If you still haven’t made Thanksgiving 2014 travel plans—or, for that matter, Thanksgiving dinner plans—it’s not too late. There are actually great Thanksgiving deals everywhere these days, if you know where to look. In many cases, they’re right in your own backyard.

 

Peter Greenberg went on CBS Saturday Morning to share the latest Thanksgiving hotel package deals—as well as their Thanksgiving dinner menus.

Marriott Harbor Beach Resort & Spa in Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Looking for a Floridian beach getaway this Thanksgiving? The Fort Lauderdale Marriott is making it easy this year by offering a Thanksgiving dinner as well as seven different separate package deals to optimize your stay. The package deal options include the Kids Eat Free package, which starts at $319 per night and, as the deal suggests, lets kids under the age of 12 eat for free. Just use the the promo code MAJ to book. There’s also the Spa Getaway Package, which starts at $389 per night, and includes one spa treatment per day for up to two people with the promo code SPA. Or, you can try the Holiday “Pick Your Package” deal, which lets you choose between a Standard Room starting at $279 a night with a $50 resort credit, or a suite for $639 a night with a $50 kids credit with the promo code P18.

After getting settled, you can make reservations for Thanksgiving dinner. The menu includes dishes like kale with roasted pumpkin, black grouper with seafood saffron jus, chicken breast with crispy yucca and mojo, wild roasted turkey, and pork tenderloin with bottomless mimosas and champagne. Reservations are available at 2 p.m., 4 p.m., or 6:30 p.m. in the Ocean Ballroom and costs $70 per person, not including tax and gratuity.

If you’re feeling restless, take advantage of the events happening in the Fort Lauderdale area, as well as the activities happening right at the Marriott. On Thanksgiving Day, check out the 4th annual Turkey Trot & Paddle. You have the option to either walk along the A1A, run a 5k on the beach, or try standup paddleboarding. Registration costs $35 until Monday November 23, and $40 after. Proceeds benefit the Leadership Broward and iTrace Foundations. If you’d rather stay local, you can explore the Marrriot grounds by taking a swim in the lagoon pool, strolling along the beach, or snorkeling. The Fort Lauderdale Marriott Harbor Beach also offers jet ski rentals.

Whiteface Lodge in Lake Placid, New York

Whiteface Lodge in Lake Placid, New York is offering a deal called the Adirondack Experience Stay and Play Package. The deal is good for two nights and includes a $100 credit for a two-night stay. If you stay three nights, you’ll get a $300 credit and a $100 credit for every extra night you stay. This deal also includes a fireplace in each room and complimentary breakfast.

For Thanksgiving dinner, you can have a three-course meal at the lodge’s restaurant, Kanu. The three-course sit-down meal will be held between 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. and will include include hay-smoked Great White oysters with prosciutto butter and chives, autumn squash risotto, Fledging Crow Farm organic greens, Vermont free-range organic turkey, harpooned Montauk swordfish with kale, and bread and butter pudding. This option costs $78 per person plus tax and gratuity.

For a more intimate experience, dine ensuite. The best part? You get to keep the leftovers. The meal will be delivered between 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. and will include yam and pistachio bisque, spiced pecans and artisanal goat cheese vinaigrette, brioche-chestnut dressing, a 14-16 pound whole roasted organic Vermont turkey, and one pie—either apple or pumpkin. This option costs $275 plus tax and gratuity.

To work off the Thanksgiving feast, Whiteface Lodge offers a plethora of outdoor activities for guests. If you book the package deal and receive the resort credit, you can put that toward on or off-property activities you book through the resort, such as spa treatments or white-water rafting. You can also take advantage of local town activities like hiking, biking, apple picking, fishing, and skiing. If you’d rather have a low-octane weekend, check out the resort’s bowling alley, the 56-seat movie theater with free popcorn, the nightly bonfire with s’mores, private beach, or free equipment rentals.

