Traditional Thanksgiving and New Year celebrations are usually quite different from one another, going home for a Norman Rockwell-like feast in the first case, dancing your brains out in glitzy surroundings in the second. But the owners of the Ocean Edge Resort & Golf Club on Cape Cod would like you to think of them in both instances (or either, they're not fussy).
Since Thanksgiving began in New England, it seems reasonable to me that many will be attracted to the idea of celebrating there with the bird, but, mercifully, without the dour Pilgrims themselves. The Ocean Edge is offering a three-night "Gather" package for two persons at just $499 plus tax and tips. It includes use of either a Mansion guest room or a one-bedroom villa, breakfast for two daily, dinner for two one night (and that could be the traditional Thanksgiving Day Dinner described later on), and activities for the children such as a pool fun hour, arts & crafts, a cartoon pajama party, movies and board games.
The resort is on Route 6A in Brewster, MA and has four restaurants, a golf course, private beach, tennis, indoor and outdoor pools and access to the 26-mile Cape Cod Rail Trail to the National Seashore.
The Thanksgiving Day dinner, served Thursday November 28th from 12 to 5, consists of hot apple cider, oyster stew, wild mushroom ravioli, smoked Long Island duck bruschetta, hand-picked autumn greens, baby spinach salad, pistachio-crusted salmon, oven-roasted native turkey, beef tenderloin, venison loin, pumpkin pecan tart, peach sabayon Bavarian, spiced pear bread pudding, and banana butterscotch tart. That's a lot of food, and a lot of meat, but a vegetarian selection is available by request.
The dates are November 27 through December 1, 2002 (any three nights for the package). Some restrictions may apply and the offer is based on availability.
If you're already booked up for Turkey Day, consider New Year's Eve, when the resort has two packages available: the Sparkle Package at $355 for two or $395 for a family of four; the second is the Glimmer Package, at $450 for two. Taxes and tip not included in any prices.
The Sparkle Package gives you and the kids two nights in a Mansion guest room, a festive theme dinner on December 30, 2002, private fireworks following the dinner, and "First Night Chatham" buttons for New Year's Eve. (You go out on the town of Chatham and join in local festivities open to the public, sobriety being the keyword.) The package is good for the period December 30, 2002 through January 1, 2003.
The Glimmer Package consists of two nights in a Mansion guest room for two persons, a five-course dinner on New Year's Eve, dancing in the Great Hall with live entertainment and champagne for toasting. This package is valid from December 30, 2002 through January 2, 2003.
For additional information and reservations, contact the Ocean Edge Resort & Golf Club at 800/343-6074 or visit www.oceanedge.com.