Thanksgiving is one of America’s most beloved holidays, giving families a chance to share a meal together and reflect on all the things for which they are grateful. The first Thanksgiving dates back to Plymouth, MA in 1621, and each U.S. president declared a yearly celebration of the holiday until Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Thanksgiving into law permanently in 1941. But even though Thanksgiving is centered on family and gratefulness, it’s still become a highly commercialized holiday. That’s apparent from the fact that the next day is Black Friday, one of the biggest shopping days of the year, and a few days later is Cyber Monday, which brings scores of online deals. Last year, consumers spent a little over $300 per person during the five-day period between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday. Luckily, though, it doesn’t cost too much to make a Thanksgiving feast for your family – around $53 on average for 10 people. To help Americans find the best places to go for Thanksgiving without breaking the bank, WalletHub compared the 100 largest U.S. cities based on 20 key metrics. Their data set ranges from the cost of Thanksgiving dinner and share of delayed flights to volunteer opportunities per capita and forecasted precipitation. Check out our top 5: 5. Gilbert, AZ Downtown Gilbert - Istock/DenisTangneyJr Set in Arizona’s “Valley of the Sun” just a stone’s throw from Phoenix and the rocky San Tan Mountains, Gilbert is the biggest small town you’ll ever meet. Gilbert has a vibrant dining scene and offers something for even the most discerning palate. Patios abound and locally sourced ingredients deliver a uniquely Arizona flavor. Gilbert’s diverse and eclectic mix of retail shops and stores make for great discoveries for yourself or a friend. Meet the local makers and support their craft. There are a lot of prominent places to visit and things to do on Thanksgiving in Gilbert. If you are looking for places to eat then you should go for buffets and Thanksgiving dinners in Gilbert, they serve you a feast and make it a scrumptious celebration. Apart from dinners, you can explore some interesting and unique Thanksgiving events in Gilbert, one of the major and annual events definitely would be the Thanksgiving parade. Indulge in this mind blowing experience where there is food, fun and family. If you don’t want to go conventional then you can even opt for races, dinner cruise, yoga classes and more. Gilbert is packed with action from sports to the theater. Mural-clad brick walls, glowing benches, a solo gopher, waterways art, and a color-changing water tower are a few creations found in the Heritage District. Experience the local Broadway theater, historical museum, and gallery to feed your cultural side. 4. Raleigh, NC Downtown Raleigh - Istock/Mark Howard When it comes to food and drinks, the Raleigh area is home to some of the best-kept secret eateries dishing out and serving up some truly awesome experiences. Downtown Raleigh restaurants are offering dine-in or carry-out Turkey Day meals and treats, so there's no need to worry! Raleigh, the capital city of North Carolina, is one of the South’s most vibrant, eclectic cities – where eclectic meets traditional and historic meets modern. Centrally located along the USA's eastern coast, the city forms part of North Carolina’s famed Research Triangle, a wellspring of education, research and technical innovation. You’ll discover outstanding arts and culture (earning the city the nickname “Smithsonian of the South”), a renowned culinary landscape (including the James Beard Foundation's 2019 Best Chef in America, Ashley Christensen) and a music scene that inspired “Rolling Stone” to call Raleigh one of the top eight emerging music cities in the USA. If you get there early in the week (Nov 19th) be sure to check out Raleigh's best (and biggest) annual traditions—the ABC11 Raleigh Christmas Parade! An event truly made for the whole family. The Raleigh Christmas Parade, the largest such parade between Atlanta and Washington, D.C., marches through downtown Raleigh for more than two hours, drawing nearly 80,000 visitors to the streets to see marching bands, dancers, classic cars, superheroes and Santa Claus. 3. Las Vegas, NV Courtesy Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Bureau Las Vegas is a city that was made for entertainment, carved out of the Mojave Desert with escape in mind. Millions of people visit Las Vegas annually to relax, dine, shop, see performers, experience the nightlife and, of course, enjoy a go at the gaming tables. November is a prime time to visit Vegas, with perfect weather, lots to see and do, and some of the best Thanksgiving dining you could ever hope for. With an impressive collection of world-class restaurants — many from highly esteemed and decorated chefs — Vegas is one of the best cities in the world for dining. Experiencing the destination's dining scene on a holiday is even better, as special menus and seasonal items get added into the mix. Vegas also begins to celebrate the holiday season, so you’ll have the treat of seeing the Las Vegas Strip all lit up with holiday decorations. You can also enjoy the Music/Club Scene as the crowds will be smaller but the clubs will still be open – and usually with a lower cover price. 