Traveling for Thanksgiving is a tradition for millions of Americans. But might I suggest a subversive twist on the exercise this year? Instead of traveling to visit family (sorry, Mom!), why not take a trip that really makes you thankful for your life?
My most memorable Thanksgiving occurred the year my husband solved our annual argument about whose family to spend the holiday with by going to Belgium instead. We had no relatives there, but the late Sabena Airlines was offering a dirt-cheap three-day air-and-hotel deal, and we were able to get a reservation for a blowout dinner at the legendary Comme Chez Soi restaurant. There wasn’t a turkey, but the meal was the hands-down, forks-up, most exquisite Thanksgiving feast I’ve ever consumed.
I’ve gone abroad for several Thanksgivings, actually, because while airfares and hotels tend to be at a premium over the holidays in the U.S., November is low season for travel pretty much anywhere outside our borders, and the discounts can be extraordinary. (Hint: Look for air-and-hotel packages to get the best deals.)
Beyond the low costs, I find that being away from the U.S. evokes a cozy nostalgia for my home country that seems quite appropriate for the holiday. I discussed this expat phenomenon with several friends, and they too had experienced it. “One of the best Thanksgivings I ever had was actually while living abroad,” my buddy Jim told me. “I gathered about 20 American expats and had a traditional feast. We all felt more American than we ever had, and the food somehow tasted more ‘important’ and traditional as well. Perhaps a bit of that feeling could be created by a bunch of friends all going overseas somewhere (where the traditional ingredients are available along with someone's home) for a foreign Thanksgiving adventure.”
Other friends travel within the U.S. to places where the natural beauty or the wealth of attractions helps shape a great long weekend. My buddy Sharon found Death Valley to be the perfect place for Turkey Day because “we hiked off dinner on a spectacular route and then swam in the hot spring pool.” My friend Jill raved about going to Santa Fe, despite having no family there, and heading to a resort where a pianist at the restaurant, the smell of sage and piñon, and a hot tub on a cold night transformed the holiday into a true celebration. And my friend Luisa, who has children, told me she likes to head to Hershey, Pa., not only for all of the chocolate-themed activities, but because of the nearby amusement park, as well as two areas with great appeal for fans of American history and culture: Amish country and Gettysburg.
Sometimes it’s the particular Thanksgiving traditions of a place that draw us there. A colleague, Chris, heads to the racetrack in New Orleans, where the holiday means betting on the horses (or at the slots), donning elaborate hats and whooping it up. Others go to see the re-created Pilgrim celebration at Plimoth Plantation in Massachusetts, or freeze their fannies off watching the big Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City.
What are your nominations for the best places to spend Thanksgiving? Or am I nuts for suggesting you go anywhere but Grandma’s house? Share your thoughts with other travelers in the comments section.
You are absolutely correct! As a three-time expat, I feel that the annual discovery that American turkeys don't fit into non-US ovens is a rite of passage that you shouldn't miss. :)
For me, the point of Thanksgiving is gathering with loved ones, friends and/or family, and celebrating our blessings. You can do that anywhere, over any sort of food, and it can still be Thanksgiving.
Chasing some Martha Stewart cooking frenzy fantasy is not my idea of a good time. If it's yours, blessings upon you. If it's not yours, do not ever feel guilty for wanting to break away from routine in order to get to the essence of the holiday.
Nothing can make you feel as greatful to be an American as spending time overseas. It helps you to understand just how lucky we really are.
This post was mentioned on Twitter by namlandlodge: Bing - The best places for a Thanksgiving getaway by Pauline ...: (Hint: Look for air-and-hotel packages to get.. http://bit.ly/puPPS
While these all sound like fun, I doubt they're as meaningful as making the effort to be with one's family. After all, FAMILY is what most of us are most Thankful for right? These sound like fun suggestions for other times of the year. When it comes to Thanksgiving though I want to be with the people who matter the most to me.
Best Thanksgiving I ever had: in Paris! Great food, great museums and great company (just my husband and I).
So glad you mention Plimouth Plantation! They actually do a really great Thanksgiving. If you want to know what it was really like and have kids, that's the place to go. We did it two years ago and it was great
What a great article! I can't disagree with Grant's opinion on spending the holiday with family, but for some of us that can be stressful for a variety of reasons, even when we love our families.
One of the best memories of Thanksgiving I have is the year I was alone - husband traveling on business, too far away to make a quick trip to be with family, so I decided that instead of sitting around feeling sorry for myself I'd volunteer my time at a local shelter that was serving turkey dinner to those who would have otherwise gone without a meal at all.
Nothing has made me more thankful of whatever I have in my life - family, health, a job, a roof over my head, and food in my fridge.
I LOVE your suggestions Pauline, and I'm resolving right now to spend more time traveling around the world over holidays, but I encourage everyone to spend at least ONE Thanksgiving giving to your local community.
Thanks for the kind feedback all. And thanks Trisha for sharing your story about volunteering. You're right, that's probably the most "true to the spirit of the holiday" way to commemorate Thanksgiving.
Happy Turkey Day to all.
Best,
Pauline
About 20 years ago, I went to Orlando over Thanksgiving and it was great! Many fewer crowds, good prices and turkey dinner.
