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See Alaska’s Northern Lights, Bask on Hawaii’s Shores, and Other Unique Ways to Spend Thanksgiving

This year, do something decidedly untraditional for the holiday. You'll be thanking your lucky stars for the bevy of natural wonders, cool towns, and stellar adventures found right in our Western backyard

Stephanie Granada

There’s no need to spend Thanksgiving fretting in the kitchen, fielding awkward family conversations and entertaining emergencies, and ending each night in a tryptophan-induced turkey coma. Instead, embrace your wanderlust spirit with any of these Thanksgiving getaways that combine epic scenery and under-the-radar destinations. Whether you dream of seeing the northern lights, crave a wine country escape, or want to reconnect with nature, this is where and how you can make it happen.

1 /10 Tony Shi Photography/ Getty

Get Your Culture Fix in Albuquerque

Celebrate Spanish and Native American culture in Albuquerque. The city hosts spirited events for the holiday—Native American Artisan Market at Hotel Albuquerque, the Rio Grande Arts and Crafts Festival Holiday Show—but you can just as easily spend the entire weekend exploring this on-the-rise city that stays true to its historical and cultural roots. Stay in the Old Town area, which dates back to 1709. The Hotel Chaco puts you right by several museums and cultural centers; a charming, compact historic neighborhood filled with restaurants, shops, and galleries; and a leafy plaza with free concerts. For a Thanksgiving meal, the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center’s native-sourced feast is a steal at $45 per person.
2 /10 Eric Hanson/Getty Images

Camp in Death Valley

Camping is a solid option for memorable Thanksgiving getaways, and November is prime-time for Death Valley, which enjoys some of its most pleasant temps in late fall and winter. The park will be busy and most of the sites are first-come, first-served; but park staff say you can score a spot 99.9 percent of the time. For a sure thing, Furnace Creek takes reservations but usually fills up fast. Otherwise, Stovepipe Wells gets you close to the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes (pictured) and runs $14 a night; the super-coveted Wildrose is free and located in a canyon with access to tons of great hiking; and Mahogany Flat (also free) is one of the few campsites with some tree coverage. Your entertainment comes in the form of hiking to otherworldly sights and stellar stargazing in this International Dark Sky Park. And, there’s no reason to skimp on your Thanksgiving dinner; look to our Camp Cookbook for ideas for an off-the-grid feast.
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See the Northern Lights in Fairbanks

People spend thousands of dollars to go see the aurora borealis in the Nordic countries, but there’s no need for all that. One of the best northern lights shows happens in Fairbanks, Alaksa. The city has been adding more direct flights in recent years, making it easier and more affordable to reach this gem in the northernmost state's interior. Like in most of the rest of Alaska, summer is peak season, and Fairbanks’ famously fierce winters tend to scare away the crowds. We won’t lie, November is already chilly with temps dipping into the single digits, but it’s bearable. Stay in Fairbanks a couple nights to explore downtown, which is slowly being built up with indie coffee shops, galleries, and craft drink spots. Even as the cool-factor increases, this hardy, slightly gritty town isn’t pretentious. The quintessential Alaska winter activities (dog sledding, ice fishing, snowmobiling) will cost you, but outfitters like Rod's Alaskan Guide Service keep fair prices. Splurge on a night at Borealis Basecamp, where you sleep in a clear-paneled dome with a straight view of the northern lights from your bed—the only lodge in the U.S. to offer this experience (from $389 per night for an igloo that sleeps three).
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Chase Adventure in Colorado Springs

You can find tons of flights from just about anywhere into Denver, then drive the hour and a half to Colorado Springs. Once there, the city overdelivers on activities for family Thanksgiving getaways—especially when it comes to outdoor adventure. Early settlers donated thousands of acres for parks, paths, and other public areas to the city for free access. The iconic Garden of the Gods (pictured) is part of that sweet deal, as is the mountain biking haven of Red Rock Canyon Open Space and the wildlife-filled North Cheyenne Canyon Park. Fifteen minutes from the city, take a self-guided tour of the eight potable mineral springs (they’re thought to have healing powers) in Manitou Springs. Before or after, take the town’s shuttle to the steep Manitou Incline trail, a cardio training site for the many Olympians who live in and around Colorado Springs. The trail leads high above town for sweeping views of the Pikes Peak region. Back in Colorado Springs, more family fun awaits at the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum, the Rocky Mountain Motorcycle Museum, and Cripple Creek Heritage Center, where you learn about the area’s gold mining history. Get tickets for the Winter Lights at Seven Falls—a tradition dating back to the '40s in which more than 100,000 lights line the path and surrounding cliffs on the waterfall hike at The Broadmoor.
5 /10 Courtesy of Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) / Vincent Lim

Splash Around in Hawaii

Hawaii is a dreamy vacay no matter when you go, but the crowds and prices tend to drop in November for the start of the rainy season. As the most popular island, Oahu has a wide range of activities for Thanksgiving getaways. Though touristy Waikiki will have competitive rates, for a more authentic experience follow the backpackers and surfers to the North Shore. If you’re camping, set up shop at the well-stocked Malaekahana State Recreation Area or the white-sanded Bellows Field Beach Park Campground. Wherever you stay, plan to go to Waikiki for the Holiday Parade, which honors Pearl Harbor vets the Friday after Thanksgiving. The rest of the time, take advantage of natural entertainment: Bring your own snorkel gear to explore underwater wonderlands like the one at local-favorite Shark’s Cove, get to underrated beaches like Pokai Bay (pictured) and other hidden gems, and hike some of the West’s best trails (Manoa Falls, Lanikai Pillbox, Diamond Head).
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Go Skiing in Utah

