Armchair Travel Ideas for Quarantine
I’ve been trying to be positive while sheltering at home but gosh darn it, some days are more difficult than others. I mentioned before we had a Napa trip planned this month that was canceled due to Covid-19 and we are crossing our fingers that the rest of our travel plans for this year will not be affected. I’m longing to relax on a beach with a good book and an icy drink.
Although many states/countries are slowly reopening, a beach escape is not quite as easily accessible as it once was. Until we can travel again, here are a few ideas for Armchair Traveling to get you through quarantine.
Travel Bloggers & Photographers
I feel like my Instagram & Pinterest feeds are flooded with pictures of exotic and lovely places. I can’t seem to get enough and both platform’s algorithms have me figured out! There are some amazing Bloggers worth checking out like Alexandra Pereira with her Lovely Pepa blog. Every photo she posts fills me with absolute wanderlust. Check out one of my favorite Argentine photographers, Gonzalo Granja (who goes by Gongranja) for his stunning pictures of nature. To both experience a culture and a place, check out the Atlas of Beauty by Mihaela Noroc (website here or buy the book); or the Humans of New York project by Brandon Stanton (website here or buy one of his books). Our friends at Outre Cinema put together amazing travel and wedding videos that will transport you to all the exotic places they have traveled to. You can also check out our post on Monterrey, Mexico for a taste of Latin flavor.
Literary Travel
I have been going on and on to anyone who will listen to me about an amazing project I recently discovered called Strong Sense of Place. I can’t even begin to explain my excitement or how much I love these people. Mel Joulwan and David Humphreys are the founders of this amazing website and podcast that explores travel through reading. They are in the middle of their first podcast season and every episode features five books they enjoyed that feature a strong sense of place. So far they have featured books that transport readers to Sweden, Cuba, Chicago, Czechoslovakia, Mexico, and more. As if that wasn’t enough to get excited about, they post even more content on their blog including themed recipes and books for weekend escapes. I really love it all and I can’t recommend them enough.
Vacation Keepsakes
For those with a more crafty bend, consider making a keepsake or memento from a previous trip. Ever since sheltering in place went into effect, I have promised myself I will finally get to making sand bottles like these from Over the Big Moon or this one from Daisy and Daydreams. It hasn’t happened yet but maybe it will have to be the plan for this weekend! Consider making a travel memento box like these from Martha Stewart. Maybe now is the time to get vacation photos printed or to order a photo book from Artifact Uprising or Shutterfly. It could be fun to spend the time going through photos and reminiscing about previous trips.
Movies, Music & TV Shows
If you feel like you need a quick escape, turn on a themed playlist by Spotify like this one called Souvenirs to transport you to France. Listen to Latin Dinner over margaritas and fajitas for chill vibes. Enjoy the Beach Vibes playlist with your feet propped up and pretend you are on the beach. We love any combination of recipes and stories around here and I loved several TV series that combine both. Check out Sofi In Spain for an exploration of the tastes and experiences of the stunning country. Emeril Lagasse explores Spain and more corners of the world in his series Emeril Eats the World. Both are currently featured on Amazon prime and absolutely worth checking out. Next time you are looking for a great film to watch, consider a movie like Enchanted April to transport you to Italy or The Secret Life of Walter Mitty to experience several different countries.
Taste & See Series
When I first got the idea for this project, the heart of what I wanted to explore is how people can come together over food and stories. We all break bread, we all have a story to share and relate to. Travel is something that I have found that easily ties into both. The places we go both provide us with stories and memories but also add to each traveler’s individual story. By experiencing a place, meeting the people that live there, hearing their stories and tasting their flavors, it changes me and makes me better. With this in mind, I’m excited to say I am launching a new series on the blog to explore stories and flavors from specific places! We’ll feature a little about how the history of each place has influenced the flavors found there, attributes of each culture, and a recipe to make and enjoy at home. From time to time I will feature interviews with people from the featured location, as well as fun things like music and videos or book recommendations. I’m really excited to explore the world this way with you, and I can’t wait to hear your thoughts! Especially in a time that we are separated in person, I hope this is something that can bring us together in a small way. We will launch the first installment of the series next week featuring Peru! This is one you don’t want to miss, check back next week for details.
How are you getting through this crazy time? Do you have any recommendations for armchair travel that we didn’t list? Let us know in the comments and happy traveling!