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Traditional Thanksgiving gatherings at home can be fantastic family events. But if you’re the one hosting, they can also be stressful and a lot of work! Consider switching the routine by instead taking a fun family vacation this holiday season. Take a break from the preparation, cooking, and cleanup to maximize time with family and create new life-long memories. Here are 12 Thanksgiving getaways for families to consider for the holiday season. You may even start a new Thanksgiving family tradition!
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Southern California
There is something to be said for enjoying the change in seasons: the sight of bright orange pumpkins and colorful leaves falling through the crisp autumn air. But there is an equally compelling argument for staying or going someplace warm for the holidays! With excellent late November weather, beautiful beaches, warm golf courses, and plenty of family-friendly activities, SoCal is a fantastic Thanksgiving destination for the whole family.
Los Angeles
There are several magnificent holiday light shows in the greater Los Angeles area, including the internationally acclaimed Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanical Gardens located in Arcadia, GLOW at the South Coast Botanic Gardens in Palos Verdes Hills (kids two and under are free!), and the always popular LA Zoo Lights for the entire family.
Where To Stay And Eat Dinner In Los Angeles
Several excellent SoCal restaurants are eager to serve your family a delicious Thanksgiving feast: Santa Monica’s iconic oceanfront restaurant 1 Pico, located within Shutters on the Beach, will serve a traditional Thanksgiving meal with a 3-course menu that highlights the classics while also providing vegan options and festive cocktails, The Belvedere, located in the Peninsula Beverly Hills will serve a traditional Thanksgiving dinner in four-courses through a seated family-style dinner accompanied by live music throughout the day, and the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach plans to serve an impressive buffet consisting of traditional and non-traditional Thanksgiving dishes.
San Diego
A little farther south, families can enjoy the San Diego Zoo (open on Thanksgiving), and it is hard to beat a family stroll through Balboa Park on a beautiful day. Car rides to the zoo are the perfect time to share the story of Thanksgiving!
Where To Stay And Eat Dinner In San Diego
Several high-quality, family-friendly restaurants in San Diego will serve Thanksgiving feasts, including Island Prime and C-Level, which will provide three-course meals accompanied by magnificent views of the San Diego skyline. The city has many family-friendly luxury hotels, such as the Manchester Grand Hyatt and the Humphreys Half Moon Inn. San Diego is really one of the best places for outdoor activities in November throughout the United States.
National Parks
National Parks are open on Thanksgiving! Here are a few unique Thanksgiving options for your family.
Yosemite National Park, California
While beautiful all year round, the lack of summer crowds at Yosemite National Park makes November an excellent time for a family trip or a great place for a long weekend.
Where To Stay And Eat In Yosemite
The luxurious Ahwahnee Lodge, the “crown jewel of the National Park lodges,” hosts an annual Thanksgiving Day buffet dinner. The nearby Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite also hosts a full buffet or a plated menu at Jackalope’s Bar and Grill. The best way your family can work off the delicious Thanksgiving feast is by embarking on one of the many famous Yosemite hikes. They also show dive-in movies at their indoor pool.
Yosemite in Autumn. Credit NPS.
Sequoia National Park, California
Want to show your children the largest tree in the world? Then you should consider a Thanksgiving family trip to Sequoia National Park, located in the southern Sierra Nevada just east of Visalia, California. In November, there will be fewer crowds as you take your family for a drive or a hike through the park, where children are amazed by the massive sequoia trees, including General Sherman, the largest tree on earth!
Where To Stay And Eat In Sequoia
On Thanksgiving Day, the nearby Montecito Sequoia Lodge hosts a Thanksgiving feast (prepared and cleaned by somebody else!), which is included in their all-inclusive packages.
DON’T MISS! Most Fun Things To Do In Visalia For Families
Arches National Park, Utah
Located just north of Moab and bordered by the Colorado River, Arches National Park contains more than 2,000 natural sandstone arches. The park has a variety of hikes available for all levels, many of which provide viewpoints of arches not visible from the roads. Arches is also a certified dark sky park, meaning the lack of light pollution enables families to have spectacular night sky views.
