It has been a while since I have been here to share a post. But I have to be honest with you, I have seriously struggled with what direction to go since everything started with the Coronavirus in March. The year 2020 will definitely go down in the history books as a memorable year…in more ways than one.
Usually, we take a week’s vacation in July and go to the beach for a week. This year was different and we were a little unsure of where to go, if anywhere. But we decided literally at the last minute to go to the mountains for a few days.
So on Saturday, I booked a room through www.booking.com at the Holiday Inn. And on Sunday morning we were loaded up and gone, Yayyy!!! To say that I was a little excited to get a few days away is an understatement.
TRAVELING SUGGESTIONS:
- Choose somewhere within driving distance. We chose Boone because it is just a few hours away from home. This way you don’t have to worry about being around a lot of people at the airports or have to make a lot of stops along the way.
- Book through a traveling website like www.booking.com or VRBO. Because this was a quick, short trip we stayed at The Holiday Inn Express and they went above and beyond keeping things sanitary and clean. Also, when staying at a hotel that serves breakfast, keep in mind that everything is a grab and go. It is amazing to me now how people keep their distance when traveling, so you don’t have to worry about coming into close contact with anyone.
- It’s a good idea to take along a few extra cleaning supplies, like wipes and always hand sanitizer. As clean as the hotel was, I did go in and quickly wiped down any surfaces.
- Of course, always have a mask handy, just in case you go in somewhere that requires it. I quickly made ours the night before leaving.
- Be sure to pack plenty of snacks and sandwich fixings. Because restaurants are limited if they are even opened. This is never a problem for my family, as we always pack snacks when traveling. It’s just another way to stay safe while traveling during a pandemic. You know what goes into what you fix.
- If you do go to a restaurant, be sure to check their policies before going. And a lot offers outdoor seating. We ate at The Peddler Steak House while in Boone.
- Lastly, be sure to have fun and not stress so much about getting out. I think it does us all good to get away a few days and kind of regroup.
I hope that you are able to take some of these tips and use them while traveling this summer. With all that is going on around us, we all need a little time away to focus on God, our family, and even ourselves.
While in Boone we were able to get a little antiquing done. We visited some great stores while there. Also, when going somewhere like Boone, you can travel the parkway for some amazing views and never worry about coming in close contact with a lot of people.
Happy travels this summer, wherever you decide to visit!!
Blessings Always! Amanda
Sounds like a great trip! Boone is beautiful! We rented a cabin in Cherokee NC. Great tips!
It was a good trip, all be it different than usual. I have not been to Cherokee since I was little. Need to plan a trip there soon…I do love the NC mountains!!
Great tips! We’ve managed to travel for 8 weeks so far this year road tripping around the US, camping, and visiting National Parks. It was very easy to stay within the social distancing guidelines.
Ooohhhh!!! That sounds like fun!!! You are right, even staying at a hotel, it was surprisingly easy to social distance.
This has been the approach we have taken this summer too. We are headed out again this upcoming weekend and just know we need to be flecible.
It has actually been a little easier making short trips this year. I also love taking day trips to local destinations.
We too had to cancel our big trip and ended up just a few hours away from home in the mountains. This ended up being the best trip we have taken in the last few years. Very relaxing and because everything was closed or limited, we just enjoyed each other’s company.
That is awesome!! I think that as hard as the pandemic has been, it has made a lot of us slow down and reprioritize some things. Like you, it was probably one of the best trips, less stressful really. I am glad you had a good trip and the mountains are always beautiful!
I agree this pandemic has surely put a monkey wrench into the works! I think you did a nice job of showing how you booked your stay, your planning about food and restaurants as well. glad you had a nice vacation. My vacation was a trip to my son’s in northern vermont – aa 5 hou drive but i threw in a little antiquing on the way. Anyway, enjoyed you post.
Thank you!! Oohhh…I’ve always wanted to visit Vermont!! Seems like a good place to go antiquing. And it’s nice that you had somewhere that you could get away to.
It’s always nice to explore your own backyard 🙂 not literally but places nearby you never seem to make time for! I’ve noticed a lot of people doing the same since the virus hit.
Yessss!!! I so agree. There are many places in my home state that I have not been to in a long time or never been to. There is no better time than now to do so.
I like to keep my car ready at all times for a last minute road trip or day trip. Nothing can stop me from traveling! 🙂
Great idea, Mariah! Any time I leave home, I usually have a bag that is packed for short trips too.