5 Great Options for Starting a New Holiday Tradition

One of the most common things people say about Thanksgiving aside from how delicious the meal was is all the time and energy it takes to make it happen.

Why not start a new Tropical tradition for Thanksgiving and let someone else do the cooking?

Most Americans associate Thanksgiving with cooler temperatures over swaying palm trees, majestic rain-forests and historical Maya temples. In an effort to take the work out of the Holiday many resorts and restaurants are helping make both American and (to a lesser degree) Canadian Thanksgiving unofficial Belize Holidays.

Many of our country’s Luxury Resorts are offering Tropical Thanksgiving Day 2015 specials. Below are 5 great options to choose from. After reading the great options and delicious menu’s below, I am sure you will be considering Thanksgiving 2016 in palm tree paradise.

Be Thankful in Belize

If you want a culturally unique Thanksgiving experience, Hopkins Bay Resort is a great option. Live Garifuna drumming and dances paired with a customized Thanksgiving menu at the Rhum Shack will be an unforgettable holiday experience. Aside from a great meal, you will be giving thanks for affordable room rates with the Hopkins Bar offering a 40-percent discount on accommodations throughout November.

Thanksgiving Island Style on Thatch Caye: Picture yourself on a small island off the coast of Belize enjoying your Thanksgiving meal under a thatched roof. Your friends and family will be envious when you Facebook pictures of yourself enjoying a holiday meal in such exotic surroundings. Your Thanksgiving meal will be prepared with culinary artistry by the chefs at Thatch Caye Island Resort.

Sun, Sea, and Turkey? At Turneffe Island Resort you will enjoy this winning tropical turkey combination. This island resort located at Turneffe Atolls offers unparalleled diving, snorkeling and fly fishing. The resort also offers volleyball, Hobie cats, kayaks, freshwater heated pool, horseshoes, bird watching and great island exploring.

The Lodge at Chaa Creek

Thanksgiving at this well-known resort is becoming very a popular annual event. Chaa Creek’s Thanksgiving package offers candlelit Thanksgiving dinner and adventure package. The Luxury Lodge, located in the heart of the Belize jungle has built a reputation for being one of the best glamping spots in the country. In addition to turkey, their package offers full out adventures with horseback riding through jungle trails, canoeing on the Macal River, hiking the Ruta Maya trails in their 365-acre private nature reserve and more. Chaa Creek also recently received recognition as a Green Globe Gold Member based on their ongoing commitment towards environmental sustainability.

Chaa Creek Lodge Social Media Administrator, Lea Itzab was very helpful in providing me with their delicious Thanksgiving day menu and a few pictures of the resort.

Chaa Creek Thanksgiving Day menu

La Mariposa serving Fresh Local Organic food presents a delicious 4-course meal by Chef Marco.

First Course: Butternut Squash Soup with a hint of Parsley

Second Course: Apple Cranberry Salad made with kale, dried cranberry, avocado, roasted pecans; drizzled with balsamic reduction.

Entrée choices:

Bourbon Glazed Turkey and Pineapple Roasted Ham. Comes with tropical stuffing, roasted rosemary sweet potatoes, green beans and sautéed carrots.

Pasta casserole with sweet potatoes, green beans, mushrooms and mozzarella cheese.
Grilled Creole snapper with roasted rosemary sweet potatoes, green beans, and sautéed carrots.

Dessert: Pumpkin Pie with ripe plantain and caramel ice cream.

If that does not make your mouth water and have you booking flights to Belize for 2016 Thanksgiving, I do not know what will 🙂

Ka’ana Resort

Ka’ana is a small luxury resort located in Western Belize and offers a mix of style, culture, and adventure. Ka’ana has an extensive wine cellar and is a shorter commute than your office from ancient Mayan ruins and Belize’s magnificent jungle. Many of their Thanksgiving meal ingredients are freshly harvested from of the resort’s two-acre organic garden.

Ka’ana Thanksgiving Day Menu

Crudite: Deviled Eggs and Parker House Rolls

Choice of Starters:
Butternut Squash Soup, Crispy Pork Belly, Spiced Sour Cream with Rosemary Croutons.
Arugula Salad with roasted tomatoes, radishes, beets, grilled onions, pumpkin seeds and citrus vinaigrette.
Lobster and Shrimp Ravioli with fresh cheese, corn spinach, and shellfish broth.

Choice of Main Course:
Roasted Turkey Leg or Breast, with brioche stuffing, mashed potatoes, garlic green beans and giblet gravy.
3 Cheese Macaroni Gratin with portobello mushrooms, braised chaya, herbed breadcrumbs.

Choice of Dessert:
Roasted Pineapple with salted cashews and coconut ice cream.
Apple Turnover with rum caramel a la mode.

In addition to Thanksgiving day, Ka’ana Resort has many other great things happening.

A new addition to the Ka’ana family, Chef Caleb Jones from San Francisco, California. Chef Caleb has worked at notable San Fran Restaurants such as 20 Spot & Bin38.

Ka’ana has long been practicing sustainability initiatives and has some exciting new developments in the onsite organic garden: a greenhouse starter display area for newer plants, a turtle pond under construction, a biodegradable seed starter in nutrient-rich eggshells and compost heap as natural and organic fertilizer.

Their Farm initiative recently saw the addition of 2 resident sheep members Ceres & Rhea and they are the process of building a chicken house to provide fresh organic eggs.

Ka’ana has always been committed to supporting the community. Currently, they have the following programs at Holy Cross Primary School: A scholarship fund, bathroom rehabilitation project, sports program and an environmental program which includes their own organic garden.

Ka’ana supports Pack for a Purpose and they encourage guests to help bring much-needed support the local school with specific supplies. In addition to welcoming donations such as playground equipment, school supplies, purchasing computers and so on, Ka’ana will arrange volunteer work at local schools. This is a great way for families or anyone to get involved in local Belize Culture on a deeper level and presents a very rewarding experience.

Ka’ana just broke ground November 18, 2015, and are excitedly looking forward to the opening of their new sister property Itz’ana Resort & Residences in Placencia. It is expected to be vacation ready by December 2016 and from looking at the projected images in the link above, it looks like it will be just as amazing.

With all this going on it is easy to see why Ka’ana is a 2015 World Travel Award Winner and has been named Mexico & Central America’s Leading Boutique Resort in 2015.

Thanks to Senior Sales and Marketing Manager and Anoushka D. Brandl and Sales and Marketing Assistant Arlene Johnston for answering all my questions and providing some great pictures.

Featured image Barbie Thanksgiving Vintage Kitchen Photo credit goes to seeing it on Lori Perri Sorgi’s page and finding it in google images from Nicole Houff Jenx.