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Staying at home doesn't have to be as daunting as it seems. You can explore beyond the four walls closing in on you, and escape to new destinations without the need to physically travel. From the comfort of your own home, you can take cooking classes from master chefs all over the world, you can take virtual tours of some of the most renowned museums, and you can do it all with your family and friends from different households. Packing up, getting in gear to travel, and boarding that plane might be part of the fun and aesthetic of traveling, but who can say they took a tour of Vatican City from their couch? Plus, satisfying your wanderlust will help prepare you for when it's safe to travel, which might be very soon. So what are you waiting for? Go visit wherever...now.
Ever since the pandemic put everyone at a standstill, a lot of tourist attractions, museums, and other companies have taken to the virtual side of travel. State-of-the-art technology that most of them had never thought of is helping them stay alive. Not to mention, it's a great way of keeping us sane while we pine for exploration. When you take a virtual tour of a place or experience, odds are you've already thought about visiting and will also probably want to travel there when the time is right. Some of the companies I work with have tour guides from all over the world waiting for you to book an experience from your couch. Another great thing about some of these virtual tours? You can sign up for whole parties, even if they are from different households. That means the family vacation will look and feel a little different, but ultimately you'll be doing and seeing the same things together.
If you really want to immerse yourself in virtual travel, taking a virtual cooking or mixology class could help you surround yourself in the culture of your chosen destination and excite all of your senses. Depending on how much you want to cook and taste, you can pick from a bunch of different classes of different lengths in different countries. Some even offer multiple-day classes. These also give you the option to book multiple people or parties so you can cook, experiment, and learn with your loved ones as well. If you don't want to order take out anymore and were already thinking about taking a trip when travel opens up, why not schedule a cooking class with a chef that lives in the part of the world where you want to explore. It's a great way to experience the cuisine before you go. You might even learn the secrets to some of the most delicious dishes ever.
What's stopping you from doing both a virtual tour of the Alhambra and then making a traditional paella with a local in a virtual cooking class to finish off your day in Spain? Nothing really. If you are ready to experience a virtual tour or class, I can help set you up. Soon enough, you'll feel like you've been transported off your couch or out of your kitchen and into a vacation experience like no other!
* I recently took part in a virtual cooking class with Michelin star Chef Jany Gleize, who is also a member of the Maitres de Cuisinieres de France. From his kitchen at La Bonne Etape in Provence, he cooked and assembled a six layer crespou, complete with a fresh tapenade. A list of required ingredients was emailed a week prior to the class and instructions were sent so some items could be pre-made to save time (like the slowly simmered tomatoes and garlic). While my first attempt did not come out as pretty as his, practice will make perfect! Contact me for more information!