Places to Visit on Thanksgiving

One of the first artist's colonies in the United States, Taos is a small town tucked away in the high desert of New Mexico. It's hard to tear your eyes away from the dramatic scenery surrounding the town, but once you manage to do so, you'll see that the downtown streets are lined with art galleries and restaurants serving up spicy Tex-Mex. It's easy for most visitors to spend the entire long weekend shopping and eating to your heart's content, but if you'd like to do something more active, you'll pleased to know that the local ski resort is typically open by Thanksgiving.

Encompassing lakes, valleys, and tranquil forests, the Pocono Mountains in Pennsylvania are one of the best outdoor playgrounds in the country. The area is better known as a summer destination, but visitors who come around Thanksgiving will have the opportunity to enjoy a side of the mountains that many people never get to see. There are plenty of things to see and do here; the whole family can cycle along the Lehigh Gorge Trail or visit one of the town's indoor waterparks, while more extreme adventure seekers can go ziplining, stock car racing, or even skydiving.

Located in the central coast of California, San Luis Obispo is the perfect choice if you're looking for a more peaceful Thanksgiving experience than the ones offered by the nearby cities of Los Angeles and San Francisco. The city is known for its laidback atmosphere, and it boasts plenty of beautiful wineries and luxurious resorts to ensure that visitors have a truly memorable stay. Special Thanksgiving dinners are held at many of the city's best restaurants, but it's also worth taking some time to check out the San Luis Obispo Museum of Art and the 18th century Spanish mission in the main plaza.

Only a few hours away from New York City, the Adirondacks are one of the most impressive mountain ranges in the country. The weather isn't quite as sunny and welcoming over Thanksgiving weekend as it is during the summer months, but if there's not much snow on the ground, it's usually still possible to hike, fish, and cycle through the mountains. However, there are plenty of things to do in the area even if the weather isn't nice enough to spend time outside, including shopping, dining, visiting museums, and enjoying the many breweries, wineries, and distilleries.

The small but charming city of Astoria is set on the banks of the Columbia River, only several miles away from the Pacific Ocean. Time seems to move more slowly here, so it's the perfect destination for anyone who wants their Thanksgiving weekend to feel as long as possible. Many visitors come here simply to relax and unwind, but there are plenty of things to see and do if you're looking for some excitement. Go kayaking down the river, learn about local history in one of the museums, or browse the shops that line the quaint streets of downtown.

Located at the very beginning of Georgia's Antebellum Trail, Athens is a historic Civil War town known for its gorgeous antebellum architecture and its fascinating history.

Notable monuments here include the beautiful 19th century T.R.R. Cobb House, but the city also offers plenty of modern amenities including an excellent array of trendy shops, buzzing nightclubs, and impressive local art galleries.

Visitors also come here for the city's surprisingly cutting-edge cuisine, which rivals that found in many of the bigger cities in the South; reservations are strongly recommended for anyone visiting over Thanksgiving weekend.

The state capital of Texas, Austin offers plenty of things to keep visitors entertained and is a popular destination all throughout the year. Many Thanksgiving weekend visitors will be delighted by Austin 's relatively warm weather, but this isn't why most people come here for the long weekend.

Instead, they come to enjoy the wide range of activities that the city has to offer; live music performances take place almost every night of the week, and the many parks and lakes found throughout the city provide plenty of opportunities for hiking, biking, cycling, swimming, and even boating.

Founded in 1630, Boston is one of the oldest cities in the United States. It has a fascinating history that makes it a perfect choice for visiting over Thanksgiving, and visitors can learn about the past of both the city and the country by taking a walk along the Freedom Path, a 2.5-mile trail that leads to some of the city's most important historic sites. Walking through the crisp November air is likely to work up an appetite, but luckily many of best restaurants in the city serve up special Thanksgiving lunches and dinners. Reservations are recommended.