All of the tradition and trimmings with none of the hassle

Yes, it’s THAT time of year. Thanksgiving, followed very quickly by Christmas. I love the holidays but you have to admit, big family dinners are a lot of work for the host.  In other words, me.

Last Thanksgiving, we – me, my hubby and two kids, ages 7 and 4 – decided to go away for Thanksgiving.  Not on some huge trip, messing with airports and suitcases either. We decided to spend a couple of nights in our nearest large city, San Francisco (about 40 minutes drive from our house).

I chose the Ritz Carlton hotel, solely on the fact that they had a Thanksgiving Buffet and adjoining rooms available.  We were a little skeptical. Could we really have fun without our friends and family? Well, we were blown away, and here’s why.

1. No shopping

Thanksgiving dinner isn’t just about the cooking. It’s about fighting your way through the grocery store beforehand. Everyone is feeling the way you do. No parking, crowded shops, can’t find your particular brand of cranberry sauce, very crazy-driving. It’s a nightmare out there. Well, I didn’t enter a store for a week before Thanksgiving. Not only did I not stress,  I didn’t experience anyone else’s stress either.

2. Atmosphere

I was expecting the Thanksgiving meal to be clinical, but the room was filled with happiness. A live jazz quartet played beautifully. There was a huge variety of families: singles, couples, large and small families. And the staff were welcoming and charming.

3. Fabulous Food

Large meals can be a challenge. By the time you eat, the turkey may be warm, but the veg are not. The food at the buffet was fabulous. And there was a huge variety, from breakfast to dim sum to the traditional turkey roast. All was hot and fresh, beautifully presented and delicious.

4. Catering for kids

I would challenge any child not to find a plate of healthy food they loved. My kids were especially impressed with the gigantic chocolate fountain.  The Ritz Carlton had supervised cookie decorating for kids and they had the standard coloring tools at the table too.

5. The clean up

There was none.  Need I say more?

6. The Aftermath

I mean the “why did I overeat?” feeling, the tiredness and the seemingly never ending hours between eating and bedtime. We had our kids run up and down a few San Francisco hills and then went swimming in the hotel pool. We came back to a lovely made up room and no washing up.

7. The price

It was expensive. But when added up, I am not sure if it was more money than laying on a feast at home. And it was worth it to be stress free.

Would I do it again? It was a great experiment but we missed our family and friends. This year, we’ve persuaded them to come with us! This time, we’ve opted for a day trip to a hotel at the beach. I’ll let you know how it goes. Happy Holidays!

November 15th, 2010 | by Jane Rytina 2 comments