How To Safely Scratch Your Travel Itch This Holiday Season

The last two years I have shared tips on how to make the most of your holiday travel. The goal was to inspire you to look at holiday travel in a new way -- by mixing some fun and adventure into the routine and tradition.  But this year is an odd year. While I do believe there are ways to travel carefully and minimize risk, I am not encouraging people to travel and gather this year. We’ll focus instead on ways we can scratch the travel itch while staying close to home and keeping our distance. With that in mind, I am putting a 2020 spin on my How To Make The Most of Your Holiday Travel posts.. 

Go Rogue

Who remembers the movie Four Christmases with Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn? The couple normally skips out on their dysfunctional families’ Christmas celebrations and instead opts to vacation on a tropical island. Of course the comedy of the film is that their plans are thwarted by a canceled flight, and they must visit all of their family in one day, leading to pure mayhem. 

Do you remember the little twinge of jealousy you felt at the idea of celebrating the holidays in such a selfish way?  I know I felt it… I love Christmas with my family. We still gather -- my cousins, their kids, my aunt and uncle, my grandparents, my mom and stepdad -- every Christmas morning to open presents, eat brunch and play games. I love Christmas morning with my family. BUT… it’s just not safe for all that this year. Out of love and respect for my family, I don’t think we will be gathering to celebrate together. 

Instead of letting this get you down, look for ways to shake things up by creating your own at-home tradition or treating yourself to a solocation. I have always wanted to spend my birthday (Christmas Eve) on the beach drinking pina coladas. Maybe this is the year I finally treat myself to a birthday solocation....   It will require some very strict safety guidelines, but it might be a nice way to put a spin on an otherwise somewhat lonely year. 

Walk. Hike. Explore. Learn.

In the past, I have suggested doing something new when you travel home for the holidays -- going to a museum you haven’t checked out before, running the Rocky steps, or attending a sporting event, for example. I wouldn’t suggest crowded museums or sporting events right now, but you can still explore nearby state and national parks, hiking trails, or even self-guided walking tours. 

I especially love self-guided walking tours because even if it’s just a tour of your local neighborhood, chances are you will learn something new and gain a new appreciation for home⁠. 

Shop Small. Shop Local.

Now more than ever small businesses need our support. Big businesses like Amazon, Target, and Wal-Mart have been profiting off of the pandemic, while the small businesses and unique shops that give our hometowns and travel destinations so much character are struggling to keep their doors open.  

Even though I am not a big shopper, I love wandering small local shops because the artisanal crafts, carefully curated selection of clothing, and handmade jewelry tells the story of the place I am visiting.  Besides supporting the local shops in your hometown this year, you can scratch your travel itch by thinking back to some of the coolest and most unique shops you’ve come across in your travels and making an online purchase from their shop. Or, if shopping for friends and family who live in a different spot, look up some of the unique shops, restaurants and coffee shops in their hometown and get them a gift certificate. 

And just in case you need even more motivation, don’t forget that 48% of your purchase recirculates in the local community, as opposed to only 14% when you shop at a chain store (and even less when you shop online). 

Eat Local! 

A really simple way to scratch the itch and break up the monotony of being trapped at home (all while supporting the local economy) is to eat local! Get takeout, buy groceries from a small, independent grocer or speciality shop, and order desserts or dinner rolls from a local bakery. 

If you’re like me and you avoid takeout because you hate the idea of your food sitting and getting cold or soggy, get creative and plan a car picnic in the restaurant’s parking lot. Slide the seats back, pack cloth napkins, set up a tablet with a movie or TV show, and pretend you’re at the drive-in. 

Focus on The Journey

I know I (along with the CDC) suggested against traveling to see family this winter, but everyone’s circumstances are different. Just a month ago, I found myself unexpectedly driving to Alabama to try and spend time with my grandmother before she passed. It was a 10 hour drive, plus any pit stops. Even though the drive was long, I decided that I needed to break up the drive on the way home. It had been an emotionally charged week and I was drained. Instead of looking at my time in the car as a necessary evil, I chose to look at it as an adventure and an opportunity. 

On the way to Alabama, I stopped for takeout at Yassin’s Falafel House in Knoxville. And on the way home, I stopped in Montgomery to visit the Civil Rights Memorial and walk around a little bit. I probably only stopped for about an hour, but in that time I was able to sit and reflect at the memorial, walk part of the Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail, see the state capitol, and pause outside the Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church for more reflection. It didn't take a lot of time, but it was a great opportunity to stretch my legs and break up the monotony of the drive with some important history.   ⁠

Check Out a Virtual Tour 

By this point in the pandemic, you can pretty much take a virtual tour of any and every landmark or museum in the world. Want to see the Mona Lisa? There’s a way to make that happen. Walk the Great Wall of China? Sure thing. Climb the Eiffel Tower? Me too! 

But it doesn’t have to stop there. You can also sign up for digital experiences, like cooking classes, cocktail mixing lessons, wine tastings and more. Airbnb has a great selection, but that’s not the only place -- the internet is full of these virtual travel experiences.  

Be warned, if you’re anything like me, virtual tours and experiences may not actually scratch your travel itch. It may just make it worse. If that’s the case, just use it as inspiration to start planning your post-COVID travels. 

Adopt The Spirit of a Traveler

I’ve been saying this all throughout the pandemic (and even before): Adopt the spirit of a traveler. Even when you aren’t traveling, you can create travel experiences by identifying what you like about travel and exploring similar activities at home. 

No matter what you’re doing this holiday season, I hope you stay safe and find plenty to be joyful and thankful about.