Taking a Thanksgiving Vacation

Added: 01/13/2007

Each year on the fourth Thursday in November millions of Americans celebrate Thanksgiving. This tradition dates back to 1621 when the Pilgrims set aside time to celebrate a successful harvest season. This accomplishment was worth celebrating because upon their arrival in the New World in 1620, they had endured many hardships. Today the spirit of the first Thanksgiving lives on in modern day celebrations; however, some choose to take a Thanksgiving vacation to celebrate the day.

On November 22, 2007 Americans will celebrate one of the most popular holidays that is celebrated in the United States: Thanksgiving. The tradition of Thanksgiving began in 1621. The pilgrims who had endured a long trip to the New World had great difficulty making it through the first year of their new life in a strange land. There was great suffering but with the help of Native Americans they were able to complete a successful harvest. To celebrate this momentous and lifesaving event, the Pilgrims had a gathering that included great feasts, games, song and dance, and fellowship with their Native American friends.

Today, Thanksgiving is a time when family, friends, and others come together to give thanks for their accomplishments, achievements, and possessions. Much like the very first Thanksgiving, it is a celebration of life, hope, blessings, and good will. A modern day Thanksgiving involves sharing a large meal that might include turkey with stuffing, mashed potatoes with gravy, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, corn and other fall vegetables, and pumpkin pie. It also involves attending Thanksgiving Day parades and watching football games. Because Thanksgiving is always celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November, many people are either given or take Friday off as well. Since many people also have the weekend off, they can enjoy a four-day holiday. This enables people to travel to visit family or friends. However, some people use the holiday to take vacations.

A Thanksgiving vacation can make the holiday memorable, enjoyable, fun, and peaceful. If you do not want to spend Thanksgiving standing over a hot stove, stuffing a Turkey, setting the table, hosting guests, and cleaning up a big mess, then consider the following Thanksgiving vacation ideas.

•A Caribbean cruise can provide welcome relief from cold, damp, or snowy weather. Spending a few days soaking in the rays of the sun on a beautiful beach is a relaxing way to spend the holiday.

•If merriment is what you are looking for, visiting New York City to attend the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will make a memorable Thanksgiving vacation. Instead of watching this magnificent parade on television with the kids, why not head to New York and see it in person? This is truly a family outing as young and old will be delighted with all of the floats and balloons.

•Thanks to the Rocky Mountains, the Colorado ski season begins in November. Image skiing or snowboarding down those magnificent slopes while powdery snow swirls around you.

From the snowy slopes of the Rocky Mountains to the beautiful beaches of Hawaii, a Thanksgiving vacation spent picnicking on a beach in Oahu is sure to warm the heart and soul. This kind of Hawaii Thanksgiving may seem unconventional; however, picnics are popular alternatives to preparing Thanksgiving meals or dining out at a restaurant in this region.

The Thanksgiving holiday is a time to rejoice in one’s blessing and share love and kindness. If the traditional way of celebrating is not for you then consider taking a Thanksgiving vacation. Whether it is achieved by preparing and sharing a great meal, spent on the sidewalks of New York watching fanciful floats and balloons pass by, skiing down snow filled slopes, or panicking on the beach while watching the waves of the ocean, Thanksgiving Day is a day to give thanks for one’s blessings.

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