Hey, y’all. It’s Amie.

Do you know what I’m thankful for? I’ll give you one guess… That’s right, it’s you! I hope tomorrow is filled with family (given or chosen) and friends, and whoever is most special to you. Enjoy your time together, and remember—I’m so glad you’re here. 

P.S. If you need some great ideas for things to do with folks coming into town over the weekend, we’ve got you covered with today’s lead story. Just be sure to call ahead to confirm hours—they might’ve changed for the holidays. 

The Cape Henry Lighthouse offers panoramic views of the surrounding area. (Virginia Tourism Corporation)

By Aila Boyd

Here’s what you need to know: The Williamsburg Regional Library offers one of the most comprehensive culture pass programs in Virginia. Passes are available for four-day checkouts or as printable tickets for specific dates.

Our top picks:

• Named for its proposed location as Capt. John Smith’s “New Fort,” the Smith’s Fort site sits across the James River from Jamestown. Visitors can see an earthwork representing a 1609 fort attempt. The current manor house dates to 1765.

• The Cape Henry Lighthouse, the first federally funded public works project, guided ships near “First Landing” for nearly a century. Today, the tower offers panoramic views of the horizon.

• The Science Museum of Virginia features four floors of exhibits and interactive displays. The Dome showcases prairie wetlands, outer space, and dinosaurs on a 76-foot screen.

Ready to explore? We’ve rounded up multiple opportunities for you at our link below. 

Four-legged friends might be thankful for a special treat, but they shouldn’t eat every table scrap tomorrow.

Did you know that turkey and chicken bones aren’t the only items not suitable for a dog’s Thanksgiving meal? Garlic, onions, grapes, raisins—and casseroles or stuffings containing those ingredients—are not safe for canine consumption. Also, leave off the chocolate pie for dessert.

In addition to fully cooked, unseasoned turkey meat, other traditional Thanksgiving foods dogs can eat include plain peas, apples without the toxic core, plain sweet potatoes, plain boiled or baked potatoes with no toppings, and frozen yogurt for dessert.

Owners, just be sure to keep foods not normally in your pets’ diets to a minimum in case of digestive difficulties (and remember to take out the trash right after the big meal to avoid any surprises). 

*This story was originally published by Dogwood in 2020.

When you think of the first Thanksgiving, where do you place it on a map? (Library of Congress/J. & R. Lamb Studios archive)

When we think of Thanksgiving, a scene of pilgrims and Native Americans probably comes to mind. But did you know that Virginia has a claim to the “first” Thanksgiving, predating the 1619 Massachusetts celebration? Actually, two of them!

In both 1610 and 1619, separate colonial accounts record a recognition of thanks in the commonwealth. The 1610 event followed a difficult winter that left many colonists starving. Tragically, 430 of the 490 settlers passed away. When English supply ships arrived with food, the surviving colonists held a feast, which some consider the first Thanksgiving.

On Dec. 4, 1619, Captain John Woodlief and 35 crew members celebrated a safe voyage to an area of the James River in present-day Charles City. According to Berkeley Plantation, in accordance with orders from London, the Englishmen proclaimed: “We ordain that the day of our ship’s arrival, at the place assigned for plantation, in the land of Virginia shall be yearly and perpetually kept holy as a day of thanksgiving to Almighty God.”

No matter who actually has the rights to the first Thanksgiving, one thing’s for sure: We all have something to be thankful for.

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