With a lot of the world on lockdown, we thought it would be fun to share some tips on how to satisfy your travel bug without leaving your home.
Make a travel playlist
Music is proven to be a mood booster, so we could definitely use some of that right now. Take some time to think of songs that transport you back to a specific adventure or road trip with friends and put all of your jams in one place.
Enjoy afternoon tea
While we can’t hop on a plane to London, we can still participate in one of their favorite traditions: Afternoon Tea! Bake some scones, brew a cup of your favorite English Breakfast and sit down to a nice treat. Bonus points if you have a fancy tea cup you never use – break that bad boy out!
Visit a museum virtually
Did you know you could visit some of the world’s most famous museums virtually? Search for the Rosetta Stone in the British Museum or find a Monet painting in the Musée d’Orsay – all from your living room! Check out a few links below and get lost for an afternoon. (If museums aren’t your thing, I have also included information on how to tour the architecture of the famous Moscow Metro stations).
- The British Museum (London, UK)
- Musée d’Orsay (Paris, France)
- Uffizi Gallery (Florence, Italy)
- The Van Gough Museum (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
- Moscow Metro (Moscow, Russia)
Sip on some foreign beer or wine
Breweries, bars and restaurants may be closed but that doesn’t mean you can’t have some virtual fun with friends and family. Between Facetime, Google Hangout and Zoom, there’s no excuse not to “get together”. Treat yourself to your favorite Italian Chianti or Belgian beer and cheers with your friends virtually! (I recommend calling your local brewery, winery or liquor store since many places are offering no contact pick up).
Learn a new language
With all this time inside, away from school and work, it’s important to keep your brain engaged! There are so many incredible online resources that can help you to learn a new language or brush up on one you once knew. I recommend Duolingo for a fun and free app you can download. It’s a great time to practice how to oder pasta in Italian for that trip to Rome you’ve always dreamt about!
Display your travel pictures
There are a lot of different ways you can organize your favorite travel pictures or postcards. Make a scrapbook or order one of those fun photo-books from Shutterfly. Hang some tweed and close-pin your favorite travel memories up like you’ve always wanted to. Our favorite thing? We have a postcard display in our living room that we made. We rotate out the postcards depending on the time of year!
Watch a travel movie
Travel movies have a way of transporting us to a different destination without having to leave the couch. With Netflix, Amazon video and endless cable channels – it should be easy to find some of your favorites. Whether you’re ready to eat pasta along with Julia Roberts in Eat, Pray Love or laugh your way through Netflix’s original movie Ibiza – there are lots of films that can make you feel like you’re somewhere else. Check out our previous post for some inspiration: Favorite Travel Movies.
Try a new recipe
Imagine the best meal you ever had on vacation. (For me it’s either the beef bourguignon I had in Paris or the mushroom risotto I had in Spain). Wouldn’t it be fun to recreate those fond memories? The internet has everything from Youtube tutorials to step by step instructions on how to make some famous global dishes. Needing a little more instruction? This Italian chef is leading virtual cooking classes via instagram! To learn more check out the link here: Traditional Tuscan Cooking Classes.
Hygge
Hygge is a Danish word for a moment of coziness or contentment. I’ve added it to this list since you can practice hygge almost anywhere – including your home. Light your favorite candle, cuddle up in your softest blanket and sip on a warm drink. Then crack open a new book, listen to a favorite album or watch one of those travel movies. Who knew that a cozy night in could make you feel like you’re in Denmark! (;
Plan your dream trip
While travel feels far away at the moment, it will once again return to us! It’s never too early to start planning your dream trip. Whether it’s watching some travel vlogs on Youtube for inspiration, or pinning beautiful pictures to your Pinterest board. The world will be you oyster again someday soon!
Cheers, Amanda
If you enjoyed this post, you may also like:
