5 Reasons Virginia is the Best Place for Thanksgiving

A real estate blog recently rated Virginia as one of the top ten states to host Thanksgiving, citing data from Facebook and the Center for Disease Control about how likely diners are to ditch the meal for early Black Friday shopping, whether their favorite football teams will turn the day sour and if dietary restrictions will get in the way of a well-rounded meal.

No one should be surprised that Virginia came out on top, but there’s more to a good Virginian Thanksgiving than a low percentage of salmonella-carrying turkeys. Here’s five reasons we think a Virginia Thanksgiving is the best Thanksgiving:

1. A Month of Celebrating

Thanksgiving is already in full swing in Charles City. The festival features period interpretators, a $7 Thanksgiving dinner and a reenactment of the first Thanksgiving. This event sets the stage for a whole month of Thanksgiving festivities across the state.

2. The Real First Thanksgiving

Though many believe the first Thanksgiving happened in Plymouth, historians in Virginia argue that the true first Thanksgiving took place on Dec. 4, 1619 at Berkeley Plantation in Charles City.

3. Virginia Ham

Though turkey is the star on Thanksgiving Day, Virginia ham also shines. And the best Virginia ham comes from...Virginia! Smithfield hams are lauded by chefs as the perfect addition to a holiday table.

Read More: 11 Thanksgiving Recipes Using Virginia Ham

4. Beautiful Mountain Vacation Spots

The Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia have been noticed as a particularly beautiful Thanksgiving get-away. The mountains praised for their natural beauty and charm also have rental cabins complete with warm fireplaces which are perfect for holiday vacationers. Home Away ranks the mountains in the top 10 Thanksgiving travel destinations.

5. Colonial Williamsburg

What better way to celebrate Thanksgiving than feasting with pilgrims? The Thanksgiving Day Feast at Colonial Williamsburg, a town steeped in revolutionary tradition, lets you do just that. It’s an attraction that sends many out-of-staters flocking to Virginia each year.

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