Harbor View Hotel in Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts

Always wanted to see Martha’s Vineyard, but never wanted to deal with the crowds? Thanksgiving is a great time to explore this quaint island town. The Harbor View Hotel may not be offering any specific deals, but because Thanksgiving is during the off-season, you’ll be able to get rooms at a fraction of the price. While room rates in the summer may soar anywhere between $400 and $500, room rates for Thanksgiving start at $160 per night.

On Thanksgiving Day, the Harbor View Hotel will be hosting a Thanksgiving buffet from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The buffet options will include a pumpkin ale-poached shrimp cocktail, island-harvested oysters, cider-glazed organic turkey, maple-scented butternut squash, petite pepper-crusted sirloin steaks, and an array of desserts from chocolate and vanilla waffles to a warm cranberry apple cobbler with cinnamon chantilly. All guests will also receive a complimentary glass of mulled apple cider. The buffet will cost $59 for adults and $25 for kids 12 and under.

Aside from Thanksgiving dinner, Martha’s Vineyard will be host to a variety of unique events during Thanksgiving weekend. The Island Alpaca Company, an alpaca farm, will be hosting an open house on Thanksgiving day between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. For a $5 donation, enjoy a self-guided walking tour of the farm, a meet and greet with the newest members of the alpaca herd, and an option to buy alpaca-made products. If that’s not your style, try the 18th Annual Thanksgiving Artisans Festival on Friday and Saturday between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. You can buy handmade items made by local artisans and pick up some unique holiday presents. Martha’s Vineyard will be hosting a third festival called the Felix Neck Fall Festival on Friday between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., which is ideal for kids. The event will cost $9 for non-members and will feature hayrides, face painting, live music, wreath making, and crafts for kids. Children under three will be admitted for free.

Surf & Sand Resort in Laguna Beach, California

Laguna Beach is notorious for its endless summer and breathtaking views, but the Surf & Sand Resort is also helping Laguna become an ideal Thanksgiving destination. The Surf & Sand Resort is currently offering five different vacation packages, such as the Night to Remember package. Starting at $475 a night, get breakfast for two, complimentary parking, and a waived resort fee. Another option is the Stay and Spa, which includes a complimentary 50-minute spa treatment for each guest (up to two). Rates start at $640, which means you could save up to $270 a night.

Thanksgiving lunch or dinner will be served at the resort’s restaurant, Splashes, which overlooks the California coast. The three-course prix fixe lunch or dinner will include a spiced beet salad, organic chinook salmon, heritage turkey with rosemary gravy, raspberry cheesecake, pumpkin cheesecake souffle, and others. Lunch will be served between 12 p.m. and 3:45 p.m. and will cost $70 per person plus tax and gratuity, while dinner will be served between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. and will cost $85 per person plus tax and gratuity.

Laguna Beach is a great destination for the artsy and active, and Thanksgiving weekend will be no different. You can visit the Sawdust Art Festival Winter Fantasy the day after Thanksgiving and through the weekend. The festival will include works from 175 artists, which includes jewelry, fused and blown glass, photography, clothing, and sculpture. Enjoy live entertainment, a petting zoo, an appearance from Santa, and food from outdoor cafes. If you can’t get enough art, you’ll run into many boutique galleries just walking around town. Or, just hang out at the hotel for complimentary on-the-beach fitness classes like Tai Chi, beach burn, yoga, and core conditioning. The resort also offers opportunities to paddleboard, surf, bodyboard, and enjoy spa specials like signature massages, manicures, pedicures, and facials.

The Arrabelle in Vail, Colorado

If you’d like to hit Vail during Thanksgiving before all of the tourists begin flooding the streets, the Arrabelle is offering a few deals to help, as well as a special Turkey Day dining experience. The Arrabelle is currently featuring four different deals for winter travel. If you book by November 21, you’ll get two nights for up to 35 percent off, or if you’re ready to hit the slopes and can stay a third night, enjoy three one-day ski passes with your stay.

For Thanksgiving, the Arrabelle will let you tour the kitchen of its restaurant, Tavern on the Square, and meet Executive Chef Douglas Dodd. The feast is a self-serve gourmet buffet, and the options include smoked turkey legs in truffle gravy, house-made sausage stuffing, sweet potato puree, traditional green beans, and cranberry sauce.

