Tips for Staycations When You Can't Travel
Hello, my weary readers,
I have been experiencing some major feelings of restlessness but have been resisting the urge to go out and act like nothing is happening in the world (ahem, you people know who you are). With travel looking a bit unpredictable at the moment and Coronavirus cases spiking in some places to their highest numbers yet, your safest bet is to stay home or stay very local right now. I spent a few days in a mountain town an hour outside Denver two weeks ago and it was just enough of a mini-getaway/staycation that I came back feeling refreshed and happier. So, here are some ideas for a relaxing and fun staycation or mini-getaway of your own.
Make your home your favorite place for a weekend.
If you’ve ever watched Gilmore Girls, this might remind you of the episode where Rory’s trip to Asia was canceled so Lorelai made their home into all of Asia. As problematic and stereotypical as that was (there were a few issues with that show), that’s the idea I’m going for here. Longing to book that ticket to Italy but know it’s not safe and the US is still banned from traveling to Europe? Make your apartment/home into a little Italy. Order some pasta and pizza from your city’s most authentic Italian restaurant. Put on a movie like La Dolce Vita, Under the Tuscan Sun, Roman Holiday, or Call Me By Your Name to let your imagination get lost in the Italian countryside or seaside. Print a few photos from your previous Italy trip or grab a few postcards and place them around the house. If you have any Italian style gardens in your local Botanic Gardens or a park with a fountain reminiscent of the renaissance sculpted fountains of Italy, pack a picnic of Italian themed snacks and pretend you’re lounging in the gardens of Villa Borghese. Get creative and at least give your mind a getaway.
Go see a local sight or town you’ve never visited.
We could all use some novelty in our lives right now. Even if you can’t get far away and spend weeks exploring a new country, you can at least spend a day exploring a new state park, a new little town, or a new beach. If there’s one place you’ve been meaning to visit for a while, and you can visit it without putting employees of businesses or restaurants at risk of catching Covid from you (remember, you can be carrying and spreading it even if you have no symptoms!), then now’s the time! Explore something nearby and learn something new about your local area.
A photo from my recent mini-getaway to Dillon/Silverthorne, CO. Hiking and these views did just the trick.
Do an activity you would normally reserve for your travels.
Do you typically take a cooking class whenever you travel? Or maybe you look for hikes to do wherever you go. Perhaps your thing is seeking out live music or other arts. Plan a weekend or few days to focus on those activities. Can’t do a cooking class in person right now? No problem, there are lots of places doing online cooking courses or sending food boxes with ingredients for a particular cocktail or meal and directions so you can make it on your own. Spend your weekend or a couple of days hiking/backpacking a new circuit in your area or plan a few long day hikes to complete within those few days. Although most restaurants still discourage indoor dining, lots have been bringing live music for all their outdoor guests. Find a socially distanced restaurant hosting a live band or performer and plan a visit or find artists doing live streams of shows you can watch online. Just because you shouldn’t be going anywhere doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be able to do the things you enjoy!
^ Hopefully your online cooking class is with someone less intense than Gordon Ramsey.
Stay home, be a hermit, and dive into self-care/spa activities.
Do you typically look for an all-inclusive resort where you can relax, get a massage, or disconnect from the world for a while? Spend a few days doing that at home! Stock up on your favorite self-care products like masks, bath bombs, etc, get your favorite snacks or poolside cocktail mixes, and shut down your social media, work-related, and news apps, vowing not to look at them until the end of your staycation. We all need a mental reset right about now and a digital detox goes well with a physical one.
With coronavirus cases at an all-time high in many parts of the US right now, the safest and most compassionate thing you can do for yourself and others is to stay home. I agree it’s definitely not as fun as going out and doing all the things with all the people you love, but it’s the best thing you can do for the places and people you love. So I hope these few ideas for giving yourself a staycation were helpful and you are taking care of yourself in any way you can. Some of the links I included are Colorado or Denver specific businesses but with a little digging, you can easily find things specific to your location as well! Basically just keep trying to do the things you love and that make you feel most like yourself in the safest way possible.
Stay healthy!
Sami