The face of travel is changing into something unrecognizable and largely horrendous.
Not only does it look like an apocalyptic nightmare just to board a plane, but with attractions, accommodations, and amusement parks all having their own set of guidelines to appease their COVID-19 fears you never know what your trip is going to look like.
But did you know there is a way to bypass all the pandemic red tape and simply enjoy your time away? Well, there is, and we can’t wait to share the secret with you!
Getting outdoors for family vacations has increased in popularity exponentially since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic.
After all, it’s much easier to enjoy yourself when you don’t have to worry about rubbing elbows with someone who looks at you like you are endangering their life…
… just by breathing the same air as them.
But in the great outdoors – you can breathe and be free.
The fresh air and nonjudgmental release you get from nature is unparalleled, but sitting on a fishing boat for the weekend doesn’t really work for an active 12-year-old boy or a teenage girl who can’t imagine having to suffer for hours without social media.
So, what do you do?
You pick it up a notch and combine the great outdoors with some active excursions that are sure to dazzle the whole family, or reignite the flame in a relationship.
Think of active travel like taking a vacation centered around activities that get your blood pumping and the adrenaline flowing through your veins. There’s just nothing like it!
It used to be that you had to go to very specific cities to get a good hike or cycle in- but not anymore!
Many affordable and interesting destinations now offer an array of active vacation packages that get you moving so you can forget all about the troubles of the world and enjoy everyone’s unadulterated smiling faces (without a mask on).
Not sure where to start?
Relax, we’ve got you covered!
Here are just a few ideas you can check out on your next vacation.
Biking, Hiking, and Boating
One of the newest trends to hit the active travel word is combining biking, hiking, and boating – all in the same trip, according to USA Today.
Active tour operator DuVine now takes 8-passenger groups on a bike after traveling the Aegean, reaching once hard to access destinations for biking like Sardinia, Greece and Turkey by first taking a boat trip to hidden ports, then hiking to a destination and finally biking around the beautiful landscape.
It truly is a once in a lifetime experience that will challenge you to a whole new level.
Hut-To-Hut Hiking, Skiing, and Mountain Biking
Forget the Ritz-Carlton, family-owned rifugios (mountain inns serving food and lodging in high altitudes) are the accommodation of choice for the true adventure-seeker.
Italy’s Dolomite Mountains, known for being a winter wonderland, offers rifugios at an affordable rate giving hikers a place to score a hot meal and a nice beer before continuing their journey down the alps on skis.
The Dolomites are the ideal European destination for the outdoor enthusiast, mainly because they have the largest interconnected ski lift and trail network, according to USA Today.
A mountain bike ride on top of the ridge of one rifugio to the next is a great option to spice up your vacation – and it would make for some amazing vacation photos.
Culinary On The Go
By far one of the most enjoyable active vacations for the novice and expert alike is taking an active culinary trip.
Tourissimo, an Italian travel company where chefs lead cyclists on an incredible journey through the culinary arts, is a must add to your travel bucket list!
Travelers make stops at places like Casa Artusi in Emilia Romagna, the most famous culinary academy in Italy, where they can get a world-renowned pasta-making lesson.
The trips itinerary varies depending on your interests, whether it be museums, shops, or beaches, but every cyclist will enjoy Italy’s culinary highlights like gelato before hitting the road to burn off the calories again.
Active vacations are surely the wave of future travel.
With the pandemic causing travel chaos, actually getting a room at a nice hotel or landing a ticket at your favorite attraction is a massive challenge – but it gives us the motivation we need to get off of our 5-star couches and experience the world up close and personal- while getting a little healthier in the process.
