But until when?
No one knows when this new normal going to end.
Why not try to be creative and plan a "pandemic-friendly" vacation?
Here are five ways to have a fun family trip to boost morale and make some memories.
1. STOCK UP ON PPE
Now that PPE is in the word bank of every American repertoire and facemasks are readily available, make sure you have enough reusable or disposable to last the trip. Lysol wipes might be hard to find, so consider making your own with paper towels and alcohol. Also, every member of the family needs to keep hand sanitizer readily available during every outing and especially before eating.
2. CLEAN LIKE CRAZY
Whether booking an Airbnb house or a hotel, now is the time to use those alcohol wipes! On tables, counters, faucets, door knobs, light switches, toilets and toilet handles, refrigerator and microwave handles. Anything that people, other people, possibly coronavirus-carrying people touch.
We brought our kitties with us, so we found an Airbnb that allowed pets. After a good cleaning, my family and our cats, Smokey and Lizzie had a cozy, comfortable home away from home. Our Airbnb also came with its own porch kitty named Molly. My children were overjoyed to stay in this place.
3. KEEP A TRAVEL BACKPACK
Water fountains may not be the safest to drink during a pandemic, so I keep a backpack with water bottles for every family member. I add extra facemasks and hand sanitizer. Ponchos are an excellent idea for those rainy days.
4. CHOOSE OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Now is the time to get out and get some Vitamin D. Wander to places undiscovered (at least by your family). Walk. Run. Bike. Hit the trails. Take a canoe. Just call ahead to make sure they're open!
If you want to peruse a store for souvenirs, then that's why we carry facemasks with us everywhere. At least the majority of the time, we'd like to not have to wear them!
5. GET TAKE-OUT OR EAT OUTDOORS
I like to cook healthy meals, but for the rest of my family who likes to eat pizza, tacos, BBQ, and hamburgers, going on vacation sure is a treat. When we didn't eat take-out in the Airbnb, we ate at "pandemic-friendly" restaurants. Plenty of ventilation meant mitigating the risk, so that prompted me to Google all the places that had outdoor seating. And we didn't forget to slather on the hand sanitizer!
I'm thankful to the Lord for our #2020 vacation. We took a break, created memories, and lived to tell the tale!
