Five Unique Takes on Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Luau, Multiple Islands, Hawaii

Move over, kalua pig, turkey is coming to this party. Some of the Hawaiian Islands' most popular luaus offer special Thanksgiving events that merge island traditions (shell leis, mai tais, torch lighting, and music) with holiday traditions such as roasted turkey and pumpkin pie. Island Breeze Lu'au on the Big Island, as well as The Grand Luau at Honua'ula and the Hyatt Regency on Maui offer Thanksgiving luaus.

Dine with Pilgrims at Plimoth Plantation, Plymouth, Massachusetts

You haven't celebrated Thanksgiving until you've dined with Pilgrims and Native Americans. That's exactly what you get to do at Plimoth Plantation's America's Thanksgiving Dinner. On the menu: roast turkey and traditional New England trimmings, including stuffing, creamed onions, and gingerbread. If you want a truly old-time experience, join a Harvest Dinner with the Pilgrims (offered throughout fall, including the days before and after Thanksgiving, but not on Thanksgiving). The bill of fare includes "Ciderkin," "Mussels Seeth'd with Parsley and Beer," and "Stewed Pompion."

Farm Sanctuary Celebration for the Turkeys, New York and California

Would you rather celebrate with turkeys than eat them? Farm Sanctuary's Celebration for the Turkeys offers a meatless take on the holiday, with turkeys as the guests of honor and a menu packed with traditional Thanksgiving dishes prepared with vegan ingredients. The highlight of the celebration is the Feeding of the Turkeys, when guests watch turkeys rescued from factory-farming operations gobble up their own feast. The celebration takes place on November 11 in Acton, California, and on November 17 in both Orland, California, and Watkins Glen, New York.

Eighteenth-Century Feast at Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

Colonial Williamsburg recreates the town as it would have been in the 18th century. And just as in a real town on Thanksgiving, there are many celebrations, not just a single feast. Opt for traditional favorites at one of the town's taverns, dine on upscale offerings such as turkey-leg confit at the Williamsburg Inn, or indulge in four courses, including a holiday dessert buffet, at Traditions restaurant at the Williamsburg Lodge.

Wild Thanksgiving, San Diego Zoo, California

If your Thanksgivings have been too tame as of late, why not dine among the wild animals at the San Diego Zoo? Albert's Restaurant, which classes up the San Diego Zoo's meal options with sit-down, full-service dining (and is rated four out of five on both Yelp and our sister site TripAdvisor), offers a three-course Thanksgiving dinner with options such as free-range turkey, Skuna Bay salmon, and pumpkin strudel. The dining room overlooks a private waterfall in the heart of the zoo—definitely not your average Thanksgiving setting.

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