Thanksgiving Plans For Phoenix Area Residents

1. Eating Out on Thanksgiving

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

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

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

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?

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

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.

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

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.

9. Average Holiday Temperatures

Check out what the weather is likely to be like when the relatives come to visit.

10. Volunteer Your Time

We should think about it all year long, but if we can't volunteer during the rest of the year, here are some opportunities to do something for others in our community during the holidays.

11. Holiday Travel Tips

If you are flying wither in or out of Sky Harbor International Airport for the Thanksgiving holiday, here are some tips for parking and handling this busy travel period.

12. After Thanksgiving: Find a Salvation Army Christmas Angel Tree

The Salvation Army's Christmas Angel program is a tradition in Arizona. Each of the trees is decorated with Christmas Angel tags that represent a boy or girl under 12 years of age. These are children whose families have qualified for holiday assistance through The Salvation Army. Simply remove the tag from the tree, register the angel with a volunteer and then shop for your angel.