Here Are Fifteen Great Places To Travel To This Thanksgiving

If you're looking for a Thanksgiving vacation in the mountains, the Smokies could be the perfect spot. Gatlinburg is a stunning town that serves as the park's main entrance, making it a year-round favorite for families. Rentals range from rustic cabins to elegant mountain chalets, and there are plenty of exciting things to do during your stay. There is no better place to find one-of-a-kind holiday presents than at the Great Smoky Thanksgiving and Christmas Arts and Crafts Show. Skiers and snowboarders can take the aerial tramway from downtown Gatlinburg to Ober Gatlinburg, which leaves every 20 minutes. You can rent everything you need to enjoy the ice skating rink, ski slopes, and snow tubing hill at this location.

While any time of the year is a great time to go to Hawaii, November is particularly good as it tends to be less overrun with tourists, offering a quieter time while still allowing you to enjoy that fabulous turkey dinner as most resort restaurants offer special meals for the holiday Even though it is a more wet month, you can still enjoy beautiful weather by visiting Poipu, Wailea on Maui, Kailua-Kon on the Big Island, or Waikiki on Oahu. These locations are all on the dry side of the islands, like the southern and western coasts of Kauai. Waikiki hosts an annual holiday parade on the Friday following Thanksgiving. Local Hawaiian bands, mainland marching bands, and more participate in the parade honoring survivors and veterans of the December 7, 1941 attacks on Pearl Harbor.

While most children are off from school during the Thanksgiving holiday, theme parks like Disney World and Universal Studios remain open later so that visitors can enjoy the attractions and shows without dealing with overwhelming crowds. In addition, you won't have to skip out on the traditional Thanksgiving feast because there are plenty of options for Thanksgiving meals at Disney World. They can be found at many of the Disney hotels and restaurants in Downtown Disney.

New York City's Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is an annual tradition that draws thousands of marchers, three million spectators, and more than 50 million viewers at home, making it the ultimate destination for a traditional Thanksgiving celebration. Huge balloons, floats, cheerleaders, marching bands, clowns, Broadway shows, and dozens of celebrities are all a part of this annual pageant. Stay at a hotel on the parade route to avoid the crowds and enjoy the festivities without leaving the comfort of your room. Stay for Black Friday if you plan on doing any holiday shopping; this is when the city's many fantastic stores start their annual holiday sales. You should know that you need to make a reservation at a local restaurant if you want to eat Thanksgiving dinner there.

Chicago is a fantastic place to spend the Thanksgiving holiday, despite the cold weather, because there are so many free holiday activities and attractions to enjoy. The mayor will turn on the official Christmas tree light on Wednesday night to kick off the holiday celebrations. The following morning, at 10:00 a.m., the annual Thanksgiving Day Parade begins. You'll want to get there early because this parade is one of the largest in the country and it begins on State Street and moves down to Congress Parkway and Randolph Street. Along the way, you'll see giant helium balloons, marching bands, equestrian units, dance troupes, and more. celebrities both local and national, pulsating drum lines, and more On Friday, the Art Institute of Chicago will host the "wreathing of the lions," and in Millennium Park, people can go ice skating and sing Christmas carols.

It comes as no surprise that the city that is known for its exciting nightlife and delicious cuisine also knows how to celebrate Thanksgiving in style. New Orleans is the birthplace of many modern Thanksgiving traditions, including the po' boy, the crawfish, and the vignette. Several area restaurants offer a dish consisting of three different types of poultry stuffed into one another: chicken, duck, and turkey. The menu also frequently features deep-fried turkey. In addition, the Bayou Classic Thanksgiving Day Parade is not to be missed. The Decatur Street parade begins in Jackson Square and continues on to Washington Artillery Park before ending at The French Market, where children (and adults) can take pictures with Santa. Attend the opening of Celebration in the Oaks the following day to walk off all that food while taking in the sights of hundreds of thousands of lights adorning trees and a train that travels for two miles through 25 acres of brilliant displays.

Santa Barbara's mild Mediterranean climate makes it a picturesque getaway all year round. Known as the "American Riviera," the area is situated between the beautiful Santa Ynez Mountains and the azure waters of the Pacific. Numerous excellent eateries serve Thanksgiving dinner, and many of them pair the meal with excellent wines produced in the Santa Ynez Valley wineries that are located just north of the city. Wines from Lompoc's coastal hills to Happy Canyon's inland valleys can be sampled in Los Olivos's many tasting rooms, and even more can be found in neighboring towns like Solvang and Buellton. Take a stroll down State Street while you're in town this weekend and check out the Funk Zone for some wine tasting and art gallery hopping.

