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By Rebecca Fending
Florida’s stay-at-home order extended the amount of time residents are forced to stay inside. With no surprise, this has caused a certain level of stir-craziness, boredom and a longing to travel. However, for many of us, traveling is still out of the question. So, to combat the boredom and inability to physically travel the world, here are a few ways you can transform your home into your dream destination.
Cook Like a Country
One great way to mentally transport you and shake up your usual meals is by making cuisine specific to the region. Say you’d love to visit France but can’t fly there, make some ratatouille to transform your kitchen and consume your daily vegetables. Would you rather visit somewhere in the States? Try grilling Mississippi-style ribs with a homemade barbecue sauce. No matter where you’d like to go, there’s a recipe online for a dish native to the area.
Move with a Movie
Films already whisk us away to another time and place, but geographically or culturally themed movies do an especially great job at this. An example of a franchise that does an excellent job of this is the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Based in J. R. R. Tolkien’s “Middle Earth”, these movies were filmed in New Zealand’s stunning landscape. Not only will the expertly crafted plot line and fantasy world mesmerize you, but the scenery will as well.
Go Abroad with Art
Another fun way to feel like you’re traveling from the comfort of your home is by hosting a themed art night for either yourself or the other members of your household. This can be anything from painting the Leaning Tower of Pisa while sipping Prosecco or Casavecchia, sketching out the Andes after eating Venezuela’s customary arepas, or writing a story based in Barcelona while listening to Joan Manuel Serrat. Out of all the options, art can be the most therapeutic during a time of great stress.
Although being stuck indoors is obviously not ideal, there are ways to make it fun by breaking from the ordinary. These three travel “hacks” are great and easy ways to temporarily transform your home into your dream destination, all while saving on travel and room and board fees.
