Take Friendsgiving to the Next Level at These 7 Hotels

With more people searching Friendsgiving ideas online, it’s no secret this growing trend of spending part of the holiday season with friends is important to many. Those wanting to take Friendsgiving festivities to the next level can find inspiration at these hotels and resorts across the world, offering luxury picnics for a fun twist on the annual holiday.

The Foundry © Sabrina L. Green Photography

The Foundry Hotel, Asheville, North Carolina

This 87-room boutique hotel spans three historic buildings. Soak in the Appalachian air with a new experience thanks to the hotel’s partnership with Dreamscape Luxury Picnics. Book a picnic in the block for a 1.5-hour luxury picnic on the hotel’s lawn. The picnic includes a grazing board for two, with house-made dips, cheeses, meats and more from the hotel’s award-winning restaurant. Lighting, a flower arrangement and Bluetooth speaker adorn the picnic. Guests can also choose a bottle of wine to accompany their picnic.

© VisitLEX

The Kentucky Castle, Lexington, Kentucky

Situated less than 20 minutes outside of Lexington, this great castle features luxury suites, an on-property farm-to-table restaurant, swimming pool, spa and more. For Friendsgiving, go horseback riding through the estate’s 110 acres before enjoying a garden-to-table picnic. Along the ride, guests discover a no-till garden and greenhouse, both of which supply fruits and vegetables to the on-site restaurant. For more bonding experiences, take a goat yoga class and enjoy a refresh at the spa with lavender treatments.

© Deer Path Inn

Deer Path Inn, Lake Forest, Illinois

Drawing inspiration from England’s Tudor manors, Deer Path Inn invites guests to take advantage of its Picnic in the Park offer, including complimentary bike rentals for a scenic ride to Lake Michigan’s shores. Friends can enjoy a customized picnic basket filled with a selection of curated snacks and beverages. To experience this picnic, request the offer when booking.

© Inns of Aurora

Inns of Aurora, Aurora, New York

At this luxury lakeside resort, friends can book the Lavish Lunchbox experience at Aurora Cooks!, the resort’s restaurant. Under the guidance of expert chefs, guests get to put together a variety of seasonal foods like roast chicken, seared duck breast, house-made jams and local cheese. Guests can also add bottles of local wine or to-go cocktails. After putting together their array of foods, guests grab a complimentary picnic blanket and sit out on the lakefront lawn to enjoy their customized picnic.

© Zemi Beach House

Zemi Beach House, Anguilla

This 76-room luxury resort boasts a fully equipped event planning team that can curate any style of picnic, from an intimate one for two to a group picnic for Friendsgiving. Picnics blend the best of Anguilla cuisine with its natural beauty, with Champagne, Caribbean dishes and a complete s’mores set.

© The Spectator Hotel

The Spectator Hotel, Charleston, South Carolina

As the only hotel in the city with personal butler service, guests can request butlers to arrange a luxury picnic. After sourcing drinks, snacks and even take-out from local purveyors, butlers can create a private picnic on your terrace or, if you prefer to have a picnic elsewhere, pack a to-go basket for a picnic on the historic waterfront, accessible via the hotel’s complimentary vintage bikes. Upon request, guests can also have in-house mixologists prepare hand-crafted cocktails to go.

© Wailea Beach Resort

Wailea Beach Resort, Maui, Hawai’i

Visting Hawai’i this holiday season? Spanning 22 acres, Wailea Beach Resort provides bespoke picnics under the stars at the ocean’s edge or in-suite via the resort’s partnership with Maui Luxe Picnics. With soft lighting, rugs, blankets, pillow cushions and fresh flowers, friends can gather around gourmet platters for the ultimate tropical Friendsgiving.