How to Plan a Pandemic-Friendly Family Vacation
As the new year approaches, many families are already starting to think about how to use their vacation days in 2022. And for now, it’s still important to plan around the pandemic. While vaccination rates have opened up many new travel options and fun activities, we are not out of the woods yet. For now, you will still need to be flexible with your travel plans or stick close to home if you want to play it safe. Here are some pandemic-friendly vacation ideas to ensure you and your kids get the most out of your time off together!
Plan Some Outdoor Activities
If you want to stick close to home, outdoor activities are great for keeping your kids entertained. There are so many ways to have fun outdoors! For example, Verywell Family suggests flying kites, blowing bubbles, playing classic games like Red Rover, and having a backyard picnic. Depending on your climate, you could also use the school break to plant a garden with your kids or camp out under the stars.
Explore Your Local Region
You can also find plenty of fun things to do around town. Hit the road and explore a nearby National Park, take the family to a retro drive-in theater, visit a local farm, or take a train ride. If you’re planning a fall adventure, go apple picking, visit a pumpkin patch, or take your kids to the forest so you can appreciate the fall foliage. The winter holidays are great for snow activities like skiing, snowboarding, sledding, tubing, and ice skating. When spring break rolls around, be a tourist in your own town and visit all of the local attractions, including museums, art galleries, and botanical gardens. You might just discover a new reason to love your city!
Consider Safe Travel Adventures
Are you itching to get out of town and explore the world again? The pandemic has been hard on travel buffs. Thankfully, it’s now safe to visit many places, both within the U.S. and internationally. Just make sure you review the entry requirements for any countries you plan on visiting. Certain countries will need to see your official CDC vaccination card while others will require approved COVID-19 tests before entry. Make sure to visit your destination country’s official government website throughout your travel planning, especially leading up to your trip. This way, you can be sure you’re getting the most up-to-date information you need for the region you’re visiting.
If you don’t want to deal with the hassle of getting COVID-19 tests before flying, consider keeping your vacation domestic and exploring some states you’ve never been to. You may even want to camp or RV to stay as socially distanced as possible while traveling domestically. Some of the great destinations you might consider include California, Oregon, Maine, Alaska, and New Mexico. A variety of climates to choose from opens up the opportunity to either get away from winter weather or embrace it!
Are you looking forward to vacations in the coming year? The chance to take some time off work, do some traveling, and make new memories with loved ones is always a wonderful thing. Don’t let the pandemic get in the way of your vacation! Whether you decide to stay close to home or venture out into the world, be safe and have fun!
Contributing Author- Eva Benoit
Check out more from The Rad Traveler for a variety of great content like this!