HOW TO TRAVEL SAFELY DURING THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC
It’s time to pack your bags!! You and some of your closest friends have decided to spend the weekend away together… whoohoo! Get ready for some fun in the sun, late night talks, and special memories to be made. But… oh wait… someone else has inconveniently invited themselves along on YOUR weekend trip. Who is this mysterious guest? MISS RONA. That’s right… COVID-19 has seriously disrupted the way we all travel, and it looks like she’s here to stay for the near future. UGH.
So, what does this mean for those who love to travel? Or even those who just want to get together with a small group of friends for the weekend? Well, some changes and adjustments most certainly need to be made!! But there are still ways to travel, and remain safe during COVID-19… and I’m here to tell you how!!
DISCLAIMER: YOU and only YOU can determine whether you feel comfortable and safe traveling or not. I still believe extreme caution needs to be taken… depending on your physical state and where you plan on traveling. But in the end, we all should respect everyone’s decision on whether or not travel is right for them at this time.
WHERE TO GO
I truly believe that deciding where to travel to is one of the most important decisions to make during this time. One of the first aspects in deciding on where to venture off to… do a little research on where any COVID-19 “hot spots” are, and clearly avoid those areas. Right now, my rule of thumb is to avoid anywhere that attracts a lot of people. Because the more people you’re around, the more likely you’ll contract COVID-19.
So, where did I decide to go for a weekend getaway?! A small and quaint beach town in southern Michigan! Specifically, New Buffalo! It’s the perfect location for a time like this because it’s quite small, and there’s the opportunity for a lot of outdoor activities. In general, Michigan coastal towns are a fabulous choice for safe weekend getaways. With small populations, and a plethora of outdoor activities to choose from, social distancing can be easily maintained.
Besides New Buffalo… a few of my other favorite Michigan coastal towns: South Haven, Saugatuck, Holland, Glen Arbor, Traverse City, Leland, Petoskey, Harbor Springs, and Mackinac Island. And one reason I love taking little weekend trips throughout Michigan… there is so much cute clothing you can wear that supports the mitten state! Hehehe! I have so many fun tees that rock my home state, but I particularly love this shirt from Great Lakes Girl Clothing. Check out her adorable online shop to see how you can add some mitten style to your Michigan getaway!
WHERE TO STAY
Really… I think you can stay anywhere during this time, as long as you stick to social distancing and the necessary safety precautions. But right now, I’m partially leaning towards more inclusive types of lodging… like camping and Airbnb’s. Why?
For camping, literally no one else goes in your tent or camper besides you! It couldn’t get much more socially distanced than that!! Along with this, you can cook in your camper or outside your tent! I think this is a significantly positive aspect to this type of lodging. With being able to cook and eat at your own establishment, you can avoid public restaurants, and someone else preparing your food.
For staying at Airbnb’s… it has a lot of the same benefits as camping. However, one main difference is that other people have stayed at your Airbnb before. While this may be true, the Airbnb corporation has undergone serious cleaning protocol guidelines since COVID-19 became a reality. Many Airbnb’s now undergo "enhanced cleaning”. To find out more about what this type of cleaning includes, click here! But just like with camping, you can cook and eat in your Airbnb. And a major benefit of some Airbnb’s… THEY ARE SO COOL! Meaning… sometimes you don’t even need to leave your Airbnb to have a great time! Many Airbnb’s have wonderful bathrooms to have a stay-at-home spa day… outdoor pools or hot tubs for fun in the sun or relaxation… and so much more! Below are a few photos of the Airbnb I stayed at. So cute!
WHERE TO EAT
Where to eat and how to eat has been a decent controversy during COVID-19. To play it safe? I would avoid the restaurants, and either order take out or make your own meals at your place of lodging. But don’t get stuck in a rut by thinking this is going to make your trip boring or less fun. NO WAY. Here are some fun ways to dine in safety!!
Have a bake off contest, or order some locally sourced baked goods! I mean, you honestly can’t have a weekend getaway without having some sweet treats! For this weekend, MI Treats made an appearance! And let me just say, these adorable tasty treats did not disappoint!
Order take out to support the local food industry! Small businesses are really hurting right now. So, make a positive impact and order from some local small eateries! But I would highly recommend calling ahead to make sure the restaurant you’re ordering from is properly following safety guidelines (wearing a mask, wearing gloves, etc.)!!
There’s noting better than sharing some yummy appetizers, while sitting around the table and talking about life. That’s the dream! But don’t forget to wash your hands before touching any food!! Hehe! What could be fun… have each person bring a special recipe they love, and then everyone could make their own dish to pass! Or… if no one likes to cook (AKA: ME), go ahead and order a fancy charcuterie board!! I was so blessed to indulge my taste buds with a delectable charcuterie board from Say Cheese GR! My favorite thing? All the mouth watering cheeses (insert drool emoji here)!!
