Hey babes! Are you pumped for Thanksgiving this year?! We know we are! Delish food, American-made traditions, sweater weather—seriously, we cannot wait to dig into it all.
No matter how you celebrate Turkey Day, whether you’re traveling home, staying put, or flying someplace new, Thanksgiving is a time to celebrate all the good in our lives. We don’t like to get too mushy, but we will take a min to count our blessings. Namely, all the views and vibes America has to offer!
If you’re still settling (haha, get it?) on this year’s plans, why not consider one of these Thanksgiving getaways? There’s TONS of cool places to celebrate Thanksgiving!
Today, we’re sharing a round-up of Thanksgiving destinations you NEED to consider for your Thanksgiving break this holiday season.
11 Best Places to Travel During Thanksgiving
Orlando, Florida
If you think of Thanksgiving as a cornucopia of cultures meeting to break bread, it’s time to visit Florida for FusionFest. FusionFest takes place over Thanksgiving weekend. This perfectly-timed event draws people from more than 110 different cultures to experience music, dance, food, visual arts, spoken word, games, and interactive activities. It’s a great option to save money, because this fest is freeeeee!
Chicago, Illinois
Chicago goes hard on Thanksgiving weekend, with the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade on Thanksgiving morning. Also available in Chicago from mid-November through Christmas Eve is Christkindlmarket, an authentic traditional holiday market. It’s even open on Thanksgiving if you just CAN’T wait for Black Friday shopping!
NYC, New York
We’re “go big or go home” kind of people, and Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City definitely goes BIG. 50 million viewers watch the parade, whether in person or on television. Plan and get the best viewing spot!
After that, take some time to show off your ice hockey skills (and outfits!) and go skating in Central Park at Wollman Rink.
Costa Rica
If your besties are bragging about yet another trip to wine country, treat yourself to the ultimate getaway this Thanksgiving and head to Costa Rica! Why Costa Rica? Well, for one, it’s less crowded during this time of year which means it’s also more affordable. You can enjoy the lush rainforest and mineral-rich hot springs without worrying about being shoulder-to-shoulder with strangers. Who wouldn’t love to go zip-lining or explore a Christmas market without hoards of tourists? Count us in!!
St. Louis, Missouri
Parades are the place to be this Thanksgiving! Ameren’s Thanks-for-Giving Parade offers 120 units including parade floats, musical guests, Santa, and more. Sooooo fun!
Stowe, Vermont
Have you been dragging your feet through the dog days of summer, only to come back to life for sweater weather? Then listen up, ‘cause this destination is allllll about the best time of the year – FALL.
Known for being Fall’s Color Capital, Stowe, Vermont offers simply incredible views. Need to see it for yourself? Thanksgiving is a good time to go! You can even use the Fall Foliage Finder to discover the best spots for fall color!
Then, spend Thanksgiving attending dinner in one of the Grand Ballrooms at Spruce Peak or enjoy a Thanksgiving dinner buffet at The Lodge! Finally, head to The Tavern at American Flatbread for live music!
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is known for being the #1 Thanksgiving city in America, according to a WalletHub study. For all our die-hard turkey trotters out there, spend your Thanksgiving morning running a half-marathon, 5k, mile, or dash. For those of us less athletically inclined, the Georgia Aquarium is open on Thanksgiving day! Who knew?
Asheville, North Carolina
If you’re more of a granola, small-town girl and want to spend your long weekend hiking through a national park, make sure you have a trip planned to Asheville. Asheville’s got a double whammy of Blue Ridge Parkway and Great Smoky Mountains National Park open on Thanksgiving.
That fall foliage is TO DIE FOR, and you could see it in person. Then, spend your Black Friday shopping in Downtown Asheville and Biltmore Village, with over 240 shops between them!
Asheville also boasts one-of-a-kind local art, so you can get super unique holiday gifts for your besties and baes this season! (Psst… need more gift ideas? Here are some American-made gifts for him and her!)
Aspen, Colorado
Fans of skiing and snowboarding will immediately recognize Aspen as one of the top winter holiday destinations. Aspen has killer slopes and isn’t crazy busy over Thanksgiving, compared to peak season. Even better: you’ll be there for opening day to kick off Aspen’s ski season!
Plymouth, Massachusetts
Our list wouldn’t be complete without the place that started it all. History babes and buffs, pay attention because the holiday season is the best time to travel northeast. You will love America’s Hometown Thanksgiving Parade, the only historically accurate parade in America.
After that, fill your stomach with Thanksgiving dinner at Plimoth Patuxet Museum. And when we say fill, we mean FILL—the Thanksgiving dining menu includes 14 classic Thanksgiving foods and drinks, like glazed carrots, cranberry sauce, cornbread, and (of course) turkey. You’ll be ready for your post-meal food coma in no time!
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philly’s got bragging rights for having the oldest Thanksgiving Day parade in the country. Philly is a great place to spend a long weekend, as Thanksgiving kicks off many of their holiday season traditions.
Going early? Don’t worry! Winter in Dilworth Park begins November 1. With seasonal decor on the Greenfield Lawn, an outdoor ice rink, shopping, and fire pits to stay warm, there’s plenty to do even before the special day to celebrate Thanksgiving.
Where are you headed this Thanksgiving?
We can’t wait to see all the killer photos you take for the ‘gram on your Thanksgiving trips! Whether it’s a day trip or a weekend getaway, we don’t doubt that you’ll have an amazing Thanksgiving away!
Need more places to travel? Check out all the best places to travel for Halloween!
