10 Ways to Travel from Home When Your Plans Are Canceled

When plans are canceled, it’s time to get creative and find ways to bring travel into your home.

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Since the outbreak of COVID-19 many trips have been postponed or canceled, leaving travelers disappointed and the industry largely paused as people stay home to reduce spread.

Dylan and I love travel — planning trips, exploring the outdoors, and visiting new places. We’ve had vacations derailed before by bad weather, illness, car trouble, or missed flights, and now many of our plans are on hold. When trips fall through, we aim to find a silver lining by inventing alternate ways to enjoy ourselves and keep the travel spirit alive.

While it’s natural to feel frustration or sadness, this time at home offers a chance to try different experiences and nurture connection, curiosity, and wellbeing. Below are ten practical ideas to help you travel from home, whether you’re alone, with a partner, or with family.

10 Ways to Travel From Home

Practice Vacation Blues Self-Care.

Canceling a trip can feel draining. Between calls, refunds, rescheduling and the emotional letdown, stress can build up quickly. It’s important to acknowledge those feelings and prioritize self-care. Rest when you need it, take a relaxing bath, sip tea with a good book, or simply slow down your routine. Good sleep, balanced meals, and staying connected with loved ones will help you recover emotionally and maintain energy while plans are on hold.

Bring Traveling To You.

If you can’t reach your destination, invite it in. Create a themed day based on where you planned to go: watch films set there, play local music, decorate a dining area with destination-inspired touches, and cook a regional meal. Small rituals like these keep excitement alive and let you taste a place’s culture without leaving home.

Visit Museums Online.

Many museums and galleries now offer virtual tours and high-resolution collections online. From famous galleries to niche museums, you can wander exhibits, zoom into artworks, and read curator notes — all from the couch. Virtual visits are a great way to stay curious and learn about art, history, and culture when travel isn’t possible.

Play Games At Home.

Board games, card games, and puzzles are perfect for connecting with household members and making new memories. Classics, strategy games, and party-style options all work well; you can also invent new rules or try games popular in the culture you planned to visit. Games are an easy, low-cost way to entertain everyone and lift spirits.

Cook A Travel-Inspired Dish.

Food is one of the most direct ways to experience another culture. Recreate recipes from your intended destination or build a week of themed dinners — Italian one night, Thai the next, Mexican later in the week. Experimenting with spices and techniques brings new flavors into your kitchen and can feel like a culinary mini-trip.

For recipe ideas and inspiration, check travel-inspired recipe collections and adapt ingredients to what’s available locally.

Take A Virtual Field Trip.

Use online mapping tools and street views to simulate walking through foreign neighborhoods, parks, and landmarks. Follow the itinerary you had planned: explore the streets, view landmarks, and read local guides and blogs to imagine what a day there might feel like. Virtual field trips won’t replace the real thing, but they help sustain curiosity and keep your planned route fresh in your mind.

Focus On Your Mental Health.

Mental wellbeing deserves attention during uncertain times. Streaming yoga classes, guided meditations, and mindfulness sessions filmed in tranquil settings can be found easily online. Practice breathing exercises, gentle movement, or guided relaxation to reduce anxiety and restore balance. Apps and free video sessions offer structured support whether you’re alone or with family.

Learn A Second Language.

Learning a language connects you to other cultures and people, and it’s a practical way to keep your travel goals alive. Free and low-cost tools make it simple to start basic conversation skills, then look for online groups or language partners to practice with. Language learning prepares you for future trips and opens up fresh perspectives from home.

Create A Travel Memento.

Use this time to organize photos, journal past adventures, or make a scrapbook with ticket stubs, maps, and keepsakes. Photography projects, drawing, calligraphy, or simple memory journals help preserve positive travel moments and spark creativity. Crafting a memento honors past trips and keeps those memories vivid until you can make new ones.

Plan a Staycation.

If travel isn’t possible, becoming a tourist in your own area can refresh your routine. Look for a nearby hotel, B&B, or rental for a short change of scenery, or design a themed staycation at home with local attractions explored virtually or during safe, local outings. Small departures from the everyday can recreate the sense of travel without long-distance movement.

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Have you had vacation plans canceled due to COVID-19?

How are you keeping the spirit of travel alive at home?

Tell me about it in the comments below!