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OT- Anyone Have a Non-Traditional Thanksgiving?

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

For the last 5 years since we bought our house we have hosted a traditional turkey dinner for friends and family. After last year, I decided that it was too much work and we won't be doing it again because of my health. Now, we're trying to decide what we want to do instead. I'm not cooking- period. This will be the first year that I can remember that I haven't cooked anything for Thanksgiving, and I am looking forward to it. After I announced that last year was my last Thanksgiving to host, I suggested finding a restaurant centrally located between family members and making reservations. Now, my mom is saying that she doesn't know if dad will agree to a restaurant dinner. That's fine, if they don't want to meet us then we will do something else. I'd like to do something fun with the family, and am wondering if anyone here has done something outside the box for Thanksgiving before? I was considering camping in Death Valley until I read that it is both crowded and cold for Thanksgiving. We're thinking about using our passes for the amusement park, and eating the Thanksgiving dinner there. I guess we could do a BBQ at the beach, but it will be cold and it's a long drive. There's always the movies, which are fun on holidays- and we could eat at a restaurant here. Oh- and any suggestions for good restaurants for Thanksgiving dinner are appreciated, too.

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14 replies

Latest reply was from rae

DressLover

Veteran

You mentioned you don't want to travel, but since this sounds like something you'd like to do in subsequent years you should consider going to Napa for Thanksgiving one year. It is beautiful and they cater to your every need. The Wine Train does a traditional dinner, there is a Christmas parade for kids, Calistoga has spa discounts, and Yountville has delightful outdoor festivals. Many wineries and restaurants are open as well.

If you are looking for a good local restaurant for this year, check out Urbanspoon, Chowhound, and Grubstreet. Their reviews and forums are indispensable.

Elly

Veteran

It is kinda silly--- but we cheat! Unless we are having a huge extended-family get together, we do one of two things:

1. Eat thanksgiving dinner together at a cafeteria. Some years this may be at a restaurant like Furr's, other times we eat turkey early at the elementary school cafeteria. (my mother works there, but it would be particularly good if you have elementary kids--- every school district I have ever gone two has invited parents and grandparents to join the kids in the cafeteria on turkey dinner day-- you just let them know ahead of time to make "x" many extra lunches. Working parents may not be able to make it, but it is super fun). Then on the day itself, you could volunteer or do any other activity your family enjoys doing together. Since you don't live somewhere cold, maybe you could go to a fall activity outside (do you have pecan orchards where you live?).

2. Turkey in a crock pot! Small turkeys cook up wonderfully in a crock pot--- my brother discovered this when he was maybe 14, so if he can do it, anyone can! You can put the veggies in with it and then ask other family members to bring a side. Thanksgiving doesn't have to be about being stuffed--- a little turkey, some premade rolls, roasted veggies (potatoes, carrots, ect), premade salad, and a bought or brought pie and you are set. You can also do turkey roasts in the crock pot (large turkey breasts rolled and trussed to make a roast-- you can buy them in the grocery). Not any more difficult than barbeque-- especially if someone else agrees to clean up. Or beer can chickens on the barbeque. Yum.

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

I second the beer can chicken on the BBQ. My favorite, hands down, any day.

Mmmm, *drools*

Sarah

Veteran

A couple of years ago we invited our sons, their friends and our friends to our house for a soul food Thanksgiving dinner that we ordered from a restaurant in Denver. The food was amazing and all we had to do was put the dishes in the dishwasher at the end of the day.

It was lovely and memorable.

MsMary

Veteran

When I was a kid we went to Disneyland for a couple of Thanksgivings. It was awesome.

A couple of years ago I was hosting Thanksgiving for a crowd and got super busy with school and work so I had the dinner catered -- including having somebody come in to serve and clean up. It was beyond awesome, most notably because I got to actually spend time with my guests!

And for the past 10 years or so we have foregone a traditional Christmas celebration and had takeout Chinese food and watched football on TV. We love it because it's low key and low stress. You could totally do that for Thanksgiving, too.

Queen Mum

Veteran

I like your amusement park idea. That sounds like fun.
Since we moved up north away from my family, we have done different things. For a couple years we went to Black Angus and then to the movies. It was a fun day, but honestly, the dinner wasn't worth the crowd, the price, and the wait (even though we had reservations) Not everyone is open for Thanksgiving which makes it tricky. I do know that one year, my family in LA all went to the Queen Mary for T-Giving dinner and really enjoyed it. That would be a bit of a drive for you though.

haha- I'm reminded of the one Thanksgiving that we were living in LA and we were doing Thanksgiving at my sisters who lives in your area. We had a 2 week old baby who screamed for the whole 2 hour drive. I arrived disheveled, shot nerves and in near tears myself. ah, such sweet memories

MsMaven

Veteran

My kids don't come home for Thanksgiving anymore. Some years I have gone to my sister's house, but now she has grandkids and goes to her daughter's house. (5 hour drive.) For the last several few years we have gone to the Thanksgiving Brunch at the Fairmont Hotel in downtown San Jose. (I posted a few photos from last year there.) The banquet is fabulous--it includes the traditional and also ethnic foods. It is fun to people watch--so many people from different parts of the world along with children of all ages. Also, they keep refilling the champagne glasses. We--well I do--plan to do it this year. We will be joining family in Chicago for Christmas.

