The Ultimate Guide to Experiencing Thanksgiving in the USA

A British Traveller’s Luxury Edition

Thanksgiving in the United States is one of the most iconic, atmospheric and meaningful holidays in the American calendar.

And even though we don’t celebrate it here in the UK, it offers a beautiful opportunity for travel: crisp air, golden leaves, cosy dinners, parades, snowy mountains, and cities just starting to sparkle with early Christmas magic.

This is your complete guide to experiencing Thanksgiving like a local.

What Thanksgiving Actually Means

Thanksgiving began as a 1621 harvest feast shared between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag tribe in Massachusetts.

Over the centuries, it became a national holiday rooted in gratitude, family, generosity and food.

Today, Thanksgiving feels like:

• long afternoons in warm kitchens

• friends returning home

• cosy sweaters and football games

• pumpkin pie and cranberry sauce

• parades and early festive magic

For travellers, the entire country feels like a warm hug.

THE TOP THANKSGIVING DESTINATIONS FOR TRAVELLERS

1. New York City: The Classic Thanksgiving Experience

New York is the beating heart of Thanksgiving.

The Macy’s Parade glides through Manhattan with giant balloons, marching bands, and holiday excitement. Christmas lights begin to sparkle, the air feels crisp, and the whole city buzzes.

Stay: The Whitby Hotel - Boutique charm, maximalist interiors, artistic and warm.

Best Thanksgiving dinners: The Smith - A polished, modern Thanksgiving dinner menu.

Best pumpkin pie: Little Pie Company

Black Friday in NYC: Think Fifth Avenue, Soho and West Village boutiques offering genuine discounts, buzzing crowds, Christmas music and decorated storefronts.

2. Brooklyn: Thanksgiving Like a Local

Brooklyn is arguably the coolest place to spend the holiday: warm bakeries, neighbourhood cafés, independent wine shops and brownstone-lined streets.

Stay: The William Vale - Modern, stylish and youthful.

Where to eat: Leland Eating and Drinking House - A neighbourhood favourite.

Where to get pumpkin pie: Four & Twenty Blackbirds

3. Vermont & New England: A True Cosy Thanksgiving

Imagine cosy cabins, dense forests, snowy mountains and the real feeling of American autumn. New England is where Thanksgiving began - and there’s nowhere more authentic.

Stay: Twin Farms, Vermont - A bucket-list, adults-only retreat.

Best Thanksgiving dining: Red Lion Inn, Massachusetts - Historical and festive.

Best pumpkin pie: Any independent New England bakery - they take it seriously.

Black Friday: Think quaint boutiques decorated for Christmas, small-town charm, and artisan goods.

4. Charleston, South Carolina: Warm and Elegant

Charleston is a dream in late November - warm weather, blooming window boxes, Southern charm, horse-drawn carriages, and some of the best cuisine in America.

Stay: The Dewberry