Are you in search of the perfect destination to spend the Thanksgiving holidays with your family? Have you been wondering how to make it a special vacation?
Thanksgiving is an amazing time to show appreciation and gratitude, as well as spend quality time with loved ones. Vacations are a great way to spend the long holiday weekend and create special memories. Although there’s no shortage of locations that offer exciting activities, traveling with children can add extra complexity while planning your trip.
Main Points For Families Looking For Thanksgiving Vacation Ideas:
- Thanksgiving is the perfect time of year to create special memories with family and friends.
- There are a variety of luxury resorts available, from east coast options to ski resorts and beyond.
- Popular vacation spots for Thanksgiving include The Osthoff Resort, Sunriver Resort, Kingsmill Resort, Nemacolin Woodlands Resort, and more.
10 Truly Unique Thanksgiving Family Vacation Ideas
Thanksgiving is a time for family and friends to come together and celebrate the holiday season. For those looking to get away from it all, luxury resorts are a great option for Thanksgiving getaways. From East Coast to California and ski resorts, there are plenty of options available for travelers looking for a luxurious escape. Popular luxury resorts include The Osthoff Resort in Wisconsin, Sunriver Resort in Oregon, Kingsmill Resort in Virginia, Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in Pennsylvania, Keystone Resort in Colorado, and the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee.
1. Alisal Ranch, Santa Barbara, California
Alisal Ranch and Resort in Santa Ynez Valley, California is the perfect destination for a unique Thanksgiving experience. With cottages ranging from studios sleeping 3 up to 2 bedrooms sleeping 5, Alisal Ranch can accommodate any size group. The resort also offers horseback riding trails, two golf courses, and a 100-acre spring-fed lake. Visitors can take advantage of nearby attractions such as wineries, art galleries, kayaking, and other water sports.
Santa Fe Plaza is lit nightly with holiday lights for visitors to enjoy. Anasazi Restaurant offers a prix fixe menu for Thanksgiving Day lunch and dinner. For those looking for an affordable stay, the Santa Fe Sage Inn offers rooms from $90 per night.
At Alisal Ranch and Resort, guests are sure to have an unforgettable Thanksgiving experience surrounded by nature’s beauty in the Santa Ynez Valley. From horseback riding trails to two golf courses and a 100-acre spring-fed lake, there is something for everyone to enjoy.
2. Sea Island, Sea Island, Georgia
Sea Island, Georgia is a beautiful destination located off the coast of Georgia between Savannah and Jacksonville. It offers a variety of accommodations from rooms at the Inn to seven-bedroom homes for rent. During the holiday season, Sea Island has many traditions that make it a great place to spend Thanksgiving. There is a reception, Thanksgiving Day 5k, turkey dinner options, fitness workshops, Cookie Cutters for kids, and the annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony.
For those looking to get away for Thanksgiving while giving back, Nassau in the Bahamas is an ideal destination. Breezes Resort and Spa Bahamas offer 45 percent off room rates with its Fall Sale between Nov. 7 and Dec. 18, 2019. The resort features a rock climbing wall, tennis courts, beach volleyball, kayaking, and three freshwater pools making it perfect for families looking to have some fun during their stay.
3. Paws Up Resort – Greenough, Montana
The Resort at Paws Up in Greenough, Montana is the perfect place to spend Thanksgiving weekend. This luxurious resort offers gourmet cuisine and exquisite wine pairings, outdoor adventures, Thanksgiving crafts, and wagon rides. For those with children, there is dedicated programming for them to enjoy as well as horseback riding, ATV rides, fireside s’mores, and pro football watching.
If you’re looking for a ski vacation this winter season, Greenough has some of the best ski resorts in the country. With a variety of resorts to choose from, each offering something unique, visitors can enjoy skiing and snowboarding as well as delicious local restaurants.
4. Sanderling Resort – Outer Banks, North Carolina
Sanderling Resort in the Outer Banks of North Carolina is a full-service resort offering luxury options from vacation house rentals to single rooms. Guests can access all resort amenities, including pools, restaurants, fire pits, and beach butlers. Special three-course Thanksgiving dinner and Black Friday Seafood Boil & BBQ are offered for those who want to enjoy a delicious holiday meal.
For those looking for a winter getaway, Keystone Resort is located 90 minutes west of Denver and marks the start of the winter season with Thanksgiving. Kids ski free all season long and luxury condos with fully stocked kitchens are available for those who want to enjoy a home-cooked Thanksgiving feast. Whether you’re looking for a beach vacation or a ski trip, Sanderling Resort and Keystone Resort have something to offer everyone this Thanksgiving.
5. The Osthoff Resort – Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
The Osthoff Resort is a luxurious AAA Four-Diamond resort located on the beautiful shores of Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. This resort offers a variety of amenities and activities to make your stay enjoyable and memorable. The Aspira Spa at the Osthoff was recently named one of the Top 100 Spas by Spas of America, offering guests a chance to relax and rejuvenate with its wide range of treatments. On Thanksgiving Day, guests can enjoy a special buffet featuring an herb-roasted turkey carving station, pistachio-crusted salmon, chicken picatta, rigatoni Bolognese, classic mashed potatoes with gravy, stuffing, and roasted vegetables.
