and signage. The first of its kind in Washington State, it teaches cyclists of all ages the rules regarding bicycle, pedestrian and traffic safety in a comfortable setting.