This article was great. My husband & I were recently talking about such a trip like this but maybe over Christmas. This is last "school" holiday we have with our daughter. And after the year of struggles, deaths, surgery, his father having a stoke & now in a health care home, maybe it's the right time. All the ideas sounded neat. Thanks for the info.
We were televised on Channel 7 (Mike Leavitt) on Thanksgiving Day, 1984 while walking on the main street, Plymouth, Mass. We found a microphone in our face and were asked what Massasoit would think of our celebration in modern day times. Hubbie could not speak, but I did and ended up on the news that evening. Yes, Plymouth is a great way to celebrate the holiday...but...in my heart of hearts, I find the annual event rather suffocating and stultifying.
I enjoyed the author's suggestions, as the best Thanksgiving we ever had was in Montreal at the top of the Delta Hotel, a revolving restaurant. Fantastic views of the city and the view below afforded a vision of
La Prairie, twinkling with thousands of lights stretching across to the horizon. Chocolate extravaganza dessert, including puddings, quadriple layered mousse/red velvet cakes, souffles, croissants, and pies (No limits to added flavorings including mint, vanilla, cocoa bean, coffee, tiramisu). We walked it off afterward and gave uneatened portions of our meals to a homeless man. He tipped his hat to us. The parks and boulevards offer countless opportunities to window shop, listen to street musicians, hop inside a cafe for a late night drink or coffee, and wonderful parks to sit in and gaze at the ever splendid view.
Another Thanksgiving was spent at the Shertaon in Burlington, Vermont. A splendid feast with a harpist for background music, and huge carved ice figurines illuminated by colored lights that changed from greens/ blues/vermillion/reds/yellow.
Sure, go ahead and stay home and do the same old/same old, if that is what you want. I enjoy "escaping" and "celebrating" this troublesome holiday (for me, anyway) and wish that this year, it could be...let's see...San Diego? Escape the old taboos about how things should be done in New England.
I enjoyed the article and feel there are times inspite of love for ones family .... you just need to get away .the holdays arrived only months after my husband died . I found everything painful and loaded with memories I was not ready to find comforting . inspite of my friends concern I planned a trip to France . I was alone but not lonely . I met lovely people,saw beautiful new sights, ate and slept when I wanted and did some healing on my own terms . to this day it was my best trip ever . sometimes you just need to listen to your heart and book a ticket !
Well, Halloween is the only holiday on my radar, so the hot mess that is the last 2 months of every year is usually a trial for me and a lot of other folks I know.
But, since that's when offices are closed and you have time off (even tho' I haven't had PAID holiday in almost 4 years!) last year we rented a cabin and went to a hot springs and Sequoia National Park. But, we're all vegetarians and vegans, so we had a delicious but alternative feast!
This year, we're heading off to Hawaii, and since none of us have any attachment to these holidays or the gorge-fest, I expect to spend the day snorkeling and going to Volcanoes National Park to see the lava flows at night!
Has American society become so selfish that spending one or two days out of the year with one's family is a "chore". I truly dont understand why one would want to be away from the only people whom are constant in our lives till death parts us. Assuming that there aren't any over whelming negative circumstances,I know in many cases families aren't exactly the best, I understand that. However,I find that in most cases the reason the holidays are so stressful is because we expect things or feel that things are expected from us. The truth is that we decide what to cook etc. So WHY must we make it stressful on ourselves, then avoid the people we love in order to feel better. In my opinion, Grace is a much needed thing in modern society.
The only way to resolve the thanksgiving crisis is to go thru all of the trouble that you would go to for others for yourself.Then, the strangest responses.....My family has a habit of abandoning me,and their freinds are worse.Significant others,I don't care who they are,they're guilty and they know it, if not downright mean.So I get a peculiar pleasure,some would call it a taste of the schadenfreude,in cooking the whole feast for myself,by hook or by crook,regardless,consuming as much of the tasty burden as I can,regardless, and then storing and feasting on the wonderful leftovers,preferably in front of the TV or with the radio tuned to NPR.It gets better every year.Last year,I began heating the oven for the turkey when the electrical power went out,and I couldn't turn off the gas power to the stove.I had to call the gas and electric folk in to move the whole stove out in order to turn off the gas feed, at least until we ( I)could figure out what was tripping the electric switches,which are known as GFi's though I'm always calling them Igf's.Why not call them gfa's and get it over with.But there was no real reason for them to be so nasty in the first place,so I don't even miss them.It's typical behavior on the part of my parents and family to allow me the unsafe material,hoping I will be killed or maimed or worse.More particularly, when they are at fault, and they believe that obnoxious and unlikable and violent people are the answer.So I enjoy the company of my freinds and companions,no matter what, and try to stick with my gut instincts, which tell me that this and and the upcoming thanksgiving should be pure hell.I am curious as to what form this will take,as I've taken my usual oath.They are going to have to pick on someone else,and I'm sure I can expect an unwelcome phone call from people who cannot respect my boundaries, no matter what they've done to me,and wish to continue a relationship which should not even have begun in the first place,only to dump it on me.Who do think is posting this blog?Oh, and they can go stick their apologies up their own or someone else's asses.
