Beyond the Turkey: Thanksgiving Vacation Ideas & Family Traditions 2021
Catalogue
- 1. When is Thanksgiving 2021?
- 2. Thanksgiving Getaways: Where to Go for Thanksgiving 2021
- 3. Thanksgiving Dinner
- 3.1 Traditional Thanksgiving Dinner
- 3.2 Thanksgiving Sides
- 3.3 Thanksgiving Desserts
- 3.4 Thanksgiving Dinners for Vegans
- 3.5 Hosting or Attend a Thanksgiving Dinner
- 3.6 Thanksgiving Gifts
- 4. Thanksgiving Family Traditions
- 4.1 Plan a Thanksgiving Vacation and Make it a Family Tradition
- 4.2 Make a Thankful Tree
- 4.3 Decorate the House with Harvest Décor
- 4.4 Attend a Harvest Celebration
- 4.5 Attend or Watch a Thanksgiving Day Parade
- 4.6 Visit a Local Farm
- 4.7 Thanksgiving Games
- 4.8 Turkey Wishbone Tradition
- 5. The Meaning of Thanksgiving
- Enjoy!
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Thanksgiving is traditionally the busiest travel holiday in the United States. Each year around the end of November, millions of Americans board planes and trains or set out in their cars. Mostly the latter. In fact, the overwhelming majority of journeys are people heading out on the road to visit other friends or family members. If you're kicking around the idea of a Thanksgiving vacation, this short article is geared especially for you. We're profiling some great US travel destinations where you can relax this holiday and not feel like you're missing all the things that make Thanksgiving such a special time of year. Here are our recommendations for great Thanksgiving travel destinations.
Since 1941, Thanksgiving in the United States is always celebrated on the Fourth Thursday in November. Thanksgiving 2021 is Thursday, November 25.
In case you're wondering, here are the dates for the next several years as well.
Thanksgiving 2022 – Thursday, November 24, 2022
Thanksgiving 2023 – Thursday, November 23, 2023
If you're thinking about taking a vacation for Thanksgiving 2021, it's better to start making your plans now. You should expect longer lines and potentially more disruptions on account of ongoing events.
Handy Guide: 2021 U.S. Calendar: Federal Holidays 2021
Places for Thanksgiving getaways inside and outside the United States:
Add these vacation ideas into your Thanksgiving 2021 or Thanksgiving 2022 planning for a holiday to remember.
Thanksgiving is one of America's most important holidays and it's fair to say it revolves around food. Lots and lots of food. It's a time to celebrate the good things in life and also a time to spend time with loved ones.
At a traditional Thanksgiving dinner, turkey is the most important dish on the table. The turkey is normally slow-roasted in the oven and filled with delicious stuffing. A large roasted turkey takes center stage in every Thanksgiving celebration. Don't forget to enjoy plenty of side dishes including mashed potatoes and gravy, cranberry sauce, and tuna casserole.
Considering that there are many vegans and vegetarians who would also like to participate in Thanksgiving, it is a good option to serve special vegan dishes as well. Some good Thanksgiving sidedishes are pumpkin soup, sweet potatoes, vegetarian casseroles, and cranberry sauce.
Save room for dessert! Pumpkin pie, apple pie, pecan pie, fruit and nut trifle...you name it. Basically any pie beloved by your family is a great addition to your table. Also, Thanksgiving cookies, teas, and coffies are great for after-meal conversation.
Need more inspiration?
If you want to prepare something that is similar to the turkey, you can try the vegan dish popularly known as tofurkey. This special vegan turkey is just what the vegan in your family would love to have this Thanksgiving. It is made of tofu or seitan, stuffed with grains, and served with a flavored broth. Holiday roasted vegetables are a good choice and beloved by both vegans and non-vegans.
Some people take the responsibility of hosting Thanksgiving dinner for family and friends. It might seem like a lot of work; however, over time people get better at hosting the special day. Spruce up your home with a bit of fall color and take out the china you save for special occasions. Detailed planning will always help you make sure your celebration is seamless and a lot of fun.
