Well, overseas trips have been virtually non-existent for the last year and a half, and it looks like we’re going to have a similar spell for at least the next nine months or so.

My family has always had a travel vice. When our oldest was 13, he and I traveled to Mongolia. This was 1995 and unlike today, when Mongolia is a pretty chichi destination, it wasn’t then, and Matt was the only American teenager there those weeks – in a country of about 3 million people.

Most of our travel is to fairly ordinary spots – think Paris or London or Rome – but I still crave the out of the way places. Like, I’m trying to get my wife to go with me to Turkmenistan. Time will tell on that one.

But ordinary or not, we’re not going to another country for a while. So how do I – or you – satisfy a travel urge? Travel IS still possible. Here are some suggestions. Use what you can, and make it work. As frustrating as this current time is on so many levels, making your life go on as much as you can is worth it.

1. When someone starts talking about their bucket list, I feel like loading a gun, but we know what they’re talking about: what are the places in THIS country you’ve always wanted to do? Make a list. Take a piece of paper and start writing. Don’t censor what you’re thinking, except for keeping your places in your own country.
2. In addition to places, think about means of getting there. Are there special train trips you could do? How about horseback? Hiking?
3. For some, it’s easy to ignore local places. Don’t. Look for out of the way destinations in your area, oddball places maybe that sound interesting. Your city or state may have an agency for travelers (even smaller cities often have a Chamber of Commerce that can provide this information). Pretend you’ve never been to your area and call such an agency to get information. A fresh set of eyes can help.
4. Online searches for something like “10 out of the way things to do in (“your local area”) can help, too. While the results are sometimes trivial, you’re likely to uncover something good. We found an unfinished castle about an hour from us, and a dormant volcano a couple of hours away.
5. Finally, look for variations with accommodations and food. If you’re used to an Air BnB, consider a nice hotel instead. If you’ve never camped, look at that option. Never cooked over a camp fire? Try it out.

It’s easy to be frustrated, and it does no good. Look for some travel options that you can do instead of worrying about those you can’t.