Explore the Top Thanksgiving Destinations Across the United States for an Unforgettable Holiday
Written by Kaelie Piscitello
Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and many look forward to the long weekend. Americans start to shop for their turkeys, and grocery stores need to restock potatoes.
Many people also start to think about short trips to take during the long weekend. While there’s no place like home for the holidays, many cities around the states offer fantastic Thanksgiving weekend festivities.
Whether you feel like heading to the northeast, exploring the historical parts of the southern states, or taking a trip to Hawaii in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, you will never find yourself lacking a Thanksgiving celebration in any of the states. It officially begins the holiday season and gets people excited for the festivities to come.
New York, New York
Everyone around the country sits down and watches the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thanksgiving morning. It has become an American tradition to enjoy the comforts of this annual show from your living room couch.
However, thousands of people also flock to New York City each year to watch the parade in person. This year, the parade starts at 8:30 a.m., so if you plan to go in person, arrive early to find a good spot!
If you want to experience the parade magic but not the crowds, you can watch the balloons assemble the day before Thanksgiving near the American Museum of Natural History from 12 to 6 p.m. In addition to the parade, you can go skating in Rockefeller Center and attend the tree lighting festival if you’re still around on December 4.
A trip to New York City would only be complete with seeing a live performance, so you can skip down to Radio City Music Hall to watch the Rockettes in their Christmas Spectacular or Lincoln Center to watch The Nutcracker. No matter what, prepare for crowds in New York City during Thanksgiving weekend, and book your plans far in advance to ensure you can do everything you want to do.
Gatlinburg, Tennessee
Gatlinburg, Tennessee, comes alive on Thanksgiving weekend as it begins to prepare for the holiday season. Downtown Gatlinburg has several festivals of lights anyone can attend, including the Pigeon Ford Winterfest Lights in Downtown Gatlinburg and the Festival of Trees to help raise money for the Boys and Girls Club.
Besides the light shows, you should attend the Gatlinburg Thanksgiving Arts and Crafts show. It goes from November 21-26, and you can buy handmade jewelry, paintings, candles, baskets, and more. It would help if you stopped by the Anakeesta Amusement Park to hop on some rides, explore the tree-top skywalk, and have a cozy meal in one of their many cafes.
Of course, remember those Smokey Mountains! Few people visit the trails at this time of year, but you can still hike them because the snow has yet to fall. Just remember to bundle up!
Chicago, Illinois
Believe it or not, Chicago has its own Thanksgiving Parade. It takes place from 8–11 a.m. and runs through Ida B. Wells Drive to Randolph. When the parade ends, head to Christmaskindl Market to experience an authentic German-style holiday market. The market opens from 11-4 on Thanksgiving, and you can sample mulled wine, roasted nuts, pretzels, and other German delicacies.
Furthermore, you can attend Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light at the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry. While the museum does not open on Thanksgiving Day, you can go one of the other days that weekend.
If you like to skate, you can go ice skating at McCormick Tribune Ice Rink Millenial Park. Meanwhile, if you are more of a music lover, than you can attend one of the several candlelight concerts on Thanksgiving weekend. They pay tribute to Hans Zimmer, Queen, and U2.
Hawaii
Many people recommend visiting Hawaii during Thanksgiving weekend. Fewer tourists flock here than the rest of the year,and sometimes prices dip, too.
During Thanksgiving weekend in Hawaii, you can attend the Waikiki Holiday Parade on November 29, commemorating and memorializing the attack on Pearl Harbor. The parade educates local students about the attack and celebrates Polynesian culture. Many local bands, military units, and entertainers participate, so you should not miss this parade.
Maui also has an annual Paddle for Hunger fundraiser to raise money for the Maui Food Bank. To participate, you can choose to paddle solo or with a group. If you don’t like to participate in water sports, then, consider donating to the Kihei Canoe Club from 7–10 a.m. or at a Food Bank collection bin instead.
Williamsburg, Virginia
Colonial Williamsburg makes an effort to celebrate Thanksgiving right. They host several events throughout the day, including a recitation of the Thanksgiving Proclamation by “George Washington,” a musket demonstration, a lighting of the cressets, and a celebration of Native American Heritage Month to honor Native American culture and the lives lost over land.
The Jamestown settlement also hosts a Thanksgiving activity, and the Williamsburg Lodge hosts a Thanksgiving Day Buffet, which costs $75/person. I
f you don’t feel like spending that much money, you can spend it on booze at the Williamsburg Winery during one of their holiday activities.
Aspen, Colorado
Thanksgiving kicks off skiing season in Aspen, and many people flock here at this time of year to break out their ski poles and snowboards and ride on the Silver Queen Gondola up the slopes. No one should miss Aspen’s large Thanksgiving ski season kick-off party or annual community Thanksgiving dinner.
If you like to work out, you can participate in the Indoor Turkey Triathlon or Aspen Turkey Trot. If you do not, you can shop at Aspen’s many boutiques on Black Friday.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The best way to kick off the holiday season in Pennsylvania is at Peddler’s Village. There, you can take photos with Santa Clause, take in a beautiful gingerbread display, enjoy a Thanksgiving meal, and attend a dueling piano show for music and dessert. Philadelphia also has a German holiday market, and you can feast on an assortment of pretzels, mulled wine, and Thanksgiving food there.
Philadelphia also hosts an over 100-year-old Thanksgiving parade, which you can watch on Thanksgiving morning while you’re there. For an educational holiday, you can also visit American heritage landmarks like the Liberty Bell and the Betsy Ross House.
Plymouth, Massachusetts
Of course, you must celebrate in the small town that started it all! Plymouth, home of the first Thanksgiving, goes all out for the holiday and offers a Thanksgiving History stroll, a guided walking tour around Downtown.
You can also dine at the Plimoth Patuxet Museums for a Thanksgiving meal and observe the “Pilgrim Progress” and National Day of Mourning activities dedicated to the Wampanoag People. Furthermore, Plymouth hosts a historically accurate Thanksgiving Parade each year where people dress in realistic costumes and pay homage to those who came before them.
If you miss the Thanksgiving festivities, then you can participate in the many Thanksgiving-themed activities that are open year-round, including touring the Mayflower II and exploring the Plimoth Patuxet Museum.
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