How to enjoy the rest of Thanksgiving weekend

Nov 13, 2012

Kori Ellis is an editor and writer based in San Antonio, TX, where she lives with her husband and four children. At SheKnows, she writes about parenting, fashion, beauty and other lifestyle topics. Additionally, Kori has been published i...

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Thanksgiving weekend family fun

After you've cleared away the dishes and put away the leftovers after Thanksgiving dinner, you have plenty time left to enjoy the holiday weekend — and not just by shopping on Black Friday. We talked to several moms to find out how they enjoy the rest of Thanksgiving weekend.

Girls' night out

If you haven't been out with your girlfriends in a while, Thanksgiving night may be a good time. Many clubs, bars and restaurants are hoppin' on Thursdays and hold special events for the holiday. If drinking and dancing don't interest your group, head to the spa or salon over the weekend for some relaxation and rejuvenation.

"There are not many times that all my BFFs have the same night off," explains mom Janice Jameson. "So, we take advantage of having the Friday after Thanksgiving off and make it a special night out for just us girls."

Check out these essentials for girls' night out >>

Post-Thanksgiving brunch

Not quite finished with the family celebration? Spend a bit more time with friends and family the morning after Thanksgiving and host a Thanksgiving brunch in your home. Or, let everyone relax and go out to eat together and enjoy being waited on.

"Our extended family sleeps over on Thanksgiving night, then the men all get up and cook brunch for the whole clan," says mother of five, Susan Brooks. "It's heaven!"

Road trip

More ideas

Consider these other ideas for Thanksgiving weekend family fun:

Decorate your house and hang the Christmas lights
Volunteer together as a family
Head to the Christmas tree farm to pick your tree
Go bowling with the kids
Roast marshmallows and make s'mores
Rent Christmas movies and get in the holiday spirit
Go on a nature hike in a nearby park

A road trip doesn't have to be a long distance. Pull out a map and pick somewhere just a few hours away from home. Your kids will love exploring and learning about small towns and unique attractions right in your home state.

"We can't afford elaborate vacations right now," says mom of four boys, Jessica Stahl. "So after Thanksgiving, we head to the mountains for a weekend of camping and we have a blast."

Read about these simple tips for road trips with kids >>

Christmas crafts

Encourage your kids to give gifts that they can make with their own hands for Christmas this year. The day after Thanksgiving, break out the arts and crafts supplies and make candles, string necklaces, paint pictures and create other handmade gifts.

"Our kids love to make special personalized T-shirts with fabric paint for Christmas gifts," says mom and attorney Jillian Sparks. "You can buy cheap tees for a couple bucks a piece at the swap meet or flea market."