When the feasting and festivities of Thanksgiving are done you can head straight to the malls to stand in lines and fight crowds for “incredible deals” on everything from toasters to televisions that you may or may not actually need, or you can find creative ways to spend the day with family making the most of the long weekend. Check out these ideas for meaningful ways to spend Black Friday without suffering through the throngs of deal-seekers just to save a few bucks.
Get some off-season “spring” cleaning done. It may not be spring but instead of shopping to fill your house with more clutter, spend the time cleaning out the house to rid yourself of things you no longer want or need. When you do this as a family you can get a lot accomplished and take advantage of the opportunity to rehash memories of how you got some of your most treasured possessions.
This is also a great way to help those less fortunate — and what better time to do that than during the Thanksgiving holiday? After you’ve cleaned out your closets, take those gently used items to a local homeless shelter. It’s not only a great way to clean out the clutter but it teaches kids the value of giving back.
Instead of being indoors shopping all day head out into the wilderness for some fresh air. The day after Thanksgiving is a great day for a hike with the family. Pick one of your favorite trails and enjoy the crisp, fall air and the beautiful colors of the fall foliage. While everyone else is at the mall getting discounts on things they don’t really need you can enjoy family time with the uncrowded serenity of Mother Nature.
Make it a family movie day. Thanksgiving is a popular release date for new movies, giving you a great opportunity to have fun with the family when everyone has the day off to play around.
Plan an after-party with the family. You don’t have to let the festivities stop at the end of Thanksgiving Day and, since many people are torn between having multiple places to visit on the same day, make it fun and easy for everyone by getting together on Black Friday. This way the stress of meeting multiple commitments is out of the picture. (Helpful hint: It’s also a great way to use up those leftovers!)
Read This Next
5 Family-Friendly Museums in Charleston
Destinations / North America
Aug 22, 2024#WhereverFamily
Insta FeedDestinations / North America
Jul 9, 20265 Places to Have a European-Style Vacation Without Leaving the Country
Flying isn’t cheap, especially for a whole family. Luckily, if you want a European vacation but it just isn’t in the budget, you can get creative with your destination and have a European-style vacation without ever leaving the country.
Sponsored Content
Best of Both Worlds
Enjoy the best of both worlds when you fly with TAP Air Portugal thanks to the Portugal Stopover program. With the program, TAP passengers, whether traveling for business, leisure or both, can stop in Portugal for up to 10 days at no additional airfare on the way to their final destination. What does this mean for travelers wishing to explore by both land and sea? It means after flying to Portugal with TAP and experiencing the country in an entirely new way, travelers can then embark on scenic river and ocean cruises from Portugal’s port cities, or fly with TAP to another European destination.
Destinations / Latin America
Jul 9, 20268 Savannah, Georgia, Destinations for Family Travel
It’s time to start dreaming of your next family trip. Here’s some destination inspiration for you. Take a visual journey through Savannah, Georgia, with us.
Hotels
Jul 9, 2026Refreshed Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa Elevates Family Getaways
Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa, a 560-room resort in the Greater Palm Springs area, recently completed a comprehensive, multimillion-dollar renovation. With the updates come new resort experiences, a Kids Eat Free package, new pickleball courts, upgraded poolside cabanas, the debut of Seven Olive Modern Gastropub and Topgolf Swing Suites, and more.
Destinations / Europe
Jul 8, 2026A Trip to London: Exploring the South Bank
Courtesy of a night spent at London’s Sea Containers hotel, I had the opportunity to explore the South Bank neighborhood. Let’s dive into some family-friendly highlights:
Destinations / North America
Jul 8, 2026Summer Fun Awaits in New Hampshire’s Lakes
When you’re traveling in New Hampshire, you’re never far from water. Although its Atlantic coastline is short, lakes — including New England’s largest — are scattered throughout the state, so family travelers will have plenty of opportunities for swimming and water sports.
ShareThis