Call your family and tell them you'll see them next month. You know what can't wait until the holidays? A total getaway, booked far from the in-laws and last-minute cranberry sauce-run traffic. Ditch the post-turkey nap (well, not completely鈥攕ee choice number one) and treat yourself to a whirlwind weekend instead.
Hanalei, Kauai
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Book a flight to Kauai and you鈥檒l spend your holiday surfing, drinking fresh papaya juice, and hiking the trails along the rugged Na Pali Coast. Rent a surfboard at and hit the break at Hanalei Bay. Refuel afterward with acai bowls at the Aloha Juice Bar. The 听in nearby Princeville serves a proper Thanksgiving feast with a turkey carving station, sushi, and lobster ravioli.听
Joshua Tree, California
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Joshua Tree National Park is scorching hot midsummer, but come November, temperatures dip to a more palatable 70 degrees. Pitch a tent and cook a Thanksgiving dinner over the campfire at Hidden Valley Campground, which has walk-to access to some of the park鈥檚 classic climbs. Or stay in a vintage Airstream just outside the park entrance at . Get climbing gear and guidebooks at the local climbing shop 听then tackle routes like Double Cross or Sail Away for single-pitch cragging. 听
Bend, Oregon
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If early-season storms nail Bend, Mount Bachelor may have a few trails for skiing and snowboarding by Thanksgiving. If not, the trail running, mountain biking, and climbing are all still good that time of year. Stay at , a former Catholic schoolhouse turned hip lodge with outdoor soaking pools, a movie theater, and on-site restaurant. After playing outside, grab a pint at , which has 19 taps and truffle mac and cheese on the menu.
San Pancho, Mexico
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San Pancho is located just outside of the surfing hotspot of Sayulita. You鈥檒l still have easy access to quality surf breaks, jungle treks, and sea kayaking but without the crowds. Plus, in November, cool ocean breezes replace summer humidity. Many of the restaurants in town serve Thanksgiving dinners (check out Maria鈥檚 Restaurant, La Ola Rica or Cielo Rojo Organic Bistro). Want to cook? The Mega, the main grocery store, sells turkeys this time of year. Stay at for your own palapa in the trees.听
Tofino, British Columbia
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Surfers love Tofino for its serene beauty and laid-back, northwestern feel, and November is as chill as it gets in Tofino. Rent a thick wetsuit and a board at 听and have the break at Cox Bay to yourself. Or get a water taxi to Meares Island and take a hike with views of the surrounding islands. Stay at the , which has an on-site surf school and apr猫s-surf ceviche in their Great Room. Want to go shrimping? Hire , the best fishing guide in town, who offers discounted rates in the winter months.听
Santa Barbara, California
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Burn off that turkey dinner by signing up for the 听(they also have a trail marathon and half marathon) in Santa Barbara鈥檚 Santa Ynez Mountains, taking place the Sunday after Thanksgiving. You can camp at the start of the race at the or get a courtyard room downtown at , which has morning yoga classes and poolside sangria and DJs. Hit up the Santa Barbara farmers鈥 market for all your mashed potato and pumpkin pie needs.听
New Orleans, Louisiana
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Spend Thanksgiving at opening day of the thoroughbred racing season at the track in New Orleans鈥攊t鈥檚 a citywide tradition (and don鈥檛 forget to wear a big hat). Sign up for a 听for alligator sightings through swampy cypress trees or 听through Bayou St. John. The turducken originated in Louisiana鈥攇et yours for Thanksgiving dinner at the . Don鈥檛 miss fried oyster poor boys at .听
Flagstaff, Arizona
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By Thanksgiving, the Arizona Snowbowl will be open for early season riding and they鈥檒l be making snow on about 60 percent of the mountain, plus Flagstaff still has hiking, trail running, and climbing in late November. Sleep in a yurt at the 听or get a room at the historic 听and don鈥檛 miss the holiday lights display at the Little America Hotel. Josephine鈥檚 Modern American Bistro serves Thanksgiving brunch or stock up on an Arizona-raised turkey for your own Thanksgiving meal at .
Frisco, Colorado
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Loveland and Arapahoe Basin are already open for skiing and riding, so you can bet on good snow conditions for Thanksgiving in Frisco, Colorado. Over Thanksgiving, the area has a Turkey Day 5K race, plus a rail jam and a Santa on a snowcat at Copper Mountain. Have dinner at the new 听for locally sourced meats on a wood-fired grill. If you need to catch up on work for a day, head to , a new co-working space downtown.
Boca Raton, Florida
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You鈥檒l come to Boca Raton, Florida, in November for the beach鈥攕urfing, stand-up paddleboarding, reading a book on a beach towel鈥攁nd the pleasantly sunny weather this time of year, but there are plenty of other things to do. Like free yoga on Saturdays at Sanborn Square, a 5K Turkey Trot, trail running at Quiet Waters Park, or wildlife spotting at the Wakodahatchee Wetlands. The 听has 6 a.m. group runs on Saturdays that end at the water.听