Where to Go for the Perfect Family Thanksgiving

Image courtesy of Stanly Ranch, Auberge Resorts Collection

I love traditions; I also love making new traditions. Thanksgiving is filled with tried-and-true classics: turkey dinner, football, cozy fall vibes. This year, consider trying something new to celebrate the holiday. When you distill Thanksgiving down to its essence, it’s all about loved ones. 

I’ve collected a few of my favorite destinations — and where to stay in each — for a multigenerational Thanksgiving getaway. ‘Tis the season for new traditions.

Make it tropical: Mexico & the Dominican Republic

Thanksgiving may be unique to the United States, but that doesn’t mean you have to stay stateside to celebrate it — especially when somewhere warm and sunny is involved.

One&Only Mandarina

Image courtesy of One&Only Mandarina

Adults and kids alike will love this Mexican hideaway, perched in a beachfront rainforest on the Riviera Nayarit. Accommodations range from modern treehouses and villas to private homes; there’s plenty of space for everyone.

During Thanksgiving, One&Only Mandarina schedules numerous activities to make the holiday special. Kids can make gratitude cards at the hotel’s KidsOnly Club. In the afternoon, they’ll be treated to pre-dinner manicures, pedicures and hair makeovers. Adults can sign up for the Thanksgiving Polo Brunch and savor a chef-driven meal complemented by a live polo match. While the little ones are enjoying their makeovers, adults can head to the hotel’s Aura Deck for a gratitude cacao ceremony, a sacred ritual followed by a guided meditation.

And then there’s Thanksgiving dinner. Choose from a traditional feast of seasonal favorites made with thoughtfully selected ingredients, or a Japanese meal of gourmet small dishes highlighting the art of gyoza, flavorful Japanese dumplings.

Fora Perks:

• $100 hotel / resort credit, breakfast daily, an upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
  
  

ÀNI Dominican Republic

Images courtesy of ÀNI Dominican Republic

For something especially luxurious, private and exclusive, ÀNI Dominican Republic is the obvious choice. The resort sits on an idyllic private peninsula, and can host 12 to 28 guests at a time. Everything is included: dining, babysitting, an all-day pool butler, up to 12 spa treatments per day, a private chef, cultural workshops, family activities, daily laundry…the list goes on. 

ÀNI’s attentive, unbelievably warm staff cherish the memories they’re able to facilitate.

“We enjoy seeing families get together to celebrate,” said Oscar Aung, ÀNI’s regional director for the company’s Caribbean locations. He added that his team meticulously coordinates everything from family meal times to activities, “so that guests can purely just relax.”

Thanksgiving at ÀNI might start with a 90-minute bike ride followed by a leisurely breakfast. Pool time, a family word-puzzle contest and baking and mixology classes might ensure. The gourmet Thanksgiving feast is a personal, supremely special affair. Everything, down to the table decorations, is tailored specifically to you and your family. (But for a preview of what the menu could look like, rich lobster bisque, herb-roasted turkey, truffle mashed potatoes and flaky chocolate-pecan tart à la mode may make an appearance.) Afterward, watch a movie beneath the stars.  

Fora Perks:

• $1,500 resort credit, breakfast daily, an upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
  
  

Cozy and classic: Napa Valley & Rhode Island

The following hotels know how to embrace tradition while offering something fresh and exciting. If you’re wary of traveling for the holiday, these properties are a great way to dip your toe in.

Stanly Ranch, Auberge Resorts Collection

Image courtesy of Stanly Ranch, Auberge Resorts Collection

Thanksgiving at Stanly Ranch, in Napa Valley, is a multi-day, multi-generational affair. (If any hotel brand knows how to curate experiences suited for all ages, it’s Auberge.) Their Thanksgiving 2024 slate of experiences includes family yoga, charcuterie board and cocktail workshops, a three-mile turkey trot, hikes and more. 

The hotel, one of Fora’s top-booked California hotels for November, hosts its five-course Thanksgiving dinner at The Bear, its exquisite on-site restaurant. The restaurant is cozy and warm, and perfect for a family-friendly holiday meal. Plus, the property has plenty of spaces to blow off steam: throw around a football, play a game of family soccer. 

If you’re craving some alone time during the holiday weekend, drop your kids off at the Little Ranchers Camp and head straight to Halehouse Spa for a holistically rejuvenating treatment that balances mind and body. 

Fora Perks:

• $100 hotel / resort credit, a welcome amenity, breakfast daily, an upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
  
  

Ocean House

Images courtesy of Ocean House

When it comes to the holidays, Ocean House goes above and beyond. Multi-bedroom suites and spacious cottages allow for plenty of room for families. You’ll love the New-England-chic, cozy aesthetic. 

Start the holiday weekend with an elaborate Thanksgiving dinner buffet, complete with all the traditional fixings — brined turkey, caramelized brussels sprouts, garlic mashed potatoes — plus elevated fall comforts like butternut squash panzanella and a sprawling raw bar. You must save room for dessert. Choose from maple bourbon pecan tarts, sweet potato cupcakes, pumpkin pie tarts, cranberry panna cotta and more.

You’ll go to sleep feeling thoroughly nourished, and awake to a Christmas wonderland. Overnight, the hotel decks the halls. If you can, stay at least until Saturday, when Ocean House hosts its annual tree lighting ceremony and dinner with Santa thereafter. 

