Experts offer safe summer vacation ideas: ‘Find the place that everyone isn’t going to’ – USA TODAY

The coronavirus pandemic has canceled a lot of things, but your summer vacation doesn't have to be one of them. USA TODAY

Is it safe to go on a vacation this summer?

Families across the country aregrappling with this question as summer nears and coronavirus continues to alter our daily lives, nearly six weeks after states began implementing stay-at-home orders.

The tourism industry has been devastated with major amusement parks such as Disney World closing and cruise lines suspendingoperations in response to the pandemic. Major cruise lines, such asRoyal Caribbean Cruises and subsidiaryCelebrity Cruises don't expect to resume operations until June 11.

International travel is also less likely to be a viableoption. The federal government still has a travel advisory in place that urges Americans not to leavethe U.S., andmany foreign destinations such as Jamaica are requiring visitors to quarantine upon arrival. It's unclear when the travel advisory will expire.

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And footage ofmostly empty planes suggestsAmericans are still leery of flying.

Southwest Airlines, for example, says itfilled just 6% of its seats in April and doesn't expect the figure to surpass 10% in May.

"The traffic levels are next to zero at this point,'' Southwest CEO Gary Kelly said in an interview on CNBC Tuesday.

Health experts say social distancing will likely be the new normal until there is a vaccine for COVID-19. Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases,maintainsthe earliest a vaccine may be ready is 12 to 18 months.

And elderly residents, along with people who haveunderlying conditions such as asthma and heart disease, will continue to be at a higher risk ofdeveloping severe complications should they become infected as the country reopens.

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As Americans follow stay-at-home advisements, many are wondering about summer vacation plans that were booked before the pandemic. Accuweather

So what should you do if you are determined to take a real summer vacation?

Consider taking a road trip or going camping, suggestsDr. Amesh Adalja, an infectious disease physician forJohns Hopkins Center for Health Security.He says minimal-contact options like those will be the safest options this summer and ideal for people who want to keep their risk factors low.

And even though state health departments may give the go-ahead to reopen facilities like amusement parks, he says people with underlying conditions should avoid them because they involve more contact with other people and thus havea higher chance of being infected.

Nothing is without risk and its all going to depend on how much risk you want to tolerate," Adalja said.

Cindy Richards, editor-in-chief of TravelingMom.com, said her readers appear to have mixed feelings about taking trips this summer.

Some don't want to leave town until there is a vaccine, while others are eager to take a family road trip or go on a romantic getaway, she said.

Both kinds of tripsare still possible, she says.

It's really about being smart about where youchoose," Richards said. "Youre not going to be able to go to the bucket-list places that are crowded.

So where can you safely go this summer?

Gotta get outside?These outdoor activities are safe to do during the coronavirus outbreak

Florida beaches are reopening; however, many stationary activities such as sunbathing or socializing in groups are still off limits.(Photo: John Raoux/AP)

Richards suggests thatfamiliesconsider driving to the neareststate park, forest preserve or beach for a day trip. (President Donald Trump recently said he planned to reopen national parks soon.)

Many parks have been closed during the pandemic so before you make plans, check yourdestination's website to make sure it will be open when you want to visit and find out which activities are permitted and which services are open.

Wherever you choose to go, experts say families should still practice frequent hand washing, wear masks and avoid touching their faces on these day trips. In addition, Richards advises packing your own food to avoid contact with vendors.

Coronavirus:Which Floridabeachesare open? What can and can't you do there?

(Photo: Getty Images)

Rent an RV or a beach house and spend the weekend there with your family.Richards said RVs are also perfect for campground stays.

Airbnb has updated its cleaningrequirementsfor hostswho opt to participate in its Enhanced Cleaning Initiative, includinga minimum of 24 hours between rentals to reducethe chance a guest might encounter any residual viruses. The home-sharing service is also issuing guidance on the best and safestpractices for cleansing a residence's various rooms.

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For those families who feel more comfortable staying at hotels, Richards suggests disinfecting the room, puttingthe "do not disturb" sign on the door and declining housekeeping.

But if you want to feel comfortable with the sanitation level in your room or vacation rental,you can personallydisinfect all the surfaces upon arrival.

Coronavirus can live on surfaces for hours or days:Here's how to sanitize your hotel room

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Richards said many Americans are considering road trips to visit family members this summer. Others are planning to house-swap with a friend or relative who lives in a different city. This gives people a chance to get away and stay somewhere they feel safe and comfortable, she said.

Tourism experts say outdoor landmarks will be popular this summer. But they urge people to avoid destinationswithlarge crowds.

The key is to find the place that everyone isn't going to," Richards said.

The Quinn PR firm, a lifestyle public relations agency, polled tourism-industry leaders to compile a list of several family-friendly destinations that might fit the bill. Their suggestions include:

Resorts in the Catskills were once the go-to summer destination for New York-area families.(Photo: Mohonk Mountain Resort)

The Catskills Mountains, New York state:Before international travel became cheap, this area, located about two hours northwest of New York City, was apopular destination forfamilies from the five boroughs. Itoffers hiking andfishing. The now-classic 1987 film "Dirty Dancing" took place at a Catskills resort, though it was filmed in locations in Virginia and North Carolina. (VisitTheCatskills.com)

Each spring, Kentucky Horse Park hosts the world's best eventing riders. The acres of fields used for the cross-country course are great for family hikes.(Photo: Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

Lexington, Kentucky: The Bluegrass State'ssecond-largest city is known for itshorse farms andhistoric bourbon distilleries. It's also a three-hourdrive from Nashville, Indianapolis and Columbus, Ohio. (VisitLex.com)

Located in southwestern Virginia, Bristol puts families near outdoor destinations like Cherokee National Forest (pictured here) and the Appalachian Trail.(Photo: deebrowning/Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Bristol, Virginia:Located about six hours from Washington D.C, in southwestern Virginia near the Tennessee border, the towniswithin 20 minutes of destinations such astheAppalachianTrail andCherokee National Forest and about two hours from the Smoky Mountains. (DiscoverBristol.com)

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Charleston,South Carolina:The town is not far frommajor cities such asAtlanta and Nashville. It's known for itscobblestone streets,nature preserves, beaches and charming historic district.

Exploring Charleston:Venture off the tourist track to these 10 must-see spots

No matter where you go, Richards advised,the key will be to avoid crowds at all costs. This could mean taking a last-minute detour.

"Talk to your kids before you go," Richards said. Tell them, "If we get there and theres a crowd, we are not going to be able to stay."

Contributing: Dawn Gilbertson, Chris Woodyard, Elizabeth Weise and David Heath, USA TODAY.

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Experts offer safe summer vacation ideas: 'Find the place that everyone isn't going to' - USA TODAY