Thanksgiving destinations?

[+ SundayZip]

I have no plans for Thanksgiving. Although I have an invitation to spend the day with a brother and his family, I've spent almost 70 years of my life being with family on major holidays, often hosting large gatherings myself.  Now I'd rather do something else, preferably getting on a plane and going somewhere in North America.  NYC seems like an obvious choice, but my favorite hotel is close to triple its usual rate during Thanksgiving.  I'm also leery of the  NYC Thanksgiving holiday tourist crowds. 
 
Any suggestions for other destinations?  

[+ azdr0710]

It's sunny and 72 today in southern Arizona. 

[+ SundayZip]

46 minutes ago, azdr0710 said:

It's sunny and 72 today in southern Arizona. 

Hmmm.... interesting. Can you have a turkey & dressing picnic hanging over the rim of the Grand Canyon?     

[mike carey]

10 hours ago, SundayZip said:

Hmmm.... interesting. Can you have a turkey & dressing picnic hanging over the rim of the Grand Canyon?     

Lol, I did a random hotel search (turned out it was that week) and blanched at the prices, pretty much started at $AU500 a night. No wonder! (DC was c$AU100-up a night). Hanging out (literally) at the Grand Canyon sounds like a better idea!

[+ azdr0710]

12 hours ago, SundayZip said:

Hmmm.... interesting. Can you have a turkey & dressing picnic hanging over the rim of the Grand Canyon?     

https://www.reddit.com/r/grandcanyon/comments/10kqmuq/thanksgiving_meal_at_el_tovar/

El Tovar is one of the historic "grand" National Park hotels, but not utterly luxurious....just a good bit classier than the other routine "motels" nearby on the rim......if you haven't been to the Grand Canyon at all, it's a "see before you die" must......Thanksgiving will be cold at night there, but nice in the direct sun after the morning warm-up.......

or head to Phoenix or Tucson for more civilized temperatures.....and more choices for Thanksgiving!  

[+ Vegas_Millennial]

I spent Thanksgiving 2017 in Puerto Vallarta.  It was very pleasant and I would do it again, but flights are very expensive that week. 

I would also look at Ft Lauderdale 

[+ sniper]

Vegas is dirt cheap Thanksgiving week 

[+ Vegas_Millennial]

46 minutes ago, sniper said:

Vegas is dirt cheap Thanksgiving week 

Just avoid Las Vegas the weekend before Thanksgiving, unless you plan on staying Downtown along Fremont Street.  It's Formula One Racing weekend.   The Strip is a race track and every hotel room along the Strip hears the race all night long.  Traffic is a nightmare to get in or out of any hotel near the Strip.  Lots of tourists who visited Las Vegas that weekend last year, without prior knowledge of the race, left very disappointed.

[+ sniper]

What I've done several years is fly in Sunday night,  leave Thursday afternoon when the airport is empty.

 

[+ BenjaminNicholas]

Avoid the US.  

I've spent multiple Thanksgivings in Mexico City, Puebla, Guanajuato, Merida and San Miguel de Allende.  You don't have much holiday traffic as it's not celebrated, but you can easily find restaurants that cater to Americans who want turkey.

That said, turkey is overrated.  I'd rather eat great Mexican.

If not MX, you also have easy access to Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver or Quebec.

Doing the most un-American things on American holidays is one of my favorite things.

[mike carey]

Not Calgary?

I was going to say Saskatoon but people would accuse me of making up a place name.

[+ Just Chuck]

On 10/30/2024 at 11:09 PM, azdr0710 said:

https://www.reddit.com/r/grandcanyon/comments/10kqmuq/thanksgiving_meal_at_el_tovar/

El Tovar is one of the historic "grand" National Park hotels, but not utterly luxurious....just a good bit classier than the other routine "motels" nearby on the rim......if you haven't been to the Grand Canyon at all, it's a "see before you die" must......Thanksgiving will be cold at night there, but nice in the direct sun after the morning warm-up.......

or head to Phoenix or Tucson for more civilized temperatures.....and more choices for Thanksgiving!  

The El Tovar just went on my bucket list.

[+ Vegas_Millennial]

10 hours ago, BenjaminNicholas said:

I'd rather eat great Mexican.

#MeToo!, so long as we are both talking about eating great Mexican 🍆 🍑 

Edited November 1, 2024 by Vegas_Millennial

[+ ApexNomad]

23 hours ago, Vegas_Millennial said:

Just avoid Las Vegas the weekend before Thanksgiving, unless you plan on staying Downtown along Fremont Street.  It's Formula One Racing weekend.   The Strip is a race track and every hotel room along the Strip hears the race all night long.  Traffic is a nightmare to get in or out of any hotel near the Strip.  Lots of tourists who visited Las Vegas that weekend last year, without prior knowledge of the race, left very disappointed.

