The pandemic is ongoing throughout the world and international travel has been put on hold. Now what do we do? Whether you love to travel, do it occasionally or just like daydreaming about it, you may be feeling like something’s missing. Maybe that’s just me. If I’m not country hopping, I feel like I’m not taking advantage of the world, but that’s not true. As many of us have already discovered this summer, now is the time to finally explore our own country and visit those local places we’ve always taken for granted. The universe is basically forcing us to appreciate what we have in our own backyard, and in Canada we are fortunate to have an enormous backyard full of culture and beauty.
Here are some ideas to help keep the travel spirit alive within you…
Bucket List
Make a 2020 Bucket List of all the local places you and/or your family have been putting off because “it’s just right here, we’ll get to it one day.” Now’s the day! That scenic drive up north - I bet there are quaint little towns you’ve never heard of along the way that are just waiting to be explored. That landmark that’s always swarming with international tourists - go see why it’s so popular to the rest of the world. Start writing that list today and enjoy the satisfaction of checking off those “maybe next year” sites THIS year.
Hometown Traveller’s Guide
Treat your own city/province/country as a foreign destination that you will be discovering for the first time. Read through the tourist websites, borrow a traveller’s guide from your local library, or ask around for recommendations. Walking tours are a great way to explore and get some fresh air and exercise. I highly recommend Tour Guys for free walking tours of some of Canada’s bigger cities, like Toronto or Vancouver. Big or small, you may be surprised by what’s said about your own town and what it has to offer once you start looking at it with a fresh pair of eyes.
Get Lost
One of the cheapest and best ways to explore is by foot. Try getting “lost” in your own city or town or the one you’re planning to visit. A pilot I once worked with would put on some walking shoes and head out with a coin on his layovers. Every time he came to a corner, he’d flip the coin and either go left if it was tails or right if it was heads, or straight if he didn’t catch the coin. The idea is to just start walking, take in everything you pass and see what new things you discover along the way.
Go Hunting
Not for wild animals! If you have kids, create a Scavenger Hunt Walking Tour where you can look around your town for things like an animal in a restaurant’s logo, or a store with jewellery in the display window. If you’re in the suburbs, look for a house with the garage door open, or a front porch with a rocking chair. At the end of the hunt have your kids find their way home. Not only are you looking at your own neighbourhood in a new way, you’re also teaching your kids life skills.
Food Tour
Design your own food tour and support local restaurants at the same time. Every week or month try out a different restaurant in your town. If you’re on your own, ask for their specialty. With two or more people, pick out a dish for each other. If you live in a bigger diverse city, take it up a notch and make it an international food tour by trying out local restaurants that specialize in different cuisines. See if you can find the restaurants where the chefs are native to that cuisine - the more authentic the dish the better! Dive in even deeper and read up about that country and what makes their dishes so special.
Day Trips
You don’t need week-long vacations to feel like you’re traveling, sometimes driving a couple of hours will take you to what feels like a completely different country. Have a destination in mind, if you want, or just start driving and see where you end up. Whether the journey to your destination is 30 minutes away or 3 hours away, treat the car ride like a road trip with opportunities for spontaneous stops and snack breaks.
Like any international trip, planning a local trip ahead of time will make sure you maximize your time, your budget and have the best experience. With the number of Canadians getting out and about in their own country and new safety restrictions, there are many points of interests that are closed or booked up. This is where I come in. I can help find and research local sweet spots in your area, provide recommendations on the best times to visit them, and help you avoid places that are closed or have many new restrictions due to the COVID pandemic. Contact me today!
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