Arricca Elin SanSone is a freelance writer, editor, and digital content developer. She specializes in lifestyle and interior design content with a focus on gardening. Arricca earned dual bachelor’s degrees summa cum laude in English and classics from Hiram College, as well as an MBA cum laude from Georgia Southern University. Before writing full-time, Arricca studied in Rome, traveled in Europe, and taught school in Asia. With over a decade of experience, Arricca has pitched, researched, and crafted fresh story ideas and content to appeal to national audiences. She has written thousands of articles for print and digital publications such as Country Living, Good Housekeeping, Prevention, House Beautiful, and more. She’s passionate about gardening, baking, reading, and spending time with the people and dogs she loves.","jobTitle":"Contributing Writer","image":"https://hips.hearstapps.com/rover/profile_photos/29dc1f78-ddae-4377-840a-1dba434b76d7_1525357351.file"},{"name":"Janaya Wecker","url":"https://www.countryliving.com/author/229625/janaya-wecke/","@type":"Person","jobTitle":"Lifestyle Editor","image":"https://hips.hearstapps.com/rover/profile_photos/cbbbe56e-e281-46ae-9bc0-adaf8c505f37_1632867285.png"}],"@context":"http://schema.org","about":{"@type":"ItemList","numberOfItems":38,"itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@type":"Thing","name":"Stowe, Vermont","url":"https://www.countryliving.com/life/travel/g4948/best-thanksgiving-towns/#slide-1","description":"Book NowIn this former Green Mountain farming community turned year-round vacation destination, the hills are alive with the colors—and flavors!—of the fall season in ways that will feel straight out of a movie. (Coincidentally enough, the von Trapp family who inspired The Sound of Music settled in Stowe in the 1940s and still runs the in-town Trapp Family Lodge.) Farm-to-table foodies will love sampling made-on-property ice cream, apple cider (and apple cider donuts!), and cheese, while those with a more adventurous spirit can hike through the forests of Mount Mansfield, Vermont’s highest peak, or hit the bike pump track at Tälta Lodge.RELATED: Why Stowe Vermont Should Be at the Top of Your Thanksgiving Travel List","image":"https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/stowe-vermont-671e632944812.jpg"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@type":"Thing","name":"Sperryville, Virginia","url":"https://www.countryliving.com/life/travel/g4948/best-thanksgiving-towns/#slide-2","description":"BOOK NOWThis secret foodie destination is nestled at the entrance of Shenandoah National Park and offers prime leaf-peepin’ alongside a bounty of eateries, drinkeries, and friendly locals. 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Visit the historic attractions, browse one-of-a-kind boutiques on Main Street, and save enough time for a stop at the local watering hole, Blaum Bros. Distilling Co.","image":"https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/galenas-bakehouse-galena-illinois-671c071114b15.jpg"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":5,"item":{"@type":"Thing","name":"Pawhuska, Oklahoma","url":"https://www.countryliving.com/life/travel/g4948/best-thanksgiving-towns/#slide-5","description":"BOOK NOWYou've probably made one of The Pioneer Woman's recipes for holiday meals in the past—so why not trek to her hometown for a truly tasty Thanksgiving? While you're there, check out the Pioneer Woman Mercantile and stay at the Boarding House (a cowboy-luxury hotel!). 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Relax after a busy day outdoors at the iconic Stanley Hotel (pictured).","image":"https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/estes-park-colorado-in-october-royalty-free-image-1660924445.jpg"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":27,"item":{"@type":"Thing","name":"Greenbrier Valley, West Virginia","url":"https://www.countryliving.com/life/travel/g4948/best-thanksgiving-towns/#slide-27","description":"BOOK NOWThis scenic valley has plenty to offer every member of the family: Cavern tours, historic attractions, museums, and antiquing throughout the county, which includes the towns of Alderson, White Sulphur Springs, Rainelle, Ronceverte, and Lewisburg. If you're in the mood for pampering yourself, stay at the Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs for the ultimate luxury experience. 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Some years, Thanksgiving is all about spending hours honing your menu, cooking the perfect turkey, and whipping up a bounty of side dishes from the comfort of your own kitchen. And other years, Thanksgiving is the perfect time to get away from it all! (PSA: There’s absolutely nothing wrong with going to a restaurant for Thanksgiving.) If the thought of quiet country roads, rolling pastures, and, most importantly, someone else cooking your meal sounds all sorts of appealing, it’s time to start making plans to head to one of the best places to go for Thanksgiving for 2024.
