ALT-3 Thanksgiving Vacation Ideas
The Thanksgiving holiday represents the beginning of the Christmas season, and when people aren't feeling the devastating effects of the economic downturn, it can be a real travel nightmare as the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the Sunday following Thanksgiving are among the busiest travel days of year. For families whose children have more time off than just the weekend, this can be a great opportunity to take a "mini" vacation, and to enjoy some of the vacation deals that will be unattainably affordable once the Christmas holidays roll around. Travel opportunities abound and there are some very fun things that families can do, and at the same time, get in on great deals.Here is a look at some vacation ideas.*A ski trip -If the weather is cold enough for ski resorts to have either natural or man made snow, a mini ski vacation can be a lot of fun. If you are lucky enough to live close enough to a place where there are ski resorts and/or slopes, you won't even have to fly to get to the slopes. Find out whether lodges are offering some type of special Thanksgiving meal.*New York City and the Macy's ParadeThe Macy's Parade has been synonymous with Thanksgiving since it was made famous in the 1947 film "Miracle on 34th Street" starring Maureen O'Hara. A three night package can cost about $437.50 per person.*Thanksgiving in ChicagoChicago has it's own Thanksgiving Parade. In addition, there are some world class restaurants, some fabulous hotels to stay at, all within easy walking distance of shopping and other attractions, and great shopping, museums and other cultural events. Potential visitors will find that both dining opportunities and accommodations vary widely in price.There are plenty of fun things to amuse children as well. You can even experienceTastes of Chicagoover the Thanksgiving weekend.*Caribbean Travel PackagesThanksgiving is just before the high travel season for the Caribbean begins, and a savvy shopper and smart traveler can find fabulous package deals that will allow them to spend some time on the white sandy beaches of beautiful Caribbean Islands before returning to normalcy, which in some cases may even mean donning one's winter coats and boots before getting off the plane or leaving the airport upon returning home.*Celebrate Thanksgiving in New England -If you would like to experience a traditional New England Thanksgiving on Cape Cod, visit theColonial House Inn. They have nice package deals that will allow visitors to spend the weekend there in a historic old New England Inn. You can also experience 19th century life in a New England Village by spending Thanksgiving Day at theOld Sturbridge Villageand enjoy either abuffet dinneror Thanksgiving dinner atBullard Tavern. In either case, you will get to experience the essence of a 19th century New England Thanksgiving meal.*First Thanksgiving Festival at Berkeley Plantation-The first Thanksgiving gets its name because Captain John Woodlief led the English colonists who had just arrived in Virginia to a grassy slope along the James River where they thanked God for their safe arrival in the New Land. These 38 men arrived on December 4, 1619, and they hailed from Berkeley Parish in England. History buffs will delight in a visit to Virginia's most historic plantation, theBerkeley Plantation.There are multiple opportunities to enjoy a historicThanksgiving Dinnerin this area.*Plimoth Plantation-Plimoth Plantation has many opportunities for visitors to experience aNew England Thanksgiving meal. TheVictorian Dinner, a mid 19th century New England meal is sold out for the Thanksgiving day, but those who want to experience it can still do so the Friday after Thanksgiving at 1:00 p.m.Four Chimneys Inn - Bennington Vermont-The original building for thisinnwas built in 1783. The current building was rebuilt after a fire destroyed the building that had been refurbished in 1870. There is a long history associated with this spectacular and quintessential Vermont Country Inn. The 2009 Thanksgiving menu hasn't been posted yet, but a glimpse at the2008 Thanksgiving Menuwill give potential visitors a glimpse at what to expect. It isn't exactly a child friendly place, but it is clearly a lovely, romantic and historic destination for couples.The preponderance of New England and Colonial destinations is only logical. It seems natural to want to experience and investigate the roots of a holiday that is steeped in so much American Tradition. For those who are looking for something more fun and less historically oriented, ski destinations, a happening city like Chicago (which also boasts a lot of world class cuisine,) or a fun and relaxing vacation to the tropics may be the perfect solution. Given the current economic climate, however, it probably makes sense that people will be looking for fun vacation opportunities that are a bit closer to home.