Where To Stay In Arches
The Sorrel River Ranch provides a riverside escape that is the perfect place for families exploring Arches and the nearby region. The ranch also provides an annual Thanksgiving dinner feast with a guided national park tour.
Arches National Park at night. Credit NPS.
Great Smoky Mountain National Park, Tennessee, and North Carolina
A Thanksgiving vacation to the Great Smoky Mountains can be a great way to stretch your holiday travel budget without sacrificing fun. Fewer leaves on the trees mean you will have better views along the many great hikes available for all levels.
Where To Stay And Eat In The Smokies
The Fontana Village Resort and Marina hosts a popular annual Thanksgiving feast. Multiple local restaurants are also open on Thanksgiving. Your family could find one to be the perfect destination to chill out and watch Thanksgiving football games.
Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
Known for its beautiful fall foliage, Shenandoah National Park is an easy drive from the three airports around Washington, DC. Shenandoah has several beautiful day hikes resulting in spectacular panoramic vista views.
Where To Stay And Eat In Shenandoah
The famous Skyland Lodge will host an annual (and budget-friendly) Thanksgiving Day feast for families.
San Francisco, California
For such an incredible international city, San Francisco has several low-cost or free things for families to do. The Aquarium by the Bay, located at the edge of Pier 39, is open on Thanksgiving and is a top destination for families. You can visit the Twin Peaks summit for panoramic views of the city or drive to the nearby Muir Woods National Historic Monument to admire the towering iconic old-growth redwood trees. And, of course, a view of the Golden Gate Bridge should be on any visitor’s list of destinations. For a completely different Thanksgiving Day experience, an Indigenous People’s Sunrise Gathering takes place on Alcatraz Island every Thanksgiving, commemorating the 1969-1971 occupation of the island by the Indians of All Tribes. Perhaps more suitable for older children, this could be an exciting and valuable learning experience, although the early wake-up may be challenging. The ceremony is free, but ferry tickets cost around $12.
DON’T MISS! Fall In the San Francisco Bay Area: The Best Things To Do With Kids
Where To Stay And Eat In San Francisco
The Golden City has several Thanksgiving feasts available at some of the best restaurants in the area. Among the most notable are Ayesha Curry and Michael Mina’s International Smoke, which has a delicious Thanksgiving menu. Local favorites Third Cousin and One Market also serve popular Thanksgiving Day dinners and a mean pumpkin pie!
Credit: Pixabay, Pexels
Lake Tahoe, California
For skiers and non-skiers alike, November is an excellent cold weather trip to the Lake Tahoe area. Your family will encounter fewer crowds yet still be able to enjoy the great activities the area has to offer. Drive to Emerald Bay Lookout, located within Emerald Bay State Park, for the best lake views. North Star California and Heavenly Mountain Ski Resort are the perfect addition to the winter ski season. Sometimes they open in November, so your family can enjoy winter sports during your Thanksgiving holiday.
The 2.4-mile-long Heavenly Mountain Gondola is a popular family activity that rivals Park City with stunning panoramic lake views from the 8-person glass cabins. At the end of the ride, there are a variety of hiking trails for all levels and abilities. Reward your kids when you’re done. It’s the perfect time for some hot chocolate.
Where To Stay And Eat In Lake Tahoe
Multiple Lake Tahoe restaurants are open to serve your family delicious Thanksgiving Day meals. Notably, the luxurious Lake Tahoe Ritz Carlton hosts a large traditional Thanksgiving Day feast at their flagship restaurant, Manzanita.
Credit: Lake Tahoe Ritz Carlton
Colorado
The Centennial State is another excellent destination for families interested in holiday ski destinations.
Aspen
Aspen is the ideal destination for outdoor loving families whether they ski or not. Younger kids or non skiiers can ride the Alpine Coaster or go snow tubing in Snowmass. Families can try their balance on the ice at Aspen’s two ice-rinks, Aspen Ice Garden and Lewis Ice Arena. Younger kids will love the Treehouse Kids’ Adventure Center, located in Snowmass Village, where those that are from 1-4 years old can hang out and play with active sitters while their parents play on the mountain. Depending on how much snow is on the mountains and whether a family has brought or rented snow shoes, a hike to the Maroon Bells is unforgettable with many family-friendly trails. Reservations are required so be sure to make them in advance of the busy holiday.
