For many adults, Thanksgiving is a time to enjoy delicious food, gather with friends and family, and express gratitude. But for kids, it’s a time you’re stuck inside all day long waiting for the main event. With schools and most businesses closed, it can be tough to find a way to entertain stir-crazy kids while you’re waiting for the turkey to finish roasting or biding your time until you head over to a family gathering.

We’ve tracked down the best attractions that are still open during the holiday, whether you’re looking for a post-feast evening activity, or some morning fun before a reservation at any of the family-friendly restaurants offering Thanksgiving dinner in Philly. These spots are sure to be a hit with the whole family as you kick off the holiday season and maybe even create some new Thanksgiving traditions.

Whether you've forgotten your stuffing or you're just looking to entertain the family until dinner, you may be wondering what's open on Thanksgiving Day on Long Island. There is a lot more open on Thanksgiving Day than you might expect. From family fun to outdoor adventures and, of course, the last-minute grocery pick-up, check out what's open on Long Island on Thanksgiving Day.

Heading to the city for Thanksgiving? You won't want to miss our guide to Thanksgiving in NYC. If you're skipping out on cooking this year, take a look at the restaurants open on Thanksgiving Day. 

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.