With COVID still lingering around the world and our movement greatly hindered as far as travel, I’ve had to get creative this year with adventures.  After canceling more trips than I’d care to count due to COVID, I knew I had to find ways to still travel but to do it safely this year, so as not to loose all my travel momentum.  One of the ways we’ve been able to explore but still stay safe and healthy is by fully embracing the day trip.  Without having to stay in a hotel for the night, you can spend most of the day in the car or in open natural areas and then return home to your own bed that night.  Win win!  Here’s how to fully embrace the day trip as a great option to explore but to still stay safe in the current situation.

Base yourself someplace to explore

We’ve done day trips from our home base in Portland around the Pacific Northwest as well as using other bases with family members to explore different areas.  For example, my parents live in the LA area and we’ve road tripped down there to stay with them for a week and then done day trips from their house to explore a bit more, while still not having to stay in a hotel.  By staying at home or with family, you can utilize areas around your base to really explore some interesting areas that you might not have thought to explore before.

Don’t be afraid to make it an entire day affair

While I used to cringe at spending hours upon hours in the car, this year during COVID, as long as I’m getting out of the house and able to explore, I’ll drive a lot farther than I normally would have in years past.  Even if your day trip turns into an all day adventure, that’s fine!  We’ve done long day trips and even though you’re tired at the end of the day after lots of driving, it feels good to be home in your own bed at the end of it!

Enjoy the car ride and scenery

I’ve learned to embrace the long car rides because they mean I’m headed somewhere different. If you can learn to like your time in the car and taking in the scenery along the way, your whole trip will end up that much better!

Make it an adventure

For each day trip that Nick and I have done this year during COVID, we approach it as if we’re headed out on an adventure and that makes it even more fun! Just like that feeling of arriving at the airport, headed somewhere far away, make the day about the excitement of where you’re going and it makes a big difference.  We might not be jetting off to Europe this year but getting as excited about our day trips as we would be if we were headed to Paris, makes the day trip so much fun.