There's more to Thanksgiving family time than turkey. If you're not prepping the main event or if dinner wraps up early, you might be left wondering, "Now what?" Use the time to make some extra-special Thanksgiving memories with the kids.

We've rounded up a bunch of ideas to get you going, including turkey trots, holiday light displays, and visits with animals at NJ zoos and aquariums.

Check out our roundup of NJ restaurants open on Thanksgiving and skip kitchen duty this year, or take a gander at our story on NJ fall day trips for other ways to get out of the house. 

Looking for the perfect family vacation in the mountains? My Florida-based family loves Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, home to endless family-friendly attractions and outdoor recreation opportunities. We've visited this beautiful southern vacation spot several times and always find new things to do in Gatlinburg and new kids' activities in Pigeon Forge for all ages to enjoy.

It helps that both of these Tennessee towns are just moments away from two of the area's top attractions: Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Dollywood. And with so many family-friendly Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge hotels, plus cabins in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, you won’t have trouble finding a great place to stay.

Read on for our extensive list of things to do in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, TN with kids. Our Southern States Vacation Guide also includes our lists of the best Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg hotels for families and our guide to visiting Dollywood with kids.

Elf on the Shelf is back! It's almost the holidays, so it's almost time for Elf on the Shelf. Elves typically arrive sometime after Thanksgiving and return to the North Pole on Christmas Day, giving families about a month to fill with hilarious Elf on the Shelf ideas.

Like any good house guest, your elf should be able to keep mischievous acts mostly mess-free and easy to set up. We've put together a list of 50 easy ideas that are also impressive elf antics that delight kids— including funny Elf on the Shelf ideas, easy Elf on the Shelf ideas, and last-minute Elf on the Shelf ideas for hectic mornings. Did we mention they don't take a lot of time to set up and require very few props?

Find more Christmas activities and crafts for kids, plus other fun things to do this season, in our Christmas and Holiday Fun Guide.

Take pictures with Santa Claus without having to travel to the North Pole! St. Nick is all over Atlanta to usher in this magical holiday season with photo ops, meet-and-greets, and Santa breakfasts with your little ones. Dress your kids in cute holiday outfits and take pictures with Santa for lasting memories. Capture candid photos with Santa at tree lightings, holiday festivals, or mealtimes; or reserve a professional Santa photo shoot at a local mall. In some instances, you can even bring Fido for a Santa photo!