If you’ve idled the spring and summer away dreaming of Parisian cafés, British museums or African safaris, looks like you may need to wait a little longer to squish that travel bug. Fortunately, we have 7 Date Ideas to help satisfy the craving until you can grab a flight right on outta here!
Watch A Movie That’s Set In A Picturesque Locale
You can almost stamp your passport after viewing the beautiful scenery and landscapes in these films and series.
Try The Hundred-Foot Journey, set in a lovely little French town. It’s all cooking and the French countryside – just beautiful.
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
Woody Allen’s Midnight In Paris is an ode to the city of light. It’s gushingly good with a nostalgic take on Paris in the Jazz Age.
The Grand Budapest Hotel is an enchanting romp through eastern Europe and a charming run-down hotel. What a trip!
Lastly, check out the series My Brilliant Friend set in Naples, Italy in the 1950s. It’s rich in plot and scenery.
Get Out Of Town
So you can’t get on a plane or cruise ship, but you can get a change of scenery pretty easily. Check out Airbnb or some cottage rental sites for some quick getaways.
Some provincial and private parks will rent cabins or chalets, or you can check out some local boutique hotels and spas.
You won’t believe how a nice weekend away, even somewhere close by, can change your perspective. A couple of these well-timed breaks could get you through the long winter.
Get Lost in a Book
OK, it might not be the most exciting date idea but if you are thinking of your next holiday destination, it could be fun to grab a coffee and hit up your local bookstore. Dig around and find novels set in your chosen vacation destination. Then, settle in side-by-side under your favourite blanket for a quiet evening and let the author’s words bring the beauty of those bucket list locations alive.
We have lost ourselves in Stieg Larsson’s Girl With The Dragon Tattoo series. It makes you long to visit Sweden and the moody Scandinavian regions featured in the novels.
Explore the origin and history of the arrondissements that make up Paris in Edward Rutherfurd’s book of the same name. He’s also written New York and London in the same meticulously researched and engrossing style, creating an awesome set of historical fiction novels.
Travel to the Stars
Well, sort of. Head out and buy a telescope
Cook
Throw on the Chef soundtrack and get busy in the kitchen! Once you have narrowed down your next destination, try your hand at cooking up some of the local dishes. Pair it with wines or beers from the region and do some research on local produce and traditions.
Road Trip
“It’s not the destination, it’s the journey”. Now’s the time to discover those lovely country backroads and all they have to offer.
Take a coastal drive or journey up north to discover the natural beauty of Canada. Map out a route that takes you through wine country or a region you’ve yet to explore.
Visit a new town or village, stop and shop for baked goods or antiques and visit a local brewery. There is so much to discover in your own backyard.
Start Planning Your Next Trip
Get out the map! Narrow it down to one or two holiday destinations and then start your research. You can plan your daily activities, explore the local attractions, restaurants, galleries and museums online, and take note of what you would like to experience.
Now is the time to source car rental services, train schedules and additional accommodations, if needed.
Join a few online groups to get the intel on the not-to-be-missed local haunts.
Next, make sure you have all of your travel essentials. Make a checklist of what you’ll need to pack and any last-minute items you might need to purchase.
Just think, you will have done a lot of the stressful prep it takes before you head out on that next big adventure.
