Socially Distant Summer Vacation Ideas You Can Plan Right Now

It’s a non-traditional summer and most of us have had to accept that our original travel plans would not be possible this year. The good news is there’s a lot of summer left and even more than most of us were expecting since many of our schools have pushed back the start of the school year until September. If you are planning on a virtual start to the school year, there’s no reason you can’t plan a vacation for September and October which gives you even more flexibility to plan an excursion. So today I’ve put together a list of socially distant vacation ideas you can plan right now to make the most out of the warm weather.

Go Tent Camping

I heard that RV rentals were scooped up long ago but there’s no reason you can’t borrow some camping equipment, load up the car and spend a couple of nights with your family tent camping at a state park. Most parks are open now with restrictions. If you plan a trip for the middle of the week or on non-holiday weekends you’ll have better luck getting a reservation. Don’t forget to check the weather in advance!

Rent A Cabin In The Mountains

A few weeks ago our family rented the cutest little cabin near the Shenandoah Mountains in Virginia. For us it was a weekend trip but there was enough to do that we could have easily spent four or five days at our cabin. We went on a tubing adventure one day, played in the river near the cabin the next. On other days we could have planned for hikes in the mountains. Staying at the cabin itself was an adventure. We planned the trip with another family we are quarantining with. The kids had a sleepover in the loft upstairs which had the coolest built-in bunk beds. There was a hot tub near the back porch and a fire pit for roasting s’mores. Fun times for all.

Rent a House on a Lake

VRBO or AirBnB are great places to look for rentals at a lake. I’ve noticed in my searches that a lot of lake houses include paddle boards, splash pads, and kayaks so you can make the most out of your experience.

Go Glamping In A National Park

Glamping is a really unique way to experience our national parks. Under Canvas is the largest glamping outfitter in the U.S. with locations in most of the major national parks. It is well run with friendly staff available to answer any and all questions. They really pay attention to the details to make your stay as enjoyable as possible. Each tent is equipped with regular beds with linens (some tents have bathrooms which is simply a toilet, sink, and pull chain shower in the back of your tent separated by a curtain. There is a main tent which is a hub of activity in the evening where you have access to games, coffee, tea and hot cocoa. While the whole point of the experience is to disconnect and enjoy the natural environment that surrounds you, there is a free and reliable wifi network and two USB ports in every tent so you can keep your devices charged during your stay.

Plan A Series Of Day Trips

I’ve heard from several girlfriends that it is hard to find beach rentals — all the good ones got snatched up early. If you find yourself shut out of the accommodations you desire for a trip to the beach or a lake or if you understandably simply prefer to avoid hotels and rentals at this time you can still have a vacation experience. Plan a series of day trips within an hour or two of your home. Plan for a long day away by packing a picnic lunch, changes of clothes and plan drive home at the end of the day to sleep in the comfort of your own bed. You could rent a boat one day, go tubing on a river, kayak, or go on a ziplining tour.

If you like this post please subscribe to receive regular email updates. Did you know that now you can follow a hashtag on Instagram? Follow #lunchwithagirlfriend. For more inspiration, you can also follow me on Facebook and Pinterest .