One of the worst things you can do to someone who is wanderlust is to tell them they can’t travel. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic put a lot of people’s lives on hold, which means that most travel is put on hold.

While it’s disheartening to cancel the trip you’ve been planning and saving up for, there are plenty of fun things you can do to ease the sting of your travel plans being put on the back burner.

Take a Virtual Tour

Virtual tours have been around for a long time, but they are even more popular now due to more people staying home. Whether you’ve always wanted to go to the opera or visit the Musée d’Orsay in Paris, virtual experiences make it happen. 

Visit your National Parks, check out a Florida beach, visit Andy Warhol’s gravesite, or watch the hustle and bustle on a quaint corner in Dublin. Your virtual travel opportunities are seemingly endless.

Brush Up on a Foreign Language

While life feels like it might be indefinitely on hold right now, international travel is likely to resume again, so why not brush up on a foreign language or learn a new one? Not only is learning a new language a great exercise for your brain, but it can also help you become more immersed in a new culture when you travel. It’s a win-win!

Practice Being a Better Photographer

Tired of trying to “glam” up your quarantine look with filters on your smartphone? Maybe you have a DSLR camera that you haven’t used for a while. Right now is a great time to fine-tune your photography skills. 

Many people wait to take “good” photos until they travel, but you might as well make the most of what’s around you at home or in your neighborhood. Play with shadows or work on taking the perfect macro shot in your garden. 

Make a Puzzle of Your Favorite Travel Photo

As an avid traveler, staying home is hard. A great way to remember your travels (and stay busy) is to transform some of your favorite travel photos into puzzles. Think that puzzles are just for retired folks who love to stay home? Since the pandemic began, puzzle sales throughout the U.S. have skyrocketed to over 300% from the previous year.

Visit a Casino

Had to cancel that trip to Vegas, or maybe you miss the blackjack table from a cruise you took last summer? Online casinos are a great way to pass the time, practice your poker skills, and enjoy some of your favorite casino games. Check out the Planet 7 Casino review for some of their newest top-rated casino games from slots to keno.

Learn Something New

There’s no better time than right now to learn something you’ve always wanted to but didn’t have the time. Maybe you wanted to take a French cooking class, or perhaps you always dreamed of taking an art history course at Harvard. 

Not only do Ivy-league schools like Harvard offer free online classes, but there are plenty of opportunities to learn new skills without leaving the safety and comfort of your home.

While learning or viewing the world from home is drastically different from experiencing it firsthand, the ability to travel will return, and when you do, you’ll be ready!