Coronavirus Cancel Your Summer Travel Plans? Saving Summer Vacation!

If we asked, back in January, before the Coronavirus, what your summer travel plans were, you’d likely be ready with a quick answer. I bet that answer would be one filled with excited anticipation for a summer vacation you’d been waiting for all winter. But that’s all over now, right? “Thanks a lot, Coronavirus, for canceling my summer travel plans!” Maybe not all hope is lost, though.

In all seriousness, the current coronavirus crisis is one that has affected every facet of our lives. Here in America, much of the population is cooped up at home, adopting social distancing measures for the safety of our community. The tides seem to be shifting, though, as America prepares to re-open.

No matter how this virus has affected you or your family, one thing is certain. We all need a break from the stress, fear, uncertainty, and anxiety we’re all feeling. Usually, this time of year, the Summer Vacation arrives just in time to provide our yearly emotional and psychological therapy. 

This year, summer travel is a double-edged sword; we need it more than ever; however, it seems all but lost. Summer might as well be canceled, and any travel plans or vacations will just have to wait until next year… maybe.

We’re still holding out hope for saving the summer of 2020! But, doing so in a way that keeps you, your family, and others safe! Sure it may not be the summer we thought we’d have back in January, but there is still hope. Here we’ll share a few ideas on how to still get some RnR this summer. For your sanity and your families too.

The Summer of Coronavirus (COVID-19)

This year’s picture of summer is one framed by social distancing, avoidance of crowds, NOT touching our faces and continued good hand-washing habits! This makes trying to visualize an image of summer to fit that frame a bit of a challenge.

Let’s start with…

..what we know for sure about the coronavirus.

• COVID-19 is here and here to stay.
• COVID-19 easily spreads from person to person and is more contagious than the flu.
• COVID-19 can be devastating for those included in the high-risk group.
• Testing is still limited (as of 05/01/2020, only 1.2% of the U.S. population tested).
• According to medical experts, we are still months away from a possible vaccine.

What we don’t know about the coronavirus…

..whether warm summer weather will help stop the spread. 

As summer approaches, this idea’s been floated about with some regularity. A recent statement from the National Societies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine concluded:

“There is some evidence to suggest that the COVID-19 virus may transmit less efficiently in environments with higher ambient temperature and humidity; however, given the lack of immunity to the virus globally, this reduction in transmission efficiency may not lead to a significant reduction in disease spread without the simultaneous adoption of major public health interventions. Given that countries currently in “summer” climates, such as Australia and Iran, are experiencing rapid virus spread, a decrease in cases with increases in humidity and temperature elsewhere should not be assumed.”

So I guess we’ll see. But, we shouldn’t be putting too much stock in the idea that summer alone will beat the coronavirus.

What this summer will likely not include:

• visits to crowded theme parks,
• International travel,
• big family reunions,
• visits to water parks or crowded community pools.

Ways to STAY SAFE and Save Your Summer Vacation

In assembling the list below, we took into consideration all the current recommendations and suggested best practices available from the CDC, various states, and of above all, science and medical professionals. By making conscious, intelligent choices, planning well, and exercising reasonable cautions, we believe there is still plenty of opportunity for you and your family to seize the summer!

Primitive Camping (aka Boondocking!)

There’s no better way to social distance than to get out in the wild and sleep beneath the stars. Primitive camping, for those not familiar, is camping without neighbors, electricity, running water, shared bathroom facilities, and maybe even no cell service. You provide everything for yourself. As a bonus primitive camping is often FREE too!

Fishing

Go fishing this summer! Even if you don’t eat fish – we don’t! (Catch and release baby!) Fishing may seem slow and boring at first, but it’s also relaxing and peaceful. Sitting in a folding chair, cold drink in hand, and watching a bobber float on the water has a way of melting stress away.

When fishing, you’re rarely less than 6-feet from anyone else who’s also fishing. This makes maintaining a safe distance from other very reasonable.

