Plimoth Plantation. Photo credit: Simona via Flickr.
Depending on family tradition and your personal views on the importance of Thanksgiving, the fourth Thursday in November (in 2013, Nov. 28) may threaten to bring you major stress about things like cooking (all those veggies—not to mention hours and hours for that Turkey!), cleaning (all those guests), and especially guilt about overeating (after your third plate of mashed potatoes and gravy). Luckily there’s a way to avoid all this (most of it, anyway) if you head out for the holiday and let someone else take care of the celebrations for you—say, in Boston, very near where it all began.
For some top-shelf dining experiences when celebrating Thanksgiving in Boston, consider having your meal at the Top of the Hub Restaurant, the Fairmont Copley Plaza, the Beacon Hill Hotel and Bistro, or the Zephyr on the Charles at Hyatt Regency Cambridge. Or you can go more casual at Temple Bar, Russell House Tavern, or Grafton Street Pub & Grill.
Plymouth (as in Plymouth Rock), where the first Thanksgiving took place in 1621, is less than an hour away from Boston, so you could take a little day trip if you want to reconnect with the New England legends of centuries past. There’s a Thanksgiving at Plimoth Plantation event, where visitors can see historical sites like the English Village, Mayflower II, and Wampanoag Homesite (reservations recommended). There’s also a parade (Nov. 23) at the waterfront—often considered the next-best Thanksgiving Day Parade (after NYC’s Macy’s Day Parade). You’ll see costumed reenactors, floats, drum and bugle corps, and other traditional staples.
If you’re ready to transition to the next holiday, see the Boston Ballet’s famous performance of the Nutcracker, which opens Thanksgiving weekend; also visit the Nova Scotia tree on Boston Common (the first official Christmas tree set up in the city, given to Boston as a gift each year to commemorate its help after a ship explosion in 1917). Boston Common is one of Boston’s top attractions, so it’s a great option.
Whatever you end up doing, be mindful that Thanksgiving is an extremely busy travel day!