These travel lessons we learned during the pandemic will help us plan future trips

Just 13 months ago, we all were taken aback with news of the COVID-19 virus spreading like wildfire. But who could imagine over 565,000 Americans lost to this awful virus, families torn asunder, lives and livelihoods put on hold and the strange new world we face?

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Fortunately, many of us are (or are soon to be) vaccinated, we’ve learned how to safely function in the face of the virus and lives are beginning to return more to our former state of normalcy.

Let’s take a look at what we have learned over the pandemic, and what that can mean for our future regional and more distant travel plans.

I reached out to fellow travelers for what the pandemic had taught them. Long-time Stocktonian Gene Beley of Stockton shared: “We do not travel; feeling blessed (at our stage of maturity) that we just enjoy our lakefront condo and neighborhood that is like resort living. Every day here is a vacation for us without risking the pandemic perils.” 

Old friend Tom Garing of Lodi, now in Rocklin, added" “there are probably several lessons learned, but one stand-out lesson is don't underestimate the beauty that exists in your own backyard!” 

Their theme is one I have mentioned in previous travel articles, to find the beauty and excitement in your own backyard. Whether that is actually your backyard, your more extended neighborhood or our lovely San Joaquin County, appreciate and search out the beauty just beyond. Our cities and county offer numerous walking and biking trails, levee walks along the Delta, beautiful metro parks like Oak Grove Regional, Micke Grove Regional, Lodi Lake, Caswell Memorial Park and others perfect for exploration and good health.

Just beyond the county lie lovely destinations like the Delta to the west, Cosumnes River Preserve to the north and the Sierra foothills running from east to southeast. Plan for extended day trips and explore the history, scenery and excitement found just an hour away!

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Thinking more distant travel destinations, Tim Ulmer, of Stockton’s Ulmer Photo, offered: “I traveled in July to Oregon; for each point of destination I checked in advance on their requirements including lodging, their pandemic practices and what other travelers said on Tripadvisor, Expedia or Yelp as to whether they met expectations upon arrival. Plan your trips in accordance. We minimized close contact in public places, sticking to more open outdoors visits and destinations.”

My spouse Susan noted the long-building desire to reconnect with friends and family. We are planning a long trip in July and August to see friends/family in Colorado, Tennessee, Ohio, Minnesota and perhaps up to Washington state. Let’s review a couple lessons learned that we are practicing:

Reconnecting with friends and family 

During the pandemic, most of us have spent considerable time and talent connecting through friends and family via phone calls, Facebook messaging and Zoom. Use those same skills you’ve polished to reach out to those friends and family and plan a real visit with them, in late summer or fall, and plan most of your activities to occur out-of-doors.

Consider focusing more on frugality in travel 

With travel by personal vehicle, we have learned to book the afternoon of the day we need a motel, using Priceline or other last-minute booking sites, and offering typical savings of 30 to 50% off normal room rates. We are modifying the back of our Ford Escape SUV, so we can travel the U.S. and Canada, carrying camping basics and a foam mattress so when we decide to stay in a national park campground, we can do so comfortably.

Managing and making real your travel bucket list

Stop dreaming of that grand, “someday trip” and plan more immediate, realistic destinations. Rather than wait for a grand family trip to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, as example, consider easier to access destinations that offer similar grandeur (such as Lassen Volcanic or Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Parks, both just hours from San Joaquin County).

Pandemic travel kit and safe travel practices 

We always pack our pandemic kit, include hand-sanitizer, face masks, latex gloves and our own drinks and snacks in a small cooler to avoid unnecessary stops. Those snacks and drinks also save us money and time on the road, stretching our travel budget for more exciting travel investments.

Hike and bike

Many of us have remembered how fun it is to hike (or, cross country ski or snowshoe) and to ride bikes. Plan to include hiking (or XC travel) and cycling in your future travel plans. We have dusted off our bike carrier and will pack bikes on most future travel trips (for fun, exercise and seeing more local sites than traveling on foot).

Plan now

With pent-up travel demand, favorite pre-pandemic destinations, like national parks, monuments, seashores and ski destinations will be booked heavily in late summer and into fall and winter. If you plan to go, book your lodging now, or your campsite through recreation.gov.  Plan now, and weave family members into the conversation, for your travel holidays in late 2021/2022.

Contact Tim at tviall@msn.com. Happy and safe travels in the west!