This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at UCSD chapter.

Live too far away to go home for Thanksgiving Break? There are plenty of ways to have a fun and festive Thanksgiving while still staying in San Diego! Here are some ideas for those of us staying on campus this holiday:

1.) Volunteer at a soup kitchen

This is one of the best ways to show how thankful you are. Here’s a list of links for opportunities to give back to our community:

http://www.svdpv.org/volunteer.html

http://urban-angels.com/volunteer/

http://www.mamaskitchen.org

2.) Make a picnic and go to the beach

Celebrate the fact that most people will be out of town and the beaches will be empty with a picnic! Make some fun Thanksgiving-inspired picnic food like turkey and cranberry sandwiches and pumpkin brownies.

3.) Do a run!

Take advantage of the beautiful San Diego weather and do a turkey trot. As a bonus, most have a charitable aspect!

http://www.sdthanksgivingrun.com

http://sdrunforthehungry.org

4.) Go to a new restaurant

There are tons of great restaurants open for Thanksgiving in SD. Take this opportunity to try a new one out!

http://sandiegofoodfinds.com/where-to-eat-thanksgiving-dinner/

http://timesofsandiego.com/life/2014/11/17/10-perfect-places-thanksgiving-dinner-san-diego/

5.) FaceTime your family

Set up a FaceTime date with family and/or friends. Even if you aren’t home for Thanksgiving, you can still virtually spend it with your loved ones.