Santa Fe's world-famous museums and art galleries offer a deeper look into Native American culture than the Pilgrims' focus elsewhere in the United States during Thanksgiving. Come out to the Winter Indian Market, held every year over the Thanksgiving weekend (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday). There are over two hundred performers, including indigenous dance and musical ensembles. People from all over town come together in the afternoon to celebrate the lighting of the Christmas tree in the historic plaza. Ski Santa Fe welcomes skiers and snowboarders on Thanksgiving Day.

Plymouth, Massachusetts, is about 45 minutes south of Boston and is the site of the first Thanksgiving celebration. Here, the past comes alive before your very eyes. Visit the Mayflower II, the Wampanoag Homesite, the Plimoth Grist Mill, and other outdoor, living exhibits at Plimoth Plantation. Each year, the city of Plymouth celebrates for an entire weekend, with Pilgrims, soldiers, patriots, and Native Americans all coming to life from the pages of history books and into the streets.

The perfect slopes and year-round sunshine in Colorado are legendary among skiers worldwide. In addition, the local ski season officially opens on Turkey Day. Keystone is a fantastic destination for families because children under the age of 12 ski for free at all lodging properties all season long. With most people staying home to cook and watch football on holidays, getting up early and hitting the slopes can result in virtually empty runs and lift lines. Many of Keystone's restaurants, such as Keystone Ranch, Alpenglow Stube, Der Fondue Chessel, and Ski Tip Lodge, will be open on Thanksgiving to accommodate those who don't want to cook in their condo or private home.

You can see history come to life in another of America's historic towns. Colonial Williamsburg, where actors in period garb recreate scenes from early American history, hosts many spectacular events for the holidays. Enjoy a unique garden-to-table feast, an annual tradition, featuring southern specialties and an abundance of family favorites. During Foods & Feasts of Colonial Virginia, held at Jamestown Settlement and Yorktown Victory Center, guests can learn more about the Thanksgiving feasts of the 17th and 18th centuries in Virginia.

Despite the misconception that Las Vegas isn't a good place to bring kids, many families do just that over the Thanksgiving holiday. With its many amusement park-style attractions, indoor skydiving, and zip line that soars high above downtown, Vegas is no longer just for adults. There's also the Blue Man Group, the Shark Reef Aquarium, and a wide variety of other exciting shows that are appropriate for people of all ages. Many people flock to the city for Thanksgiving because of the food, the shopping, and the betting. From the affordable New York-New York's buffet to the lavish Bellagio 5-course meal, fantastic holiday buffets are available for just about any budget.

Lake Tahoe is a fantastic vacation spot any time of year, but now that ski season has officially begun in mid-November, it's an especially great option for spending Thanksgiving on the slopes. After appreciating the snow, you can warm up with a traditional Thanksgiving meal at any of a number of local establishments. Granlibakken, a luxurious lodge in a historically significant location on Tahoe's northwest shore, is just one of many resorts offering all-inclusive holiday packages that include lodging and a delicious meal. Tableside turkey carving with fixings, plus side dishes, vegetarian options, and desserts.

The Phoenician in Scottsdale is another great warm Thanksgiving destination, and it's a great place to get away for brunch or dinner. Traditional Thanksgiving fare, like turkey, and Thanksgiving-themed drinks are equally delicious. Hiking nearby trails, participating in the 5K Turkey Trot, or even using the Black Friday shopping shuttles are all great ways to work off some of that Thanksgiving feast. There must be some benefit to shopping until you drop, right? There are several pools at this kid-friendly resort, as well as a golf course.

American capital city Washington, D C is great for families any time of year, but especially during the Thanksgiving holiday Skating at the National Gallery of Art among monumental sculptures is an unforgettable experience for kids. You can also eat your fill of turkey and pumpkin pie at 1789, a Federal-era home turned restaurant in Georgetown, after walking the historic district's cobblestone streets and gazing at its Victorian mansions. visit Georgetown or the National Mall to see the fall foliage.