I can’t help but see people writing about their travel successes and disappointments in 2020. For most, the year was predominately a series of canceled vacations and reimagined trips. In order to find a “new normal,” some have gone all way to purchasing an RV and taking road trips, like Pizza in Motion or Kerr Points.
We weren’t going to go this far in adapting our travels. However, we did make changes to our travels throughout 2020. During the lockdown part of the year, we didn’t leave the house, save for occasional grocery shopping and medical appointments. We cooked our own meals, with an occasional take out or delivered meal. We even had a ZOOM wine dinner.
In June, when we finally decided to head out of the house and spend a day at the beach, it was our best vacation of the year. At the time, the idea of spending the day outside and getting the chance to have dinner outside with some of our “oldest” friends was amazing.
After some visits to the Orlando theme parks, we felt more comfortable about going on a trip. We weren’t comfortable with a usual vacation, so instead we decided to stay in a cabin in the Georgia mountains that seemed to be safe at the time. It was our first Airbnb rental of 2020, but not our last. After that experience, we rented another cabin just outside of Pigeon Forge, TN.
We also spent a few nights in hotel rooms over the end of 2020, but we always tried to take as many precautions as we could manage, given the circumstances.
So here we are, entering 2021. How are we planning our travels for the upcoming year?
For the time being, our plans are regressing instead of progressing. Why is that? Because of the current situation, that’s why!
Unless you’re in denial about COVID-19, there’s no denying that cases are spiking around the country. Places where we visited a month ago, like Tennessee, are now hot spots of viral spread. There’s nowhere in the US where cases aren’t rising. Even our local theme parks, once an example of how to keep COVID-19 under control, are not as safe as they used to be.
So what are we planning for 2021? For the beginning of the year, our trip to Washington D.C. to see the inauguration is canceled. So is a long weekend trip to St. Augustine. We visited there for lunch in late 2020 and don’t expect unmasked guests to behave any better because COVID cases are rising.
What are we thinking about? Well since I’m a Disney Vacation Club member, we’re looking at taking a trip to either the Vero Beach or Hilton Head resorts for a long weekend. We’d have a full kitchen so there’s no need to find a place to eat. We also can take advantage of all of the amenities the resorts have to offer.
Once we have access to a COVID vaccine, our travel plans will open up and we’ll be able to reschedule that trip to St. Augustine. I’m still hopeful that we’ll be able to get on a plane to make one trip to Schlitterbahn in 2021. Not to mention that trip to Japan I’m planning for the end of the year. So while 2020 was a year of canceling trips, I’m hopeful that 2021 will be a year of making and taking trips!!!!!!
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This post first appeared on Your Mileage May Vary
