Lynn Coulter is an accomplished writer and author based in the greater Atlanta area who specializes in home and garden, travel and lifestyles.
Make the most of your Thanksgiving break with a great getaway. See an iconic parade in person, visit a volcano or relax on great beaches both in the US and abroad.
Looking for the best Thanksgiving destinations? Have your turkey and dressing down the road, or on the road, with one of the Thanksgiving vacation ideas we’ve rounded up. Some are laid back while others are packed with adventures, and you can do most of them in three or four days.
First up: Orlando. Mild weather, fewer-than-usual crowds and plenty of things to see and do make Orlando a great choice for a Thanksgiving vacation. Resorts and restaurants offer everything from casual Thanksgiving buffets to fabulous feasts that will please the pickiest eater (peanut butter and jelly sandwich, anyone?). Choose from theme parks like the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Seaworld, Universal, LEGOLAND and more when you visit. This "Theme Park Capital of the World" will keep you busy with parades, shows, water parks, rides that range from hair-raising roller coasters to gentle toddler fun and more. Be sure to book early for this perennially popular destination.
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Sure, you can kick back in your recliner to watch the 2024 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade televised from New York City on November 28, but that doesn’t match the excitement of being there to see the marching bands, live performances, musical artists, floats and giant balloons. Santa and Mrs. Claus will make their annual appearance and the Radio City Rockettes will do some kicking of their own before the parade. (Check their website for the schedule.) The parade lasts just one day, so what to do afterwards? Take in a Broadway show, ride a ferry to the Statue of Liberty and Empire State Building, pay your respects at the 9/11 Memorial or get a head start on some Christmas shopping. You’ll run out of time before you run out of things to do.
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Costa Rica is one of the best places to go for Thanksgiving because the prices and crowds are usually down. It’s less than three hours by plane from Miami and about five from New York. While November is a transitional season, the weather is drier toward the end of the month than the beginning, and the countryside is still lush and green. Pick up a rental car at either of the two international airports and drive three hours to Arenal Volcano National Park, shown here, to enjoy its mineral-rich hot springs, rainforest trails and safari floats. Hike an ancient lava flow, ride a zipline or go sloth-spotting. Costa Rica is a fun Thanksgiving getaway for families. More to do in Costa Rica: Visit a cacao plantation or take a guided tour to see medicinal plants, rare fungi (some are bioluminescent) and more than 116 species of bats.
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Explore America’s glamorous past and present in Palm Springs, known for its midcentury modern architecture and tour-worthy buildings designed by famous architects. Once a desert getaway for Hollywood celebs, it offers buzzy clubs filled with music, dancing and shows. Not a night owl? Book a daytime desert jeep tour, get a bird’s-eye view of the landscape from the aerial tramway or ride a bike for a healthy workout while you check out the city trails and loops. Take the kids to beautiful Joshua Tree National Park, about an hour away; the Children’s Discovery Museum of the Desert; or the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens. Bring your pup and let her romp in a fenced-in, grassy dog park. Palm Springs is a popular destination for anyone who loves sun and fun.
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Ski season usually begins in North Lake Tahoe from mid- to late-November, so if all those Thanksgiving potatoes will make your pants feel tight, plan to hit the slopes. Expect daytime temperatures in the 50s in Lake Tahoe, so it’ll be too cold to swim, but you can enjoy the scenic drive on the Lake Tahoe Loop. Give yourself time to stop along this 72-mile-long route to visit a casino, take a ranger-guided hike at Spooner Lake and Backcountry State Park or shop and dine at Kings Beach. Hike all or part of the Tahoe Rim Trail to see meadows, high alpine lakes and stunning vistas. The north shore, home to one of the state’s largest public beaches, feels laid back; its Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino has a private beach. For a livelier vibe, check out South Lake Tahoe’s Zephyr Cove Resort and book a lakeside cabin or camp site, rent a jet ski or other watercraft and look for wildlife like mule deer and birds. The luxurious Edgewood Tahoe Resort, also on the south shore, plans to offer a Thanksgiving-inspired menu for the holiday.
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The Bronzeville neighborhood in the heart of Milwaukee’s African-American 6th district community is a great destination for a getaway. In 2022, the New York Times called Bronzeville one of 52 places for a changed world, where "travelers can be part of the solution." Attractions include America’s Black Holocaust Museum, an acclaimed historical and memorial museum, and the "Mother Africa" mural, shown here, at the Wisconsin Black Historical Society. Don’t miss the diverse restaurants and shops on and around Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. Downtown Milwaukee’s Holiday Lights Festival runs from Nov. 21 to Jan. 1, 2025. Click here for a calendar of other events.