Getting set up to go fishing is pretty affordable too! Sure, you can go WAY down the rabbit hole and spend a lot of money, but just an introductory kit and a state fishing license can cost less than $50.

You can incorporate fishing into your primitive camping trip or just make a day of it at a nearby city park or community lake. Just be sure to check with your local Game and Fish Department for any rules and license requirements.

Hiking

If you live in an area with good hiking trails, get out and use them! Where we are in Arizona, hiking is classified as an essential activity. It, therefore, has not been restricted during the stay-at-home orders. However, there is guidance on how to enjoy the hiking trails and keep yourself and the community safe in the process.

These include hiking in small groups, maintaining a safe distance from other hikers on the trail, and refraining from using facilities at the trailheads – no restrooms or water fountains.

All Trails and Hiking Project are great resources to use if you’re looking for some trails to explore.

Road Trip

This summer could be the revival of the Great American Road Trip! While international travel may strongly be discouraged for a while, road tripping can be a safer alternative for travel. Traveling by car, or better yet, RV provides the opportunity to travel in a small group and still maintain a safe environment for you and your close family. 

By making conscious and intentional choices throughout your trip, traveling by RV can be safe and easily still adhere to the CDC’s guidelines. Plan ahead by loading your RV up with groceries, cook your own meals, regularly sanitize your environment, avoid crowded public places, and avoid shared public facilities.

If you don’t have an RV, a road trip by car can still be made safely by taking some steps to reduce your risk. Without an RV, you’ll be staying at hotels throughout your trip. You’ll also be eating out the majority of the time. Here are some ways to reduce your risk and some good habits to adopt for the trip.

Drive-In Theaters

National Parks & State Parks

If you’re looking for a safe summer travel destination, we feel National Parks and States Parks are an excellent place to start. In recent days, we’ve seen news of the National Park System beginning to increase access and services in a phased approach. The Nation Park Service has a dedicated webpage to inform the public on changes as they happen. If you want to check the status of a particular park, you can do so HERE.

Picnics

Creativity will play an essential role in saving this summer. A picnic is an easy outing to plan and one that will get you outside for most of the day. Find a park or any shaded patch of grass to lay a blanket down a safe distance from others.

Go all out for your picnic – maybe even become the picnic master! Planning and preparing your food will limit contact with others and give you a renewed take on the meaning of eating out! You can also bring lawn games or even watch a movie outside with the family.

Geocaching

Geocaching is often forgotten and an under-appreciated activity. This summer would be the perfect time to embrace some geocaching adventures. Playing the treasure hunter will not only get you exploring otherwise overlooked areas in your community, city, or state but also will help you forget about reality for a while. A real escape!

The best resource out there for finding geocaches near you is geocacing.com.  

Star Gazing

Use this summer as a time to embrace your inner astronomer. Over time with advancements in technology and an abundance of entertainment options, we spend less and less time looking up at the night sky. Something our ancestors fell asleep to every night. 

Get back in touch with the night sky. Re-learn and be able to recognize the constellations. Develop a new appreciation for the lunar cycle. Reconnect with the larger universe we’re a part of. Adopt this as a nightly activity and discover how much the night sky changes over time.

Create an Escape

If you choose to stay close to home this summer, create an escape at home. Dedicate a space whether indoors, in your back yard, on the roof, or on your balcony as your escape space. Get creative and transform the space into something completely different from the rest of your house.

Set up a tent out back, build a meditation/yoga deck, create an indoor circus tent out of old sheets, or set up the perfect sunning station. The key is to create a space you can escape to when feeling stressed or overwhelmed this summer. 

We can save the summer!

By no means do we think summer vacation is hopeless. This year, it’s just going to be different.

If you choose to travel around the United States, stay vigilantly informed on all current state and federal guidelines. Take the safety of yourself, your family, and others seriously. This virus isn’t going away anytime soon. But that doesn’t mean all life should stand still until it does. Plan well, be smart, take proper precautions, and make conscious choices with all your actions. We are all in this together!

Whatever ways you choose to spend your summer, we wish you a safe and healthy one! 

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