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Last Updated on March 18, 2020 by Natalie

Let’s face it, not only is it easy to put travel on the back burner, sometimes the choice is taken out of our hands for awhile. Whether it be health or financial matters, not being able to travel is a bummer. Since I can’t travel right now, here’s what I do to get by when it feels like I’m never going to get to travel.

Updated: March 18, 2020

Tips for Things to do When You Can’t Travel 2020

When I can’t travel for awhile and I really, really wish I could, I do some or all of the following to help alleviate my travel pangs.

→ Check out these tips on how to make money for travel!

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When You Can’t Travel Due to a Pandemic

This article was originally written for people who weren’t able to travel due to circumstances pertaining only to them and not for a worldwide pandemic that has caused complete travel disruption. I felt it necessary to add ideas for this specific circumstance – because some of the ideas below aren’t attainable right now. In Ohio, restaurants and bars are closed and are only allowed to offer carry-out and delivery services. Therefore, any type of travel just isn’t going to work. Don’t despair! There are still things to do during a time where we have to stay home.

Go outside

We can absolutely keep our distance and go outside. In fact, fresh air and sunshine (where available) are both excellent for our health. If you have a yard, use it. Take walks. Maintain your distance from others as needed, but continue to be outside. Go outdoors, even if the weather isn’t great. As long as it isn’t dangerously hot or cold, going outside will help relieve boredom while also helping you and your family get some pleasant exercise. Additional ideas include camping outside, making meals (in full or partially) on your grill or camping stove, having picnics, and playing games. It will also help adults disconnect from the bad news constantly available online. Kids can also disconnect from their devices.

Cook together

It’s a wonderful time to get children involved in meal planning and preparation. Give age appropriate tasks and maintain your patience as much as possible. It’s awesome to play outdoors beforehand so that everyone’s concentration is improved. Since many people are doing school at home, cooking and baking are excellent complements to science and math studies. Plus, we have to continue to eat, so no additional or specialty items are needed (unless you want to get fancy!)

Blanket forts

If camping isn’t your favorite idea, consider indoor blanket forts. With everyone at home for several weeks at at time, clutter and mess is bound to follow. Instead of freaking out (too much – I know that some people have a lower tolerance to messes than others), embrace it. Build a blanket fort and then read books together or separately, depending on the age of your kids, play games, and even share a meal.

Visit local parks

If your area hasn’t closed the parks, consider a walk in the woods. Again, sunshine and fresh air are helpful for staying healthy. I know that many parks have closed their facilities, since they aren’t able to clean them properly after each use. However, if the parks are open, it’s definitely an option!

Relive past trips

It sounds weird, but sometimes, it helps the itch. My husband and I spent our honeymoon in Jamaica and it was wonderful! Revisiting this time in our life helps me relax (it was really THAT amazing). Now, as a family, we can relive our all time favorite family trip to Playa del Carmen.

Read blogs, guidebooks, and travel stories

Blogs, guidebooks, and travel non-fiction are all on the docket! It’s a great time to seek out blog posts on your top destinations. You’ll have a lot of knowledge to about the place when you do finally get there!

Sometimes, an awesome fiction book set in an exotic locale really takes me out of my own circumstances and helps me change my perspective.

As you can imagine, travel blogs aren’t doing very well right now. Consider reading the colorful stories many travel bloggers have written, live vicariously through those stories, and enjoy. You may even discover a gem destination you haven’t heard about and plan a future trip there, once we can travel again.

Clean my house

What?! I’m not going to tell you to be a minimalist or anything. That’s not my style. However, I find the occasional purging of stuff to help my peace of mind. Of course, I’m writing this shortly after my kids took all their toys and dumped them on the floor. More cleaning for me! Wooo…

For those inclined to do it, a garage sale that goes towards funding your next trip is also a stellar idea.

The cliched “I count my blessings”

As cliché as that sounds, sometimes that is the best thing one can do. I’m thankful for our health, our passports, and all the other little delights in life. I’m also grateful that I can entertain the thought of travel. It may be further off than I thought, yet I know it will happen.

Watch travel shows

I recently started watching Doctor Who. I like sci fi and I love travel and Doctor Who fits the bill. That is some epic travel. Of course, Anthony Bourdain’s Parts Unknown will help the travel itch, too.

Another great travel  show and my favorite is Departures. The hosts work well together, have excellent camaraderie, and the destinations are fascinating. The creators also did one season of a show called Descending. It’s all about traveling and scuba diving. Both shows are visually stunning. I watched Departures on repeat during the months I was unable to do any far flung travel.

Below are ideas to use when traveling is back in full swing:

Scour the internet for the best travel deals

Yes, really. Sometimes, it makes me sad that I can’t take advantage of a really great deal. I always try to turn that around and share with someone who can take advantage of the offer. Sharing the excitement of traveling makes me feel good!

Plus, it helps me spot awesome deals during the times I am able to travel.

Scour the Internet for the prices at various times of year to specific destinations

We really want to visit Chile in December. Flights to Santiago, Chile are much cheaper in November (from the Eastern and Midwest USA). This is good to know, as it might be worth it for us to go on the shoulder season and save some money, when we are able to plan this trip.

Take short trips, close to home

We’ve taken an overnight trip here and there to satisfy the need to explore. We visited the beach at Vermilion, when a long distance trip to Florida or the Caribbean was too much of a financial stretch. When even an overnight is out of the question, a day trip to a new park or place is fun.

Do a new activity

Similar to exploring a new park, trying a new activity can stimulate your brain. We’ve gone to festivals we’d missed in the past or tried out a new activity for children. We’ve also started new classes. Music Together is one our favorites. Additionally, these are classes that are available globally.

Remember, circumstances can change

It doesn’t always seem like things will get better, but they usually do eventually. At the time this was first published, we couldn’t travel anywhere due to some major financial constraints. We ended up taking a big leap with our move to Mexico. Since that move, we’ve really increased our yearly travel by so much. I’m dreaming of some destinations and I’ll probably get to go there soon. At least, within Mexico. It’s still fairly expensive to fly to other parts of the world, but I’m content with all of the possibilities we have now.

Do you have feedback on things to do when you can’t travel and want to? The best suggestions come from readers! Please share your thoughts and experiences in the comments.

 

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