Each year in November, family and friends come together to give thanks. Here are three great destinations that are perfect for your Thanksgiving vacation.
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Home to the largest Thanksgiving parade in Illinois, Chicago is a great destination for the whole family. The annual McDonald’s Thanksgiving Parade winds down State Street, as thousands watch the marching bands and inflatable balloon characters go by. Avoid driving and take public transportation to the parade route. Also, don’t forget to visit the Magnificent Mile for Black Friday deals the following day.
The famous Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has been rolled out to other major cities around the country, and Portland, Oregon, is one of them. This parade is fun for kids and adults alike. If shopping is also on the itinerary, Portland hosts a shop-local initiative called Little Boxes that includes discounts and festivities. Plus, every day is tax-free shopping in Oregon. For some adult time, check out the annual Wine Country Thanksgiving event in Willamette Valley. More than 160 wineries open their doors to celebrate.
A Thanksgiving destinations list is not complete without mentioning Plymouth, Massachusetts. Just 40 miles south of Boston, this quaint town offers the chance to walk in the footsteps of Native Americans and the original Pilgrims. Have your own Thanksgiving feast and see the famous Plymouth Rock just off the busy port where the Mayflower once anchored.
So gather the crew and celebrate somewhere fun this Turkey Day.
Taking a trip to an island in paradise doesn’t mean you have to leave the country. Here are three picks for an island getaway where no passport is needed!
Maui, Hawaii, is a destination like no other. This island is home to every eco-system in the world, and visitors can experience everything from deserts to farmlands and volcanoes to tropical rainforest. Maui boasts a multitude of five-start resorts, swanky shopping, and hopping nightlife that coexist with outdoorsy attractions like backcountry hiking and ocean-front camping. Plus, local eateries provide delicious food, from banana pancakes to fresh sushi.
The U.S. Virgin Islands are covered in white-sand beaches and flanked by coral reefs for snorkeling and scuba diving. Plus, it has lots for outdoorsy type. Explore historic ruins and hiking trails throughout the islands. This area is ranked high on the list of exotic wedding locations, too.
Puerto Rico can certainly be a fun retreat and the Bacardi rum factory might help! This American territory is filled with quaint mountain villages, coffee plantations to explore, and of course, plenty of beaches for fun in the sun. Check out Old San Juan, with its cobblestone streets and fusion cuisine. The latest must-see spot in Puerto Rico is Vieques Island. It was once a Navy testing-site for bombs, but now its beaches see only bare feet.
So leave your passport at home and board a plane for an island escape in paradise.
All-inclusive resorts dominate the landscapes of many popular vacation destinations, and there’s no denying they can offer an unrivaled combination of convenience and affordability. For those travelers going all-inclusive, here are some tips to help you book your next dream vacation.
The first rule of thumb is to book ahead. Ideally, the all-inclusive vacation-planning process should start a few months, even a year, in advance. All-inclusive resorts are known to have decent last-minute deals, but the high cost of airfare can outweigh the benefit.
Second, remember the travel seasons. If you’re looking for a bargain on an all-inclusive vacation in the Caribbean or Mexico, travel during the summer low season, or the spring and fall shoulder seasons, when many resorts slash their rates. Also avoid major holidays, when you are less likely to find availability or deals.
Third, do your homework and find honest reviews. You’ll eat, sleep, and play for most, if not all, of your trip at the resort you choose. So do thorough research and weigh traveler reviews to make sure the resort fits your wants and needs.
And finally, read the fine print. All-inclusive can mean different things at different resorts. Some resorts cover everything from sit-down meals, drinks, and water activities, while others cover only buffets and make you pay for extras, like beach chairs. So before you book, find out what you’re paying for.
If you’re thinking of taking a cruise, there are a lot of options to consider, from the cruise line and style to the destinations, vacation length and types of on-board amenities. Cruising is a fun (and economical) way to see several places in a relatively short amount of time without having to un-pack and re-pack every day. While some “hard-core” travelers may scoff at cruises, I say ‘don’t knock it till you’ve tried it.’
