Are you looking for an alternative to traveling over the river and through the woods this Thanksgiving? Here are five ideas to consider:
1. Kingsmill Resort; Williamsburg, Va. Leave the holiday bird preparation to the pros at this Virginia resort, where you and your family will enjoy all the seasonal trimmings. Get settled in one of 425 recently updated guest rooms or stretch out with the clan in a three-bedroom suite. Either way, you’ll enjoy views of the James River and access to championship golf, tennis and world-class spa facilities. When you’re ready to expand your holiday horizons, hop aboard free shuttles to both Colonial Williamsburg and Busch Gardens.
Contact: 800-832-5665; kingsmill.com
2. The Mermaid Academy; Hawks Cay, Fla. Do you have an aspiring mermaid in your household? The Orlando-based Mermaid Academy now makes this fantasy a reality. During the Thanksgiving holiday, kids of all ages can “dip their tails in the water” and see how swimming like this mystical creature actually feels. Classes include tail rentals for girls or shark fins for boys, plus swimming lessons in the resort’s saltwater lagoon.
Contact: 877-496-6023; hawkscay.com; themermaidacademy.com
3. Macy’s parade; New York Hilton, New York City. Have you always dreamed of capturing a bird’s-eye view of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade? More than 3 million people gather to see the floats, bands and entertainment each year. Choose from one of several parade packages that will provide you and your clan the opportunity to enjoy the seasonal show from the comfort of your room right on the parade route.
Contact: newyorkhiltonhotel.com
4. Snow Mountain Ranch; Winter Park, Colo. Plan an active holiday weekend that begins with a pre-feast Turkey Trot. Other options include taking part in the Turkey Olympics, noodle jousting, flag football and even a pie-throwing contest. Wind down the night with a Charlie Brown Thanksgiving moviefest. There are plenty of snow-centric activities as well, including dog sledding, snow tubing and Nordic skiing.
Contact: 888-613-9622; snowmountainranch.org
5. Thanksgiving at sea. Give thanks for sunny days and adventures at sea when you set sail with MSC Cruises for Jamaica, the Cayman Islands or the Bahamas during the Thanksgiving holiday. Expect live entertainment, a kid-friendly Thanksgiving cooking class and costume parades as well as the traditional dinner you won’t want to miss.
Contact: msccruisesusa.com
