The 2013 Thanksgiving Family Guide

I’ve had a couple different kinds of Thanksgivings—the more traditional with a big family gathering and the slightly less crowded with my boyfriend’s family. I don’t exactly know what I’ll be doing for Thanksgiving this year, but I do know that I love the whole premise of it, and I think it’s something that everyone can appreciate because that’s what it’s all about: appreciating what you have in life. I also love that it revolves around loved ones and food. Honestly, I can’t think of anything better than that.

To help everyone enjoy the feast, we’ve included a story about accommodating some of the common dietary needs or preferences: vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free. There’s also a story about some of the things college students do for the holiday when away from home. And there’s a piece about places to go if you don’t want to cook and other things to do in the area over the holiday weekend. For the more or less traditional gatherings, we have a story about outdoor games and activities you can play with your family or friends to stay out of the way of the cooks, a piece about manners for your kids before the big family get together and tips on how to get yourself through the holiday without murdering any of your loved ones.

So when you’re getting ready to enjoy your Thanksgiving—whatever version of the day you carry out—pick up this guide and read through our stories to get you prepared for the annual turkey and stuffing pig-out fest.