With Halloween out of the way, the mad circus that is the holiday season in the United States has officially begun. The incessant tune of credit card swipes, football announcers and belts being undone will soon resonate from Maine to California. Yes indeed, Thanksgiving is a special time all across America.

Vastly different from that first austere celebration in 1621 at Plymouth Plantation, Thanksgiving today is not so much about a successful harvest and scurvy survival as it is about football, food and unbeatable prices on household appliances. Still, it has a poignant ring to it, no?

If you have travel plans this Thanksgiving, we salute you. The long four-day or even five-day weekend sees a Herculean spike in air, rail and highway traffic, as tens of millions of people head home to break bread with family. It takes a strong stomach and iron will to brave the crowds. With all that in mind, here are some ways to enjoy Thanksgiving, American style.

Black Friday

The Friday after Thanksgiving starts before the crack of dawn for a lot of people in America. Millions line up in the wee hours of the night at big box mega-stores to score deals on video game consoles, smart phones, plasma screen televisions, furniture and countless other retail items. Once in a while, assaults, riots and stampedes break out, as unruly shoppers rain blows on each other over the last iPhone 3GS, for example. Ah, consumerism.

Thanksgiving Classic

A decidedly more civil brand of violence occurs every Thanksgiving in the form of the National Football League’s Thanksgiving Classic. A tradition since 1920, two usual Sunday gridiron contests take place on Thanksgiving Thursday, with the Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys as hosts. Since 2006, a third game has been on the holiday schedule as well. For fans in The Motor City and Big D, the Thanksgiving Classic is a huge deal. The tailgate party at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington should be one to remember this year.

College Football

For the ultimate tailgate experience however, celebrate Thanksgiving on campus. After all, college football and turkey go together like frat boys and beer bongs. Football purists know that the best tailgate scenes take place outside stadiums in towns like College Station, Boulder and Columbia and not in big market NFL hubs. Classic Thanksgiving college match-ups include Florida vs. Florida State, Clemson vs. South Carolina, Auburn vs. Alabama, Texas vs. Texas A&M, Ole Miss vs. Mississippi State and Grambling vs. Southern.

High School Football

While college football draws crowds in excess of 100,000 people, there is no purer expression of Thanksgiving football than at the small town high school level. In states like Texas, Oklahoma, Alabama and Florida, football is a religion. If you find yourself in a small community come Thanksgiving, do yourself a favor and check out the local high school game. The atmosphere is unreal and Americana all the way.

Parades

Whether in person or on television, to truly celebrate Thanksgiving in style, you have to take in a parade. The mother of all Thanksgiving parades takes place in New York City of course, with the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Other big ones go down in Chicago, Seattle, Detroit, Houston, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and St. Louis however.

Television Specials

Aside from football, no tradition screams Thanksgiving in America like the advent of television specials like A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, Miracle on 34th Street, The Wizard of Oz or other holiday staples. When the tryptophan hits, these classics hit the spot.

Food, Food and more Food

For those unfamiliar with holiday food staples in America beyond the usual turkey, cranberry sauce and gravy, head to the Deep South where seasonal treats like cornbread oyster dressing, fried okra, candied yams and stewed collard greens inject Thanksgiving with a little soul.

Check out the best hotel rates in destinations all over America.

Photo credits: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10