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Choose your cruise line
This is probably the single most important task when planning a cruise. Choose the wrong cruise line, or even more specifically, the wrong ship, and it can mean the difference between a blissful, relaxing trip or one filled with 18-year-olds getting rowdy on rum punch. To figure out which ship and line suits your preference, do some research online and ask friends who have taken cruises. Find out the median age onboard; if a ship caters to an older demographic, there’s typically not much to do after 10 p.m. Ask about the quality of food. The food on most vessels is in line with what you get at 4- and 5-star restaurants on land, so beware that elastic waistbands might be needed by the end of your trip. Also gather opinions on cruise schedules. Some cruise lines allow for flexibility in your itinerary, others have two dinner seatings and if you’re not on time, you don’t eat. Ask about the activities are onboard. Is there a variety? Are the shows good? For comparison, Royal Caribbean brought “Hairspray” to sea several years ago, and a few ships have Cirque du Soleil spin offs. Finally, inquire about the decor; newer or updated ships will feel more like a Ritz-Carlton than a Motel 6.
As far as cruise styles, “mainstream” cruise lines, like Celebrity and Royal Caribbean can carry a small city on the water. Other cruise lines, such as Viking River Cruises or Oceania Cruises, provide luxury and a slower pace. There are also specialized cruise ships, like the American Queen Steamboat that runs multi-day cruises up and down the Mississippi River.
Choose your destinations
After finding the right cruise line, figure out how many days you want to spend on the cruise (remember that depending on where you live, it can take a day to travel to the departure port and a day to travel home). The number of days will then dictate what destination options you have. Some itineraries will feature just one port for visiting, while others will dock at anywhere from three to 10. If you’re traveling from the United States it is easy to tour the Caribbean, Hawaii or Alaska. There are also plenty of cruise lines that tour the Mediterranean, the rivers of Europe, and even Russia and Asia. Cruising allows you to get an overview of destinations, rather than an in-depth look into the local scene. Because you’re traveling by a large ship (unless you do a river cruise), you will explore only coastal towns, and typically the ship will be in port only for about a half a day. As you peruse the destinations available, you can normally see a sample itinerary, too.
Book your cruise
Once you’ve selected the cruise line, the number of days and the destinations you want to visit, then you’re ready to book your cruise. With all your meals, snacks and beverages (alcohol and specialty restaurants onboard might cost more), your room, and onboard entertainment covered, there’s not much left to plan. You can choose to research things to do in ports, or you can take advantage of the shore excursions that cruises offer.
Pack for your cruise
No matter your destinations, it pays to look up the typical weather and pack accordingly. A cruise in July might sound warm, but if you’re heading to Alaska you can skip the bathing suit and pack an extra sweatshirt. Everyone packs differently, but it’s in your best interest to pack minimally, as the rooms are not as big as a typical hotel room. Bathing suits and shorts are usually fine for the daytime, but evenings typically require more of a resort-casual wardrobe. And most ships have one or two formal nights, so pull out the old bridesmaid or prom dresses. Most importantly, if you’re traveling outside of the United States, make sure your passport is up to date and packed along with your ticket so you’ll be good to sail away.
When fall’s cooler temperatures beg you to get outside, a trip to the vineyard might be in order. Here’s three great U.S. wine regions to put on your list for this harvest season.
Oregon’s Willamette Valley feels like Napa, but without the heat and crowds. This region is famous for its award winning pinot noir grapes, along with some great Pinot Gris and Rieslings. The valley is just up the road from the college town of Eugene and just south of bustling Portland, so this trip can encompass more than just wine-tastings if you so choose.
The Texas Hill Country might be known for its barbeque, but in the past few years it has also become famous for its wine. Just north of San Antonio and west of Austin, the Hill Country brings in 5 million visitors each year. Some 30 wineries are scattered throughout the area, featuring warm-climate varietals like Sangiovese and Syrah.
When you think of Washington, D.C .you usually think politics, but just 25 miles west of the District you’ll find yourself in the wine country of Virginia. This state is home to nearly 200 wineries, but we’d suggest visiting Loudoun County, near Washington’s Dulles Airport. Besides being beautiful horse country, this area boasts more than 30 boutique wineries. Cabernet franc, cabernet sauvignon, and viognier are just some of the wines to savor.
So book a room at a local bed & breakfast, then head out on the wine trail.
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