Quarantine has got us all feeling weird. Stuck at home, bored, wishing for the world to open. We’re living in a crazy time. And I just want to travel! Traveling is literally what my livelihood is based on and I’m missing it more than ever right now. I had plans for the summer, but for my safety, all travel plans have been put on hold. I have been coping with the lack of actual travel by planning on having a small staycation for myself. Small staycations have helped me to stay sane while I’m unable to travel too far from home.
Watch virtual tours of national parks & museums
Google Arts and Culture has tours of five different US National Parks, partial documentary, partial self guided. They are absolutely gorgeous, and it will almost feel like you are there. They also have links to views of famous sites around the world, including the the Taj Mahal in Agra and the Colosseum in Rome. To really immerse yourself in staycation mode, connect your computer to your tv and eat some local snacks. (Brb, going to go stare at the Colosseum and wish I was in Italy eating gelato and drinking wine.)
If you’re looking for a more personalized experience, check out some of these virtual tours offered on Viator. Local guides will bring you to cities around the world. Pretend you’re there and get ideas to plan your future trip. Tours start at $5.
Go hiking at local parks
Get some fresh air and get out of the house to explore your local state parks. Do a bit of research on parks in your area, and visit somewhere new. I guarantee there is somewhere near you that you haven’t experienced yet. Want to make it really feel like a staycation? Some places are even allowing camping. Just make sure you continue to social distance! Masks on and six feet apart, people.
Read books about travel
Not a reader? I’ll forgive you, but only if you check out my Favorite Travel TV Shows & Movies.
Pick any book that takes place somewhere you want to be. Authors are great in the way that their job is to describe a place so wonderfully that it will make you wish you were there too. Get lost in a book and pretend you’re somewhere new. If you need recommendations check out independent book stores near you. Some are open, so call them and ask for recommendations (and try to support your local businesses). Or if you can’t really buy any new books right now (relatable content), and your library isn’t physically open, you may still have online access to ebooks! Check your local library’s website to determine what their quarantine strategy is.
Build a travel bucket list
Find some pretty paper or make a nice spreadsheet, whatever is more your style, and start writing down every place you want to go. Pick restaurants you’ve seen on Diners, Drive-Ins and Drives (my guilty pleasure), every cool picture you’ve ever seen on Instagram, every blog post you’ve pinned on Pinterest, and put them on your list. Then, take pleasure in crossing them all off once the world opens back up again.
Plan a road trip
If you’re feeling a bit of wanderlust, but you still want to stay at home, just start planning your road trip. (Don’t know where to start? Click here.) If you’re looking for a staycation where you actually leave, plan a road trip within your state exploring cities you haven’t seen yet, or get going on that trip across the states.
Need some inspiration? Check out these Must See Road Trip New England Cities.
Teach yourself something new
Try cooking a new cuisine. Pinterest is my go to for a new recipes, but if you’re a bit more advanced Bon Apetit is a great choice too. Start out with my Guinness Chocolate Cupcakes, if you’re looking for something sweet. Or maybe my Blueberry Lemon Scones inspired by Buckingham Palace.
If cooking isn’t your thing, practice a new language for your future travels. Duolingo is a great tool for this. They have a website and an app. I’m currently working on Spanish, but it’s great for learning the basics when you’re going to a new country. Don’t be intimidated by the creepy green owl.
What staycations are you planning for your quarantine? Let me know in the comments below, and please share with your friends!