Fora Perks:

• $100 hotel / resort credit, $45 daily breakfast credit, an upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
  
  

Get out in nature: Tennessee & New Mexico

These hotels display gratitude for the great outdoors. For a Thanksgiving marked by adventure and getting back to nature, these properties are your best bet.

Blackberry Farm

Image courtesy of Blackberry Farm

Tennessee’s Great Smoky Mountains are the home of this luxury hideaway, one of Fora's five top-booked hotels for November trips in the Southern state. True to its name, Blackberry Farm takes food very seriously. They source much of the ingredients from the on-site garden, or from their surroundings. Expect farm-to-table dining at its finest. It’s no surprise, then, that Thanksgiving here will be one for the books.

In fact, the holiday weekend starts on Tuesday, where you’ll be treated to a delectable barbecue buffet (this is the South, after all) accompanied by bluegrass music and family games. On Thanksgiving day, there’s the annual 5k turkey trot, turkey lunch and traditional dinner. For dinner, you’ll have the option of an à la carte feast or tasting menu. Spend the following day making ornaments or exploring the property’s 4,200 acres. Fall activities include horseback riding, biking, hiking, s’mores-making and more. Round out the weekend with a fall harvest lunch on Saturday before heading home.

Vermejo, a Ted Turner Reserve

Image courtesy of Vermejo, a Ted Turner Reserve

Vermejo sits on over half a million acres (yes, really) of land in northern New Mexico. The extensive property has 19 fishable lakes, thousands of wild bison, dozens of miles of streams and so much more. Even better, Vermejo is serious about conservation and protecting its natural setting. Stay in cabins or lodges, cottages or mansion rooms. Accommodations are vast and well equipped — rustic-chic residences with tons of space and lots of character. 

Vermejo is the perfect spot for an old-fashioned Thanksgiving getaway. The staff will tailor your holiday itinerary to you and your family’s style, but it’s worth noting a few highlights: Thanksgiving wine-pairing workshops, stargazing, mixology classes, a private wildlife and history tour, cookie decorating, 3D archery, hiking…The list goes on.

On the big day, run a turkey trot and watch the Macy’s Day Parade in the morning. Feast and play football in the afternoon. (Expect a menu that includes warm apple cider, seafood, herb-brined turkey with sage gravy, green bean casserole and roasted wild mushrooms, among other delights.) End the day with pie and a screening of The Wizard of Oz. 

Fora Perks:

• $100 hotel / resort credit, complimentary sundowner, breakfast daily, an upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
  
  

Thanksgiving in the city: New York

There’s something magical about New York City during the holidays, and Thanksgiving inaugurates the city’s festive season. Store windows take on a snowy, sparkly aesthetic; the Rockettes are in full swing; the city’s arts and entertainment scene is awash with classic holiday favorites (The Nutcracker, Elf the Musical, Mariah Carey, et. al.). 

1 Hotel Central Park

Image courtesy of 1 Hotel Central Park

If you travel to NYC for Thanksgiving, chances are you’ll want to see the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. While it’s definitely a unique experience, it’s also very crowded. In this case especially, it matters where you stay. 1 Hotel Central Park has many rooms that face the parade route. Connecting rooms and spacious suites are ideal for families. (If you can enjoy the procession from the warmth of your hotel room, all the better.) 

You’ll love the property’s eco-chic aesthetic and modern, hip vibe. On Thanksgiving Day, enjoy a brunch buffet (great for refueling after the parade). In the evening, savor a four-course dinner that reflects 1 Hotels’ farm-to-table, sustainable ethos. 

The Whitby Hotel

Images courtesy of The Whitby Hotel

Another option near the parade route is The Whitby Hotel, a beautifully eclectic Firmdale property. You won’t be able to see the parade from your room, but the hotel is close enough to 6th Avenue that you’ll be able to snag a prime spot. Even better, the hotel has connecting rooms that can accommodate up to six. 

The hotel is great for anyone’s first time in NYC, given its proximity to Broadway, Rockefeller Plaza, Central Park and world-class museums like the the Met and MoMa. She also touted Firmdale owner and designer Kit Kemp’s genius design: a mélange of rich palettes, art and even scents.

Fora Perks:

• $100 food / beverage credit, a welcome amenity, breakfast daily & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
  
  

Bonus: Italy is always a good idea

A warning: Thanksgiving in Tuscany may swiftly become a new favorite tradition. 

Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco

Image courtesy of Rosewood Castiglion Del Bosco

This 5,000-acre Tuscan escape lies in Val d’Orcia, near Montalcino. It’s our second top-booked Italy hotel for November, and for good reason. Winelovers will be happy here — the on-site winery produces its own Brunello di Montalcino. Families will also be happy here. The hotel’s Kids’ Club has activities centered on sustainability and environmental stewardship. Kids can pick organic produce in the garden, create art from recycled materials, learn how to compost and make mocktails with herbs grown on site.

This year, the property invites travelers to experience an “Italian-style” Thanksgiving. Adults will love the wine tour and tasting, truffle hunting and cooking class at the hotel’s La Canonica Cooking School. Kids, too, will have their own opportunities to make pizza, pasta and sweet treats. Not to worry: They can temper the sugar high by exploring the local flora and fauna on the property’s nature trails.

Fora Perks:

• €95 food / beverage or spa credit, a welcome amenity, breakfast daily & an upgrade whenever possible.