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Thanksgiving Plans For Phoenix Area Residents

Cooking, Travel and Fun on Thanksgiving

By , About.com Guide

Whether you are eating out on Thanksgiving, or looking for a place to order a Thanksgiving dinner to go, or just trying to figure out what to do with those Thanksgiving weekend guests, here is a guide to Thanksgiving in the Phoenix, Arizona area.

1. Eating Out on Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving in PhoenixPaul Hawthorne/Getty
Enjoying a scrumptious Thanksgiving meal doesn't mean that you have to slave in the kitchen for two days before the holiday, and then drop from exhaustion when your guests finally leave. There are lots of choices, for every budget, for restaurants in town where you can go out on Thanksgiving. Buffets or regular menus, fancy cuisine, or just the basics.

2. Order Thanksgiving Take Out

Thanksgiving in PhoenixGraeme Robertson/Getty
Maybe you'd rather stay at home for Thanksgiving, but you still don't want to or don't have the time to prepare the meal. Take out might be the answer. You can get the entire meal, or just the turkey or ham and pie and add your own sides. Here are several places in the Phoenix area that offer take out. Check to make sure how far in advance you have to reserve your meal, and when you can pick it up.

3. Holiday Recipes From Local Chefs

Thanksgiving in Phoenix© Latilla at the Boulders Resort
We have many highly acclaimed restaurants in the Phoenix area, and several of them have joined me in helping you create some very special holiday meals.

4. An Arizona Thanksgiving Meal

Thanksgiving in Phoenix© Judy Hedding
There's no law that says you have to have turkey on Thanksgiving, or that you are limited to sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, and green beans as sides. Be creative! Here's a small collection of recipes from Arizona sources that will add some southwest flair to your special meal. There are appetizers, entrées, sides, and desserts.

5. Frying a Turkey?

Thanksgiving in PhoenixJustin Sullivan / Getty
The Avondale Firefighters want everyone to be safe this Thanksgiving. If you are determined to deep fry a turkey this year, make sure you read these safety tips.

6. Stores That Are Open on Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving in Phoenix© Judy Hedding
I hope you aren't sick today, and that maybe you just need to pick up one little thing that your forget. Here is a listing of stores that are open on Thanksgiving in the Phoenix area.

7. Attractions and Activities that Are Open on Thanksgiving Day

Attractions That Are Open on Thanksgiving© Judy Hedding
As long as it might take to prepare your Thanksgiving meal, it doesn't usually take very long to eat it! What do you do with the rest of your day? While some people look forward to watching football on TV all day, some of you might want to get and and do something else with your day off. Here are some ideas.

8. Black Friday - Early Bargains on the Day After Thanksgiving

Black Friday in PhoenixGetty
Here are the times that many of the major stores in the Phoenix area will be opening on the day after Thanksgiving, also known as Black Friday.

9. What To Do With Out-of-Town Guests

Thanksgiving in PhoenixGetty
As it starts to get cold all over the rest of the country, we start to get more visitors in Phoenix--what a surprise! When friends and relatives come to see you for a few days, you are going to need some ideas about where to go and things to see in the area. Here are some of the best places in the Phoenix area to take out-of-town visitors, with a focus on places that are uniquely Arizona.

10. Average Holiday Temperatures

Thanksgiving in Phoenix© Judy Hedding
Check out what the weather is likely to be like when the relatives come to visit.

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