How To Travel Safely During These Last Days of Summer
The sign of the times on Ocean City’s (Maryland) Boardwalk. (Photo Credit: NBC 4 Washington)
The dog days are upon us. An extraordinarily turbulent Summer 2020 is coming to an end. That said, we all should look to get one more fun experience outdoors before the seasons change. Yet, that seems tough to do in the midst of a historical international pandemic that has left many wondering how to take a meaningful excursion and how to travel safely doing it. The idea of taking a vacation seems to clash with the general consensus of staying indoors coupled with the strain of this new health-cautious lifestyle filled with safety guidelines. The slow-burn of social distancing and an ever-changing societal life can have significant effects on an individual’s morale. One way to relieve this stress is by planning a mood-boosting getaway to the sweet sight and salty breath of the beach enjoyed safely.
Coney Island, in the time of COVID-19. (Photo Credit: USA TODAY)
As the initial panic in response to the COVID-19 outbreak seems to have mostly subsided, many are still confused about what the safe route to making an enjoyable end-of-summer getaway may be. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) advises us to “Encourage social distancing—staff and beach visitors should stay at least six-feet away (both in and out of the water) from people they don’t live with”. They also recommend wearing a mask while on public beaches and restraining high occupancy of public places such as bathrooms and visitor centers. It is encouraged to not wear masks while in the water or to be worn by children two-years or younger. Many lifeguards have received extra training to adhere to Coronavirus safety guidelines and extra public health officials have been assigned to give support wherever needed. With this information, beachgoers can have a good time relaxing basking in the sunshine and surf while keeping themselves and their companions safe in the cooling waves.
Michigan’s Sleeping Bear Dunes. (Photo Credit: SleepingBearDunes.Com)
While many beaches across the nation remain closed, many other public beaches have opened back up for active and passive uses in popular locations. California, New York, New Jersey, The Carolinas and some in the DMV. Ocean City has crawled back from the brink of Coronavirus upheaval, going from having one of the highest positivity rates in Maryland to now having one of the lowest, recently recording at just 767 cases. On the other hand, Virginia Beach’s case numbers remain high at 5,788, but are slowly beginning to trend downward, falling under the 10% positivity rate it saw just two weeks ago. New York’s collection of eight public beaches ranging all the way from Brooklyn’s famous Coney Island to Staten Island’s South Beach remain open. Many of New Jersey’s beaches like Belmar Beach remain open under regulation and guidance from public health officials.
Selecting the right location for you and your family can be hard. Considering whether a beach is not only currently open and whether they practice proper safety guidelines is a welcomed task, not to mention considering your own preference of amenities, city or town life and overall feel before you travel safely. We recommend making the choice with your group and coming to a collective decision on whether everyone would feel comfortable at that particular beach.
Ocean City has sizable waves prime for boogie boarding with the kids while Virginia Beach has the city life to backdrop the commercialism fitting for a life near the sea. For a more romantic experience, North Carolina’s gem on the black travel scene--The Outer Banks--has selections of beaches ranging from small-to-medium levels of seclusion making for a more intimate vibe. Moving to the Midwest, The Great Lakes offer some beautiful lakefronts imaginable. Michigan’s Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore was voted ‘Most Beautiful Place in America’ by ABC’s Good Morning America for its sand dunes and all-around breathtaking natural beauty.
Arizona has water, too. River rides through the ancient majesty of The Grand Canyon are also a fantastic option for groups looking to spritz up their waterside experience. Santa Monica Beach, with its vintage and relaxed--but always moving and happening--feel that will keep you entertained, is one of the many beaches open in Southern California. Additionally, Northern California also offers a plethora of scenic pleasures that have been destinations on the black travel radar for years like the Monterey Bay Coastal Trail where you can watch marine life in its natural habitat and explore all the paths to hike and bike. No matter where you roam this summer, wearing a mask and making all efforts to travel safely now will help get back to enjoying these scenes for years to come.
Finding one last moment of calm before the new season begins is important to your well-being and a large piece of why black travel is important. There’s no better place to do that than in summertime’s pristine waters.