Big Parades, Small Cities: Top 5 Thanksgiving Parades Outside Major Cities

When you picture a major Thanksgiving parade, what comes to mind?

I’d wager most Americans imagine New York City’s famous Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. It’s up there in terms of our most beloved holiday celebrations, alongside Fourth of July fireworks displays and Christmas festivals.

But that doesn’t mean it’s Macy’s or nothing on Thanksgiving day.

In fact, there are a handful of other major celebrations that take place across the country. Chicago, Houston, Philadelphia, and Detroit are also high on the list for those who enjoy Thanksgiving fanfare.

But what about the US’s smaller cities?

After all, the US’s smaller cities and quaint towns are full of charm—a type of charm that comes alive during the holiday season. If heading to a parade in a big city is out of the question, then consider penciling in a trip to one of the cities listed below.

Best Thanksgiving parades in small cities

Novant Health Thanksgiving Eve Parade

Charlotte, North Carolina
First launched in 1947

I love that this festivity is scheduled the day before Thanksgiving—meaning it won’t interrupt your holiday plans.

This fantastic parade includes over 100,000 attendees who hug the roadsides to watch massive floats pass by, along with marching bands and other displays. It’s estimated that another two million viewers instead watch from their sofas.

Stamford Downtown Parade

Stamford, Connecticut
First launched in 1994

Similar to North Carolina’s big parade, this Thanksgiving festivity isn’t held on the big day. Stamford’s Thanksgiving parade is scheduled for the Sunday before Thanksgiving, which lets people from around the tri-state area join in.

Usually, more than 100,000 guests show up. Along with the standard float fare, Stamford’s parade includes dancing groups, local celebrities, and plenty of live music. If you can’t make Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in NYC, this is a close second.

Universal’s Holiday Parade Featuring Macy’s

Orlando, Florida
First launched in 2017

This unique and new Thanksgiving parade is part of Universal’s ongoing holiday celebrations. There’s no big day to see the event. Instead, Thanksgiving parades run daily like many other themed festivities.

If you’ll be enjoying Universal during the broader holiday season, be sure to take advantage of the parade. It’s got a high production value that you’d expect from Universal.

America’s Hometown Celebration

Plymouth, Massachusetts
Launched in 1996

Want plenty of historical flare in your Thanksgiving parade? Plymouth puts on a fantastic parade, usually the weekend before the big holiday.

But this display isn’t about larger-than-life floats and balloons shaped like animals. It’s a much more faithful and historical interpretation of the day, which includes exhibits like the Portal to the Past historical village and Thanksgiving Dining at the Plymoth Patuxet Museums.

Ameren Thanks for Giving Parade

St. Louis, Missouri

Launched in 1984

This grand parade runs on the actual holiday—so be prepared to bring your stuffing with you. The St. Louis Thanksgiving closely resembles the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City, albeit on a much smaller scale.

Arrive early to claim good spots, then be prepared for an unending line of floats, marching bands, balloon displays, and special appearances from infamous characters, from Santa Claus to Frosty the Snow Man.

Montana Rentals Perfect for Stargazing this Winter

Though one of the US’s least populous states, Montana is a popular choice for outdoorsy travelers.

It offers a wide range of adventurous possibilities, from snowshoeing during the depths of winter to kayaking down scenic rivers in summer.

It’s the kind of state that rugged and daring travelers return to year after year, regardless of the season.

That being said, not everyone knows that one of Montana’s best-kept natural wonders can only be seen when the sun sets. The Big Sky State, as it happens, is home to more Dark Sky sanctuaries than any other part of the lower 48.

And if you’re heading to Montana this winter with plans to soak up the scenery or ski down its slopes, then you should be bundling in a little bit of stargazing.

The best places to do it are in or near Glacier National Park and Medicine Rocks State Park.

If you’re heading to either area this winter, I recommend staying at one of the Montana rentals located below. I’ve divided my recommendations into two sections based on each Dark Sky sanctuary.

