It can be hard to find adventures with so many travel restrictions and mandates in place because of COVID-19. How can you satisfy your wanderlust spirit while still maintaining social distance and other health precautions? While we usually share international travel tips with you here at Healthy Travel Blog, we want you to stay safe and healthy. So here are some ways to get outside and explore without getting on a plane or even leaving your city. 

1. Find new walking, running or cycling routes. 

You’ve probably been taking a lot of walks lately, so why not switch things up and explore a different route? Whether you’re walking, running or cycling, you can use apps like Strava or MapMyRun to find routes that others have taken nearby for inspiration. Check out potential routes on Google Maps to find interesting places where you can rest, take photos and appreciate your city. 

2. Explore murals, outdoor art and architecture. 

Your city probably has more outdoor art than you think. Check out your local news website to search for self-guided mural and street art tours, like this one in Philadelphia. Read up on some of the unique architecture around you and take a walk to check it out. Here’s an example of an architectural walking tour in Chicago. Maybe your city is filled with monuments and sculptures. Go appreciate their beauty! Bonus points if you do research on their history and significance beforehand. 

3. Pick up bird watching or plant identification.

If you live in an area with more trees than buildings, this might be a good time to take up bird watching or plant identification. The National Parks Service has a great guide to getting started on birding. If leisurely nature walks are more your style, order a guide to plants local to your area and start identifying them along the way. Combine both with this native plant guide to get more birds coming directly to your backyard. 

4. Go on a scavenger hunt. 

Especially a good idea for families with young children, a scavenger hunt is easy to put together and makes exploring your city—or even just your backyard—enjoyable and interesting. Make a list of colors, plants, structures or other outdoor elements to look for. Try getting in touch with your neighbors to arrange a socially-distant scavenger hunt for the local children, like this rainbow hunt. Have every family participate by putting a drawing of your choice in their window or somewhere on their house, then take a walk around to see if you can spot them all. 

Most importantly, make sure that you’re only participating in outdoor activities if you feel healthy and are able to keep a distance from others. On your running and walking routes, try to stick to open areas with large sidewalks or pathways in order to keep about six feet between you and other people. If you feel sick at all, it’s best to stay inside and rest.