From warm-weather waterside destinations to pretty-as-a-picture small towns ready and waiting to host you and crew, our list of the best Thanksgiving towns for 2024 has an option for everyone. Interested in a foodie destination in the South for Turkey Day? Consider Sperryville, Virginia or Savannah, Georgia. Looking for an all-inclusive resort that can house the whole family? Hawley, Pennsylvania in the Poconos just may have your answer. Wherever you roam, our favorite places to visit during Thanksgiving are sure to make this year’s holiday one you’ll remember for years to come.
So why not try something different this year and embrace all all the best things about fall in a new place this Thanksgiving? These Turkey Day towns have all the makings of a great getaway. Best of all: you won’t have to make the pie yourself.
Consider Country Living your HQ for all things Thanksgiving 2024! For more ways to make the most of the holiday:
In this former Green Mountain farming community turned year-round vacation destination, the hills are alive with the colors—and flavors!—of the fall season in ways that will feel straight out of a movie. (Coincidentally enough, the von Trapp family who inspired The Sound of Music settled in Stowe in the 1940s and still runs the in-town Trapp Family Lodge.) Farm-to-table foodies will love sampling made-on-property ice cream, apple cider (and apple cider donuts!), and cheese, while those with a more adventurous spirit can hike through the forests of Mount Mansfield, Vermont’s highest peak, or hit the bike pump track at Tälta Lodge.
This secret foodie destination is nestled at the entrance of Shenandoah National Park and offers prime leaf-peepin’ alongside a bounty of eateries, drinkeries, and friendly locals. The nearby Inn at Little Washington is a bucket list destination for many (they serve Thanksgiving supper!), and Sumac was just named one of the best restaurants of 2024 by The New York Times. The rooms at nearby Glen Gordon Manor offer a relaxing respite after a hike up Old Rag, and Beech Spring Gift Shop (pictured), with its quilt outlet and variety of VA-made foods, is the perfect place to shop on Small Business Saturday.
There’s not too many areas in North America that offer the perfect mix of fresh air, small town living, and top-shelf food and entertainment, but The Berkshires is certainly one of them. Make Great Barrington your home base to shop farmhouse finds at Hammertown (pictured), then spread throughout the area to explore the Hancock Shaker Village, dine on hearty soups and sandwiches at The Red Lion Inn, and peruse through 7,000 square feet of antiques at Berkshire Great Finds.
With its perfectly preserved 19th-century buildings, this Midwestern hamlet looks as if it's frozen in time. About 85 percent of the town is a national historic district. Fall brings an explosion of colors to the surrounding rolling hills and valleys. Visit the historic attractions, browse one-of-a-kind boutiques on Main Street, and save enough time for a stop at the local watering hole, Blaum Bros. Distilling Co.
You've probably made one of The Pioneer Woman's recipes for holiday meals in the past—so why not trek to her hometown for a truly tasty Thanksgiving? While you're there, check out the Pioneer Woman Mercantile and stay at the Boarding House (a cowboy-luxury hotel!). There's also beautiful wildlife nearby at the the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve and Osage Hills State Park.
Home to the University of Virginia, this picturesque college town offers a bucolic blend of historic buildings, rolling pastures, and plenty of wineries and cideries. Leave the cooking to the pros with a pre-fixe Thanksgiving dinner at Keswick Hall or The Quirk, then walk off your meal with a leisurely stroll along the pedestrian-only Downtown Mall.
The jewel of the Missouri Rhinelandwilkommens fall visitors with wineries, wurst houses, and dozens of other delightful ways to enjoy its German heritage. A self-guided walking tour of the historic downtown (or a bike ride along the 140-mile Katy Trail) is a lovely way to get your heart rate up before the big meal, and you’ll love cozying up in the sleeping quarters outfitted in antiques at the Inn at Hermannhof (pictured).
