Adventures in Dining is back this year with a dynamic lineup of two-for-one offers at 64 area restaurants and more than a dozen attractions. This is the 14th year for the dining and entertainment book, with proceeds benefiting more than 60 local charities. These include Hixson Lions Club, Chattanooga Music Teachers Association (sold at Crutcher Piano), Memorial Health Care Volunteer Service, Hospice of Chattanooga Foundation, Chattanooga Theatre Centre and Kids on the Block. Among those organizations in North Georgia are Keeping Kids First (sold at Dalton Depot restaurant) and Catoosa Retired Educators in Ringgold, Ga.

Dozens of other organizations are selling the books. To find other locations to purchase a book, call 265-8394 or 886-6936.

The books make great gifts for the people on your list who loves to eat out. Maybe you should treat yourself. Today’s economy demands savings, and this is one way to get them without giving up your desire to dine out. The books are $30 each and are available now.

There are additions to the list that ran in the Holiday Recipe Contest section last week of restaurants open Thanksgiving Day. All locations of Cracker Barrel will be open regular hours, and Herman’s Soul Food will be serving a traditional Thanksgiving dinner from 10 a.m. till 5 p.m.

Also, New York Diner will be serving freshly carved, ham, homemade cornbread dressing/gravy, cranberry sauce, yams and mashed potatoes, green beans, choice of soup or salad, and house-made challah bread, all for $8.95. No reservations needed. Just wear some loose clothing, and stop in for a made-from-scratch Thanksgiving meal in true Southern fashion.

A few places are requesting reservations to help accommodate those coming in for Thanksgiving dinner, so don’t wait too long to put your name on the list.

If you want a scenic drive along with your Thanksgiving meal, there are two Tennessee state parks in the region offering Thanksgiving dinner from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. CST.

Fall Creek Falls in Pikeville will serve a turkey and ham dinner with all the trimmings for $14.95, not including tax, gratuity and drink; half price for children 6-12 and 10 percent discounts for seniors 62 and older. Call 423-881-5241 for details.

Cumberland Mountain State Park in Crossville will serve traditional favorites in hot, cold and dessert buffets. Cost is $12.95 for adults, $6.95 for children 6-12. Reservations are available for parties of eight or more from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Call 931-484-7186. (See box below for a review of last week’s list.)

This year’s Thanksgiving dinner will be different for me. My children are scattered — my oldest spending the day with her future in-laws near Pulaski, Tenn.; my middle daughter across the country in California; and the baby in Atlanta making her own Thanksgiving dinner for the first time. Wish I could be with her to help with the turkey.

But what won’t be the same is not having my mother with us. She passed away less than two weeks ago. But it will be a good Thanksgiving. I’ll carry her recipes with me forever. She was an incredible cook. I’m so thankful she was with us as long as she was — 80 years.

As you gather with your friends and family this Thanksgiving, make a toast to those no longer gracing the table. They may not be there to share the day, but their spirit is still there helping round out the day with laughter and memories.

Happy Thanksgiving to you all.