9 Thanksgiving Getaways in California

From frolicking in the Sierra snow to celebrating the SoCal sun, take advantage of the time off and plan your Thanksgiving getaway in California. Go ice skating in Yosemite, dress up for Holiday Tea in San Francisco or see a zoo lit up with a million lights in Palm Springs.

Thanksgiving falls on Thursday November 25, and California also recognizes the following day as a holiday. Happy Holidays!

Yosemite

After seeing record crowds this summer, Yosemite has dropped its reservation requirement and is back to business as usual. The national park has already seen some snow this year, and thanks to a huge storm in October, the famous waterfalls are roaring back to life.

Temperatures are between 32 and 57°F and will get cooler as the elevation increases. Some of the roads will be closed, including Tioga Road and Glacier Point Road.

Depending on the weather, higher elevation trails such as Tuolumne Meadows may also be closed. On the plus side, it’s a great time of year to explore Mariposa Grove to see sequoias in the snow, and there are fewer crowds than in the summer months.

The ice skating rink at Curry Village opens this year on November 12. This open-air ice rink under the towering Half Dome has been operating since 1928, and families can warm up afterward with a hot chocolate by a fire pit.

Camping grounds are still open during the winter at Upper Pines and Camp 4 in Yosemite Valley. Alternatively, cozy up at family-friendly Yosemite Valley Lodge, which is located in Yosemite Valley.

Another popular place to stay is Tenaya Lodge, which is just outside of Yosemite but offers lots of fun family activities, including an indoor pool. 

If you are going as a larger group, Wawona is inside the park and only 30 minutes from Yosemite Valley. We stayed at the Pine Arbor Retreat, which can accommodate up to ten people. It had a big dining table, plenty of seating and huge windows to view the incredible surrounding landscape. This would be a great option if you’re planning to cook your own Thanksgiving dinner.

Tahoe

The ski season starts in Tahoe around Thanksgiving, with Heavenly planning to open on November 19. The major resorts of Heavenly, Squaw (recently renamed to Palisades) Alpine and North Star all have snow-making machines. South Lake Tahoe has already seen some snow this year, a welcome relief after the wildfires that threatened the area this summer.

Temperatures are similar to Yosemite at this time of year, somewhere between 31 and 52°F on average. It’s a great time of year to hit the trails without the crowds, or rent bicycles and cycle around the lake.

You can also take a kayak out, as Waterman’s Landing at Carnelian Bay offers year-round rentals. Prefer not to paddle? Go for a cruise on the MS Dixie, which is pretty much the best way to experience the lake (especially the sunset cruise).

For a winter adventure, Truckee Ice Rink plans to open on November 20 this year.

I love to stay in Tahoe City, where there are plenty of cabins to rent on VRBO, and has a laid-back, small town feel. The Granlibakken or Sunnyside Lodge (the restaurant here is a local favourite) are my recommendations.

However, the big resorts in South Lake Tahoe and North Lake offer ski-lodge luxury if you like being closer to the action. Check out the Marriott Grand Residence in South Lake Tahoe, or the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe at Incline Village.

San Francisco

After a long lockdown, San Francisco is open again – but you will need a mask and show proof of vaccination for indoor activities. San Francisco is famously a foodie city, so it’s the perfect destination for a Thanksgiving feast. Temperatures are mild at this time of year, between 51 and 64°F.

This year, families have the choice of staying in or dining out. Presidio Social Club offers a turkey feast with all the trimmings, ready to eat, for pick-up on Thanksgiving. 

The Fairmont is hosting a Thanksgiving buffet at Laurel Court and from November 26, a special Holiday Tea. On November 27, the famous two-storey Victorian gingerbread house will be unveiled in the lobby, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Or head over to local’s favorite Tommy’s Joynt for a delicious turkey dinner, no reservations required.

On November 29, head over to Union Square at 6 p.m. for the annual tree lighting ceremony. You can also skate at the open-air ice rink, which is open again this year, from November 3.

For accommodation, recently-refurbished Hotel Nikko in Union Square has a pool, private parking and is centrally located. Or head to the Intercontinental Mark Hopkins, which is full of San Franciscan charm and has Top of the Mark, a bar with the best views of the city.

If you prefer to stay like a local, VRBO has listings across the city. 

Santa Cruz

See California’s redwoods and spend time at the beach in Santa Cruz, the charming seaside city located one hour and thirty minutes south from San Francisco. November weather is between 44 and 65°F, which is good for hikes in the mountains.

Santa Cruz has some unique family adventures. Roaring Camp Railroads, an authentic steam train that takes passengers deep into the redwoods, is one of the oldest operating steam trains in the country. Take a trip to the summit of Bear Mountain, or a three-hour trip to the Santa Cruz boardwalk.

Another quirky Santa Cruz attraction is the Mystery Spot, where gravity doesn’t work quite as expected. Or take a hike out to Pogonip, where you can unexpectedly find a goldfish pond among the roots of a redwood on the Lime Kiln trail.

Stay at Dream Inn, an airy beachfront hotel with a pool, located right next to the boardwalk. 

