Quarantine Staycation
Even though many shelter-in-place orders are lifting, it’s still not the best idea to be traveling for leisure just yet. Here are some ideas for a safe, quarantine vacation at home.
Have a Theme Staycation
Many people don’t have funds or time available for a long trip, even outside of the pandemic situation, so the idea of a “staycation” isn’t new, but definitely worthwhile.
Create the feeling of being on vacation at home by decorating for a theme! Hawaiian leis and grass skirts, Mexican fiesta paper garlands with a piñata, tropical drinks and finger-foods all give the illusion of being on holiday. This is a great opportunity to get out your fancy china and cocktail glasses, and try out some new recipes!
Take an Online Tour
Many tourist destinations are pivoting to create online virtual tours of their sites. Visit the Winchester Mystery House in San Jose through their 360-degree virtual tour. If you want to go further from home, the Queen of Jordan will guide you around the ancient city of Petra through Google Street View, or you can see Machu Picchu in Peru through YouVisit.com using a virtual reality headset.
Another idea is remotely visiting museums: See the Vatican in Rome, the Louvre in Paris, or the British Museum in London, all from the safety of your home.
Videochat with Friends
If you’re missing that connection with your community, or really just want to hang out with all your friends and relatives, video conferencing is a great way to both see and hear each other in real time. There are so many ways to videochat now: Zoom, Skype, Google Meet, Google Duo, and Facetime are some free options, and all have paid versions as well. Discord has made their service free in response to the pandemic, and will transition back to paid service soon. So take advantage of the time and technology available to reconnect with friends and loved ones on your quarantine staycation.
Take Virtual Vacation Photos
Share vacation photos with friends and family! Use virtual backdrops to create the impression that you’re someplace else. Zoom has multiple custom backdrops to choose from in both static and video formats, or you can upload your own. Apple Photobooth has custom backdrops, too, and Instagram has filters, so there’s no reason to skip the vacay slideshow, even on staycation.
Want to show off a corner of your real home or garden on video, or talk with an interior designer about creating your dream space at home? Kimball Starr is available for consultations by phone or videochat, so get in touch!
