One of America’s most beloved holidays is almost here. Thanksgiving allows us to spend time with family, reflect upon what we are grateful for, feast like there is no tomorrow, and nap without guilt.
So, where are the best places to go for Thanksgiving? That, of course, depends on your goal. Let’s examine the question from various angles, including celebrations and traditions, affordability, safety and accessibility, and giving thanks.
In the name of Thanksgiving, I want to thank WalletHub for providing the data for this article. May your employees enjoy lots of turkey and pumpkin pie.
Best Cities for Thanksgiving Celebrations and Traditions
If your main objective is to travel to a place that boasts Thanksgiving celebrations and traditions, Dominique Braxton, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Marketing at Loyola Marymount University, College of Business Administration, says, “The best cities for Thanksgiving vary by preference, but look for family-friendly options like parades, festivals, and cultural events to entertain everyone.”
According to WalletHub’s study, which compared the largest 100 U.S. cities across 18 metrics, the top five cities for celebrations and traditions are San Diego, California; Dallas, Texas; San Francisco, California; Atlanta, Georgia; and Las Vegas, Nevada.
Best Cities for Thanksgiving Affordability
WalletHub provides interesting Thanksgiving fun facts from their studies. However, one fact that is not fun is that consumers spent an average of $321 between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday last year. Considering that we ate and slept most of those hours, that is a lot of cabbage.
So, where are the most affordable cities for Thanksgiving? The winners are Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Toledo, Ohio; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Wichita, Kansas; and Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Best Cities for Thanksgiving Safety and Accessibility
Mom always says, “Safety first!” With hordes of travelers and maniacal shoppers rushing to grab Black Friday merchandise, where are the safest places to celebrate Turkey Day? The winners are Fort Wayne, Indiana; Irvine, California; Boise, Idaho; Chesapeake, Virginia; and Lincoln, Nebraska.
Best Cities for Giving Thanks
Suppose your heart is swelling with gratitude, and you want to find the best place to express thanks. The top cities are Washington, DC; St. Paul, Minnesota; Irving, Texas; Atlanta, Georgia; and Scottsdale, Arizona.
Best Cities Overall for Thanksgiving
Considering all the factors above, what are the top cities in which to celebrate Turkey Day? San Diego tops the list with many 4.5-star restaurants, pumpkin patches, and holiday decoration shops. For a proverbial dollop of whipped cream on your pumpkin pie, San Diego only has a 1% chance of precipitation during Thanksgiving.
Atlanta is the second-best city for Turkey Day, with many holiday decoration stores and highly rated restaurants per capita. The city’s airport performed quite well last year, with flights arriving and departing on time. Only 10% were delayed last November, ranking third-best nationally.
San Francisco is the third-best city for Thanksgiving, scoring strong marks for affordable accommodations. The town boasts many pumpkin patches, holiday decoration stores, and 4.5-star or higher eateries. San Francisco’s Thanksgiving forecast does not include precipitation.
San Jose, California, and Dallas, Texas, finish fourth and fifth, respectively. Dallas is noted for its traditions, such as the Cowboys playing football on Turkey Day. San Jose has many pumpkin patches and a giving community.
Thanksgiving By the Numbers
Before you hit the road for your Thanksgiving adventures (feasting and sweet slumber), I will leave you with some numbers to ponder.
- 1621 – The first Thanksgiving celebration.
- 1863 – Thanksgiving became a national holiday.
- 4 U.S. towns are named Turkey (Arizona, Louisiana, North Carolina, and Texas claim the towns.)
- 8.3 billion calories are consumed each year on Thanksgiving, just from turkey.
- 13% of Americans plan to get takeout or go out to eat for Thanksgiving.
- 46 million turkeys are harvested each year for Thanksgiving.
- 87% of Americans claim to celebrate Thanksgiving.
- 2.5 million spectators typically attend the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade.
- 30% of Americans will travel for the Thanksgiving holiday.
Enjoy Your Thanksgiving
Regardless of your holiday plans, I hope you have a happy Thanksgiving. Enjoy your turkey and pumpkin pie. Safe travels!
If you’re driving, timing matters. Before you hit the road, check out my guide to the best and worst times to drive on Thanksgiving so you can skip the gridlock and savor the journey.
Featured image credit: alexraths via Deposit Photos