Ventura

For a sunny seaside Thanksgiving, head to the central coastal city of Ventura. Get into the holiday spirit with some downtown shopping, play on the beach or spot humpback whales on a wildlife cruise – there is plenty to do here in November.

The weather is typically mild in November and although it may rain, temperatures are between 51 and 69°F, so warm enough to enjoy a bike ride or beach day.

If you’re looking for a relaxing Thanksgiving meal, the Four Points Sheraton in Ventura Harbor offers dinner at its restaurant. This is also a good-value accommodation option for Ventura, close to the Harbor Village.

Ventura is a good base to explore the central coast region. Santa Barbara is a 30-minute drive north, and the Santa Monica Pier is one hour 30 minutes along the coast to the south. Over Thanksgiving, the giant Ferris wheel will be lit up with an 80-foot turkey!

Aside from the Sheraton, the Ventura Beach Marriott is a good hotel for families. It is located near the pier, is within walking distance to the downtown and has incredible views. If you prefer to stay in an apartment, we stayed here and found it clean and kid-friendly.

Disneyland

What better way to celebrate the holidays than at the happiest place on earth? Disneyland dials up the magic during this time and the cooler weather is a bonus, if you ask me. Temperatures are typically between 52 and 74°F in November.

Of course, it’s going to be crowded, but the park is still limiting numbers due to the pandemic, so it won’t be as busy as usual this year. You will need to make reservations in advance, however, to make sure you don’t miss out.

The busiest days will be the days immediately after Thanksgiving, on the 26 and 27 November, so you might have a quieter experience on the day itself or earlier in the week.

Masks are required by everybody over the age of two indoors but it’s optional outdoors.

Before you buy tickets, check reservations are available on your preferred date here. 

You can get discounted Disneyland tickets from Undercover Tourist, but don’t delay – a price increase is coming soon.

I like the Howard Johnson Wyndham Anaheim for Disney stays. It’s cheap, cheerful, and most importantly, a ten-minute walk to the gates. 

Joshua Tree

Thanksgiving week is the perfect time to visit this iconic national park, when the temperatures fall to between 41 and 70°F. If you don’t mind cold-weather camping, stay in one of the park’s 500 sites, most of which can be reserved in advance at Recreation.gov.

During the day, scramble over rocks on the kid-friendly trails to Hidden Valley and Barker Dam. Explore early ranching history on a tour around Keys Ranch. Look out for wildlife, including big-horned sheep, desert spiny lizards and maybe a desert tortoise.

At night, cozy up under a blanket and enjoy the stars. Joshua Tree Park has some of the darkest skies in California, and in winter you will be able to see the constellations of Orion, Sirius, Gemini and Taurus. If you’re lucky, you will catch a shooting star or two as the Leonids meteor shower peaks from mid-November.

If you don’t want to camp, stay in nearby Twentynine Palms, Joshua Tree or Palm Springs. For a whole Western vibe, check out Pioneertown Motel. About 25 minutes from the park’s entrance, this motel’s rustic exterior hides a chic interior. 

Or stay just four miles from the entrance at Twentynine Palms Fairfield Inn and Suites, which has an outdoor pool.

Palm Springs

The weather in Palm Springs in November is pretty perfect, between 52 and 79°F on average. If you’re craving some sunshine and pool time over Thanksgiving, Palm Springs doesn’t disappoint.

For a five-course Thanksgiving Feast, book a table at Grand Central. The bistro is offering a prix fixe menu, at $69 for adults and $35 for kids under the age of ten. Not a fan of turkey? Copley’s on Palm Canyon has a Thanksgiving menu that includes Scottish salmon and steak options along with the traditional roast.

See a million lights sparkle along to festive music at the Living Desert Zoo for Wildlights, the zoo’s annual holiday tradition. The light show starts on November 24 this year for the public and continues on the 26, 27 and into December.

As a treat, book a resort with its own waterpark. Omni Rancho Las Palmas has multiple water slides, pools, splash pads and, best of all, a lazy river. Or the Hyatt Regency Indian Wells Resort and Spa, which has just opened a water park featuring dueling water slides, a lazy river, outdoor pool and splash pad.

San Diego

With its zoo, beaches and nearby Legoland, San Diego is perhaps the best family vacation destination in California. In November, the temperatures vary between 54 and 70°F, ideal for enjoying all the outdoor activities in this laid-back city.

The famous San Diego Zoo no longer requires reservations to visit, although masks are required for unvaccinated guests in indoor areas. It’s open on Thanksgiving and you can even have your dinner there, at Treetops restaurant.

On November 21, East County, San Diego, kicks off the holiday season with the 75th Annual Mother Goose Parade, featuring bands, floats, horses, and Santa.

Legoland is 30 minutes north of San Diego and the holiday season starts November 20. Check out the 30-foot Lego tree and life-size lego Santa!

For accommodation, the historic Hotel Del Coronado offers charm and luxury. It’s a Hilton property, so can be booked with points if you are a regular traveler. It’s set right on a beautiful beach and you can book your Thanksgiving dinner here too.

If you are traveling as a group, a rental home can accommodate everyone together. An oceanfront condo can cost as little as $300 a night.

Where are you headed this Thanksgiving? Are you seeking snow and cozy cabins or seeking the sunshine? Let me know in the comments!