OP here - thank you so much for the suggestions - we will now pursue options .....any thing beats squirming around at home wondering what to do with ourselves !

Wanna do something really American for TG? Go to the Chinese restaurant on the corner.

http://www.cornerstonefarm.net/holiday.html

Here is a bed and breakfast farm in a small Virginia town that hosts a family style Thanksgiving weekend. Three nights, three meals a day, horseback riding included. $750 double occupancy.

Anonymous wrote:can any one recommend a family friendly place to go for thanksgiving weekend? would be nice to stay somewhere offering a traditional thanksgiving style meal etc
preferable not somewhere hugely expensive . ideally within 3 hours or so of dc.

Wrangle and invitation to someone's home.

We stayed here a few years ago. Loved it. It is in a beautiful area that has great hiking. There are also caves nearby. We went the day after Thanksgiving, so call to check to see if they have T-Day dinner.

http://www.northforkmtninn.com/

Harpers Ferry

Not a specific recommendation, but most places offer thanksgiving menu or buffet during thanksgiving. One of the years, we went to florida during thanksgiving and our hotel had TG buffet, another year it was New York. So, see where you would like to go and i'm sure there will be a TG dinner / lunch that you could reserve as well.

can any one recommend a family friendly place to go for thanksgiving weekend? would be nice to stay somewhere offering a traditional thanksgiving style meal etc
preferable not somewhere hugely expensive . ideally within 3 hours or so of dc.