Hall of Mosses trail in the Hoh Rain Forest, Olympic National Park, Washington, USA

© James Randklev/Getty Image

A different kind of rainforest. Green Friday

Imagine spending the day hiking in a forest, soaking in the lush greenery instead of frantically checking every item off your holiday shopping list. Welcome to Green Friday, the environmental alternative to Black Friday, established in 2015. On Green Friday, people are encouraged to approach shopping by making ethical choices, embracing nature, or refraining from purchasing altogether. So, take a pause for a moment and plunge yourself into nature this Green Friday!

The Hall of Mosses at Olympic National Park, in Washington's Hoh Rain Forest, is a far cry from a shopping centre. This rainforest, different from the tropical kind that most think of, contains a brief but enchanting loop trail, home to a variety of mosses that gracefully drape over majestic spruces and hemlocks. Make sure to bring a jacket though, this aptly categorised forest is the wettest in the contiguous United States with an annual rainfall of nearly 130 inches. No wonder it's so green!