The Trendiest Destination To Travel To This Thanksgiving, According To Google Flights

As the 2025 holiday season approaches, many travelers are finalizing plans to reunite with family or enjoy a refreshing break from their routine. Thanksgiving often prompts a surge in domestic travel in the U.S. Google Flights highlighted the emerging hotspots based on search patterns by analyzing user queries for flights departing from U.S. airports between November 23 and 30, 2025, to identify destinations showing the sharpest rise in interest compared to the year prior. These trends reveal a mix of cities across the nation, from one of the nation's most charming lake towns, Spokane, Washington, to Panama City, Florida. Topping the list as the most trending destination is one of South Carolina's best food cities: Columbia. 

As the state capital, Columbia sits centrally within South Carolina. It's about 90 minutes by car from Charlotte, N.C., and about two hours by car from the coastal city of Charleston. Just 8 miles outside the city is Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE), offering more than two dozen daily nonstop flights connecting to major hubs all around the U.S. Amtrak serves the area through the Columbia Station (CLB), linking visitors from northeastern cities like Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and beyond. 

Columbia offers a rather temperate climate, with mostly sunny skies all year-round and about 10 months of warm weather annually, making Thanksgiving a friendly time to visit. Summers can reach into the low 90s, while shoulder seasons hover in the 70s and 80s during the day. It's the perfect weather for a November vacation.

Columbia's culinary landscape thrives on diversity, offering everything from innovative restaurants to time-honored hot spots that capture the essence of the area. One standout is a woodland-inspired venue downtown where chefs craft hearty American dishes using proteins and veggies from the surrounding area at The Hollow. Their rotating seasonal menu emphasizes locally sourced ingredients. They are located downtown in the heart of the city. 

In the lively Five Points district sits The Gourmet Shop, a longstanding market and cafe that has been a community anchor since the late 1970s, curating an assortment of gourmet items like artisanal wines, chocolates, coffees, and specialty foods. It is particularly known for its creamy chicken salad and refreshing sweet tea. Visit the Vista neighborhood for a larger scene, situated along the river's edge. The area hums with the energy from more than 45 restaurants and 60 art spaces and serves as the city's epicenter for creative dining and nightlife. Among the bars is a quirky dive bar called Art Bar. Home to a huge outdoor patio and a host of numerous events from live music to karaoke, it's a laidback place great for socializing. If you're keen for a more polished experience, head to Lula Drake Wine Parlour, where a wide assortment of old-world wines with unique small plates to pair tingle the taste buds. 

Accommodations in Columbia cater to all tastes and budgets, with major hotel chains offering consistent options, and RV parks and campgrounds offering a more rustic and close-to-nature feel. For a more personal touch, choose a charming bed and breakfast like the Chestnut Cottage Bed and Breakfast. This historical gem offers luxury accommodations and private spa tubs.

Columbia offers many engaging activities showcasing its natural beauty, historical depths, and vibrant community spirit. Groups and animal lovers will enjoy the Riverbanks Zoo and Garden, which spans 170 acres and is home to more than 2,000 inhabitants in diverse ecosystems. Highlights include hands-on activities like feeding sessions with the giraffes. Just a short drive away lies another outdoor offering, the lesser-known Congaree National Park, which preserves one of the Southeast's last large old-growth hardwood forests. As one of the least visited national parks in the country, you are sure to find solitude should you seek it. 

History buffs will appreciate the city's Civil War-era sites, including the stately Capitol building with its architectural grandeur and rich history revealing the area's past. The Reconstruction History Trail is a dedicated trail that winds through reconstructed landmarks, marking pivotal post-war developments and offering insight into the city's historical roots.

Downtown's main street buzzes as a hub for shopping, dining, and cultural events. Monthly gatherings like First Thursday celebrate local art with street performers, open studios, and vendors. A weekly producer-focused market, Soda City Market, spotlights handmade goods, fresh produce, and artisan crafts, emphasizing authenticity and community support. For a relaxing moment, seek out the Riverside Park and Canal. Featuring paved paths ideal for strolls along the Congaree River, this green oasis is popular among locals and tourists alike.