D'Ellen

Veteran

Speaking of sweet memories, my most memorable Thanksgiving was several years ago when hubby and I decided to take a scenic drive through an adjoining state with our elderly and persnickity Jack Russell Terrier who had always enjoyed road trips. We left home in the pouring rain, which continued throughout the day along with increasing fog. We stopped for dinner at a mom-and-pop restaurant in a quaint little town, which was the good part of the trip. The rain and fog continued, and whatever was scenic could not be seen. When we arrived at our overnight destination it was still pouring rain. Miss JRT was loath to get her feet wet pottying in the rain. The motel room wasn't to her liking. She paced relentlessly giving us the evil-eye. We finally decided to go to bed and hope for a better tomorrow. The dog had other ideas. We headed for home at 3:00 AM. After vomiting in the car on a curvy section of road, she zonked out in the back seat. About half-way home we stopped at a rest area to take a much needed nap. The dog had other ideas. By then she was wide awake and ready for a walk...in the still pouring rain. We arrived home a couple of hours later and fell into bed exhausted, the dog between us with a grin on her face.

Since then we've done Thanksgiving the traditional way...family, friends and cooking at our house. It's much easier!

hillview

I am a BIG fan of non traditional. We have gone out to a restaurant several times (where Turkey is an option but there is a menu -- hate buffets). We have ordered the fixings and eaten at home. This year we are going away somewhere warm and I need to make reservations. Thanksgiving isn't my thing traditional style.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Yeah, I traditionally work Thanksgiving, where a surprising number of tourists have also opted out of cooking the traditional meal and instead go skiing and eat out. This year I'll likely be off, though. Might be fun to swap roles and actually cook for once. The only time I remember cooking Thanksgiving dinner was when I lived in Vegas and thought I'd host all the other friends with out of town families - only to have not a single one show up! There was a lot of food to get through for my BF at the time and I, down to homemade Irish cream for after dinner coffees and a lovely fruit tray for appetizers . . .

Isis

Veteran

We often go camping for Thanksgiving and I love it! While Death Valley may be crowded and cold, perhaps there is a smaller less popular place nearby.

We did this before we were married, and have frequently also done this with kids.

We make a traditional Thanksgiving dinner over a campfire. We wrap sweet potatoes in foil and those go on the coal. We also make individual serving foil packets that each contain some green beans, stuffing (purchased), and a turkey cutlet (these cook quickly). We bring cranberry sauce. For dessert we bring a purchased pie and roast marshmellows.

During the day we go for hikes, play cards and relax. The dinner doesn't take long to cook, and there is no cleanup. We don't do this every year, but we really love it when we do!

Janet

(website)

Veteran

A few times over the years we have celebrated the day by helping to serve dinner at a Baltimore homeless shelter. It was a lovely alternative for us, since we didn't have a lot of relatives close who required a big traditional dinner with us.

The last few years my mom was alive, she wanted us to come see her for Thanksgiving, but she no longer had the energy to cook a full dinner. So a couple of times, we cheated! We got pre-prepared turkey and side dishes from Whole Foods and took the feast to her! Its not the cheapest solution, but it was a nice treat. There were also one or two years when we went out to a nice restaurant for dinner. It can be good to have a break from the tradition now and then.

Since we bought our house five years ago, we've started hosting large TDay dinners for family and friends (we've had anywhere from 10-16 people), but on the saturday night after the holiday. This allows my stepsons to see their mom on TDay and still have a holiday with us as well.

Desmo April

(website)

Veteran

Thanksgiving is pretty much always non-traditional for us.

First, both of our families are in NY and we're in SoCal. By personal choice I refuse to travel home for the holidays. A lot of reasons go into that that but mainly it's a fortune, time-off is tough to coordinate, it's chaotic and I have a MUCH better time visiting at other times. Second, its really hard for my husband to get holidays off and he usually works Thursdays.

Last year he had the whole weekend off so we did a short trip to Vegas. That was nice for us because everything is open but its probably not what you are looking for.. Another favorite is to take a trip up into the mountains.

What about Wrightwood or Big Bear for you?

rae

(website)

Veteran

I used to go camping in Indio with my bff's family every Thanksgiving. It's warm during the day, and not too cold at night if you have lots of blankets and perhaps someone to cuddle.

Thanksgiving might be different, but we've gone out for Chinese and Korean food for Christmas.