2. Orlando, FL Orlando Christmas Lights - Istock/Monisha Malli Sridharan If you’re spending Thanksgiving in Orlando, be prepared for a cornucopia of fun things to do. Whether you want to hit the theme parks, plan out your Black Friday shopping or find an amazing foodie feast. Thanksgiving in Orlando is an extravagant affair, with bountiful dining options around every corner. Buffets are a big thing for Thanksgiving, as are gourmet brunches, lavish lunches, and opulent dinner events. An array of restaurants at Disney World offer special menus over the Thanksgiving weekend. You’ll find turkey-inspired options at Disney Springs and across all 4 Disney parks. If you don’t fancy heading out you can stock up on fresh produce and cook a Thanksgiving dinner in the comfort of your vacation home. There are plenty of other entertainment options too, with special events, parties, and celebrations happening all over the city. Also, many department stores open late into the evening for the start of the door-busting Black Friday sales. You can also head over to Disney World for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party which features shows, parades, and special fireworks. Epcot’s Candlelight Processional also kicks off around Thanksgiving time. It features rousing music concerts, nightly fireworks, and a re-telling of the Christian nativity story by a line-up of celebrity narrators. 1. Atlanta, GA Atlanta Thanksgiving Marathon - Courtesy of atlantatrackclub.org Georgia has a diverse and abundant list of things to do any time of the year, but especially around the holidays. Shopping, thrills and festive light displays await you. Start a new Thanksgiving tradition with your family this year by lacing up your running shoes or simply watch from the sidelines at this annual, festive Thanksgiving Day half marathon and 5k. Don’t feel like cooking? Check out restaurants that serve delicious Thanksgiving dinners. After the turkey has been tackled and the food coma averted, it’s time to get out and enjoy all that Atlanta has to offer this holiday weekend. From iconic holiday events to music and more, the possibilities for fun are endless in Atlanta. To see additional rankings and methodology click here.

When you jet off on your vacation this year with the kids, you may have plans to visit a theme park or choose a more cultural attraction for the adults to enjoy. These trips can make your vacation extra special. But which comes out as tourists’ favourite attractions when we dive deep into visitor ratings and reviews? The Family Vacation Guide's latest research has us take a look at the US’s most popular attractions to reveal which are rated the highest based on TripAdvisor reviews. From Walt Disney World to Central Park, here are the four highest-rated tourist attractions across the US. 4. Navy Pier Navy Pier - Istock/ferrantraite Chicago, Illinois (open year round) Navy Pier is a 3,300-foot-long pier on the shoreline of Lake Michigan, located in the Streeterville neighborhood of the Near North Side community area in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Navy Pier encompasses over 50 acres of parks, gardens, shops, restaurants, family attractions and exhibition facilities and is one of the top destinations in the Midwestern United States, drawing over nine million visitors annually. It is one of the most visited attractions in the entire Midwest and is Chicago's second-most visited tourist attraction. 3. South Street Seaport Historic District Dante's Negroni Bar - Courtesy of Dante's Negroni Bar New York City, New York (open year round) On the East River. Under the Brooklyn Bridge. Downtown’s downtown. A historic neighborhood reborn. Cobblestones. Row houses. Waterfront views. Raw history imbued by contemporary culture.The Seaport has endured centuries of change. With The Howard Hughes Corporation as its steward, the neighborhood continues to evolve, with an eye on the future.Home to rooftop extravaganzas. Hidden alleyways. The city’s largest outdoor bar. Its oldest lightship. Culinary experiences. Musical happenings. Art encounters. Year-round community programming. NYC history immortalized. 2. Faneuil Hall Market Place Faneuil Hall Market Place - Istock/DenisTangneyJr Boston, Massachusetts (open year round) Located in downtown Boston, steps away from the waterfront, Faneuil Hall is alive today as it was in 1742 when our nation’s fathers proclaimed it “The Cradle of Liberty.” Faneuil Hall Marketplace is actually four great places in one location – Faneuil Hall, Quincy Market, North Market and South Market. Over 70 retailers and 40 office tenants occupy the 200,000 square feet of retail and 160,000 square feet of space on Boston’s iconic mixed use festival marketplace. Customers enjoy unique, locally loved, and nationally recognized shops while indulging in the worldwide cuisine at their restaurants, pubs, and in the world-famous Quincy Market Colonnade. The cobblestone promenades are filled with the music and jaw-dropping routines of world-renowned street performers and musicians. 1. Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Concord Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Concord - Courtesy of thefamilyvacationguide Concord, California (closed Nov - mid May) Six Flags Hurricane Harbour in Concord, California, is ranked at the top of our list of the world’s highest-rated attractions. Hurricane Harbor is Northern California’s biggest waterpark, so it’s easy to see why. In fact, it’s often regarded as one of the best waterparks in the state. Hurricane Harbor sees over 32 million thrillseekers pass through its gates every year and has excellent visitor reviews (79%). The fun-filled waterpark has over 35 world-class thrills, such as heart-pounding waterslides, the region’s largest wave pool, and Northern California’s longest lazy river, so there’s something for the whole family to enjoy and escape the Cali heat. It offers great amenities for family and friends, with private poolside cabanas and picnic groves for birthday parties, family reunions, and get-togethers. Six Flags suspended operations in March 2020 before opening its doors to visitors again in 2021. That was the first season for the waterpark to not operate since its opening in 1995. Click here to see the full rankings and where the US attractions stacked up to the rest of the world.