But before we dive in, let’s explore how you can get even more out of stargazing in Montana.

Get more out of stargazing in Montana

I recommend stopping in Helena where you can explore the Montana Learning Center. It’s home to a handful of exhibits, which include the basics of stargazing and astronomy for newcomers.

Best of all, there’s a 25” public telescope that makes it easy to peruse the skies and spot some of our galaxy’s most famous faces.

They also do things like throw ‘Star Parties’, which let the general public come and explore the skies with a little guided help during major astronomical events. There are also distinct adult and children’s programs for those looking to enroll in a course.

On top of the Montana Learning Center, I also suggest checking out Trail to the Stars. This interactive map lets you take a closer look at the best places to spot the stars from parks, campgrounds, and other areas.

For campers, it’s a fantastic resource that lets you create a star-centric camping itinerary. But if you’d rather stay indoors, I suggest doing so at one of the spots listed below.

Best Montana rentals near Glacier National Park

Treetop Cabin with a View

This beautiful A-Frame-style rental is part of the Treetops Glacier lodging site, which includes a few other rentals from the group. That being said, this selection has a highly remote feel—one that’s perfect for a romantic escape and stargazing alike.

Though the rental is fairly small, it has every lux feature a stargazer could hope for, including an outdoor soaking tub so they can bust out the telescope while relaxing after a long day.

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Ten Mile Post

I love the quirky nature of this cabin, along with its wood features. Though the cabin has been around for a while, it’s newly updated with a cute design and quaint features, like the wood-burning fireplace.

There’s also plenty of space to enjoy the outdoors thanks to plenty of seating and a large fire pit. Though surrounded by tall trees, there’s a large clearing where you can gaze at the stars above.

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Glacier hideaway

This highly remote hideaway gives you the best in outback travel and natural wonders. Not only are guests staying inside a stately log cabin, but they also have fantastic on-site amenities to enjoy, like the state-of-the-art hot tub.

Best of all, though you’ll be far off the beaten path, you won’t be far from Glacier National Park and its fantastic dark skies.

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Inside GNP Lakefront Cabin

Want a rental that’s actually located inside national park grounds? This cabin offers breathtaking views of the mountains of Glacier National Park and Lake McDonald.

The historic property includes a beautiful wood-centric interior and a grand, cobbled fireplace. It’s cozy with a classic and slightly dated feel—but those stunning views are what drive interest in this rental.

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Bear Mountain Views of Glacier Park

This rental also includes mountain views and a birds-eye of Lake McDonald. The panoramic views are absolutely worth writing home about—and you can enjoy them from the bed, couch, and more thanks to the great layout of this rental.

Just keep in mind that this unit is a guest house rather than a stand-alone.

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The Ridge at Glacier

This luxury cabin offers a curated yet rustic way to experience the stars outside Glacier National Park. The holiday home is designed with families in mind, offering plenty of space to hang out and outdoors to explore. The wrap-around balcony is especially perfect for spying on the stars at night.

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Best Montana rentals near Medicine Rocks State Park

Meccage Ranch Guest House

This farm stay takes you right to the edge of Medicine Rocks State Park. The rental includes two bedrooms and a fairly basic design and layout.

The trade-off is the local experience, as you’ll get to rub elbows with the hosts and their friendly pups. I’m sure they also have a few tips about the best stargazing in the area.

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The Alberta

This lovely rental in Ekalaka offers plenty of bedrooms for larger groups that want a landing pad during their Montana adventures. But there’s also a large backyard that makes it easy to soak up those night sky views. Just be sure to follow the house rules—this is a historic home that will be restored and cared for in the coming years.

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Inside 2025’s Most Surprising Travel Trend Predictions: Noc-Tourism, Megatrips, & More

Booking.com recently released its nine predictions for travel trends in 2025.

If their predictions are correct, travelers are going to be bucking traditions in the coming years.

According to Booking.com Senior Vice President Arjan Dijk, “In 2025, travelers will be using trips to transform themselves, their relationships and ultimately the world around them.”

