This Thanksgiving, locals and travelers visiting the Emerald Coast can remove the holiday stress from their plate, leaving room for extra turkey and mashed potatoes. Whether they choose to dine at the elusive Hotel Effie for brunch or enjoy an exclusive Thanksgiving Fall dinner, below are options for chef-driven holiday meals for the whole family.

Panama City Beach is situated on 27 miles of sugar-white sand beaches bordering clear, emerald-green waters Andrew Bay converge. With 320 days of sunshine annually and attractions such as St. Andrews State Park and Pier Park, the region has long been favored by travelers seeking an affordable beach vacation with year-round offerings for families, couples, groups, and adventure-seekers. “We are thrilled to be hosting events at the Real.Fun.Beach once again and look forward to welcoming visitors this weekend for our annual Pirates of the High Seas Fest,” says Dan Rowe.

Family gatherings in this socially distanced holiday season look a lot different in 2020, but amidst so much change, we might as well have fun with it and spice up our classic ways.  Though we wish everything could go back to “normal,” I believe there are important lessons we can learn from these trying times. You don’t have to cancel the holiday; you can celebrate Thanksgiving with a twist on tradition!

We know when the table is dressed with all your favorite foods (including Mom’s cooking that you only get once a year) and when the sweet and savory aroma hits your nose, its game over! Here are 5 tips to keep that from happening again.