Excerpt from USATODAY
With COVID-19 testing requirements lifted and mask mandates ending, travel is back in full force. While pandemic memories are something most of us want to forget, there are some COVID-induced travel trends that remain relevant. Meet 10 pandemic pivots that are worth holding on to.
Get out of town fast
Sticking close to home was a driving factor in pandemic vacation choices. High gas prices and airline hassles are keeping a spotlight on getaways that are easy to reach.
Surrounded by farms and rolling hills, Troutbeck is a boutique resort only 90 miles from New York City that feels a million miles away. Relax in a hammock under shady sycamore trees and watch butterflies frolic with the gentle rush of a stream as your soundtrack. It’s no wonder Emerson and Thoreau were frequent guests of the original owners.
Seasons express themselves fully in this corner of the Northeast, adding up to year-round escape potential. A fabulous restaurant, swimming pool and sauna are bonuses.
National parks are a balm
As the virus spread, nature was a salve. National parks saw an increase in visitation and numbers continue to be robust. If you're craving solitude, consider a winter visit or select a lesser-known park, such as Congaree National Park in South Carolina, an old-growth hardwood forest lined with elevated pathways. Hike, kayak or fish in this forever-wild place of beauty and tranquility.
Hotels with outdoor options
The pandemic was a springboard for outdoor activities, from walking to pickleball. Our collective craving to be in motion in the great outdoors doesn't seem to be diminishing.
Flathead Lake Lodge is a family-owned dude ranch on the shores of its namesake lake. A range of daily activities, from horseback riding on pine-scented trails to sailing in crystal-clear waters to hilltop yoga, immerses guests in the Montana wilderness as they try pastimes old and new. It's back-to-nature without roughing it, with delicious meals, fine wines and upscale cabins included.
Retro motor lodges
When travel anxiety was at its height, the limited interaction of a personal vehicle was perceived as safer, fueling a surge in road trips. Nostalgic roadside motels garnered a spotlight and continue to draw guests.
Bluebird by Lark is a collection of recently-opened roadside lodges that are designed to facilitate the great American road trip. They've taken existing properties and spiffed them up while keeping prices within reach of penny-pinchers. At Bluebird Sunapee in Newbury, New Hampshire, design-conscious rooms have beds with custom upholstered headboards and Pendleton blankets. An eclectic collection of records, a game room and an indoor saltwater pool enhance communal spaces.
Residential neighborhoods as a vacation base
Once upon a time, hotels in action-packed downtowns were a magnet for tourists. But an increasing number of people working from home has added vibrancy to neighborhoods that once emptied during the workday.
Staying at a hotel in a residential part of town offers a genuine sense of local life. Just outside of downtown Denver, Cherry Creek North is a mixed-use, walkable, bike-friendly area with the city's highest concentration of independently-owned shops, art galleries and a flavorful dining scene. Book a room at the Clayton Hotel, with Denver-inspired decor and an on-site members club, for a bona fide window into the Rocky Mountain lifestyle.
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