Ditch the Turkey: The Thanksgiving Table Reimagined — Part 2

Skip the passport this Thanksgiving. Travel expert Terrie Dean shares luxury holiday getaways in Portland, Maine, New Orleans, and Charleston, SC. Episode Description: You don't have to cross an ocean to have a Thanksgiving you'll remember. In Part 2 of "Ditch the Turkey: The Thanksgiving Table Reimagined," Terrie Dean of The Wishing Well draws on more than 40 years in the travel industry to plan three luxury holiday getaways in the U.S., each built around great food, family, and time together. In this episode:

Portland, Maine: A Thanksgiving seafood feast with oysters, chowder, lobster, scallops, and Maine blueberry desserts. Walk the cobblestone streets of the Old Port, visit Portland Head Light in Cape Elizabeth, and stay at The Press Hotel or Inn by the Sea.New Orleans: Take a private Creole cooking class and learn to make a proper roux and gumbo. Dine at Arnaud's and Dooky Chase's, eat beignets at Café Du Monde, and stay at the Windsor Court, The Roosevelt, or the Four Seasons.Charleston, South Carolina: Lowcountry food like shrimp and grits, she-crab soup, and fresh oysters. Learn about the Gullah Geechee food heritage and stay at The Charleston Place, Hotel Bennett, or The Dewberry.

Terrie also explains how to plan a holiday trip: how many nights to book, why you need dinner reservations well in advance, and what to expect when traveling off-season. The big takeaway is that Thanksgiving isn't defined by what's on the table. It's defined by who's sitting around it.