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Instead of turkey and cranberry sauce, celebrate Thanksgiving with fresh seafood in coastal Louisiana, which includes Lafourche Parish, St. Tammany Parish and Jefferson Parish. Time to visit just one? Try Thibodaux, Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou. When you’re hungry, hop on the Cajun Bayou Food Trail, the Louisiana Oyster Trail or feast in restaurants and cafes on crawfish, étouffée and gumbo. When you’re full, catch a swamp tour or play the washboard in the twice-monthly Cajun Music Jam. Rather catch your dinner? Charter a boat and go fishing.
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Gatlinburg says it has more choices of places to stay than any other mountain destination in the country. Book a cabin, condo or chalet and bring your family or friends, or opt for a B&B, hotel, lodge, resort or inn. If those don’t suit, park your RV or pitch a tent in a scenic campsite.

You don’t have to blow your budget for a great Thanksgiving getaway here. Go hiking and enjoy the waterfalls, autumn leaves, scenic views and wildlife in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (Learn what to do if you see a bear or a bear sees you.) or drive the 8-mile loop in the Gatlinburg Arts & Crafts Community. Its independent artisans sell everything from dulcimers to handcrafted soaps and body butters, or you can take a workshop and make your own craft. Be sure to catch a free Winter Magic Tunes and Tales street performance between Nov. 29 and Dec. 21, 2024. Don’t worry about parking. There’s no charge to hop on the Gatlinburg trolley and explore the town; check the website for route maps and operating hours.
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Some places close or change their hours around Thanksgiving, but in Hawaii, the beaches are always open. November temperatures average between 72 and 84 degrees, so bring your swimsuit and get away to one of the six islands. Kayak the Wailua River on Kaua’i, aka "The Garden Isle"; surf and sightsee in O’ahu; overlook the Pacific from the tallest sea cliffs in the world on Moloka’i; visit a coffee farm and the black sand beach on the island of Hawai’i; or explore the quaint shops and eateries on uncrowded Lana’i. Maui suffered devastating wildfires in 2023, but tourism is encouraged to help the economy recover. (Visitors are respectfully asked not to photograph fire-affected areas.) Don’t miss a luau. These Hawaiian feasts feature music, dancing and popular foods like haupia (coconut pudding), Kalua pig (pork cooked in an underground oven) and a delicacy called poke (typically prepared with raw fish, soy sauce, green onions, kukui nuts and seaweed).
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Celebrate Thanksgiving in Branson with a seafood feast, turkey and all the fixings or other fare at one of the town’s many restaurants. Top off your day at the Top of the Rock’s sunset ceremony, when patrons raise a toast as a civil war cannon fires. You won’t lack for entertainment; Branson currently offers more than 100 shows that range from outdoor dramas to Dolly Parton’s Stampede, complete with 32 horses and trick riders, as well as circus acts, live concerts and more. Take the kids to Silver Dollar City, an 1880s-style theme park, or play a round at the Branson Hills Golf Club. Zipline just north of town at Wolfe Creek Preserve or ride a scenic railway. Take a hybrid jet-boat lake cruise or get stoked for Christmas with a drive through the Lights of Joy display. (If you miss Dolly’s Stampede in Branson, look for the one in Pigeon Forge, near Gatlinburg, Tennessee.)
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History buffs, nature lovers and beachgoers: Take some extra time for a longer Thanksgiving getaway to Belize, located in Central America on the Caribbean Sea. Explore its Mayan ruins (shown here), rainforests teeming with wildlife and colorful birds like toucans and hummingbirds, and snorkel or scuba over the stunning Belize Barrier Reef, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. From Belize, take a quick plane ride or a 75-minute water taxi ride to Ambergris Caye, Belize’s largest island and home to sandy beaches and Shark Ray Alley, where you can snorkel with stingrays, sharks and turtles. Be sure to bring a camera you can use underwater.
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Families love Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, Alabama. This 27,000-acre island on the northernmost coast of the Gulf of Mexico boasts 32 miles of white sandy beaches, so bring your swim suit and equip the littles with sand buckets and shovels. Head to Gulf Shores if you enjoy biking, nature and craft beers (adults only, of course). Visit Orange Beach if you’d rather boat, fish or shop. Take a sightseeing tiki cruise and hang out in a hammock or hit the links. The average November temperatures in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach range from the mid-60s to the high 70s.
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Made up of 12 distinct regions, the Adirondacks region offers almost limitless things to see and do. At 6 million acres, Adirondack Park, "New York’s largest playground," is the largest park in the continental US and an ideal Thanksgiving getaway for outdoor enthusiasts. Explore its waterfalls, paddle its waterways, climb mountain trails for panoramic views or explore the Lake Placid Olympic Center and other museums with the whole family. Browse for regional crafts in charming villages, take a steamboat cruise or ride the Adirondack scenic railroad.