Is Vegas like that all the time the weekend before Thanksgiving? 

[+ azdr0710]

1 hour ago, ApexNomad said:

Is Vegas like that all the time the weekend before Thanksgiving? 

only when the F1 Grand Prix is happening.......but it'll be the same "weekend before Thanksgiving" in 2025.......

[+ SundayZip]

On 10/30/2024 at 11:09 PM, azdr0710 said:

https://www.reddit.com/r/grandcanyon/comments/10kqmuq/thanksgiving_meal_at_el_tovar/

El Tovar is one of the historic "grand" National Park hotels, but not utterly luxurious....just a good bit classier than the other routine "motels" nearby on the rim......if you haven't been to the Grand Canyon at all, it's a "see before you die" must......Thanksgiving will be cold at night there, but nice in the direct sun after the morning warm-up.......

or head to Phoenix or Tucson for more civilized temperatures.....and more choices for Thanksgiving!  

Thanks for the suggestion! El Tovar is sold out for this Thanksgiving, but I'll add it to my list for a future date. I've never been to the Grand Canyon! 

[+ SundayZip]

On 11/1/2024 at 12:51 AM, BenjaminNicholas said:

Avoid the US.  

I've spent multiple Thanksgivings in Mexico City, Puebla, Guanajuato, Merida and San Miguel de Allende.  You don't have much holiday traffic as it's not celebrated, but you can easily find restaurants that cater to Americans who want turkey.

That said, turkey is overrated.  I'd rather eat great Mexican.

If not MX, you also have easy access to Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver or Quebec.

Doing the most un-American things on American holidays is one of my favorite things.

"That said, turkey is overrated.  I'd rather eat great Mexican." 

100% agree!

I'm intrigued by San Miguel de Allende.  This is the second time within the last month or so that this city has been recommended to me (not necessarily for Thanksgiving).  I'm guessing that the best way to get there is flying to Mexico City then get a bus or rental car (??).  Although I know Mexico City pretty well, I've heard it's dangerous for Americans to drive or take a bus outside of the city.  Of course I hear people say Mexico City is super dangerous which I know is BS.      

 

Edited November 2, 2024 by SundayZip

[+ Pensant]

I’ll be spending Thanksgiving on Mallorca. This is my first Thanksgiving away from family. I’ll be joined by one current and one former neighbor, who made reservations here.

DINS Santi Taura | Restaurantes Palma | Gastronomía Balear

WWW.DINSSANTITAURA.COM

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Dins Santi Taura, un viaje gastronómico a través de la historia, costumbres, recetario y productos de Baleares en el corazón de Palma de Mallorca.

 

[+ SundayZip]

On 11/1/2024 at 1:03 AM, mike carey said:

Not Calgary?

I was going to say Saskatoon but people would accuse me of making up a place name.

Saskatoon in Saskatchewan... Lovely  ☺️

[+ SundayZip]

2 minutes ago, Pensant said:

I’ll be spending Thanksgiving on Mallorca. This is my first Thanksgiving away from family. I’ll be joined by one current and one former neighbor, who made reservations here.

DINS Santi Taura | Restaurantes Palma | Gastronomía Balear

WWW.DINSSANTITAURA.COM

---

Dins Santi Taura, un viaje gastronómico a través de la historia, costumbres, recetario y productos de Baleares en el corazón de Palma de Mallorca.

 

Nice! I'm jealous. 

[+ Pensant]

Not to mention some hot guys I’ll be hosting in Madrid and Vàlencia!

[mike carey]

Just now, Pensant said:

Not to mention some hot guys I’ll be hosting in Madrid and Vàlencia!

Noah in Valencia?

[+ Pensant]

5 minutes ago, mike carey said:

Noah in Valencia?

Possibly. Andrés for sure.

Andrestwink - Pornstar Performer, Rentboy, Gay Massage in Madrid, Spain | RentMen

RENTMEN.EU

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Pornstar Performer & Rentboy in Madrid, Spain - Andrestwink: Twink

 

[+ WilliamM]

Spent  Thanksgiving in South Vietnam  Germany (West Germany),  Madrid  and Rio 

[+ Just Chuck]

I actually like visiting beach-tourist-destinations in November-February.  I spent New Year on South Padre Island (at the south tip of Texas) and loved it.  I didn't want to spend time in the water itself, but the beach was a lot of fun with absolutely no crowds.  I could easily get into restaurants and be seated immediately.  The beach was perfectly comfortable for a nice hike while I was wearing walking shorts and a long-sleeve T-shirt.