Fun and Feel-Good Things to Do on Thanksgiving (Beyond the Feast!)

Now is the perfect time to ask Grandma about her China collection, or that quirky display of cast iron skillets on her kitchen wall. She'll appreciate the conversation, and you'll walk away with a newfound appreciation for your family's most sentimental pieces.

It's football season! Celebrate your family's favorite team the old-fashioned way with a pop-up tailgate in the driveway at home. Don't forget the cozy chili recipes and party dips.

For a truly feel-good activity, collect canned goods and other non-perishable food items to donate to your local food bank.

Ask guests to bring two pies, one for sampling and one for divvying up and taking home. Bonus points if you bring copies of the recipe to share! Three to try: Ginger Pumpkin Pie, Salted Caramel-Apple Slab Pie, and Pecan, Hazelnut, and Coconut Tart.

Take inspiration from television personality and cookbook author Nancy Fuller, whose linen table runner features the signatures of family members. To create your own version, have family members write their names with a disappearing ink pen, and then stitch over the hand-lettering.

Take inspiration from the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade and round up your wheels—bikes, wagons, scooters—for a "mini" version of a parade down the driveway or a low-traffic neighborhood street. (Psst: It's a good way to keep the kids out of the kitchen.) The entrant with the most spirit gets first dibs on dessert!

Pile the fam in the car and cruise around town looking for the most vibrant fall color. Or turn the outing into a color-themed scavenger hunt, and see whether you can find everything from yellow mums to red maples.

All things embroidery are having a moment, so settle in on your home's comfiest chair and join in on the trend with one of Country Living's easy, free cross-stitch patterns.

Head to Operation Gratitude to learn more about how you can show your support to members of our nation's military via letters, care packages, and other #VirtualVolunteerism efforts to give back from your own home.

Not sure where to begin to document family history? Print out these conversation cards to get started. Another thought: Hire a silhouette artist for an afternoon to create custom hand-cut portraits you'll cherish forever.

Organize your own version of a family Turkey Trot, whether it's a one-miler, 5K, or something in between. First turkey across the finish line gets all the leftovers!

S'mores anyone? A family gathering around a roaring fire is pretty much a no-brainer on a crisp fall night.

Related: The Best Outdoor Fire Pits for Your Backyard

Why leave all that hiding and seeking to Easter? Plant miniature pumpkins around the yard and challenge kids to see how many they can pick in a predetermined amount of time.

Tossing around the pigskin is a classic post-feast activity. Not a football fanatic? Consider other pursuits such as horseshoes, bocce, or cornhole.

You know what pairs well with a second slice of pie? A movie. Take your pick from the best Thanksgiving movies on Netflix or cue up a family-friendly classic like A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving.

Nothing beats sitting on the porch on a crisp autumn day while playing a round of checkers with a loved one or little one. Replace the usual game pieces with mini pumpkins for a decidedly fun fall touch.

Arrange bowling pins—or, if preferred, gourds—in a classic 10-pin formation, then watch as players roll a giant pumpkin down the makeshift lane. Line the path with hay bales for an extra country touch.

This downloadable game provides the perfect excuse to get out and take a neighborhood stroll.