If you are invited for Thanksgiving dinner somewhere else, it is appropriate to get your host a thoughtful gift they will enjoy. You could offer to bring an appetizer or side dish. Flowers, wine, a handmade decorative item, or something personal that your host will appreciate are also great ideas. Since Thanksgiving is a day of gratitude, make sure your gift conveys the message of thankfulness and sincerity.
Thanksgiving is a time of the year when families come together to celebrate. Apart from the food, Thanksgiving is special because it is one of the few days when the entire family or large group of friends come together. Consider some activities such as games, music, a movie, or watching football. You might also organize something to do outdoors such as a walk or a bonfire. Thanksgiving is a time for people to participate in charity, help organize a gift to the local food pantry or homeless organization. These acts of kindness make a huge difference and will help bring your family closer together.
Thanksgiving can be made absolutely fun and unique by planning a getaway or a short vacation with your family. This is also a great way to have fun and build family bonds. November is a great time to have a family vacation because of the enjoyable cool weather. You can even find some great Thanksgiving tour packages from which you can choose one that your family will enjoy.
A great way to decorate your house for Thanksgiving is by introducing a thankful tree. You can even carry this over to Christmas. There are so many different ideas and inspirations for a thankful tree and many DIY options to help you create something unique. Personalize your tree by making notes on paper-cut leaves or ask your guests to add thankful notes to the tree. This is a fun way to make sure everyone is contributing. To make it even better, you can ask your guest to pick a random note and read it aloud. This way, you can have a very special Thanksgiving with a creative way to share your thankful messages.
Thanksgiving is not only a wonderful holiday, it occurs among the most beautiful time of year. Fall colors are really striking and can be added to your Thanksgiving decor. Decorate your space with a fall theme to make your home look warm and special.
Thanksgiving Day is a reminder of the harvest festival that the Pilgrims celebrated with their Native American hosts. A great idea to take part in a fair or harvest festival in order to remind yourself of this first Thanksgiving. In the United States, you will find many different harvest festivals and celebrations around the Thanksgiving season. You can join these celebrations with family and to make your season quite memorable with music, food, games, folklore, community, and a lot of fun.
Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade has a long and proud tradition. Thanksgiving 2021 will be the 95th edition of this most American tradition when families all around the country gather to watch something on TV. Having proved last year that it's still possible to hold a fun-filled parade during the COVID-19 pandemic, you can bet there will be even more live marching bands, famous balloons, and floats on display during Thanksgiving 2021. Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade is one of those things everyone is likely to experience at some point whether in person or via family tradition. And because Americans love a good parade, communities around the US do local Thanksgiving parades leading up to the holiday. Chances are you can find one to attend near you for Thanksgiving 2021.
Thanksgiving can be made special with a visit to your local farm. Being the capstone of the harvest, there are often lots of activities and organized public outings where you can see the farm machinery in action and get some great local produce. By adding local flavors to your food, your Thanksgiving is sure going to be special for friends and family.
Games are a sure fire way to add laughter and enjoyment to your Thanksgiving. Consider having some board games, card games, or other activities for your guests to entertain themselves before and after the meal. Some games to add to your list include a scavenger hunt, Thanksgiving bingo, or memory games. To make the game time more seamless, one or two people can take responsibility to research and organize the Thanksgiving games. This way, there wouldn’t be too many ideas and confusion.
To know more about 30 great Thanksgiving games
The turkey wishbone tradition is quite popular on Thanksgiving Day in America. Going by the tradition, when the turkey is served, two people have to pull on the two sides of the wishbone of the turkey to break it. The one who gets the longer side gets to make a wish. This tradition is not an American invention. Its roots go back to the British, who in turn adopoted it from the Romans. This superstitious practice is very popular and is also done with a chicken bone. Although some people don’t believe in the superstition, it can be a fun-filled activity.
Thanksgiving is faithfully celebrated year after year. Over time it has become one of the most important holidays on the American calendar. Contemporary Thanksgiving has involved into America's harvest festival and Americans celebrate Thanksgiving in many different ways. Historic traditions help define Thanksgiving Day; however, there are always new ways of celebrating. As the country grapples with its complex historical legacies, the meaning of Thanksgiving continues to evolve. However you choose to celebrate, make it a day to recognize the special people in your life and all of the blessings bestowed during the previous year.
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