Powderhounds will be grateful to celebrate the holiday on the slopes, and Salt Lake City—easy and affordable to get to from any other major airport—is your gateway. Brighton, known for its deep, fluffy snow, tends to open mid-November and has killer prices on lift tickets, including free skiing for up to two kids under 10 with the purchase of an adult ticket. However, the mountain doesn’t offer much by way of amenities or entertainment, so you’ll want to head to Park City for your après kicks. On November 29, the town gets lit with thousands of lights as part of its holiday decor. You can stay in Salt Lake and take the Utah Transit Authority Ski Bus back and forth between the city and ski resorts, or get an Airbnb near Main Street in Park City.
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Explore California's Central Coast

The Central Coast holds a myriad of underrated gems that run the gamut from sophisticated wine regions to sealed-in-time beach towns, perfect for Thanksgiving getaways. Somehow, these still fly under-the-radar, and a vacation here costs a fraction of what you’d spend in high-profile California areas like Santa Barbara, Napa, Big Sur, or Monterey. San Luis Obispo provides the perfect jumping-off point to most of the highlights. Go for Pinot and Chardonnay tastings in the lesser-known Edna Valley or at any of the Pacific-adjacent tasting rooms on Avila Beach (we love Siñor-LaVallee). Appreciate the rugged beauty of Highway 1 at Los Osos’ Montaña de Oro State Park. While you’re in the area, plan for a sunset picnic at the dune-filled Pismo Beach with a bowl of the town’s famous clam chowder from Splash Cafe. Shop rustic antique shops and eat your weight in oysters in Morro Bay. All of the towns are less than 15 minutes from SLO. Then again, San Luis Obispo is a catch in itself. If you’re coming from Southern California, you can take Amtrack’s Pacific Surfliner, which recently expanded its service. Trains, stocked with bike- and surf racks, depart daily and stop in San Diego, L.A., Ventura, San Luis Obispo, and about another 20 charming towns along the way. Ride the train up, and hunker down in SLO for the weekend. You won’t need a car to get around the massive Thursday night farmers’ market, the iconic Bubblegum Alley, the San Luis Obispo Museum of Art, or any of the cool shops and restaurants that fill downtown.
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Warm Up in Phoenix

As the rest of the West is starting to chill out, Phoenix is hitting its perfect-weather window. Late-November temps tend to go from the low 70s during the day to the 40s at night, meaning all the outdoor recreation and languid neighborhood strolls are yours for the taking. Plan to hike Piestewa Peak (pictured) or the short, but challenging and rewarding, Camelback Mountain. Either of those pairs well with a free tour (with tastings) at Four Peaks Brewery in nearby Tempe. On another day, check out Roosevelt Row, packed with galleries, cocktail joints, and street art. One thing you can bet on in Phoenix is that you'll eat well. The city is at the forefront of the Southwestern culinary explosion—a tasty movement that involves the creative mashup of Latin, Native American, New American, and all sorts of global flavors. In the Roosevelt area, head to colorful Taco Chelo to fill up on $3 tacos served on house-made tortillas. Or, for a full-on dining experience, book a table at Binkley's where the chef determines one set menu daily based on seasonably available goods. For Thanksgiving feasts, your best bet is to head to one of the resorts, like the Arizona Biltmore or the Royal Palms, both of which put out stellar holiday meals. Don't leave town with scarfing down a Sonoran Dog—the local take on hot dogs—from El Guero Canelo.
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Get in the Christmas Spirit in Victoria

Charming Victoria does it up for the holidays. Around town, street lights, trees, and stately buildings, like the Parliament and Empress Hotel, get decked out. There are horse-drawn trolleys downtown. Parkside Hotel has a gingerbread house display with donations collected for Habitat for Humanity. The B.C. Children's Hospital puts on a Festival of Trees with dozens of decorated Christmas trees at the Bay Centre shopping district. And many more quintessential events and decorations make for magical Thanksgiving getaways. This year, the town is amping up the cheer with the Lights of Wonder festival, which brings a 40-foot tree, tons of lights, and carolers downtown. It's all free—a rarity for these kinds of displays, usually held in botanical gardens or other admission-required spots. To get here, take the Clipper ferry from Seattle. Expect many of the big-city amenities people love in Vancouver, without the metropolitan cost. Up-and-coming Victoria is exploding with hip restaurants, shops, and hotels.
10 /10 Courtesy of McMinnville Winegrowers Association

Raise a Glass in Oregon's Wine Country

About an hour-and-a-half from Portland’s airport, the Sunset Travel Awards-winning town of McMinnville puts oenophiles in the heart of Oregon’s lush wine country. Cruise down rambling roads that lead to more than 500 wineries, stretching across the vast Willamette Valley, where Pinot Noir—an ideal turkey companion—still reigns supreme. For the past 37 years, the region's wineries have opened their doors for Thanksgiving weekend to celebrate the holiday and the end of the harvest with exclusive pours, tasting and bottle deals, pairing brunches, and vintner-led tours that put you on the insider track. McMinnville—positioned close to about 250 of the Willamette’s wineries and the gem-filled McMinnville AVA—is also a fun place to hunker down: Its protected, historic main street is filled with progressive galleries and restaurants, and some of the friendliest locals anywhere.

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