Mermaids at Sea Life Aquarium Mermaids Dive - Courtesy of Sea Life Aquarium Kansas City, Missouri Now – November 13th These seven magical maidens are a fanta-sea come true! Watch as the mermaids dive into the Ocean Exhibit with sea turtles, sharks, and other aquatic friends. Come see these beautiful mermaids dive with their friends. The dives take place Friday – Sundays at various times. Be sure to look for them on land for some Meet & Greets between 9:30am – 5 pm. Las Vegas Days Rodeo at CORE Arena Las Vegas Days Rodeo - Courtesy of the Las Vegas Days Rodeo Las Vegas, Nevada - November 11 and 12th The rodeo will feature bull riding, barrel racing, team roping, tie-down roping, steer wrestling, saddle bronc riding, breakaway, and bareback riding, with prize purses totaling $40,000 and custom belt buckles for champions. The event will also feature a free Whiskerino contest, Mutton Busting, historical exhibits, and coloring contest for Southern Nevadan children in grades kindergarten through six. The Whiskerino contest returns to the rodeo this year. Free to enter, the contest offers prizes in multiple categories including Longest Beard, Longest Mustache, Best Natural Beard, Worst Beard, and Most Unique. Participants are encouraged to dress in Western attire or early 1900’s period costumes. Registration is open until Oct. 28 on the Plaza’s website. Participants must be present at the rodeo to win. If your child wants to become a cowboy/girl make sure to sign them up for the Mutton Busting! The sheep riding competition is open to children ages 4-10 who weigh less than 60 pounds. The winner gets a commemorative buckle. Registration and more details can be found here. Both nights start at 6 p.m. (gates open at 5 p.m.). Admission is free but RSVP is recommended online. Universal's Holiday Tour at Universal Orlando Grinchmas Courtesy of Universal Orlando Orlando, Florida - November 12 through January 1, 2023 Embarking on an exclusive guided tour - Universal’s Holiday Tour and encounter the mean, green one himself, the Grinch, while enjoying a delicious breakfast during the popular The Grinch & Friends Character Breakfast. Enjoy a meet-and-greet and photo opp with Santa Claus and cap off the night in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade with an exclusive, after-hours showing of “The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle” – a stunning projection of holiday spirit and Christmas moments inspired by the beloved “Harry Potter” stories brought to life on the majestic Hogwarts castle.Tickets begin at $79.99 (plus tax) and separate theme park admission with a 2-Park 1-Day Park-to-Park ticket is required. Illumination: Tree Lights at The Morton Arboretum Human and Nature sculpture Hallow - Courtesy of Morton Arboretum Chicago, Illinois - November 19 through January 7, 2023 You will explore 18 different features along a tree-lined one-mile walking trail immersed in color, light and sound created exclusively for The Morton Arboretum. Within this array, six new exhibits will join returning favorites such as Treemagination and Hug-a-Tree, including a spectacular finale in the Arboretum’s new Grand Garden. This year is the addition of Electric Illumination, an 18 and older late night event, 9:30-11 p.m., Dec. 16, 23 and 30, featuring an eclectic, DJ-curated mix of Trance and Progressive House music synchronized to the breathtaking light displays. IllumiBrew returns for a special pre-opening event Nov. 17 and 18 for guests 21 and older to enjoy craft beer tastings along the Illumination trail. The annual light exhibition highlights the beauty and form of trees in winter. Warm concession tents offer beverages and snacks such as s’mores kits to enjoy by crackling bonfires along the route. In addition to the new Grand Garden spectacular, a traditional favorite, Meadow Lake Magic, will be completely reimagined to include 15-foot-high mirrored towers floating in the water with light beams shooting from atop each into the sky. Among the interactive features will be Shadow Play, a new touch-free wall where guests can express themselves while casting colorful shadows. Two of artist Daniel Popper’s Human+Nature exhibition sculptures will be featured in this year’s exhibition. Illumination tickets are on sale now, ticket prices range from $10 to $35 per person. Children under age 2 will be free of charge. It will open each evening at 4:30 p.m., with the last entry at 8:30 p.m., and lights will go out at 9:30 p.m. with the exception of Electric Illumination late-night hours from 9:30 to 11 p.m..