If you’re looking for something fun to do on Thanksgiving Day, check out the 8th Annual Eagle-Vail Turkey Trot 5K. The race begins at 9:30 a.m. at the Eagle Vail Pool, and registration costs $15 a person. If you want to say close, enjoy a trip to the spa, to the on-site outdoor ice rink, or check out the 5,289 acres of free skiing space. Or, the Vail Cascade Resort is offering fun events all Thanksgiving weekend, such as kidventure cookie decorating, complimentary spiced cider, a tree lighting ceremony, and kids movies. You could also take a 15-minute drive out of Vail to see the Beaver Creek 34th Annual Tree Lighting on Friday. Enjoy the fireworks, live music, figure skating performances, and a visit from Santa Claus.

The Goring in London, England

Going to be abroad for Thanksgiving? Lucky you; The Goring in London will be hosting a Thanksgiving meal this year. Even Queen Elizabeth II even approves—she gave the Goring a royal warrant for hospitality services. They are offering eight different package deals right now, including The Most Brilliant Rate, which includes complimentary use of the local health club and a daily newspaper. Rates are a bit cheaper now than they will be during the rest of the season—if you book Thanksgiving weekend, you can save 54% compared to another popular winter holiday, New Year’s Eve.

Thanksgiving Dinner will be an English/American fusion meal served in “The Dining Room.” Crafted by the youngest Michelin Star Holder in London, Chef Shay Cooper, this feast will include Dorset crab salad, sweet corn soup, turkey, sweet potatoes, maple syrup glazed carrots, chestnut stuffing, and for dessert, a peanut butter and jelly sandwich topped with cherry sorbet or pumpkin pie. This meal will cost $130 per person.

On your free time, check out the Tower of London Ice Rink. Not only do you get to work off your meal, but you get to do some sightseeing as well—the Tower of London is over 1000 years old. Admission is about $15. Or, if you’re looking to save a few bucks, look no further than Hyde Park, which is holding a Winter Wonderland event. Kids can wander around Santa Land or take a spin on one of the fairground rides, while adults can ride a roller coaster or check out one of the holiday themed bars. Guests can also visit the Built for Lego Fans exhibit, an interactive event will feature meet and greets with professional brick builders and access to the brick marketplace to take Legos home. Admission starts at $22. You can also spend a day stocking up on some unique holiday presents at Harrod’s, where you can find some interesting British treats and keepsakes.

The Inn & Spa at Cedar Falls in Logan, Ohio

The Inn & Spa at Cedar Falls is ideal for a cozy cabin getaway for those who love extra amenities. Located in the Ohio Hocking Hills, the inn will give you a room with a tub, a private porch, a heater, and board games for quiet nights in. They are currently offering a getaway package exclusively for Thanksgiving that includes two nights between November 26-28, deluxe accommodations, one four-course dinner, and Thanksgiving dinner for $459 plus tax for a B&B room or $659 plus tax for a spacious cottage. Just use the promo code THANKS.

Thanksgiving dinner will be served in the Inn & Spa’s 1840s log cabin restaurant, Kindred Spirits. The meal will include traditional Thanksgiving fare, such as turkey and gravy, mashed potatoes, and pie. What’s great about this package is that you don’t have to worry about paying for Thanksgiving dinner, as it’s already included.

Cedar Falls offers several different outdoor activities for the adventurous. You can go hiking at the nearby Cedar Falls and check out the Ash Cave. Or, you can go zip lining with the Hocking Hills Canopy Tours. For a less intense daytime activity, you can check out the Inn & Spa’s gift shop, as well as the artisan shops located in the Hocking Hills. You can also stop by the spa for a variety of treatments, facials, and massages.

For more information about Thanksgiving Travel Deals, check out:

• Thanksgiving Travel 2014: Tips, Trends, and When to Book
• Travel Tip: Planning Your  Trip for Thanksgiving 2014
• Despite Rising Airfares, You Can Still Save on Thanksgiving Travel

By Peter Greenberg for PeterGreenberg.com