Thanksgiving is the perfect time to combine celebration, relaxation, and exploration. Whether you’re looking for a destination that offers festive activities, top-rated dining options, or a charming holiday atmosphere, choosing the right spot can make your Thanksgiving unforgettable.
Newsweek has mapped some of the best places to visit during the holiday, according to research conducted earlier this month by WalletHub.
To determine its findings, the study compared the 100 largest cities in the country across metrics which included safety, affordability, accessibility, and celebrations and traditions.
Claiming the top spot was San Diego.
The report said the Californian city had an “extremely high” number of restaurants with ratings of at least 4.5 stars. The city also had “an abundance” of pumpkin patches and holiday decoration shops, enhancing the holiday spirit.
For those looking to balance the shopping frenzy of the following weekend with charitable giving, San Diego ranks 11th in the nation for the number of charities per capita, according to the study.
Coming in second was Atlanta.
Like San Diego, Atlanta was rated highly for its quantity of holiday decoration stores and highly rated restaurants.
Home of America’s busiest airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, the report touted the reliability of traveling to-and-from the city. Only 10 percent of flights arriving or departing were delayed last November, which was the third-lowest percentage in the U.S., according to WalletHub.
In third was San Francisco.
The report noted San Francisco has “surprisingly affordable” accommodations for a city of its size. It said the starting price for a 3-star hotel room on Thanksgiving is just $60, making it the second-most affordable in the country.
The city is also home to numerous restaurants rated 4.5 stars or higher and offers plenty of pumpkin patches and holiday decoration stores to enhance your celebrations. The research also said San Francisco’s Thanksgiving forecast predicts clear skies with no chance of precipitation.
The cities in the top 10, according to the report were:
- San Diego, California
- Atlanta, Georgia
- San Francisco, California
- San Jose, California
- Dallas, Texas
- Lexington-Fayette, Kentucky
- San Antonio, Texas
- Las Vegas, Nevada
- Louisville, Kentucky
- Orlando, Florida
Newsweek previously mapped the most popular Thanksgiving side dishes in every state, according to research from Allrecipes.
The top five dishes that cemented themselves as a favorite across multiple states were cornbread dressing, candied yams, green bean casserole, sweet potato casserole, and corn pudding.
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