We know that the current state of the world has been hard on a lot of people. For some of us, it's prevented us from seeing loved ones, or even interrupted a trip we were looking forward to for a long time. We're all getting a little anxious to do some traveling, but want to balance our wanderlust with staying safe; that's why we came up with some ways to get out and enjoy locations close to home while we all wait for travel to open more widely.
Park Day-Use Areas
Take advantage of large park day-use areas, especially those near bodies of water like rivers, lakes, and beaches. They offer a variety of options for activities while enjoying the warmer late summer and early autumn months. Before going, verify that the location is open to the public. Be sure to pack the essentials: towel, sun protection, food, water, and sanitizer along with the fun stuff: floaties, paddleboards, books, cards, etc. Preparing well beforehand can help limit contact by minimizing the need to go to a store or other unnecessary stops.
Camping
Maybe you want to get away longer than the day. Camping is an excellent option for this! Like going to a river or lake, camping is a great way to enjoy the outdoors and get out of the house while still being able to stay distant from others. Again, you'll want to double-check availability before heading out for your getaway.
Backyard Oasis
Camping is a great place to start if you're trying to travel and stay distanced, but camping isn't for everyone! For those with yards, consider investing in it as your getaway and turning it into your oasis. To some, it might be grabbing a blow-up pool and mimicking what you would do at a resort. Dip your feet into the pool, drink in one hand, and favorite book in the other and relax! To others, an oasis might mean setting up a backyard game, while listening to music and BBQing with your family. Whatever your oasis looks like, recreate it in your backyard and see what you come up with!
More Ideas
Be a tourist in your own town. Here's a website that will tell you what places are unique to your city and state: https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/. It's interesting to view how many places you may or may not have visited that are special to your city. And who knows, maybe after visiting some new spots, you might find a new favorite!
Similarly, you can view the website Rails to Trails to view hiking trails that were once railroad tracks: https://www.railstotrails.org/. This website will help navigate where you can find trails close to you. This is a great way to get outdoors and potentially explore new parts of town that you never go to, or if you're headed to a different city, you can find trails in that area that you can adventure on!
But what about the kids? Even though all these activities can be done with kids, there are a wide range of virtual summer camps happening this summer. Here's one website that can help find the perfect summer camp for your kids: https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/parenting/a32611709/virtual-summer-camp-ideas/. Or, do a quick Google search to find one that might be more specific to your child's interests.
Plan a Future Trip
It’s more important now than ever to give yourself something to look forward to; this limitation on travel won't last forever! Contact us to help you plan that special trip for the future to give you a light at the end of the tunnel.
Check out our website www.EffortlessXcursions.com for specific guidance on how we can support your travel dreams!