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The last couple of years have been really rough on us as a society, but even rougher on us as individuals. No matter where you are from, I know that 2020 and 2021 have affected each and every one of us. Not just the travellers, either. We are aware that around the world there are very different levels of lockdown. Some places are fairly open, while others are still under hard lockdowns. I took my time in writing this to make sure I found something for every level of lockdown. Including some alternative methods in the case that you aren’t able to meet with anyone.
So whether you are here as a traveller, someone interested in starting to travel, or just someone looking for something to do in these times, I sincerely hope that these alternatives to travel help.
7. Binge Netflix/Disney Plus/Prime/Other Streaming Service
Of course, this has to make an appearance. This is probably the go-to for many with the situation we have been in. I know my wife and I have been binging a lot. We have been watching Supernatural and American Gods on Prime, finished Snowpiercer and Modern Family on Netflix, and devoured the new Marvel shows on Disney Plus. That waiting week to week gave us something to look forward to.
I’m getting sick of how much we watch and the fact I have more streaming services than I ever imagined I would! Yet if you have to quarantine or are on a super hard lockdown this is a great choice. Get caught up on some Chuck or Golden Girls. Get to know the immortal Betty White. It’s been a tough couple of years, and you deserve to be able to relax a bit.
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6. Pick Up a Hobby
Whether you like working with your hands, gaming, or collecting things, there’s a hobby for everyone. Maybe travelling was your hobby pre-corona. Well, here is your chance to add another to your tool belt. It had been years since I had a hobby. I lived my life basically just working and travelling for years with some video games in between. During the travel empty pandemic, I definitely picked up a few.
For those who enjoy working with their hands, you have a wide variety of options. Knitting, crocheting, and embroidery/cross stitching are shockingly calming. If that isn’t really your forte, then maybe pick up woodworking, as I have. There is also metalworking, welding, gardening and so many other options.
Sports are a hard one to talk about currently. Due to the varying severity of lockdowns, you may or may not be able to meet with others. However, if you are, maybe try picking up a sport to get you off the couch when otherwise you wouldn’t.
On the other hand, maybe you are more of a gamer. Awesome! This is a great time for you. With people staying home more and more, there have not only been a lot of new games but also a lot of older games have gotten a new breath of life. Maybe you’ll hook up with some old friends in a game you haven’t played since your teens.
For those who like to collect odds and ends, this is also a golden opportunity for you. People have been selling stuff off left and right for a little extra cash. With a bit of research, you might just find a missing piece for your collection or the perfect piece to start one.
5. Catch Up On Some Reading
I know just as much as the next guy that after you’re done with high school, reading has a tendency to take a backseat to literally anything and everything else. We used to read books for fun, but now life is just too busy to be able to get that good book in. Well now is your chance. You aren’t constantly being pulled out of your house by friends, family, and obligations. Pick up a good book and just get lost in it.
“Books and doors are the same thing. You open them, and you go through into another world.” – Jeanette Winterson
If you still find you can’t pick up a book for whatever reason, then you may want to consider checking out Audible. Audible has a boatload of audiobooks and is great whether you’re working on a different project, on a road trip, trying to fall asleep or just running errands.
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4. Day Trips and Camping
So maybe you can’t travel internationally right now. It sucks, I know! I gotta ask though…. How much of your province, state, county, or country have you seen and experienced? If you’re like most people, and chances are you are, it hasn’t occurred to you that you can still do this in a lot of places. Maybe the mountains, a lake, an open national park, a waterfall, or something else liberating and exciting is less than a day’s drive. Go! Take a train, bus, or car! Have an adventure!
There is a whole world near you that you are more than able to experience. Just remember to let someone know where you are going and for how long. Be smart and safe! The last thing you want is to end up like Dave Franco with your arm stuck between a wall and a boulder.
3. Get Into Board Games
I’m sure everyone remembers Monopoly. The game that ruins friendships. Most people will have that story where they find themselves yelling, “Gawd dammit Grandma! It’s 3 am, I’m tired and every three steps I land at your hotel and pay you a billion dollars! I’m going to bed, you win!” No? Just me? Well then…
Yet I’m not talking about Monopoly here. Board gaming has come a long way since you or I were young. It has become a hobby! In fact, a lot of my travel money from the last year and a bit went into building up a collection. There are so many different types of games. If I wrote about them all, we would be here for ages. You can learn about different games further on Board Game Geek, but some of my favourites include Gloomhaven, Rise of Queensdale, and Dominion
If you aren’t able to meet with people, that is totally ok! There are a few ways around this. Tabletopia and some other sites have a lot of board games and their rules available for free. Other games have their own websites. This way, you can play with your friends without ever leaving your house! If you find one you like, let us know in the comments. Maybe we will come to play with you.
2. Explore Your Local and Surrounding Areas
For the majority of my life, when I thought about travel, I thought it had to be international. I never saw the point in exploring my local areas as that was where I lived or was from. Boy did the pandemic ever teach me I was very wrong. No matter where you live, chances are there are things you don’t know about it and cool places you haven’t found yet. Perhaps you live in a place other people travel to so they can see something new. Maybe see what makes your area a place people visit, or better find new reasons why people should visit your area. I guarantee you that you will either learn or find something very interesting. Everywhere has something to give to the world. You just might not know what that is yet.
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1. Dungeons and Dragons
Now, before you just go clicking away or blowing me off because of the sheer nerdiness of this suggestion hear me out. D&D, and tabletop role-playing games in general, have something for everyone. Any genre you can think of, any type of adventure can be covered.
As a player, you get to travel and explore a vast, carefully built and well-thought-out world. You meet people, hear stories, and “see” things you never imagined possible. Maybe you end up atop the highest mountains, exploring the deepest caves, and you have a part in building this world. Perhaps you get epic fights and meet interesting characters. Not to mention, you build bonds with the people you play with.
I recently picked up dungeon mastering again for the first time in years. Being a traveller and writer has helped me astronomically with being a good dungeon master. I can flesh out this world better than I thought possible by pulling places and things I have seen and people I have met from my travels, using them to add bits and pieces into the stories. On the other side, I believe that DMing has helped me bring my writing to the next level. The amount of detail you have to focus on as a DM to bring a world alive is transferable to describing the places that I visit so that you guys may get a better picture of the places we go.
The best part is if you can’t meet in person, Roll20 (and other virtual tabletops) is a great site that was built for this reason. If you can do it in person, you can find the D&D Starter Set and the Pathfinder Beginner Box at local board games stores or Amazon for really good prices.
In Conclusion:
Just because you can’t travel doesn’t mean you can’t travel. There are ways to go about doing so that don’t even require leaving your house or town! Spread your wings, stretch out and try out something new. At least until after the pandemic. These are the 7 alternatives to travel that I’ve recommended:
7. Binge Netflix/Disney Plus/Prime/Other Streaming Service
2. Explore Your Local and Surrounding Areas
Are you going to give any of these a try? Have you already? What did you do during the pandemic to maintain sanity? Is there anything we missed? Let us know in the comments below! I read them all personally, so give us your alternatives to travel.
