Did this year’s late Thanksgiving make the upcoming holiday vacation week feel like it sprang out of nowhere? You need the tree, the Menorah, eleventy billion gifts and of course, the holiday week family adventure plans you meant to make. Yet here you are with nearly nothing.

You’re not alone. And while you may google “Last minute trips to (insert faraway destination of choice here)” only to find they are sold out or priced way up for last minute, fear not. Thanks to the rich variety of fun across the Bay State, you can still curate a vacation week escape that requires no plane travel and yet takes you to spots that surely will please every family member.

Here’s our itinerary for a week-long Bay State adventure; all still available and all totally doable. Mix and match, move around, hone in one one or two or take it on as we suggest. Rather than looking like you just found something to do out of last-minute desperation, you’ll be the holiday week star.

Day One: Extend the season’s beauty: The Stone Zoo (https://www.zoonewengland.org) is an adventure in itself any time of year, but during December school vacation week, it shines extra bright. That’s because their spectacular Zoo Lights program is still running from 4-9 p.m. through the week. Arrive early and savor daytime at the zoo; not only will you learn about and see amazing animals, you’ll find all kinds of fun hands-on activities.

Dine there — the Zoo has great food choices, then, once the sun sets, explore the Zoo’s great light show. You’ll drive home post traffic with happy and quietly sleeping kids ready to be tucked in at home.

Day Two through Three: Check the family in for an overnight stay at Boston’s Revere Hotel (http://www.reverehotel.com).

Through Jan. 1, the hotel’s Merry and Bright Holiday Suites are prepped for you as the perfect holiday escape. You’ll find your spacious loft suite decorated with holiday perfection (there’s even a tree) and be treated to holiday treats upon arrival. Check in and then head out into the city for adventures; the Stuart Street location makes walking around the city simple. Plan on using those stocking stuffer gift cards (everything is on sale this time of year), meandering the Public Garden and of course, Faneuil Hall.

For an extra wow, walk over to View Boston (https://viewboston.com/) at the Prudential Center for a sweeping and memorable view of the city and beyond.

Dine on the town or at the hotel and then tuck into your cozy spot for one last “Elf” viewing this season.

Day Four: Alpine Adventure. In your holiday dream, you booked the perfect slopeside chalet. In reality, you never got to it. Fear not: Wachusett Mountain Resort (https://www.wachusett.com) has the perfect solution: Their unique “private rooms” on the second floor of their base lodge are like full-on slopeside living rooms.

You can book one for your family or a larger group of friends. You’ll find a comfortable setting just steps from the slopes, food and beverage service and a true feel of a ski vacation/escape. Any family members who don’t ski have a great spot to relax and watch the on-slope action. Book lessons and rentals ahead of time for those who need it (Wachusett is nationally admired for their ski and ride school) and make sure to secure lift tickets ahead of time.

Wachusett is super family focused, too, so you’ll find lots of fun happenings while there. And do treat everyone to an on-mountain freshly made Red Apple Farm cider doughnut. It’s practically illegal to skip it.

Day Five: Cape Cod Chill Out. The Cape has a whole different ambiance in the winter months, and holiday week means great sales (some shops are clearing things out for winter closing) as well as plenty of room wherever you go.

Head to Chatham, Hyannis or all the way to Provincetown for a day of laid-back fun.

Start with a hot chocolate/coffee beach walk. Bundle up the kids and let them run on the wide open beach; search for sea glass and shells or just take it all in.

Pick a great seafood lunch spot; one that may be impossible to get into during the summer months. Spend the afternoon exploring the many locally-owned shops and maybe, if everyone has been good, let each person choose one last gift for another person in your group.

Take in a beach sunset on one of the west-facing waterways (the sun sets early this time of year; a bonus in this way) or with a sunset stop at the Cape Canal where – insider tip – the sun sets just behind the Bourne Bridge for a magnificent view. Head home come nightfall. With almost no bridge traffic, you don’t need to plan around delays.

The private rooms slopeside at Wachusett Mountain Resort offer awesome views of the action. (Photo courtesy Wachusett Mountain Resort)
Heading to the Cape for a laid-back break? Check out the dazzling sunsets at the Cape Cod Canal. (Photo Moira McCarthy)