These are definitely uncertain times. The Coronavirus has been with us nearly five months now. First we were “sheltering at home”, then, some of our states began to open up. Most of us are living in states that are, at least, “partially” closed still. It’s the uncertainty that’s hard to live with, when will the virus die down?, when will it be gone all together?, and when will a vaccine be available? We have all tried to make the most of it, some positive things have happened during our “lock-down”, I have listed 10 in this post; 10 Positive Outcomes from Sheltering at Home

We all want a vacation, a time to escape our daily lives for awhile, but is it safe? I can see two options;

• Stay-cation, hang around the house, take day trips locally(feels safe)
• Road Trip, hit the road, which would involve camping or staying at hotels(kind of scary..right?)

STAYCATION IDEAS

Have you ever had a staycation? I think basically, we have all had a staycation for the last 5 months! We have been forced to hang around our houses and find things to do in our own backyards. I have found some things to do online like; Virtual zoos and Virtual museum tours. The links to these will be at the bottom of my post. Many of us have reconnected with nature, like going for walks, taking a bike ride, or walking the dog. It has always been acceptable to be in our own backyards and even walk around our neighborhoods. Now that many of us are in Phase 1 or 2, we have a few more options.

• Get into photography and be a tourist in your own town. Have you ever really looked around your town, enjoyed the architecture of the buildings, or seen the beauty in a city park,
• Have a scavenger hunt in your town. Hide clues around the town, each one leading to the next, and ending with a prize!
• Go Camping in your own backyard. Children love to camp and so do adults! Buy a tent, sleeping bags, a lantern, and maybe even a fire pit! Don’t forget the marshmallows!
• Use your vacation money to fix up your house and yard. Buy those comfy recliners you have been thinking about, or maybe a bigger TV. You could buy patio furniture, a fire pit, a new grill, or even build a deck!
• Treat yourself to food from your favorite restaurant.
• Get Romantic! Order take out from an expensive restaurant, then set up your dining room to look like that restaurant. Eat by candlelight!
• Take a Day Trip. When’s the last time you have been to a museum? Many museums are opening back up.
• Drive to a State park and take a hike, don’t forget the picnic lunch!

ROAD TRIP

Do you usually fly to your destination? or do you prefer to keep your feet on the ground? I tend to prefer road trips unless I’m going to see my son in Seattle, WA. My husband and I have taken many road trips to Wisconsin since I have family there. We also prefer to drive to Florida. We live in North Carolina so the Wisconsin trips take about 16 hours! That’s what makes a road trip fun, driving across the US in search of new places, and new experiences! I love road trips!

There could be some problems with taking a road trip. Where will you go? Some states are considered Coronavirus hotspots and many other states have travel restrictions in place. My previous post will show you some of the US travel restrictions, Where can you go? Keep in mind that these US travel restrictions are always changing. If you enter one of these states you may be asked to self-quarantine for 14 days or show proof of a negative coronavirus test.

Most people can travel within their own state, although, you still have to consider counties and cities that are hotspots. You may want to avoid these areas. Traveling today is definitely confusing and complicated! Your best source for up-to-date information is the CDC website My husband and I have taken 2 trips this year; the first one was 2 nights of camping in our RV, and the second was 5 nights in a cabin. Here is our video talking about our experience;

https://www.facebook.com/50over55/videos/300070747800863

If you do decide to hit the road, here are a few ideas;

• Go camping! If you don’t own an RV, consider renting one, they are reasonably priced and you can control who you come in contact with and how clean your environment is.
• Rent a mountain cabin. Once again you will be isolated from others and you can do your own cleaning.

I think many hotels are being careful and sterilizing their rooms, but can you be sure? The AHLA(American Hotel & Lodging Association) has new SafeStay Guidelines, you can read more about them on their website AHLA

Going on a Road Trip is a personal choice and all the options have to be weighed out before you decide to go.

In Conclusion

Staying close to home or hitting the road? This is a hard decision! We have done plenty of things close to home in the last 5 months, but, we have also ventured down the road and rented a cabin(still within our state of North Carolina). It’s difficult to go through the summer without getting away on vacation. The Fall is also a special time of year for me and many of us, I hope and pray that it will be safer to travel in a few months.

I think for the time being we will probably choose staycations, and maybe a short camping trip(within our state). I would love to know what you and your family decide, please leave me a comment. Please share it with your family and friends on social media.

**If you would like to receive our weekly Newsletters delivered directly to your inbox, please subscribe here and come along on our adventures** Free printable when you sign up, “My Bucket List”**

---

RESOURCES

Virtual Zoos

Virtual Museum Tours

• Smithsonian National Museum
• The Louvre Museum
• British Museum
• The Vatican Museum

You may also enjoy reading; Break out and Go Camping!

---

---

---