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You’ll want to see the famous sites in London: Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, the London Eye Ferris wheel, Westminster Abbey (famous UK authors like Jane Austen and William Shakespeare are buried in its poets corner) and the exquisite Kew Gardens. Book the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London for a behind-the-scenes peek at how the Harry Potter films were made. There are free attractions to explore, too, like the world-famous British Museum, National Gallery and the Tate Modern, Britain’s national museum for contemporary and modern art. Visit a Christmas market or take a whirl around one of London’s ice rinks, which usually start opening in November. If you visit early in the month, watch for announcements about Bonfire Night Fireworks, often held on or around November 5 to commemorate Guy Fawkes Day. See the city by tour bus or book a cruise on the Thames for great views of St. Paul’s Cathedral. Keep checking London’s November 2024 calendar for updates and additions to events and attractions.
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Ever explored a vortex? Sedona is considered to be the home of four vortices. A vortex is thought to be where powerful energy enters or leaves the Earth, and leads to a spiritual transformation. Book a vortex tour or venture out on your own. Whether or not you feel the energy, you’ll find spectacular scenery. Sedona features more than 400 miles of hiking and biking trails. Also, tours via horseback, ATVs, hot-air balloons and jeeps are available. Sedona’s cuisine choices range from seasonal alfresco dishes prepared with local ingredients to French Mediterranean dining, American comfort foods and Southwestern favorites like green chile huevos rancheros and chilaquiles. Vegetarians and gluten-free options are also available. Take a pottery class, fish in Oak Creek Canyon, play golf or visit the Verde Valley Archaeology Center. Find more things to see and do in Sedona, or simply take in your surroundings and sip your favorite libation around a cozy firepit.
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Philadelphia is rich in historic attractions like the Liberty Bell Center, Independence Hall and The President’s House. Around town, scenic trails attract runners and bikers, parks offer playgrounds, gardens, lakes for kayaking and places to skateboard or roller skate. Green spaces are popular for lawn games, picnics, views of Philly’s waterfront and skyline or just lounging. As you’d expect, July 4th is the biggest party in town, but many Thanksgiving events also occur in November, when the weather is usually pleasant and mild. Run a marathon on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway or watch the nation’s oldest Thanksgiving Day parade, the 6abc Dunkin’ Thanksgiving Day Parade, on Nov. 28. Watch this site for updates on Philadelphia’s 2024 holiday events.
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If your hometown doesn’t get much winter weather, you may be ready for a snowy Thanksgiving getaway instead of spending another holiday in shorts and sandals. Park City, considered part of the Wasatch Back and a short drive from the state capital, usually starts getting light snow in late November. It boasts two world class ski resorts: Deer Valley Resort, a ski-only destination that doesn’t allow snowboarding, and Park City Mountain, where you can do both. If Mother Nature doesn’t cooperate, these resorts can manufacture their own snow, so you can frolic in the powdery white stuff as soon as you’ve digested your holiday meal — or just admire it from your warm, luxurious room. While you’re in town, get a jump on your holiday shopping, bundle up for a sleigh ride (weather permitting), recharge with a wellness or beauty treatment or head downtown to see the Christmas decorations going up.
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Filled with sunshine approximately 300 days of the year, this capital city offers castles, palaces, historic neighborhoods, cobblestone streets and a rich cultural heritage to explore. Go to a fado house to experience traditional Portuguese cooking, music, songs and more. With so much sunshine, you’ll find a perfect beach, pool or park, and nighttime brings visitors and locals to the city’s lively bars and clubs. (Some don’t open until 2 a.m. while others get busy around 11 p.m.) Look for fairs and markets selling everything from organic produce and vintage items to modern arts and crafts. All the nice weather makes Lisbon a great place to golf, take a river cruise and go sightseeing.
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The November skies in Boston may be gray, but there’s plenty to do indoors. Pick up some chowder at Quincy Market, lean into the music at the legendary House of Blues or get tickets for a Thanksgiving week Bruins game or concert at TD Garden. Don’t forget to check out the penguins at the New England Aquarium; they don’t let the cold stop their fun. Show the kids life-size dinosaur models at the Museum of Science and let them go hands-on in the Engineering Design Workshop. Later, grab a warm sweater and explore America’s past at 16 historic sites on the Freedom Trail. Make time to shop for Black Friday bargains, take the family ice skating at Frog Pond and indulge in a scrumptious holiday feast at top hotels or restaurants. (Confirm they’re open before you go.)
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Peak leaf-peeping season in Virginia may be over by late November, but there’s still plenty to see and do on a Thanksgiving getaway. Williamsburg, in the middle of the Eastern Seaboard, draws visitors to its battlefields, historic towns and popular living history museum, Colonial Williamsburg. Kingsmill Resort is a good base for activities and boasts three renowned golf courses, three pools and a luxurious spa. Shop the Williamsburg Farmers Market on Saturday mornings and catch the Foods & Feasts of Colonial Virginia at the Jamestown Settlement and the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown from Nov. 29-30. On Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, pick up discounts at Michael Kors, Nautica and other stores at Williamsburg Premium Outlets.

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