Thanksgiving Day is meant for surrounding yourself with family and friends to share an appreciation for life's blessings and one another. But over the years, the holiday celebrations can grow as dry as grandma's stuffing. The women work in the kitchen, the men watch football, and the kids turn to their cellphones and video games to break the boredom. That's a sign that it's time to start a new family tradition with a long weekend getaway to The Caribbean Resort & Villas in Myrtle Beach.
Located on the beautiful South Carolina coast, Myrtle Beach provides the perfect opportunity for families and friends to experience the true American holiday in America's favorite family beach vacation destination. Although getting your crew to break out of its old Thanksgiving Day routine can be a challenge, here are a few ideas to pitch that might bring everyone on board. Myrtle Beach offers a wide range of activities over Thanksgiving weekend to help convince them to pack their bags:
* Beach Day: A beach day in November? Absolutely. In fact, the past few Thanksgivings have been swimsuit weather in Myrtle Beach, and even the average fall days are ideal for a family outing on the beach. The off-season allows visitors plenty of open stretches of sand where you can play a pickup football game or build a sandcastle featuring the family coat of arms. If it is too chilly for swimming in the ocean, The Caribbean has indoor and outdoor heated pools on the oceanfront.
* Family Feast: Myrtle Beach is famous for its dining scene, and Thanksgiving brings out the best in the best. Forget about the cooking and cleaning by enjoying a traditional Thanksgiving feast at a nearby restaurant like Carolina Roadhouse, the House of Blues, Magnolia's at 26th or Simply Southern Smokehouse. Or, if you really want to start a new family tradition, add some surf to the turf at Captain George's or Preston's seafood buffets. For guests at The Caribbean who prefer a private dinner, pick up a carryout order from K&W To Go and make your room at The Caribbean your new home away from home.
* Music Festival: Combine a traditional American holiday with some traditional American music at the 48th Annual South Carolina State Bluegrass Festival. Held at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center, which is about a mile from The Caribbean, this year's three-day shindig features award-winning artists like Dailey & Vincent, The Grascals, The Gibson Brothers, and Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver. Local theaters like The Carolina Opry and Alabama Theatre open their annual Christmas shows in November.
* Play Time: The Grand Strand is like one big playground for families and friends to enjoy, and it doesn’t stop on Thanksgiving weekend. Organize a group golf outing at one of the 80-plus golf courses on the Grand Strand, or play a friendly game of putt-putt for family bragging rights. Want to work off some of that Thanksgiving dinner? Try a road race, like the Grand Strand Turkey Trot 5K on Nov. 23. For a more casual stroll, go for a family walk down the beach, the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk or the historic Golden Mile that starts one block north of The Caribbean.
* Shopping Spree: Savvy holiday shoppers have discovered the magic and savings found on the Grand Strand over Thanksgiving weekend. Not only can you enjoy a family gathering for one holiday, but you can also take advantage of Myrtle Beach's many malls, shopping centers and big-box stores on Black Friday. In fact, some save so much money on holiday gift shopping that it pays for their family vacation and allows them to enjoy the Christmas season with a completed shopping list.
And if that’s not enough to convince the family to start a new Thanksgiving tradition in Myrtle Beach, be sure to tell them about all the other great things the Grand Strand has to offer. From fun, man-made attractions to pristine natural beauty, Myrtle Beach is the perfect place to make some new family holiday memories.
