Every November, millions of Americans head home to spend their Thanksgiving holiday around the dining room table with family, and while listening to your Uncle Ben’s jokes while stuffing your face with turkey is great, why not do something different this year? Here are nine great cities to spend your holiday:
New York City, New York
Be in the middle of it all by heading to the Big Apple to enjoy the most popular Thanksgiving parade in the country – the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Join millions in watching giant balloons, floats, and performers make their way through the streets. Plus, what better place to be for shopping on Black Friday?
Plymouth, Massachusetts
Make this year’s Thanksgiving extra authentic by heading to the town where it all began. Just 45 minutes south of Boston, you can enjoy a 17th-century English village complete with pilgrim and Native American role-players as well as parades, concerts, and a traditional English-style Thanksgiving dinner.
New Orleans, Louisiana
If you look forward to delicious Thanksgiving food all year, New Orleans is your place to be. The city serves up a wide array of both traditional and creole Thanksgiving food (including turducken, which originated in the area). You can also catch the Bayou Classic Thanksgiving Day Parade and a trip to The French Market.
Lake Tahoe, California
This year, spend your holiday hitting the slopes. Ski season in Lake Tahoe starts in mid-November, which means by Thanksgiving break, there will be feet upon feet of fresh, picturesque powder to enjoy skiing, snowboarding, snow tubing, and more.
Washington D.C.
For a good dose of American history, there’s no better place than Washington D.C. Every year, the district hosts a variety of attractions that commemorate the founding of our country and if that’s not enough, you’ll have tons of museums and memorials to visit. Plus, you can even watch the president pardon the turkey.
Gatlinburg, Tennessee
Why not spend Thanksgiving in the mountains this year? Gatlinburg is a convenient gateway to Great Smoky Mountain National Park and is popular destination for families all year round. Enjoy ice skating, skiing, or snow tubing, then head to the Great Smoky Thanksgiving Arts & Crafts Show.
Dallas, Texas
Head to Dallas this year and you’ll find an entire park, chapel, and museum dedicated to the tradition of Thanksgiving. In the Thanks-Giving Square complex, you can enjoy one of the largest stained-glass pieces in the world, community events, and more. Then, head to the Dallas Arboretum for a unique holiday exhibit.
Las Vegas, Nevada
If Thanksgiving was never really your thing, head to Sin City to get away from it all. Get lost in an array of casinos, entertaining performances, unprecedented buffets, amusement park attractions, and more. Best of all, you’ll find lower prices on hotels during the holiday.
Chicago, Illinois
Dive into Thanksgiving excitement in the Windy City with the McDonald’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, complete with floats, bands, and holiday spirit. After that, head to Christkindlmarket, the largest German Christmas outside of Europe, for a variety of authentic German food and holiday crafts.
*Photo courtesy of www.timeout.com