From hotel lobby hand sanitizers to masks worn by flight attendants, local lockdowns to contact tracking applications, Covid-19 has revolutionized the travel industry. Closed borders, canceled flights, and travel restrictions during the height of the epidemic brought tourism to a virtual stop, according to the UN’s World Tourism Organization.
Today, most parts of Asia are now starting to emerge from lockdown, a sector that accounts for nearly 10% of global GDP is now in transition to what we call the new normal. And a lot of people, which were isolated from the rest of the world because of lockdowns, are starting to dream of going places again: mountains, oceans, or even going to Pinetop AZ cabins. However, if a coronavirus outbreak still exists, it is still expected to shut schools, companies, and government facilities in the future and traveling may not be as enjoyable as before.
But here’s a glimmer of hope.
Nature is all around us, so you always have ways to find it. If you can’t, then make it. Finding Urban Nature, a resource provided by National Geographic might be beneficial to you or anyone who lives in urban parts of the country. They advise creating a wildlife habitat in your backyard as an excellent resource if you have a yard. Planting a small garden that offers habitat may help bring animals back to your own backyard and community. Imagine a hive of songbirds, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other little species in your yard. Garden for pollinators to improve biodiversity in your neighborhood. Make a little pond. For children and parents, you can also read poetry that is rich with natural imagery as a way to fulfill your senses.
You can also go camping in your backyard, on your roof, or on your deck. Consider borrowing a tent or encouraging your children to build their own from a blanket and poles and keep it up all weekend long. Play flashlight tag and create puppet shows on the tent wall while enjoying s’mores and other outdoor activities. Encourage children to dash back and forth between the home and the refrigerator to get supplies if you want them to have some physical activity. Cut a tiny window on the side of the tent that faces a near bird feeder, bat house, or another wildlife hotspot, and use some binoculars and other equipment, including field guides, and digital cameras to watch birds and animals in the surrounding. Do you have no yard? Well, before air conditioning, it was customary to sleep on a flat roof or a fire escape while throwing a hammock, hauling a cot, or laying on a sleeping bag. You can try that too!
Lastly, take a walk or perform some other kind of outdoor exercise. Walking or hiking in an area that is far enough away from other people depends on the policies in your area, especially amid a pandemic. If you want to avoid many people, then national parks are not the best pick because of the big crowds, which can cause anxiety among park officials and health professionals.
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