Staycation or Vacation? What is Safe During the COVID-19 Pandemic?
Still trying to decide if it’s safe to vacation this summer? While many states, including North Carolina, have been opening back up, there are still plenty of risks that come with travel, hotels, rentals, and dining out. In addition, North Carolina and some surrounding states are seeing COVID-19 cases continuing to increase.
In light of these factors, your safest bet is to plan a staycation instead. Just because you aren’t traveling to a faraway destination doesn’t mean your time off from work can’t be fun and memorable! We’ve compiled ideas for an exciting summer staycation that includes resources to help you plan and stay safe.
What Kind of Staycation Sounds Right for You?
One of the keys to having a great staycation is thinking about what you enjoy the most from a normal vacation. There may be great opportunities to have a similar experience much closer to home!
Are you someone who loves seeing new sights? You might be surprised to discover a park, neighborhood, or area of your community you’ve never taken the time to explore.
Do you love sampling the local cuisine? There are plenty of great restaurants in our area you could visit or pick up takeout. (Remember that restaurants who allow dining in currently have limited seating capacity.)
Want to master creating a new dish? Try taking an online cooking class. You can perfect new recipes and learn from celebrity chefs. America’s Test Kitchen Cooking School, and more.
What about museums and cultural attractions? Many of the world’s most renowned collections have some kind of virtual exhibit or tour available.
Staycation Ideas for Families
Virtual Activities for Children – The Greensboro Summer Online calendar has many virtual events, many of which are geared for kids. You’ll find virtual book clubs, craft projects, virtual tours, cultural opportunities, and more.
Local Parks – At this point, many local parks and trails have begun to reopen with modified hours and guidelines or restrictions for visitors. If you or your family are ready to get outdoors, check out the latest updates:
Greensboro Parks and Gardens Information
Fun Tips for Camping at Home or Locally – Many local residents are making camping plans at local facilities. Whether you want to visit a new location or have a camping adventure in your own backyard, watch these videos from the Great Greensboro Camp-In. You’ll discover campfire cooking tips, creatures you can find in your own backyard, how to build an awesome tent or blanket fort, and more!
Staycation Safety
Whatever your plans for your staycation, remember that wearing a mask in public, maintaining six feet of distance between yourself and others, and continuing to wash your hands often are still important measures.
You can also read more about summer activities and how they are rated in terms of risk factors in this Cone Health blog.
Until at least June 26, North Carolina is still under Phase 2 guidelines for reopening businesses and travel. You should take a moment to review all of the guidelines before planning staycation but bear in mind that:
- Many parks, trails, day camps, and pools are opening with guidelines
- Most small indoor entertainment businesses remain closed
- Restaurants across the state are open at 50% capacity
- Indoor gatherings are restricted to 10 people and outdoor gatherings to 25 people
Wellness and Medical Care for the Summer
The team at LeBauer is here for you and your family this summer. Should you need care for an illness, minor injury, or routine wellness and follow-up care, both virtual and in-person visits are available. You can make an appointment online. For tips on staying healthy, information about virtual visits, and other details, explore our updates for patients during the pandemic.
