Why not get away from the stressful Thanksgiving day planning and take a weekend trip with the family. There are destinations all over the United States that still make it so they can celebrate this holiday. There are various locations you can pick from, places with snowy slopes or sunny beaches. Instead of slaving away for a day, why not take a trip with your family, friends, or loved one to some of the best places to visit during Thanksgiving in the United States.

New York City, New York 

New York City is the type of city that is literally “go big or go home.” Every single holiday is an extreme festivity activity there. Whether you bring along your family or not, this is the ultimate destination to go. If you want to be a part of the celebration you can attend the large crowd of people to watch the world-famous Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. If you’d still like to watch the parade but not be one amongst the crowd, you can book a hotel that offers premier views right from your hotel room. You can watch the extravagant floats, enormous balloons, watch dancers, hear singers, and so much more! After the parade, there are many sites you can visit while you’re there. You can visit the Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty, Central Park, Central Park Zoo, and of course the famous times square location. This is a great weekend location filled with many places to go and still be a part of this festive holiday.

Chicago, Illinois

A good chunk of people like to travel out of the big cities for the holidays, flights into them tend to be much cheaper. Fly into midway to avoid the masses of connecting flights through the O’Hare and there it will be smooth sailing. It’s highly recommended that you try to come in a day earlier than Thanksgiving day so you can see the may lighting the Christm tree, followed by the second-most famous McDonald’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in comparison to New York. It’s worth going to see the big floats and musical entertainment. The city isn’t typically too crowded this time of year and the attractions have shorter lines. You can go see the Lincoln Park zoo with a gorgeous holiday lighting display. Or visit shedd aquarium or T-rex at the Field Museum. If you’ve ever wanted to check out Chicago, during Thanksgiving is the best time to do it.

Oahu, Hawaii

Oahu is also known as “The Gathering Place” because it’s Hawaii’s most historically rich island. Thanksgiving is the perfect time to retreat somewhere tropical. November is the off season time so it’s not nearly as crowded during prime seasons. You can pay your tributes to America's fallen soldiers at Pearl Harbor, or explore countless historical museums on the island. If you want a place to soak up the sun, this is your place. You can go swimming sea turtles and dolphins, snorkeling, surfing, or hiking. It’s a great place to enjoy the sun with some family during the Thanksgiving weekend.

Williamsburg, Virgina

If you’re a history buff, then Williamsburg is the best Thanksgiving location for you! This town is one of the most historic towns in all America. The educational attractions are endless and provide a great family friend vibe. You can discover authentic blacksmiths, candlelit taverns, old stores, and even possibly run into John Smith and George Washington historical figures as live interpreters re-enacting these famous figures. Visit the Berkeley Plantation for its iconic Thanksgiving festival, as it claims to be the site of American’s first Thanksgiving in 1619. After a dose of history, enjoy some amusement park action at Busch Gardens Williamsburg.

Park City, Utah

If you’re in Park City during Thanksgiving one of your top priorities should most likely be sliding down some of the snowy mountains. It has large ski resorts that are popular amongst big time skiers, snowboarders, and even celebrities to get out of Hollywood so you may bump into one during your stay.  But this for Thanksgiving you can go for a splurge and book of the luxurious residences. There you can find cosy homes, hotels, airbnbs, with private balconies, hot tubs, fireplaces, spas, and fully-equipped kitchens. The kitchen area is available if you still want to create a delicious Thanksgiving dinner. However you also have the option of ordering in and the hotel will prepare a turkey dinner for you in the privacy of your home away from home. Other activities are you can shop on cute authentic main streets, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, winter fly fishing and so much more!

Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Cape Cod was the official landing point of the Mayflower in 1620. There is a large 255-foot monument that marks this historical moment in time. Every year, this town will celebrate the landing of the Pilgrims first coming to the New World. They celebrate this day before actual Thanksgiving day. Just so you don’t have to make Thanksgiving dinner, you can get on the Thanksgiving Day train where they will serve you a gourmet five-course meal. There are also several cute antique shops and upscale women’s clothing shows from Sandwich to Brewster that you can go to.

St. Augustine, Florida

If you want to avoid a traditional cooler Thanksgiving you can travel to a local where winter doesn’t even exist, in sunny Augustine Florida. Over the holiday’s it’s very well known for its annual Nights of Lights celebration in this historic downtown area. This area is decorated with millions of lights illuminating the city. You can walk along the historic streets, catch a trolly, get some hot chocolate, visit some quaint cafes, or even watch cannon firings at the famous reenactments held at the historic Colonial Quarter.

Whereas a traditional Thanksgiving always makes for a lovely memory with those we love, it can be nice to spend that time doing something unique with Thanksgiving traditions still involved. Come on an adventure with us to some of these locations, where people love to celebrate this holiday season!

Post written by Aryn