Ditching Family For Thanksgiving? Try Richmond, Colonial Williamsburg

RICHMOND, VA — Thanksgiving is the lead-off to a string of potentially stressful family gatherings. For every Hallmark-moment where everyone is thrilled to see a horde of relatives hunkered down around a table, there's an equally dysfunctional gathering of people complaining about the food, the host and the travel time.

So if you want to ditch your minefield of a family gathering and just get away, US News has a list of 30 spots to spend the holiday, which is an early Nov. 23 this year on the calendar. Some of the site's destinations seem obvious — Hawaii, Amsterdam, New Orleans, London, Florence, Italy — while others just say surf and sand, like San Diego and Miami Beach.

Also on the list are Virginia historic cities Richmond and Colonial Williamsburg, while Annapolis, Maryland, with its great seafood and historic charm, also made the roster.

Here's what US News says of Richmond:

"With its storied sites, Southern charm and burgeoning culinary scene, Richmond is an enticing Thanksgiving escape for foodies, culture vultures, history lovers and outdoorsy types alike. Along with trendy art- and design-centric hotels like the Quirk Hotel, there are plenty of opportunities to embrace the great outdoors. Cross the James River to Belle Isle for a memorable bike ride or picnic… . And if you opt for a history-filled vacation, get a sense of Richmond's genteel attractions like the Jefferson Hotel and the Valentine Museum. When you're ready to refuel, enjoy traditional Southern cuisine – including fried chicken and biscuits with sausage gravy – at The Roosevelt.

And here's the site's take on Colonial Williamsburg:

Learn about the country's revolutionary heritage with the "Come, Ye Thankful People Come" event at the Hennage Auditorium, when Cliff Williams and John Turner re-enactors recite Thanksgiving songs and hymns the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. If you have a sweet tooth, don't forget to pick up a … pie at Raleigh Tavern Bakery. For more of a history lesson, make your way to Jamestown to delight in Foods and Feasts of Colonial Virginia – a three-day extravaganza that recounts how traditional Revolution-era meals were prepped and other historical details."

Another consideration: spending the holiday in Virginia lets you avoid the increased security screening at the region's airports. All electronic devices larger than cell phones must be taken out of carry-on luggage under procedures recently announced by authorities to strengthen security at airports nationwide. The changes have already been rolled out at BWI Airport.

Items that can be brought through checkpoints will not change, but passengers will be required to remove more of their carry-on belongings and put them into bins on conveyor belts for screening. Cameras, tablets and e-readers are among the items that should be taken out of bags for screening and placed into bins with nothing above or below them, according to the Transportation Security Administration.

PHOTO: In this Tuesday May 1, 2007 file photo, the Colonial Williamsburg Fife and Drum Corp leads a procession during dedication ceremonies for the newly renovated Capitol at the Capitol in Richmond, Va. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)