5 Ways to Travel the World Without Leaving Your House

It seemed like we were finally getting a reprieve this summer. With COVID-19 vaccines readily available to us privileged Americans, travel became a dream turned reality for some of us. But not all of the world was as lucky. There are still countries that walk a fine line, teetering on the edge of another lockdown. Not only that, but the relief we may have once felt in the United States feels to be falling short as the Delta variant of the virus now dominates. Each day brings new information and the future feels less and less certain by the minute. With the current state of things, those who love to travel are truly deprived. If you find yourself like me without any major travel plans, or find that the country you wanted to visit is not hosting tourists, I have a few suggestions that might help satisfy your inner adventurer: here are my five ways you can travel the world without leaving our house.

1. Look at your old travel photos.

This one is for those who have prior traveling experience. A lot of times, we take pictures with our phones and just forget about them. They get lost in the gallery. Scroll back and pull them from the archives. It feels good to look back at everything you’ve seen and experienced.

2. Listen to music and watch movies from your favorite place.

Many of my close friends know my favorite place is Italy (I can’t pick a specific city). I have enjoyed discovering Italian artists and new songs. Not only is it a great way to expand your music library but it can help bring back great memories from a past trip. If you haven’t traveled, listening to music from the place you’d like to visit can help you get acquainted with the culture. Watching movies and TV shows from abroad can also help in this department.

3. Learn a new language.

This tip is more of a time commitment. For those who want to try something new, I suggest learning a new language. This is a great new hobby for anyone, whether you plan on traveling in the future or not. Most people are familiar with Duolingo (there’s a free version), Babble, and Rosetta Stone but there are other apps out there such as MemRise and Busuu. Depending on the language you want to learn, you should be able to find plenty of resources to start building a basic understanding. And you can have fun while doing so! Podcasts are also a resource for more advanced learners who want to develop an ear for the language. Although you don’t have the benefit of seeing words written out on a screen, any exposure to your new language of choice will be helpful.

4. Use the listen & drive website.

Did you know there’s a website that allows you to pretend as if you’re driving down the street of your favorite city and listen to the local radio? Well, now you do! Click here to visit the Drive and Listen platform. Pick from a selection of over fifty countries, both domestic and abroad, pick the car speed, adjust the street noise setting, and crank the “car radio” volume up.

5. Cook or bake a new recipe.

Food is definitely a transportation vehicle. It could be fun to look up a recipe for a dish you’ve never tried before. This may require you to go out and buy some ingredients you don’t normally have in the house. Set aside sufficient time to prepare the meal. Use the time to enjoy the process, perhaps by reading the cultural background of the dish and why and when it’s served. This is a great way to eat something delicious while learning something new.

I hope you try one of these tips the next time you’re feeling the urge to travel. Which one sounds the most fun to you?