Maps show the best cities to visit for Thanksgiving

On By Littum

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, or a charming holiday atmosphere, choosing the right place can make your Thanksgiving unforgettable.

Newsweek has mapped out some of the best places to visit during the holidays, according to research conducted earlier this month by WalletHub.

map visualization

To determine the results, the study compared the 100 largest cities in the country across metrics that included safety, affordability, accessibility, and festivities and traditions.

San Diego claimed the top spot.

The report said the California city had an “extremely high” number of restaurants with ratings of at least 4.5 stars. The town also had “an abundance” of pumpkin patches and holiday decoration shops, adding to 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. per capita, according to the study.

In second place came Atlanta.

Like San Diego, Atlanta was rated highly for its abundance of holiday decor stores and highly rated restaurants.

Home to America’s busiest airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, the report highlighted the reliability of travel to and from the city. Just 10 percent of arriving or departing flights were delayed last November, the third-lowest percentage in the U.S., according to WalletHub.

In third place was San Francisco.

The report noted that San Francisco has “surprisingly affordable” housing 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 town is also home to numerous restaurants rated 4.5 stars or higher and offers plenty of pumpkin patches and holiday decor stores to enhance your festivities. The survey also said San Francisco’s Thanksgiving forecast calls for clear skies with no chance of precipitation.

According to the report, the cities in the top 10 were:

  1. San Diego, California
  2. Atlanta, Georgia
  3. San Francisco, California
  4. San Jose, California
  5. Dallas, Texas
  6. Lexington-Fayette, Kentucky
  7. San Antonio, Texas
  8. Las Vegas, Nevada
  9. Louisville, Kentucky
  10. Orlando, Florida

Newsweek previously mapped the most popular Thanksgiving side dishes in each state, according to research from Allrecipes.

The top five dishes that cemented themselves as a multi-state favorite were cornbread dressing, candied yams, green bean casserole, sweet potato casserole and corn pudding.

Got a story we need to cover? Do you have questions about this article? Contact [email protected]