Also known as “The Antiques Capital of New Jersey,” this former factory town is now a flourishing country outpost for antiques and the arts—and a postcard-perfect home base for small-town hopping along the Delaware River. Catch an indie flick in an old supermarket at Acme Screening Room, or enjoy aperitifs while wandering Black Shed, a 28-acre destination garden center that is also home to a full bar and 100 free-range show chickens.
Lake Placid isn't just picturesque, idyllic, and peaceful, it's also a lot of fun around the holidays. Fish, hike, bike, or camp in the area, or visit the Lake Placid Olympic Museum (the Winter Olympics were held here in 1932 and 1980). While snow isn't a given, it is a possibility here this time of year, so pack your winter coat and gloves!
Learn the history of this working seaport, explore the local boutiques, or visit Strawbery Banke Museum, which covers 300 years of American history on ten acres. Don't forget a lobster dinner while you're in town!
Known as the American Riviera, Santa Barbara is a stunning destination. With pretty beaches, mountains, and nearby vineyards (pictured!), it has everything you need for a relaxing, romantic weekend getaway, any time of year.
New Hampshire's famous Hackleboro Orchards stays open through Thanksgiving, so you'll have plenty of time to enjoy apple picking before your holiday dinner. If the weather allows, bring your own blanket and enjoy a picnic before entering the orchards, or cozy up with some warm cider and donuts made fresh at the nearby barn.
Known for its iconic holiday celebrations, this West Coast town kicks off the festivities Thanksgiving weekend with Christkindlmarkt, a Bavarian-style Christmas market. Visit the town's distilleries and breweries or the wineries and cider houses, then go shopping at some of the unique boutiques with cuckoo clocks, music boxes, beer steins, and other Bavarian treasures.
Nestled in the Poconos, Hawley is the home to several beloved resorts. From Woodloch to Silver Birches, there are plenty of cozy places to have a Thanksgiving meal. These resorts have a host of holiday activities, including a scavenger hunt, special bingo games, horseback riding, and more.
It's not exactly a tiny town, but Park City still boasts all the appeal of a town half its size—and the Utah city is where it's at come Thanksgiving. Take a bobsled ride, enjoy window shopping, or curl up by the fire at one of the town's amazing resorts.
Why not spend Thanksgiving surrounded by the most gorgeous fall foliage you've ever seen? This Vermont area is known for having the boldest shades of reds, yellows, and oranges in the U.S. While in town, participate in the annual Turkey Trot, or try the famous Chocolate Espresso Bread Pudding Muffins at Sunup Bakery.
Speaking of fall foliage, for the most mesmerizing post-Thanksgiving hike, head to the Guanella Pass Scenic Byway. Walk through the bright yellow Aspen groves and take in the incredible autumn sights.
It doesn't get more iconic than the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Instead of watching the bash on television this year, take your family to see their favorite characters fly through the skies in person. It's sure to be an unforgettable experience—followed by a delicious dinner at one of the city's many, many restaurants.
Located in both the Catskills and the Hudson Valley, the Mohonk Mountain House is truly an East Coast treasure every autumn. The resort always has something fun to do, from axe-throwing to board games. For Thanksgiving, you can enjoy a variety of family-friendly holiday activities, as well as a delicious buffet.
Winterset is the covered bridge capital of Iowa. Meander through the countryside to see these historic gems (which inspired the book and movie The Bridges of Madison County, starring Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep), and don't miss the Iowa Quilt Museum. The town's other claim to fame is being the birthplace of John Wayne, and it has the only museum in the world dedicated to him.
Arricca Elin SanSone is a freelance writer, editor, and digital content developer. She specializes in lifestyle and interior design content with a focus on gardening. Arricca earned dual bachelor’s degrees summa cum laude in English and classics from Hiram College, as well as an MBA cum laude from Georgia Southern University. Before writing full-time, Arricca studied in Rome, traveled in Europe, and taught school in Asia. With over a decade of experience, Arricca has pitched, researched, and crafted fresh story ideas and content to appeal to national audiences. She has written thousands of articles for print and digital publications such as Country Living, Good Housekeeping, Prevention, House Beautiful, and more. She’s passionate about gardening, baking, reading, and spending time with the people and dogs she loves.
