Traveling makes our life better and happier in several ways. Nothing can ever replace the experience of going somewhere new and exciting, learning different cultures, and meeting countless people! This year, I made a promised to myself to be more adventurous and start traveling solo, but exceptional circumstances happen sometimes. All my flights were canceled because of the current global travel restrictions to defeat the coronavirus pandemic (Covid-19). So, as a responsible citizen, I isolate myself at home and practice social distancing. I’ve had to hit pause on my travel plans for the meantime.
Most of the time, I still think about all the places I’ve been and all the places I hope to get to sometime soon. So instead of traveling, I decided to use this time to plan my next trip. Just because we’ve had to shelve our travel plans doesn’t mean we can’t look forward to a future trip, right? Or, at the very least, satisfy my wanderlust by taking an unforgettable vacation at home! With that in mind, I’ve put together a list of 5 ways to travel from the comfort of our home. Hopefully, these tips will give you something fun to look forward to when this is all over!
Explore UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Maybe it’s not the same as being there, but did you know that you can visit some of the world’s famous heritage sites without leaving home? Taking a virtual tour through the UNESCO website can open up amazing and inspiring locations around the world. The UNESCO website has a list of 1,121 sites, including Taj Mahal, Stonehenge, and Machu Picchu, which has their own virtual tours that will enable you to see detailed panoramic images while reading all about these exciting places.
Cook a different cuisine from your favorite destinations
I know you will agree with me if I say traveling and eating are one of life’s most sweeping counterparts! So why not explore the world from your kitchen by cooking cuisine from a place you’re longing to return to or to see for the first time. It can be the famous tteokbokki and Kimbap from Korea, Ramen from Japan, Nasi Goreng from Indonesia, or Pad Thai and Mango Sticky Rice from Thailand!
Escape Your Routine with Travel Podcasts and Books
Listening to Podcasts and reading books can be your new hobby after this quarantine! I’ve been listening to podcasts for years now, and I’ve discovered lots of interesting topics, including traveling. I love listening to the success stories of my fellow travelers! Also, I prefer to do my reading from a physical book, even though ebooks are on-trend. I read a lot of travel books and a few travel magazines. Reading a global fiction book also offers a look at a different approach of living in another part of the world.
Binge watch some travel documentaries
There are lots of TV shows and documentaries on Netflix that will satisfy your wanderlust! A feel-good documentary series that I really enjoy is Tales by Light, an Australian documentary reality television series on Netflix. The program is branded content and a joint venture between National Geographic and Canon. This series features a number of professional photographers traveling around the world to capture images that tell a story. I also love watching food documentaries like Street Food, Ugly Delicious, and Chef’s Table that features food from different parts of the world.
Discover a Museum
Recently, Google Arts & Culture has partnered with 2,500 museums and galleries around the world to offer virtual tours and interactive, guided exhibits. We’ll get to experience the British Museum in London, the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, MoMA’s Sophie Taeuber-Arp exhibit, the Guggenheim in New York City, and hundreds of places! With that, we can gain knowledge about art, history, and science. Other museums around the world are also sharing their most zen art on social media to help us cope with staying home. To see the Google Arts & Culture’s collection of museums, visit the collection’s website here.
If you’re like me who had to cancel recent travel plans, craving a diversion from anxiety, or merely getting bored at home, I hope this article will help you feel entertained, inspired, and most importantly, get connected with the rest of the world!
Yes, while at home, I binge on watching documentaries about travel. This a great way to find productive pursuits while on quarantine.
The nature stops our nature affecting activities, and we are lockdown and wild life is enjoying their independence 😊, don’t worry watch travel shows, historical movies, inspiring shows and read good books and keep yourself energized and active….
This is such a beautiful read! I mean you have literally helped everyone in this situation travel the world by simply sitting at home! Thank you for sharing and much love❤
Thank you, Akshay 🙂
This is really entertaining, traveling the world while in the house.
Amazing article.thank you for sharing.
I have always wanted to travel. I will definately travel from home. You have written it well.
Thank you, Jackie! I hope you you’ll enjoy the virtual tours 🙂
Awesome post! and what stunning images too! will be back for more!
Thanks for dropping by, Emma! 🙂
Wow. This is actually a great idea.
Thanks for sharing.
Welcome 🙂 Thanks also for dropping by!
Oh so many wonderful tips here! We are in trying times to be sure and it is not easy. We all need a break from the news. Another area is travel channels on YT were people make their own travel videos, they can be very helpful and inspiring!
Allie of
http://www.allienyc.com
I agree, there are lots of travel channels on YouTube! I also watch them a lot 🙂
These are great ideas. It’s a great way to virtually experience different cultures.
Hey Nicole!
These are really great ideas to beat the cabin fever and the travel bug. Just like you, I am also missing some places that I know I could have been in if the situation was much healthier and better.
But as the world struggles and heals slowly, we do our best by doing our own part in helping and staying at home – for now.
This post is very encouraging! Also, I suddenly craved for Pad Thai after reading this 😉
Stay safe! Let’s keep in touch.
Cheers,
Hanna
Hi Hanna! Thank you for reading my blog 🙂 When this is all over, we can go back on travelling. But for now, let’s just stay home and cook Pad Thai! Hehe Stay safe always!
I love going on a travel but I can’t do that due to lockdown so the best way for me not to miss it is to watch travel documentaries or visiting a websites of other places.
What awesome tips on how to travel to faraway destinations at your home during these times. I have to try some of these trips and plan for a trip!
Those are some good tips. You can watch and plan during this time for coming years.
i love these creative ideas to quench a thirst to travel when it is most responsible to hunker down. thanks for sharing!
I’ve been watching travel vlogs to get my dose of travel in lately! Good tip about cooking different cuisine! I will definitely have to google some recipes to try!
https://sundaydahlias.com
These are such good ideas! Great for every traveler who is super sad right now 🙁
Wow, thank you for sharing this! I was meant to go to Miami for spring break but had to cancel it amidst the coronavirus and I was so bummed 🙁 so thank you for these tips 🙂
nicole | http://www.wallflowerings.com
I haven’t had to cancel any travel plans. I just don’t really have the money to travel anytime soon so I found your post really useful. You’ve got some great ideas here. I absolutely love to travel and really miss it but haven’t been able to in a few years. Thank you for sharing them!
I love the idea of cooking some food from that country. It allows you to experience a bit of the culture as well as expand your culinary skills!
xo Sarah | Oomph London
This makes me miss the outdoors more, but I do love these ideas, especially the one about cooking. It will give me an opportunity to learn to cook some new cuisines, too.
Ginagamit ko yung #5. Hehehe watching vlogs everyday. Para na rin akong nag-travel!
Wow thanks for the UNESCO tip will have to check them out! Love all your suggestions although binge watching just makes you long more for travel since my husband and I always do that already lol. You’re right just prepare for your next travel plans 👍
Aww, I like this article. As a person who loves to travel, I certainly miss these once or thrice a year out of town or out of the country travels.
This blog post reminds me that there are other ways we can go to far places — either by reading a book, watching a documentary or tasting cuisines.
So far, I’ve been busy cooking dishes. 🙂 I guess that’s what I can do for now to keep me occupied.
These are all great ideas. But of course, they are nothing compared to the real thing. But we take what we can, yeah?