Sounds like a pretty high charge for the bachelorette trips to Nashville of yore, but I think that’s the point—

Travel is changing rapidly.

Not just how we travel, but why we want to hit the road and what we expect out of the experience.

Think you can name a few of the biggest trends that could take off next year? Let’s explore the predictions from Booking.com.

Travel trend predictions for 2025

Star-bathing & Noctourism

Nocturism is travel that focuses on dark skies and cooler temperatures, including cool-cations. The ‘noc’ comes from ‘nocturnal’ and includes activities like stargazing.

The idea is that travelers are forgoing sunny and warm destinations in search of cooler climates and lower temperatures. As global daytime temperatures rise, this trend is sure to see more growth in the coming decades—not just in 2025.

Multigenerational travel

This just in: According to Booking.com, travelers and parents alike would rather funnel their savings toward multigenerational trips instead of passing down inheritance money. (My mind is officially blown.)

There’s a strong generational focus here, as the study from Booking has found that Baby Boomers are going to look to alleviate the cost of living crisis by funding some of next year’s family vacations.

Data-driven & AI-based travel

In case you’ve been missing out, AI is now slowly edging into the travel agent and travel planning industries. AI-powered tools are launching all across the travel world—including Booking.com’s new AI trip planner.

Deep revitalization

There’s a rising interest in retreats of all stripes, from outdoor adventures to wellness retreats to more spiritually-focused escapes.

Deep revitalization, according to the trend report, also covers more physical treatments, including red light therapy, cryogenics, and body vibration treatments.

In fact, 58% of the study’s participants said they would travel just to extend their lifespan and improve their well-being.

Thrifting internationally

It looks like a significant number of travelers are looking to bundle shopping into their trip. Most specifically, they want to thrift and find vintage steals while abroad.

While most are in it for the bargains, some are doing so with the hopes of launching boutiques in the United States. Plus, it’s environmentally friendlier to purchase second-hand clothes.

Vacation begins at the airport

A whole 43% of Gen Z participants in this study stated that airports influence where they fly on vacations. As air travel starts to become more inconvenient, travelers want even more out of their airport experience.

They want a wider array of facilities at the airport—and most airports will be more than willing to expand their offerings to capture more travelers.

Women push men to go on men’s-only vacations

I’ve saved my favorite trend for last—one that shocked me just as much as hearing Baby Boomers are spending inheritance cash on family vacations.

I’m talking about the rise of men’s-only vacations. Given the growing interest in women’s-only retreats, I’m not too flabbergasted. After all, why wouldn’t men be interested in similar adventures?

What got my attention here is that it seems to be women pushing their male partners to go on all-boys retreats. A whopping 56% of participants said they would be persuading their partner to organize and go on an all-guys trip.

Looks like 2025 will be a travel year for the #boys.

Winter Wonderlands: Best Railbookers Routes for Christmas Travel

Who doesn’t dream of exploring Europe by train, especially during those scenic, snowy winter months?

Though winter travel can be difficult, it’s often magical.

And just like the United States, European hubs and small towns set up charming Christmas markets each year. Vendors sell warm and delicious drinks while shoppers mill around on the hunt for the perfect gift. Around the continent, these quaint experiences attract thousands of attendees each year.

There’s just one catch for those who want to bridge train travel with Christmas markets…

It’s a pretty complex job to figure out train routes that will take you to the very best Christmas markets across Europe. Plus, it’s a busy season for train travel.

Thankfully, more travel companies are looking to connect the dots for interested travelers. That’s definitely the case with Railbookers, a platform that simplifies train travel around the world. The company offers curated trips that include train routes, tickets, and more.

Looking for a beautiful getaway this winter? I’ve got the best Railbooker routes for you.

Will you be shopping on Black Friday?

Railbookers is offering hefty deals from November 25 – December 8. Make sure to bookmark the page so you can take advantage. Offers are eligible up to two years in advance.

