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16 small things you can do at home to feel like you're on vacation

Monica Humphries   

16 small things you can do at home to feel like you're on vacation
Explore the world without leaving your home.Peter Cade/Getty Images
  • Traveling has become increasingly limited, but opportunities still exist to keep adventuring.
  • People travel to meet new people, try new foods, and relax. Luckily, all of these things can be done from inside your home.
  • From learning a new language to trying new foods, here's a list of small things that will help you feel like you're on vacation.
  • Visit Insider's homepage for more stories

A majority of travel has come to a quick halt, but that doesn't mean people have stopped exploring. The exploring is just taking place indoors.

Whether you want to call it a staycation, holistay, or indoor getaway, there are small ways to turn a home into a European escape, African safari, Bali retreat, or Australian Outback exploration.

So whether you travel to discover unfamiliar foods, meet new people, or relax, here's how to do that from inside your home.

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Snap a selfie.

Snap a selfie.
Photographs are an important part of traveling.      Associated Press

A vacation isn't complete without a few photographs. Snap a picture to remember where you explored.

Reminisce with souvenirs and photos.

Reminisce with souvenirs and photos.
People buy souvenirs while they visit the Statue of Liberty and Liberty Island in New York.      Thomson Reuters

Pull out the shoebox of knick-knacks or scroll through your Instagram profile and remember the traveling you have done. It's an opportunity to appreciate how traveling has influenced you, how you've grown, and can help shape where you want to visit next.

Treat yourself to a spa day.

Treat yourself to a spa day.
Relax with a face mask.      karenfoleyphotography/Getty Images

Add some Himalayan bath salts and soak in the tub, or try an Aztec mud mask. Relaxing is arguably one of the best parts of a vacation, but relaxation can take place inside your home, too.

Visit a destination virtually.

Visit a destination virtually.
Tour castles virtually without ever stepping out of your home.      VOJTa Herout/Shutterstock/Jose Ignacio Soto/Shutterstock/Fandrade/Getty Images

Virtual travel has quickly risen in popularity. Whether you want to escape to nature, visit iconic landmarks, or wander through castles, you can access virtual tours online.

Curate the perfect vacation playlist.

Curate the perfect vacation playlist.
A person listens to music.      Matt Dutile/Getty Images

A vacation isn't complete without a playlist. You can curate a playlist to a specific destination or explore a variety of genres, like K-pop, reggaeton, and Afrobeat.

Make friends from around the world.

Make friends from around the world.
A camel ride in Jodhpur, India.      Handout/Getty Images

Platforms like Facebook and Reddit are designed to build communities. Certain groups have become popular for people who like to travel, so log on and connect with individuals from around the world. Insider even has its own page: Travel Insider Bucket List. Maybe you'll find a travel buddy for your next adventure.

Watch an international film.

Watch an international film.
Yalitza Aparicio and Marina de Tavira in "Roma."      Netflix

International films have the power to transport you to any location in any decade. Check out this list of the best international films.

Take a safari through your backyard.

Take a safari through your backyard.
A woman reads in a hammock.      Kadoma Zome

Now is the best time to take advantage of outdoor space. Explore your backyard and take in the sunshine. Just relocating to a sunnier area of your home can transport you to a whole new place. Add some music, pour a drink, and you'll forget about the fact that you never left home.

Escape into the pages of a travel book.

Escape into the pages of a travel book.
Lonely Planet creates travel guides for destinations all around the world.      Simona Granati - Corbis/Getty Images

Whether it's a novel about the countryside of Italy or a colorful book of photographs, books are one way to visit a new destination. And sometimes, your imagination is better than the real thing. Check out this list of the best travel books.

Host a home yoga retreat.

Host a home yoga retreat.
People perform yoga at a tea culture park.      Reuters/China Stringer Network

You don't need to travel to Bali or China for a yoga retreat. Create a calming space inside your home, light a few candles or incense, and find a yoga video online to watch.

Shake up a new drink.

Shake up a new drink.
A man enjoys an Aperol Spritz while taking in the view of Sicily, Italy.      EyesWideOpen/Getty Images

Pour an Aperol Spritz and journey to Italy, or make a mojito and travel to Cuba. Pick a destination, discover a local drink, and sip away. This list has 50 different drinks to add to your bucket list.

Unplug from your phone.

Unplug from your phone.
Try disconnecting from your phone.      Ute Grabowsky/Photothek via Getty Images

If you're traveling to a foreign country, chances are you won't have cell service. So why have it during your home vacation?

Social media, your inbox, and news outlets can be overwhelming, especially in our current climate. Disconnecting — even if it's just for an hour or two — can give you a much-needed mental break.

Learn a new language.

Learn a new language.
Two students study outside of the Notre Dame in Paris, France.      Chris Tobin/Getty Images

Parlez-vous français? With the help of online courses, apps, and friends, the answer could be yes. Picking up another language is a great way to learn about a new culture, and the skills you'll gain will be handy for all your future vacations.

Spice it up with a new recipe.

Spice it up with a new recipe.
Curry laksa.      Mohd Syis Zulkipli/Shutterstock

The best part of traveling is trying new foods. Travel into your kitchen and visit places like Malaysia with a curry laksa recipe or Poland with pierogies, which are dumplings filled with potatoes, onions, and cheese.

Send a colorful postcard.

Send a colorful postcard.
Postcards in Edinburgh, Scotland.      Thomson Reuters

If you never finished writing postcards from your last trip, finish them. Or if you don't have any postcards floating around, find some art supplies and design your own. Postcards are a great way to reminisce on past trips and check in on friends.

Start off by learning about the world with Sir David Attenborough.

Start off by learning about the world with Sir David Attenborough.
Sir David Attenborough with a south east Asian Great Mormon Butterfly.      John Stillwell - PA Images/Getty Images

BBC announced a new online class called Bitesize Daily. The free classes are instructed by Sir David Attenborough, who will take viewers on lessons about the world's oceans and animals. Although the classes are designed for students, everyone can learn something new from the program.

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