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The Road Tripper's Manual: Unique Thanksgiving Celebrations

Discover a new way to spend Thanksgiving this year

Sitting around the house watching football and stuffing yourself silly has its appeal. But maybe it's time for a new Thanksgiving tradition. Maybe it's time to hop in your vehicle for the Thanksgiving holiday weekend and check out these unique Thanksgiving celebrations.

Pennsylvania Dutch Country. Get a taste of natural beauty along with the taste of a delicious Thanksgiving feast. The area west of Philadelphia offers numerous Amish-themed family style restaurants ready to serve a bountiful feast. Since you're already in the area, you might as well head to the Landis Valley Museum, which recreates country style celebrations from ages past. If you want to get a nice start on the Christmas season, you can't go wrong with a visit to Bethlehem—Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, that is.

Plymouth, Massachusetts. What could be better this Thanksgiving than visiting the home of the original Thanksgiving? Take a boat tour on a replica of the original Mayflower. While you're there, take in a concert, food festival, and the town's annual Thanksgiving parade. Plymouth brings history to life over the holiday weekend with pilgrims, soldiers, patriots, and pioneers milling about town.

San Diego. Thanksgiving is associated with leaves turning color, football, and the onset of cold weather. Why be in such a hurry to be cold? Instead, take advantage of the four-day weekend and take the kids on a road trip to beautiful Southern California, where you can be thankful for the San Diego Zoo and some of the nicest beaches on the West Coast. Don't worry. There are plenty of restaurants that will gladly serve up a feast and you can still watch football on TV—or you can listen to the game while enjoying a ride up the Pacific Coast Highway.

Arizona. If you're out west, you don't need to travel to New England to appreciate the Thanksgiving legacy of Native Americans. Arizona, home to dozens of reservations, is a great place to learn about Native American culture. Arizona's mild fall and winter climate allow you to enjoy a scenic drive on the Apache Trail near Phoenix. This well-traveled road offers scenic views of canyons, geologic formations, desert plants and trees, and desert and lake views. In Northern Arizona, there's also this little hole in the ground known as the Grand Canyon, not a bad spot for a Thanksgiving picnic or scenic drive.

New York. Other than Pilgrims and Natives feasting on a beautiful fall day in New England, nothing brings forth memories of Thanksgiving like the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. Instead of watching it on TV this year, hop in the car and head to the Big Apple to see it in person. Afterwards, there'll be plenty of shops to help you get a head start on your Christmas shopping.

St. Augustine, Florida. The oldest permanent settlement in the United States also claims to have held the first Thanksgiving-like celebration on Sept. 8, 1565, 56 years ahead of the pilgrims. According to legend, Spanish explorer Pedro Menendez de Aviles celebrated the establishment of the St. Augustine Church by feasting with the Timucuan Indians.