{"id":3919,"date":"2011-10-14T17:33:00","date_gmt":"2011-10-14T17:33:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.california-tour.com\/blog\/?p=3919"},"modified":"2026-06-22T12:01:49","modified_gmt":"2026-06-22T12:01:49","slug":"3919","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.california-tour.com\/blog\/3919\/","title":{"rendered":"Travel Tips and Activity Ideas for Thanksgiving"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Autumn<\/a><\/span><\/strong>Let\u2019s admit it<\/strong>: American Thanksgiving has changed drastically from a hallowed day of giving thanks and celebrating the pilgrims\u2019 discovery of North America, to a commercialized occasion for eating egregiously and flailing over football. However, one thing that has not changed about Thanksgiving, held on the fourth Thursday of November, is the tradition of Americans spending time with their loved ones<\/strong> \u2014 consequently ramping up travel business by driving or flying hundreds of miles per capita over a mere four days.<\/p>\n

Travel tips<\/span><\/strong>
\nBecause Thanksgiving is a hectic time for travel, we suggest finalizing your plans now<\/strong>. Advance tickets and accommodations are more available in October than they will be even in early November. Furthermore, planes will be stuffed like a traditional turkey with all the passengers jetting cross-country, so pack light to eliminate checked bag fees and ensure you have space in the overhead bins<\/strong>. Roads will be more crowded on Thursday for trips under 100 miles<\/a>, so consider driving on Wednesday for short distances. Likewise, airport and road traffic will be heavy Sunday, so plan accordingly!<\/p>\n

Thanksgiving Traditions<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Thanksgiving<\/a><\/p>\n

Turkey Trots and Football<\/strong>
\nAmericans often gain several pounds<\/strong> from November to January \u2014 after all, can you really refuse Nana\u2019s third offering of mashed potatoes with gravy? Tripwolf\u2019s blog paints a caricature of the typical Thanksgiving post-prandial state<\/a>: \u201cTV and movies don\u2019t usually show the very unsexy parts of Thanksgiving where you\u2019re watching football in a half-comatose state after having covertly unbuttoned your jeans.\u201d So get out of that house or hotel<\/strong>!<\/p>\n

Burn off those two (ok, three) slices of pumpkin pie by finding a Turkey Trot run or race near you. This is great for family bonding and guilt reduction, and many events allow you to run for a good cause. Check active.com\u2019s event listings<\/a> for a race in your city. You might also opt to start a friendly game of (American!) football<\/strong> in lieu of watching the NFL game on TV with 39 million others<\/a> \u2014 to kill time while the chefs are in the kitchen!<\/p>\n

\"Macy's<\/a>
\u00a9 musicwala<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Macy\u2019s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York<\/strong>
\nThe famous parade of performers, floats and giant cartoon characters is a Thanksgiving tradition for many families as they anticipate the evening meal. For those not in New York, catch the parade on TV from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Thursday. For a good seat when viewing in person, layer up, arrive as early as 6 a.m., and sip on hot chocolate while you wait. For less stress, head to the Museum of Natural History at Columbus and 77th on Wednesday around 4 p.m. to watch the giant balloons being inflated!<\/p>\n

Black Friday and Cyber Monday<\/strong>
\nOn Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, try your luck alongside the millions of others nationwide who will line up early for store sales beginning at 5 AM, but be safe! Overly enthusiastic shoppers have been known to trample and fight others just to get their deal. Cyber Monday, an online discount shopping event following Thanksgiving weekend, should prove slightly more calm!<\/p>\n

Travel Extras<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n