6. Sunriver Resort – Sunriver, Oregon
Sunriver Resort in Sunriver, Oregon is the perfect place to spend Thanksgiving with family and friends. Every year, the resort hosts its annual Traditions Celebration with over 150 activities and events beginning just before Thanksgiving weekend.
Activities include horse-drawn sleigh rides, hot cocoa by the fire, building a gingerbread house and Takoda teddy bear, and enjoying a holiday meal. Santa’s Workshop opens during this time for guests to create their own holiday keepsakes, as well as art workshops, chef cooking demos, and wine tastings.
7. Kingsmill Resort – Williamsburg, Virginia
Kingsmill Resort in Williamsburg, Virginia is the perfect place to experience a traditional Thanksgiving. Not only is it the site of the first Thanksgiving celebration held in 1619, but it also offers a variety of activities and amenities for visitors to enjoy. The resort includes 138 units with full kitchens, as well as tennis courts, fishing spots, hiking trails, and an indoor pool. Busch Gardens theme park and Colonial Williamsburg living history museum are nearby attractions that can be visited during your stay.
Thanksgiving dinner at Kingsmill Resort is served as a buffet with all the traditional favorites. The Food & Feasts of Colonial Virginia at Jamestown Settlement and the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown offer a unique opportunity to learn about colonial life while enjoying a traditional Thanksgiving meal. Additionally, Colonial Williamsburg’s historic taverns are open for special Thanksgiving dinners – including Christiana Campbell’s Tavern which was once visited by George Washington.
8. Nemacolin Woodlands Resort – Farmington, Pennsylvania
Nemacolin Woodlands Resort is a luxurious destination located just 1.5 hours outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. With over 70 activities to choose from, there’s something for everyone! Guests can enjoy the serene beauty of the art collection or take on an extreme adventure with the Fatbird Super Flyer Zipline. During Thanksgiving weekend, families can enjoy family movies, craft events, and a visit from a North Pole elf as they kick off Christmas with Light Up Nemacolin.
9. Keystone Resort – Colorado
Keystone Resort in Colorado is the perfect destination for a ski getaway. Located just 90 minutes west of Denver, it offers an opportunity to have the ski runs to yourself during Thanksgiving. Families can enjoy luxury condo rentals with fully stocked kitchens for a home-cooked Thanksgiving feast.
Colorado is home to some of the best ski resorts in the country and Keystone Resort is no exception. With a variety of resorts to choose from, each offering something unique, visitors can enjoy skiing and snowboarding as well as delicious local restaurants. The resort also offers activities such as tubing, ice skating, snowmobiling, and more. Whether you’re looking for a relaxing weekend away or an action-packed adventure, Keystone Resort has something for everyone.
10. Great Smoky Mountains – Tennessee
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a stunning natural wonder located in Tennessee and North Carolina. This park is home to over 1,200 species of flora and fauna, making it an ideal destination for outdoor adventurers. With more than 800 miles of trails, visitors can explore the area on foot or by bike. Whether you’re looking for a peaceful hike through the woods or an adrenaline-filled mountain biking experience, there’s something for everyone in the Great Smoky Mountains.
Thanksgiving weekend is a great time to visit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. There are plenty of activities to enjoy such as hiking, fishing, campfires with loved ones, and Christmas lights displays in Sevierville and Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas with live music, a nightly Parade of Lights, and the stage production “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Accommodations range from tiny cabins for two to large mega-cabins that can accommodate large families, so there’s something for everyone.
How to Choose the Right Thanksgiving Getaway
Choosing the right Thanksgiving getaway can be a daunting task, especially when you have a large family with different interests. Fortunately, there are plenty of options to choose from that will make everyone happy. Ski resorts offer winter activities such as skiing and snowboarding, while foodie destinations provide delicious meals and unique experiences. Beach resorts are great for those who want to relax in the sun or take part in water sports. State parks with hiking trails are perfect for nature lovers, while small towns with historic districts provide a glimpse into the past.
When selecting a Thanksgiving getaway, it’s important to look for resorts that offer activities that appeal to the whole family, with different options for sleeping rooms.
Look for unique holiday experiences such as a full-service Thanksgiving Dinner, fall foliage and activities, and a day after Christmas tree lighting and ice skating party. It’s also wise to stick to easily accessible locations by airplane within the United States so that travel time is minimized. With careful planning and research, you can find the perfect Thanksgiving getaway for your family.
How to Plan Perfect Thanksgiving Getaways
Thanksgiving getaways are a great way to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life and spend quality time with family. To plan the perfect Thanksgiving getaway, it is important to consider all aspects of the trip. First, look for a resort that offers activities that appeal to the whole family, different options for sleeping rooms, and unique holiday experiences.
Choose a destination that is easily accessible by airplane and within the United States. Consider activities such as Thanksgiving dinner, tree lighting, and ice skating parties to make the getaway special. Narrow down Thanksgiving family getaway options based on favorite activities. Options include ski resorts, foodie destinations, beach resorts, state parks with hiking trails, and small towns with historic districts.
Conclusion
Planning a Thanksgiving getaway for your family can be an enjoyable and rewarding experience. With careful research and planning, you can find the perfect destination that offers activities to appeal to everyone in the family. Consider destinations such as ski resorts, foodie destinations, beach resorts, state parks with hiking trails, and small towns with historic districts. Look for unique holiday experiences such as full-service.