Most years, the ski season kicks off on Thanksgiving day at Aspen Snowmass, just in time for a Thanksgiving vacation.
Where To Stay And Eat In Aspen
The iconic Hotel Jerome, consistently voted among the best hotels in the region, has operated since 1889 and hosted cowboys long before it hosted families for memorable ski vacations. Hotel Jerome will host a four-course Harvest Feast on Thanksgiving Day, serving both traditional and non-traditional options.
Telluride
Located in the southwest corner of Colorado, Telluride is another excellent destination for a Thanksgiving family ski vacation but there are plenty of fun things to do for non skiiers too! Families can start their holiday shopping on Black Friday at the Telluride Holiday Arts Bizarre. Bike riding is a year round activity with trails designed by the San Miguel Bike Alliance for fat bikes, which have tires that are five inches wide. Fishing, and specifically fly fishing, is a popular family activity at the San Miguel River. Don’t miss the chance to take your kids through Narnia on a dog sledding adventure in a national park! Then soak all that family adventure away at the alpine hot springs which can be a date night or a silly family soak.
Where To Stay And Eat In Telluride
Set against towering 14,000-foot Rocky Mountain peaks, Telluride’s Madeline Hotel and Residences provides another luxury Thanksgiving vacation option that includes a special Thanksgiving feast. The day after the dinner, guests can take advantage of Madeline’s complimentary special wellness classes. After work off all that turkey, mashed potatoes, and pie at their ice rink at Mountain Village Center.
Credit: Auberge Resorts Collection – Telluride
[ctt template=”5″ link=”5J2aw” via=”no” ]Looking for a memorable way to celebrate Thanksgiving? Get out of town to one of these 12 destinations for the perfect family trip![/ctt]
New England
No Thanksgiving vacation destination list is complete without New England!
Plymouth Rock, Massachusetts
Historians consider the first Thanksgiving to have taken place in the Plymouth Colony in 1621. Located less than an hour from Boston, consider taking your family to the original site of Thanksgiving in America! Every autumn, the Plimoth Paxtuxet Museum, which brings the history of Plymouth Colony and the Indigenous homeland to life, offers a Thanksgiving feast. Pilgrims and indigenous role players provide historical interpretation for guests.
Where To Stay In Plymouth
It probably does not get much more “Thanksgiving” than having a family feast at Plymouth Rock. Family-friendly local hotel options include Hampton Inn and Suites Plymouth and Harbourtown Suites.
Newport, Rhode Island
Located on Aquidneck Island and best known for the Gilded Age mansions that dot Bellevue Avenue, Newport is an underrated east coast destination for your family. The famous 3.5-mile cliff walk provides panoramic ocean views set against famous Gilded Age mansions and museums. While it will probably not be a warm walk in November, it will not be crowded either!
Where To Stay In Newport
Families can celebrate Thanksgiving at The Vanderbilt Auberge Resorts Collection, which will host a Thanksgiving Feast featuring classic New England fare.
Kennebunk, Maine
Kennebunk, Maine is one of the oldest settlements in New England. Located along Maine’s southern coastline where the Kennebunk River meets the Atlantic Ocean, the town developed as an agricultural and shipping port. Harboring craggy coastlines with solitary lighthouses, leading travel magazines have named its Goose Rocks Beach as the best beach in the US. Long walks along its cliffs and shopping in its bright, clean downtown are family highlights.
Where To Stay And Eat In Kennebunk
the small town of Kennebunk’s White Barn Inn hosts a variety of immersive experiences for Thanksgiving. The Inn hosts a Gratitude Hike on Thanksgiving morning on the nearby hiking trails where guests can learn about the history of Kennebunk. The White Barn Inn hosts a three-course Thanksgiving Feast. If that is not enough delicious dining for your family, the next day, the Inn hosts a Thanksgiving Bounty Lunch, which is likely a better take on Turkey Day leftovers than you’ve experienced before!
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