Now that fall has finally arrived, it’s time to start looking ahead and make plans for your Thanksgiving holiday weekend. And with all the stress and busyness the annual get-together can often bring with it, why not change things up this year and plan a relaxing getaway for you and your loved ones? Leave the grocery store lines, the long hours in the kitchen and the endless clean-up for everyone else while you enjoy one of these amazing Thanksgiving weekend getaways in Virginia.
Wintergreen Resort, Wintergreen
For the perfect, rustic mountain Thanksgiving, check out Wintergreen Resort in the town by the same name. This small town located in the Blue Ridge Mountains primarily revolves around the year-round resort, which offers everything from skiing and ice skating to mountain biking and golfing. Here, you can enjoy beautiful mountain views while you relax in your guest room or condo and then, when it’s time to eat, dine on Thanksgiving favorites from the hotel’s on-site restaurants, which serve holiday dinners and buffets.
39 Mountain Inn Loop, Nellysford, VA 22958, USA— +1 434-325-2200
Shenandoah National Park, Luray
Another great way to enjoy the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia over Thanksgiving weekend is to visit Shenandoah National Park, one of the best places to see fall foliage in Virginia. Although there are plenty of things to do here, including going for a hike, exploring the Luray Caverns and taking a scenic drive along Skyline Drive, the real trip is Skyland Resort’s annual Thanksgiving Day Buffet. This iconic restaurant features floor-to-ceiling windows that look out over Skyline Drive and the buffet offers everything you could possibly want in a holiday meal and more – including appetizers, salads, roast turkey and roast pork loin entrees, as well as Thanksgiving favorite sides such as cornbread and onion stuffing. To top it off, there’s also a selection of desserts, from pumpkin pie and carrot cake to cranberry apple crisp.
Charles City
For a historically authentic Thanksgiving weekend, make a visit to the town of Charles City, where you can celebrate the first Thanksgiving in the New World at Berkeley Plantation. Although the celebrations begin here weeks before the actual holiday, you can still catch plenty of the festivities over Thanksgiving weekend, including tours of the plantation house, live music, traditional arts and crafts, Native American dances, and, of course, a traditional Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings.
Colonial Virginia at Jamestown Settlement, Williamsburg
History buffs may also want to check out the Food & Feasts of Colonial Virginia event, held at the Jamestown Settlement in Colonial Williamsburg. This event runs from November 24th- 25th, 2023, with live demonstrations of historic cooking and preservation methods. First, costumed living history interpreters will show you how both colonists and Native Americans gathered and prepared their food. And then, you can enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving dinner at the Jamestown Settlement Cafe.
2110 Jamestown Rd, Williamsburg, VA 23185, USA— +1 757-253-4838
Natural Bridge Historic Hotel and Conference Center, Natural Bridge
Back in the mountains of Virginia, the town of Natural Bridge also offers a unique way to celebrate the holiday. First, you and your family can explore the famous phenomenon of the Natural Bridge – a 215-foot high natural arch that dates all the way back to the 1700s and is a Virginia and national landmark. Then, head over to the nearby Natural Bridge Hotel, where you can enjoy a Thanksgiving Day dinner that includes traditional favorites such as roasted turkey and gravy, green bean casserole, and garlic mashed potatoes.
15 Appledore Ln, Natural Bridge, VA 24578, USA— +1 540-291-2121
Tysons Corner
For a slightly more modern and fast-paced holiday weekend, head off to the busy Virginia city of Tysons Corner, located right outside of Washington, D.C. Here, you can spend the weekend exploring the many shops, restaurants and attractions in the area, including the massive Tysons Corner Center. Enjoy a fresh and delicious Thanksgiving meal at the Founding Farmers restaurant.
1961 Chain Bridge Rd, Tysons, VA 22102, USA— +1 703-893-9400