One of my favorite things to do with a small group is to make your own personal pizzas! Pizza is literally one of my favorite foods… so, I am always down for this! And the great thing about it? Everyone is making their own food with their own germs!! Haha! Looking to mix it up in the pizza industry? Check out this blog with pizza recipes I bet you’ve never heard of!
And it’s not all about food you know? Hehe! Try your hand at making a few drinks! I subscribe to the Magnolia magazine, and I always love seeing what special drink recipes are there for me to try. I’m a huge sucker for lemonade… and these various lemonade recipes are sure to tickle your taste buds!
WHAT TO DO
Now, the big question. WHAT are you going to do on your little trip?! Do not fear! There is still so much to be done during a pandemic! And like I’ve said with everything before… always remember to social distance, wear your face mask, and hand sanitize!
Spend the day at the beach! This is a no brainer when you’re staying along Lake Michigan!! There’s so much fun to be had in the sun! Whether it’s reading a book in the sand, or lounging in your pineapple float… social distancing can be achieved quite easily while at the beach. However, I do have 2 suggestions for you all. One, if you have multiple beaches to choose from, obviously head to the beach that will be less crowded. Two, head to the beach earlier, rather than later… so, you can stake out your spot and properly socially distance! And don’t forget to pack all your beach essentials! For my beach day with the girls, my essentials were my beach towel and my sun care products. I recently just got this beach towel from Waterbelle Co. and I love it so much! Some of the core qualities that sold me: sand resistant, compact, eco-friendly, ultra absorbent, quick dry, and anti-microbial. And not to mention… they are all super duper cute!! And I can’t even think of going anywhere without my sun care products… specifically my SPF lip balm and sun butter from Basin… my favorite bath products company ever! If you’re looking for products that are fresh, natural, and ethical… Basin will be your best friend!
Pack a picnic and go hiking! Wherever you go, there’s always going to be some trail to hike, or some outdoor place to explore. So, get your good shoes on and get outside!! The wilderness must be explored! And reward yourself a little bit by packing a delightful picnic to enjoy when you’re all done.
Love on yourself a little bit with a spa and movie night! My favorite kind of night!! Again, I have to hand it to my friends over at Basin for creating the best bath products ever! And I’m particularly partial to their bath bombs. Look how awesome this mermaid bath bomb is! What else do I always include in my spa nights?! LIP SCRUBS. I am prone to chapped lips, and am so in love with Basin’s lip scrubs!! But to top off your spa night, pop in a chick flick, and lather on a facial. You’ll end up going to bed that night feeling so refreshed and relaxed. Side note, some of my favorite chick flicks are: Bridesmaids, Legally Blonde, The Proposal, The Holiday, and really… any Nicholas Sparks movies.
If you’re camping, or your place of lodging has a fire pit… engage in some good old fashion s’mores making! And I have the BEST idea for you. Put together a luxury s’mores bar!!! What do I mean?! Instead of your classic chocolate, marshmallows, and graham crackers… step up your game! Grab some speciality chocolate! Get flavored marshmallows! Switch out the graham crackers for Stroopwafels or chocolate chip cookies! The possibilities are endless!
One of my personal favorites… make flower crowns! How cute would that be?! And better yet… go off on an adorable photo shoot after you make your crowns!! Now, you’re probably saying to yourself that you have NO IDEA how to make a flower crown. Yeah. Me neither. Haha! But Gabriella over at Postcards from Hawaii sure knows how to make them!! If you’re thinking you’d like to try and make flower crowns, you must check out her blog!
SAFETY TIPS
One of the most important aspects of traveling during COVID-19 is incorporating as many safety practices as possible. The more intention you put into implementing these types of practices, the less likely you will contract COVID-19 yourself and spread COVID-19 to others. But let’s get talking about those safety tips!!
Stay home if you’re feeling sick, or displaying any symptoms of COVID-19.
Wash or sanitize your hands after coming into contact with someone or touching a public surface. You should carry a small hand sanitizer in your purse at all times.
Wear a mask at all times when out in public places. When preparing or handling food, wear a face mask.
Bring your own reusable water bottle to drink out of.
Do not share any utensils, towels, or any other type of personal items.
Wipe down high touch surface areas once a day with an appropriate cleaning solution.
When booking accommodations, each person/couple sleeps in their own room. All personal items should be kept in each person’s room.
Only one person/couple will be in the bathroom at one time. After each bathroom use, the bathroom will be wiped down with an appropriate cleaning solution.
When at all possible, socially distance by at least 6 feet or more.
So, what are your thoughts? My thoughts are… I actually still can’t believe this is real life! It’s honestly just so crazy that during this time last year, I was in Costa Rica, and now I really can’t even leave the United States. All in all, I’m trying to remain as positive as possible, and use this time of travel restriction to travel safely within the United States. These past few months have genuinely made me appreciate my country so much more!! I encourage you to explore your country a little bit more… and save the international travel for when it’s safe again! Travel can be achieved 10,000 miles away, or just 1 mile away… adventure is always out there!!
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