Here's something to be thankful for: These restaurants open on Thanksgiving in New Jersey allow you to take the holiday off from meal prep. We've even found a few NJ kid-friendly restaurants offering delicious takeout meals you can just heat and eat at home on Thanksgiving Day. 

Here are 19 restaurants open on Thanksgiving 2025 in NJ, so you can enjoy a holiday feast without the fuss. Call ahead for a Thanksgiving dinner reservation or to pre-order a fully-cooked dinner, and then check out plenty of other ways to use your extra time in our Fall Fun Guide for New Jersey Kids.

Happy Turkey Day!

These restaurants open on Thanksgiving in NYC let New Yorkers of small-space kitchens who prefer rapid-fire take-out options leave the Thanksgiving cooking to someone else. Our picks for restaurants open on Thanksgiving 2025 include family-friendly spots in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island sure to make this Thanksgiving—which falls on Thursday, November 27, 2025—as easy and delicious as possible. Be sure to book your reservations soon.

Now, instead of deep-cleaning your apartment to host those far-flung relatives (and their expectations), you can spend Thanksgiving morning at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. What's more NYC than that?

Be sure to bookmark our Guide to Thanksgiving in NYC for more family-friendly holiday happenings. If you're visiting NYC this Thanksgiving and still looking for a place to stay, check out these family-friendly NYC hotels, or these Midtown hotels with views of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

What if we told you that you didn't have to cook all day?

The meal takes center stage on Thanksgiving Day, but if you'd rather forget the dirty dishes, grocery shopping, and hours of cooking, there are plenty of family-friendly restaurants open on Thanksgiving in Philly for a hassle-free holiday. Catch the Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade in the morning, then relax the rest of the day knowing that the family meal is being handled by the professionals. If you want to enjoy fine dining but don't want to change out of sweatpants, plenty of establishments also offer convenient pickup options.

Reservations are required or strongly encouraged for all of the following restaurants as many fill up in advance. Pre-orders for pickup are also required. Gear up for the rest of the holiday season with our Holiday and Christmas Activity Guide. 

Thanksgiving is nearly upon us, and we know many local families are struggling and could use the help of one of these local organizations offering a free turkey in NYC.

Inflation, job loss, and the extended government shutdown have left many New Yorkers facing food insecurity. With that in mind, we've rounded up 13 local organizations that are stepping up to ensure all who need help filling their tables or getting a hot meal this Thanksgiving can. From free turkey giveaways to take-out options and free holiday meals, here's a helpful guide to where to get help this holiday season.

If you're fortunate enough to have a full pantry and pocketbook, consider donating to one of these exceptional organizations to help others across the city, and put the "thanks" in Thanksgiving by lending a hand at one of these local Thanksgiving volunteer opportunities. You can find more ways to spend the day in our New York City Kids' Guide to Thanksgiving.

The bond between humans and horses has lasted thousands of years. There’s something so powerful and unspoken in the relationship that it seems natural to look to our companions to help enrich our children’s education. Equine-assisted learning programs have been on the rise at New Jersey stables. Interested in learning more and how to introduce your kids to this activity? I was, too, so I decided to visit a local program in Sussex County to find out more.

Read on to learn about where your kids can enjoy some equine-assisted learning at New Jersey stables and find more kid-friendly classes in our New Jersey Kids Guide to Classes.

My 3-year-old daughter and I have recently become NYC play space connoisseurs. Our colorful collection of branded grippy socks is evidence of a winter spent hopping from one new play space to another. So, you can take me at my word when I say Space Club Fort Greene offers out-of-this-world fun.

Read on to find out why this sprawling, artsy space is worth a visit, and find dozens of other cool indoor playgrounds on our list of Brooklyn's best indoor play spaces. For more family fun across the city, check out our NYC Kids Guide to Indoor Play Spaces.

Whether you’re looking for a beach retreat or an adventure-filled trip, Puerto Rico offers a variety of kid-friendly places and activities that turn family vacations into unforgettable experiences. There are so many amazing things to do in Puerto Rico with kids of all ages, from toddlers to teens—lush gardens and rainforests, beautiful beaches, zip lining, horseback riding, guided tours, and so much more.

We've created an unforgettable five-day Puerto Rico itinerary with our insider advice on how to best enjoy Puerto Rico with kids and family. It's filled with the best things to do in San Juan, Puerto Rico (the capital city), as well as El Yungue National Forest, Rincon, bioluminescent bays, and more.

Find our best picks for family friendly hotels in Puerto Rico and visit our Caribbean Family Travel Guide for more tropical vacation ideas, including Mexico and Aruba.