What does travelling mean to you? Is it hopping on a plane and heading to some far-off destination for a couple of weeks? By yourself, or with friends or family? Well, whatever it used to be to you, it isn’t the same anymore…at least, not completely.
The fact is, there are still plenty of options for travelling now, even with the COVID-19 pandemic continuing all around the world. So, while it may look and feel a bit different from the kinds of travelling you used to do, you can still get away.
The one basic thing you must always keep in mind when travelling these days is safety; your safety, and the safety of others. Whatever your stance may be on COVID-19 protocols, they are still something that you need to follow when you’re travelling. With that in mind, here are some of your current travel options:
Use Your Car
Public transportation—planes, trains, buses—may offer convenience and relaxation for the actual travel portion of travelling. However, especially these days, your own car can provide you and your family with the most safety and the greatest feeling of “normal,” at least when you’re in it. When you’re in your own car, odds are you won’t need a mask. And you’re automatically social distancing from others.
Plus, there are all the benefits of the classic road trip: fun snacks, a special road trip playlist, and the opportunity to stop and see things that might ordinarily just fly over or drive by. You can do things you want to do, on your own schedule. You may not go as far as you would on a plane, but there’s probably still a whole lot you can see and do within a few hours of your home.
Go Ahead and Fly
If you really want to get away, you can, as long as you’re prepared for the requisite safety checks, social distancing, and wearing a mask for the length of a flight. These days, fewer people are flying, so that’s a bonus. And many airlines are still keeping middle seats empty which, admit it, was something you always wished for.
Other things to keep in mind here are the travel restrictions and quarantine requirements of the states or countries that you’re going to. And you should also be aware of your own state’s requirements when you get back home. Otherwise, the sky’s the limit.
Travel at Home
Or you could think more about your own vehicle again. Sure, there’s always something to be said for taking a longer trip to really decompress. But there’s also something kind of fun about taking a number of shorter trips. Once a month, or even every weekend, you can hop in the car and check out the unique sights that may exist within just an hour or two of your home.
If your travel habits up to now have been focused on faraway places, these so-called “day trips” give you the opportunity to pay closer attention to the beauty and interesting places close to you. The best part is that you can check out new things, and you don’t have to pack anything (except, perhaps, a picnic lunch).
Get Back to Nature
Whether for a day or several days, one kind of destination has the safety of social distancing usually built right in the outdoors. Just want to get away for a day? Find a wildlife preserve near your home, or take a quick drive up into the mountains, or go to a nearby lake or other body of water.
For longer-term getaways, see what camping sites are available at the state or national park of your choice. Check to make sure that desired amenities and activities are available, as well as campsite reservation policies. Especially now that school has started back up, you are sure to have plenty of elbow room when you’re out hiking, fishing, or kayaking.
So, yes, travelling is different these days. But it can still be fun. And it can still be the rewarding, relaxing, and memory-making time away that you’ve always valued.