Best Railbookers routes through winter wonderlands

My pick: Vienna, Krakow, Warsaw, Berlin

7 Days & 4 Destinations

Poland should be on your radar no matter what time of year. I’m a little biased given my partner is Polish and we visit the country pretty often, but when it comes to winter delights, this country delivers.

The same is true for many central and eastern European countries, from Hungary to Austria. That’s why I’ve chosen this unique offer.

This Railbookers tour kicks off in Vienna, Austria before heading to Krakow, Poland. You’ll spend two nights in both cities. Krakow’s old town is one of my favorite places on Planet Earth. It’s out of a fairytale storybook—one that’s taken to new heights during the festive Christmas season.

Aside from winter wonderlands, you’ll also be treated to plenty of historical sites. If you like WWII memorials and landmarks, this is also a great selection.

Explore more here

Best for Short Trips: Explore Bavaria and the Romantic Road

9 Days & 5 Destinations

Southern Germany is another one of those fairytale-caliber destinations. From its healthy and sprawling forests to its ancient towns, there’s something for every traveler to enjoy.

But history is an important note here, as with the tour above. The towns included in this itinerary are some of the oldest and most picturesque in the country. You get to explore sites like Residenz Palace and Neuschwanstein Castle.

In the dead of winter, these spots are sure to be dusted with pristine white snow.

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Best views: Heidelberg, Bavaria, & the Alps

12 Days & 6 Destinations

If you’re more interested in soaking up stunning views from a train, then look no further.

This Alps-centric tour takes you high into the mountains of one of the world’s most scenic ranges. The journey starts in Munich, Germany, heading south before finishing in Lucerne, Switzerland.

I really can’t overstate how beautiful the Alps are—and especially during winter. Having spent time amid Norway’s fjords and India’s Himalayan foothills, I can assure you that the Alps meet the hype.

On top of that, countries like Germany, Austria, and Switzerland come alive with winter festivities and are often the peak travel season thanks to this.

Explore more here

Best full-scale trip: European Winter Wonderland

15 Days & 7 Destinations

The title says it all. If you want a close-up of the best winter wonderland scenes in Europe, then stick with this trip.

It’s a little bit long for some at 15 days, but it’ll take you straight into the continent’s most scenic and celebrated winter displays—including Christmas markets. This is also a fantastic gift for any loved ones who have an appreciation for winter delights and Christmas wonders.

I have no idea why Milan is on this list, but it’s another one of my favorite European cities, so why not start with a tour of Duomo?

Explore more here

6 Tricks to Simplify Holiday Air Travel from Goway

Goway is a travel-planning site for travelers who want to pick up and escape—with minimal fuss.

Given Goway’s extensive experience getting travelers from Point A to Point B without stress, the company also has a few expert insights for travelers facing a busy holiday season.

Want to get ahead at the airport without all the fuss and headaches?

Follow these six simple tips. Sometimes life is really that easy.

Tip # 1: Book flights first thing in the morning

Nobody likes waking up early—and definitely not going through security at 6 am. However, the best way to avoid flight delays and cancellations is to get there first. The later in the day your flight is scheduled, the more likely it is to be delayed.

Tip # 2: Give yourself a buffer day

If you need to have a Christmas party on December 22^nd, it’s best to fly to your destination on December 20^th. That’s doubly true if you’re going to be traveling through busy airports and flying out popular flight routes.

Tip # 3: Purchase seat selection

The holidays are a stressful time for air travel. Purchasing a seat protects you from getting a dread middle-row seat. It also prevents you from getting bumped, as airlines are more likely to bump a passenger who hasn’t paid for seat selection.

Tip # 4: Don’t wrap your gifts

It doesn’t matter if you’re checking your bag or bringing a carry-on, wrapped gifts are more likely to flag security agents. At best, a security guard rifles through your bag. At worst, it delays you from getting to your gate on time.

