If you haven’t finalized your Thanksgiving arrangements yet, and the notion of preparing a large feast makes you feel more tired than delighted, you might want to consider spending the holiday somewhere else. You’re sure to find something for everyone in the family among these great places in the United States.
1 . New York City, New York
If you want a traditional Thanksgiving experience, come to New York City, which is famed for its Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, which attracts thousands of participants and over three million spectators each year, as well as more than 50 million people who watch from home.
This yearly pageant has gigantic balloons, floats, cheerleaders, marching bands, clowns, Broadway plays, and a plethora of celebrities. If the crowds bother you, try staying at one of the hotels along the parade route and watching the events from the comfort of your room.
If you enjoy shopping, make plans to stay for Black Friday, when the city’s many excellent businesses kick off their holiday discounts. Just take into consideration that if you want to have Thanksgiving dinner at a restaurant in town, you’ll need to make a reservation right away.
2 . Santa Barbara, California
With its moderate, year-round Mediterranean climate, Santa Barbara is a delightful vacation location in any season. It’s been nicknamed the “American Riviera” because it’s nestled between the magnificent Santa Ynez Mountains and the sparkling blue sweep of the Pacific. Not only will you find a plethora of wonderful restaurants providing Thanksgiving dinner, but the majority of them will match it with outstanding local wines from the area’s noteworthy vineyards, which are located just north of the city in the Santa Ynez Valley.
You may take a short scenic trip to Los Olivos to visit more than a dozen wine tasting facilities, and many more in locations like Solvang and Buellton, which are home to a broad selection of wines created from grapes near the beach in Lompoc up to the islands of Happy Canyon. If you’re in town over the weekend, take a stroll down State Street to the Funk Zone for wine sampling and art shopping.
3 . Hawaii
While any time of year is a terrific time to visit Hawaii, November is especially ideal since it is less crowded with visitors, providing a peaceful time while still enabling you to have that magnificent turkey dinner, as most resort restaurants provide special holiday dinners. While it is a rainier month, picking places on the drier side of the islands, often the southern or western beaches of Kauai, such as Poipu, Wailea on Maui, Kailua-Kon on the Big Island, or Waikiki on Oahu, will provide you with more ideal weather.
If you go to Waikiki, you may even see the Christmas parade, which is conducted every year on the Friday following Thanksgiving. The parade honors survivors and veterans in commemoration of December 7, 1941, assaults on Pearl Harbor, and features local Hawaiian bands, marching bands from the mainland, and more.
4 . Chicago, Illinois
While you’ll need to wrap up and brave the cold, Chicago has a plethora of free holiday events and attractions that make it a terrific destination to spend Thanksgiving weekend. The mayor lights up the official Christmas tree on Wednesday night, which kicks off the celebrations. The three-hour-long annual Thanksgiving Day Parade begins the next morning.
One of the largest in the country, you’ll need to arrive early for a good spot as it begins on State Street and proceeds to Congress Parkway and Randolph Street, with a spectacle of giant helium balloons, award-winning marching bands, performance groups, equestrian units, dance troupes, local and national celebrities, rhythmic drum lines, and more.
The “wreathing of the lions” at the Art Institute of Chicago takes place on Friday when the museum’s two lion sculptures are draped with evergreen wreaths, followed by an indoor celebration. Visitors to Millennium Park may go ice skating or caroling.
5 . Plymouth, Massachusetts
Travel to Plymouth, Massachusetts, approximately a 45-minute drive south of Boston, to celebrate Thanksgiving where it all began. Here, you can completely immerse yourself in history. Explore outdoor living exhibits at Plimoth Plantation, such as a 17th-century English hamlet, the Mayflower II, the Wampanoag Homesite, and the Plimoth Grist Mill. You may even have a real New England Thanksgiving meal with roast turkey and all of the fixings.
Every year, a whole weekend of celebrations is held in Plymouth, with Pilgrims, soldiers, patriots, and Native Americans emerging from history books and onto the streets to bring the founders’ stories to life. On Friday, there will be an illumination ceremony and a street fair with a piece of music, while Saturday will include the historic parade, a chronological stroll through the nation’s past with custom-built floats, equestrian groups, fife, and drum, and renowned drum corps.
6 . Orlando, Florida
While theme parks tend to be crowded during holiday weeks, such as Thanksgiving, when most children are out of school, several, such as Disney World and Universal Studios, feature longer hours that allow you to enjoy the attractions and shows without having to battle enormous crowds. Plus, in Disney World, you’ll discover a variety of Thanksgiving meal alternatives, so you won’t have to skip out on the traditional feast. They’re usually available in restaurants in Downtown Disney and at several of the Disney properties.
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