Enjoy a Family Thanksgiving on the Road

Thanksgiving is a time to spend with family and friends, but when you find yourself on the road and away from home with your family during this beloved holiday, it takes a little more creativity to make those holiday moments enjoyable.

Thanksgiving is well-known as one of the busiest times of the year for traveling, as most people need to travel at least a little bit in order to spend the day with loved ones. Whether you are visiting distant loved ones or simply taking advantage of the time off to sneak in a quick family vacation, there are ways to make the holiday special for your family, wherever you are.

Be sure to give your travel schedule plenty of wiggle room. The holiday is meant for enjoying time with loved ones and short tempers and irritated family members don’t make for good company, so, if possible, avoid rushing your trip. A short layover at an airport will definitely save time but missing that connection could mean missing the holiday altogether.

If you are taking a road trip make sure you remember why road trips are an American tradition. They let us see the countryside and all of the quirky little stops between home and our destination. If your family wants to stop and do something spontaneous along the way, by all means — indulge! Keep in mind the holiday is about family. Those memories of your stop at the world’s largest thermometer might just be more memorable than the roast turkey at this year’s Thanksgiving dinner.

Plan your trip around something the whole family can enjoy. If you are visiting family in Florida, it may be the perfect opportunity to take the kids to Disney World. Most of us have a few days off during the holiday, making it the perfect time to enjoy a little mini-vacation.

We all get used to our own family traditions, and that includes some of our favorite recipes and treats. While your meal is sure to be good wherever you eat as long as you are with your loved ones, no one’s cooking is quite like Mom’s, so your kids might be a little homesick without your usual menu. If you plan to visit friends or family for the holiday, ask your host if you can make one of your family’s favorite side dishes to add to the meal. After all, Thanksgiving dinner is the one meal of the year when everyone famously overeats, so one more dish isn’t going to spoil the menu.

The most important thing about spending the holiday away from home, no matter where you are and who you are with, is to remember to give thanks for what you have. Our families are our most prized possession and letting them know how thankful we will surely make the holiday special, no matter how far from home you are.