Tip # 5: Book transportation ahead of time

If you’re ordering a car at the airport, be prepared to pay exorbitant prices. Scheduling ahead prevents you from paying for surge pricing during busy times.

Tip # 6: If you’re traveling for the holidays, pre-plan the festivities

Lastly, if you’re heading to a destination for the holidays instead of home, then plan ahead in terms of decorations and meals.

First, ask the hotel concierge to help out with some decorations for your room. Most hotels will help you cobble together some kind of setup because they’re used to hosting families.

Second, call ahead at nearby restaurants to book a classic holiday meal for the big day. Don’t chance it with any last-minute orders.

Coolest Architecture in the US You Haven’t Heard Of

When it comes to well-known architectural feats, the US is home to a handful of standouts.

From the Golden Gate Bridge to the Statue of Liberty to the Gateway Arch, many are well-known around the world. Even some of our public libraries are like works of art.

On a smaller scale, the US is also home to dozens of major projects from world-renowned architects. Feats like Fallingwater from Frank Lloyd Wright remain at the top of the list for tourists, along with rentals and designs by the famous architect.

But what about those lesser-known architectural standouts?

Given the sheer size of the US and the scope of its cultural influences, there are incredible projects in every single state, and you might not have heard of them before.

Want to take a closer look at some of the coolest architecture in the United States? Here are the top picks from across the country.

Thorncrown Chapel

Eureka Springs, Arkansas

This quaint town is bursting with charm. Just outside the city limits and tucked into a mature and green forest awaits an awe-inspiring glass church. Constructed back in 1980, the church has 425 windows for a whopping total of over 6,000 square feet of glass.

Native flagstone was used throughout, which means that this utterly state-of-the-art and modern project somehow blends seamlessly in with the surrounding woodlands.

The Thorncrown Chapel is open to visitors throughout the year aside from in January and February, when it is open only for weddings and religious ceremonies.

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Glass House

New Canaan, Connecticut

This famous historic house museum was once the abode of famous architect Philip Johnson—you may have heard of him and his works before. This minimalist structure includes glass walls that frame the small 56×38-foot dwelling.

Just like Thorncrown Chapel, its glass elements are designed to encourage reflection. But it was completed back in 1949, which makes the Glass House one of the most innovative and impactful modern American projects from the last century.

The Glass House is open to visitors as a historic house museum.

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Bell Works

Holmdel Township, New Jersey

Bell Works is one of the US’s most impactful industrial research and development companies. In fact, this very structure is where Steven Chu discovered laser-cooling techniques that saw him nab a Nobel Prize.

The Bell Works Holmdel Complex is a fitting place for such a discovery. It was known as the ‘biggest mirror ever’ after its completion in 1962. Though stout, brutalist, and plain, this Eero Saarinen project leaves a strong impression on anyone who beholds it.

If you recognize the name Saarinen, that’s probably from his other major projects—which include the Gateway Arch and the TWA Hotel.

But when it comes to Bell Works, what’s inside matters most today. The interior is gargantuan in scale, creating a grand and empowering atmosphere. It’s also open public as a ‘metroburb‘. Sounds fun.

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Rentals in Holmdel Township

Shangri La

Honolulu, Hawaii

Did you know that there’s an Islamic-style mansion located in the heart of Hawaii? And that it’s called Shangri-La?

This construction belonged to Doris Duke, a socialist and tobacco heiress, who was inspired to build a palace of her own thanks to her travels through Morocco, Turkey, Syria, Egypt, and India.

Her interest in Islamic artwork and architecture is immortalized at the Shangri La property, which was completed in 1938. For the next 60 years, Duke filled the grounds with works of fine art.

The grounds also include multiple houses and unique projects that are based on iconic landmarks like the Shalimar Gardens and Chehel Sotoun. I highly suggest exploring photos and galleries of the grounds, as they’re filled with stunning tilework, delightful coves, and other hidden treasures.

Shangri La is open to the public as The Shangri La Museum of Islamic Art, Culture & Design. It regularly includes new exhibits from artists from around the world.

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