Students of Hinsdale Central are on the cusp of Thanksgiving break. A common denominator for students at Hinsdale Central during Thanksgiving break is time with family. But the recipe for holiday enjoyment will vary from family to family and can consist of a variety of activities from shopping to family get-togethers to movie nights with friends. 

The break is a rare chance for students to reconnect and rejuvenate themselves. Those precious days should not be taken for granted. 

Those traveling to convene with family, may have to contend with crowds at airports or on the road. In fact, according to the Transportation Security Administration, the Sunday after Thanksgiving is often the busiest travel day of the year. According to Maria Carbonara, longtime owner of the Old Town Travel Agency, the most common destinations for Chicagoland families are domestic, including Florida, Arizona, and Cancun. Carbonara has also noticed that there has been a decrease in family travel over the past few years. 

One student who will experience these crowds is Momin Ahmed, sophomore, who is traveling to Minnesota to visit cousins this Thanksgiving, a trip his family makes annually.

“We are just going to eat a turkey and have a big party together,” Ahmed said.

As for those who will remain local, Ahmed recommends they catch up on work and spend quality time with friends.

Eisa Saleem, junior, happens to be one of those people. He is looking forward to a large family gathering at his home where his family will host relatives. He is looking forward to the whole family gathering together to watch a football game.

“I’m going to hang out with my cousins and friends, play some basketball and go to the gym with them,” Saleem said. 

In addition, students should fully utilize the free time on their hands to take a break from the demands of their academics and extracurricular activities. For some, going on a movie marathon or revisiting holiday classics may be the solution. For others, it may be time to explore some new baking and cooking recipes. It may even be as simple as going for a crisp nature walk followed by a savory brunch to start the day. 

Whatever it may be, those staying home should get their rest and explore some new and entertaining activities. 

One may wonder if travel patterns include trips abroad.

“Not so many families are traveling abroad, due to the economic situation because prices are a lot higher,” Carbonara said. “It’s not how it was in the past, due to the limited flights of crew members and pilots due to COVID and how there’s just one flight a day to some destinations.”

Carbonara has some tried and true advice for families when it comes to travel planning. 

“It’s always wise to shop for a travel agent, so you can get your questions answered and get support when you need it,” Carbonara said. 

Overall, for those traveling they should be proactive and plan early. For those staying home, they should savor the moments from grand meals to a simple board game.