We don’t celebrate Thanksgiving over in the UK – which takes place on the Thursday 25 November 2010 – but we wish we did! A few days off work, mountains of food, crazy parades and football on the TV? It sounds like our ideal holiday!
For all our American readers out there, instead of vegging out in front of the TV watching the NFL game or Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, why not celebrate the holiday season with a mini break? We asked budget travel expert Aldo Singer for some alternative ideas for Thanksgiving day…
The best of all traditional holidays is almost here – you know, the one where you eat so much you have to take a nap in the middle of the day?
Thanksgiving is normally a time when the family gets together, and you’ll stuff your face, have a few too many drinks, fall asleep in front of the TV and get a little agitated, right? Well you don’t have to have the same Thanksgiving Day every year.
Here are some exciting ways to spend the holiday, so you won’t be looking forward to work the following Monday:
If you’re a history buff, then head to Plymouth in Massachusetts. This charming city is where Thanksgiving first started, so try and re-enact the very first meal with some friends. Plymouth’s scenic beaches, local wineries, and sights such as the Mayflower II are also worth checking out. Book hostels in Massachusetts.
Thanksgiving is normally a little bit on the cooler side. Why not pack up the family or grab a couple of friends for a road trip and head for some warmer weather? You shouldn’t have to be stuck inside your house on your time off. The beaches of California would be an exciting way to spend your Thanksgiving holiday. Why not try a drive along the Big Sur and stop off at Santa Cruz and Santa Barbara with bustling university life, boutique shops and of course the beautiful vintage board walk where you can watch the surfers out on the ocean. You’ll find plenty of cheap hostels in California to a make it a cheap Thanksgiving vacation.
If you don’t mind brisk weather and you’re not looking after any children, then get out of the house and go hiking! It’s perfect for a newlywed couple and could be turned into a romantic picnic once you finish the hike. You’ll still be able to enjoy the usual Thanksgiving traditions of cranberry sauce and juicy turkey meat, but in the great outdoors. A couple of good day hikes include the Panorama trail in Yosemite national park which starts at Glacier Point and passes by the Illiouette Falls before looping back. This hike covers a hefty 16 miles. Alternatively, in southeast New York, Breakneck Ridge starts from the Hudson River and lets you catch a glimpse of the Bear Mountain Bridge and finishes with a bracing climb up Mt Beacon. Here you can see a number of Manhattan skyscrapers. Book New York City hostels here.
Sky-diving is the perfect escape for thrill-seekers. Even if you’re not looking for a rush, some people just aren’t into spending time with the family. Can you blame them? And what better way to vent your frustrations than jumping out of plane thousands of feet above the ground? Your up between 9,000 and 18,000 feet, cruising with a spot of free-falling for a minute or so, easy. You’re looking at anything between $170-$300, but it will certainly be a Thanksgiving to remember!
Chances are you’ve seen the traditional NFL games that play every Thanksgiving on TV. But why not go see it live for once? It’ll be a lot more exciting than slumping on the sofa. The games usually take place in Dallas, Texas, where the Dallas Cowboys play. The other traditional game takes place in Detroit, Michigan, the home of the Detroit Lions. If you look for your cheap flights online now, you may be able to get an affordable trip to either of the games. Hotel prices skyrocket during the games, so look online for a Detroit hostel or a Dallas hostel, for somewhere affordable to crash afterwards.
Don’t worry Canadians, we haven’t forgotten you either! Check out our post on Thanksgiving Weekend Breaks in Canada for some great local getaways…
Thanks to Aldo Singer, from CheapOair. CheapOair.com is a leading supplier of airfares, with over 100 million airfare combinations on over 400 airlines, and a low airfare guarantee to deliver affordable tickets to every region in the world.
Thanks to turtlemom4bacon, dougtone and eurodrifter for the images off Flickr!
0 Comments