2020 has been quite a year. Months of quarantine and online learning have made many students look towards the winter holidays to bring cheer and merriment. However, with the recent increase in COVID-19 cases, everyone should consider staying home this year.
With COVID-19 cases on the rise, California leaders like Gavin Newsom are urging everyone to stop any non-essential travel, including holiday plans. People may want to get out of the house during the holidays, but there are fun alternatives to travel that can help everyone make the best out of winter break.
Go out to local beaches and parks. They will still be open throughout the holiday season for exercise and mental wellbeing. Places such as Ed R. Levin County Park and Alum Rock Park are great places to go hiking, with their scenic views and less strenuous trails available. Mission Peak Regional Preserve is another local site that offers a more rigorous climb. As long as everyone maintains social distance, wears masks, and follows any additional guidelines, the risk of spreading and getting COVID-19 is low. Nonetheless, you should still try to consciously limit the amount of time you spend interacting with people outside of your household. Spending some time out in nature, or simply out of the house, could greatly reduce your urge to travel.
Taking virtual tours is another way to visit places you planned to go to during the holidays. Places like the Great Wall of China, the Eiffel Tower, and numerous other cultural sites all around the world can be viewed online through Google Arts & Culture Collections and Heritage on the Edge. There are thousands of interactive experiences available, and you can even explore space. There are also some museums that offer tours on their official websites. If the museum or place you are interested in going to is not available on Google Arts & Culture, try searching for their individual website.
Another alternative to traveling is trying out new foods from different cultures. If you have been dying to travel to another country, try to find a local restaurant that offers that country’s cuisine. With the weather getting colder and indoor dining no longer available, takeout is the way to go. When you bring food home, you also bring the aromas that accompany each dish home too. So, savor the flavor of a place you wish to go, in your nose and taste buds, and support local restaurants all in one go. Try to steer away from more “Americanized” cuisine, and do not be afraid to go outside your comfort zone. If you’re unsure where to start, begin with the culture’s more popular dishes and expand from there. Better yet, you can try and cook some dishes yourself. Cooking authentic recipes yourself can be both fun and rewarding, and cooking with loved ones is a great way to spend time together during the holidays.
Not being able to travel for the holiday season is an unfortunate protocol during this pandemic, and everyone should do their part to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Part of the spirit of the holiday is being charitable and kind to others. Consider putting off personal travel plans and trying different alternatives as your way of being thoughtful and empathetic this season.