The Best U.S. Destinations For Celebrating Thanksgiving
By SARAH GILLILAND
Just 30 minutes from Salt Lake City, Solitude Mountain Ski Resort may not be fully open for skiing during Thanksgiving, but there are fewer crowds and hotel deals.
Solitude, Utah
From restaurants to spas to trail hikes, the town's slower pace can be an appealing change from the hectic holiday season. Check the resort's schedule for snow and skiing options.
Outdoor enthusiasts love Arcadia's year-round temperatures, making hiking and enjoying the outdoors easy. It's also closer to the mountains than Los Angeles.
Arcadia, California
Popular hiking trails near Arcadia include Santa Anita Canyon, Sturtevant Falls, and Jones Peak. They can be busy, but the crowds dissipate as the Thanksgiving weekend draws near.
Book a hotel in Portland and take a day trip to Willamette Valley to visit one of their 700 wineries and enjoy the scenery of vineyards and mountains.
Willamette Valley, Oregon
Check out the budget- and family-friendly Albany Historic Carousel and Museum, and the Oregon Film Trail shows movie locations of "Stand By Me" and "Twilight."
In New Orleans, crowds are thinner between Halloween and Christmas, and temperatures hover around the mid-70s during the day, with cool nights.
New Orleans, Louisiana
Holiday markets will be open to help you get ahead on your Christmas list, and the Oak Street Po'Boy Festival promises to keep you full until Turkey Day.
Several restaurants stay open for Thanksgiving and serve "turducken," a Cajun main dish created by cooking chicken breasts inside a duck breast inside a turkey.
Hudson Valley has many hiking trails, stunning fall foliage, and beautiful views of the Catskills. It is also an excellent destination for history buffs.
Hudson Valley, New York
Guided tours of historic sites, such as Kykuit, the Rockefeller Estate, Philipsburg Manor, and Union Church of Pocantico Hills, are given throughout November.
Families will enjoy catching the last weekend of the Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze, a walking experience through thousands of hand-carved pumpkins on display in all shapes and sizes.