Bored of your daily routine? Want to relax on a sunny beach or on top of a freezing mountain? A long vacation helps you remove your boredom and rejuvenate with freshness to better battle the daily chores. However, we know many of you, perhaps, are worried about budgeting your vacation. Where does the money come from? What if we tell you that we found the top 7 apps to help you save for your next vacation? Isn't it exciting to let an app manage your budget and keep you on track for your dream holiday? On top of it, we selected these apps carefully so that even a non-tech-savvy person can use them with relative use. Yay for user-friendly technology! #1 - Mint Mint, without a doubt, is the most widespread and renowned budget app. With its intuitive usage and maximum coverage, the app helps in every financing activity of our daily lives. Using Mint, you can track your expenditure, pay bills, and check your credit score with relative ease. You can also link your credit and debit cards and your bank account with the app to record all your financial information. It's just one click away! What's more, Mint is highly secured; you won't have to worry about losing your private information. The best benefit of Mint is it's free and easy to use. Using Mint, you can save your money for tours in the best places to spend a vacation around America. #2 - Qapital Qapital may not be as famous as YNAB or Mint, but it does the job of managing your goals for any plan with perfection. The clever app allows you to set financial goals for different purposes, including your next trip. Once you set your targeted amount and probable date for the trip, the app takes you to a customized screen. Here you can set rules for your expenditure to fulfill your goals. It's AI technology will help you tailor the rules and maximize a user-friendly experience. What's more, once you have set the goal, it will assign an attractive photo next to the rules. As it keeps showing you the progress, you will feel motivated. Last but not least, the app is available on all platforms, including websites, iOS, and Android. #3 - YNAB YNAB is another popular financial and budgeting app for all people. So, you may be already familiar with its name. YNAB stands for You Need A Budget and lets you set a goal for every penny you earn. You can quickly split your budget for housing, lodging, food, and not to mention your future vacation. Since you can split your earnings and keep a record of your spending with a few clicks on the mobile screen, it simply just makes your life easier. Once you set your next vacation goal, the app will update you about the progress. The only downside? You'll need to pay $99 for a year or $14.99 a month once the trial period gets over. But isn't it worth it for your dream vacation? #4 - Trabee Pocket Trabee Pocket is a dedicated app to help you save for your next vacation. The app permits you to set different goals for different requirements of your daily life, including trips and tours. The best feature of the app is its ability to switch and swap between other currencies, which allows you to know exactly how much you need for your favorite tour in the proper currency. Also, it differentiates between your credit and cash purchases, helping you out with how much you have left. It is an excellent way to stop over-expenditure that may deter you from going on your holidays. This feature can be game-changing for those who use travel rewards for credit cards. Also, knowing which credit card offers more flexibility in your post-vacation payment is a winning moment even before your tour. The app is free and available on both Android and iOS platforms. #5 - Digit Are you having trouble budgeting your money and deciding how much you can save each month from visiting somewhere like Disney World or Navagio Beach? Fret not…. Digit, with its nearly endless features, is ready to do the job for you. Once you download the app and connect it with your bank account, and set your vacation goal, it will automatically pull money from the account. So, budgeting and managing your next vacation will get easier and simpler. Once you set your goals, Digit uses its intelligent AI and algorithm to check your daily expenses, purchasing habits, monthly income, and vacation expenditure. Then, it will start deducting money and pull it into your savings without troubling your mind. So, you will save a good amount without even knowing about it. The app offers 30 days of a free trial. After that, you need to pay $5 while signing up. What's more, it provides a 1% saving bonus every 3 months based on your daily spending. #6 - Acorns Is there anyone who hasn't used a piggy bank in their childhood? If kept securely in a piggy bank, even a tiny amount of change and spare money can become a substantial amount over time. Acorns have embraced this concept and applied it to help you save for the next dream vacation. It is a micro-investing intuitive app. The app permits you to save your spare change and get a profitable return according to your goal. You can connect your credit and debit card along with banking information as well. The intelligent algorithm of the app will then transform your spending and purchases into round figures and save the excess amount to return as a good savings strategy. And better yet, it starts merely at $3, and the app is user-friendly with great instructions and an eye-catching design. So, what's your next holiday destination? Set your goal and let one of these apps take charge to fulfill your dream. You will love how these apps will save your money without troubling you daily and fulfills your vacation requirement for a refreshed lifestyle.