Adventure is Served: Why Families Are Choosing Travel Over Turkey This Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is one of America's favorite holidays, loved for its festive atmosphere and spirit of gratitude. Traditionally, families gather to celebrate on Thanksgiving Day, sharing meals and making memories. However, as school-aged children enjoy longer breaks - often a full week off - and parents juggle work schedules and childcare challenges, a new trend is simmering: swapping stuffing for suitcases and gravy for getaways. Families across the nation, from long-time residents to recent arrivals, are stirring up a new tradition that's all about creating their own meaningful experiences. This shift is redefining what it means to "come together" for the holiday, proving that togetherness isn't bound by location or conventional customs.

The Rise of the Thanksgiving Escape

It's not that we don't appreciate the traditional Thanksgiving celebration. But more and more, families are realizing that quality time doesn't have to mean kitchen time. Instead, they're opting for shared experiences and new adventures during the holiday week, creating traditions that are uniquely their own and often more suited to their family dynamics and preferences.

Benefits of Breaking the Mold

1. Stress Reduction: No more arguing over who will host Thanksgiving, who makes the best pumpkin pie or stressing about fitting 20 people around a table meant for eight. To me personally, this is a huge advantage of traveling during holidays, not having to stress about arrangements with grandparents, in-laws, extended family and friends.

2. Memory Making: Create unique experiences that will be talked about for years to come. "Remember when we saw the Northern Lights on Thanksgiving?" beats "Remember when we watched football on TV?" any day.

3. Cultural Exposure: Introduce your kids to new cultures, cuisines, and traditions. Who says turkey is the only way to celebrate gratitude? Or maybe use this opportunity to revisit your family history and learn more about your ancestry.

4. Family Bonding: Nothing brings a family together like getting lost in a new city or trying to decipher a foreign menu together. One of my favorite parts of my family travels is that we are doing something together, sharing this moment and there is no space for distractions.

Challenges (and How to Overcome Them)

Of course, breaking tradition isn't always easy. Here are some common hurdles and how to leap over them:

- Family Pushback: Involve everyone in the planning process to build excitement. Just keep in mind that using a travel advisor to help with mediating this process will also save you a lot of time (and stress).

- Budget Concerns: Look for off-season destinations or consider a "Friendsgiving" trip to split costs. For us, it's a win-win when we can avoid the crowds and save some money on the way.

- Missing Traditional Foods: Research restaurants that offer Thanksgiving menus or pack some holiday snacks. For us, we developed a new tradition moving the holiday dinner to the weekend before when we enjoy all the delicious traditional foods before going on our trip.

Tips for a Memorable Thanksgiving Getaway

1. Choose a destination with activities for all ages. If the destination does not have them, adapt the accommodation or add specific activities to balance that out.

2. Book early to avoid holiday price hikes. If this is too late for this year's holidays, it's never too early yo plan next year's holiday travel. Most of the time, there is not even a need for a deposit.

3. Pack a few holiday decorations to make your hotel room or rental feel festive. This is such a nice touch especially for the little ones.

4. Plan a special "Thanksgiving" meal, even if it's not traditional. For our family, this is also an opportunity to incorporate our culture and food from our home countries to a new tradition.

5. Use technology to include far-away family members in your celebration. Personally, we already do this for birthdays and to catch up on life updates with family and friends.

Remember, the essence of Thanksgiving is gratitude and togetherness. Whether you're carving a turkey or carving out new paths, what matters most is the company you keep and the memories you make.

Your family might just discover a new tradition that's truly worth celebrating.

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Ready to plan your family's Thanksgiving adventure? As a certified travel advisor specializing in family getaways, I can help you create a holiday experience that will have everyone giving thanks. Let's chat about making your next Thanksgiving truly unforgettable. Contact us today, and let's start planning your family's great escape!