What were you doing at this time last year? Were you tying up the loose ends on your first summer road trip or planning your next holiday abroad? We have to admit that the new decade has come with its fair share of unexpected events!

What if we told you that you could still take that trip … just by getting a bit creative? Here are a few tips to help make it feel as though you are hundreds of kilometres away from home, without actually having to step foot outside!

Take your taste buds on a culinary adventure … one meal at a time

Were you planning on taking a trip overseas to indulge in some of the best Mediterranean comfort food? Did you make reservations at 8 different restaurants earlier this year, but were forced to cancel?

Don’t sweat it! You can explore all that international cuisine has to offer in a few easy steps!

With a bit of research, some sure-fire recipes, the right ingredients and a good barbecue, you have everything you need to bring authentic recipes from around the world to life in your very own home. Some of our favourites include:

• Italian barbecue: spicy marinated chicken skewers (with tons of veggies!) drenched in a homemade balsamic reduction. Make some for yourself or load up the barbecue and serve them up to your hungry family!
• Mexican barbecue: yes, yes! Prepare fajitas outdoors and cook them on the grill! Don’t forget to add in some spice with a few hot peppers to liven up the dish!
• Greek barbecue: slather your chicken in a flavourful marinade, throw together a homemade tzatziki sauce and add in your favourite marinated veggies. That’s it!

To set the mood and transport your senses to the other side of the world, play some traditional music from the country in question or make a playlist featuring artists from that corner of the globe as you dig in!

Get cultured from your couch

Whether you’re chilling indoors on a rainy day or relaxing in the shade on your outdoor patio set, why not take a virtual tour of a museum?

When social distancing restrictions were put in place, many museums around the world decided to offer the public the opportunity to view and virtually visit their collections. Whether you are an art lover dying to check out the latest exhibits or if your last visit to a museum was on an elementary school field trip, there is something for everyone!

We have chosen a few exhibits from around the world, but also some Canadian museums so that you can get to know a little bit more about your own backyard!

• The Uffizi Gallery in Florence (Italy): take a virtual tour of some of the most famous paintings by the world’s greatest artists! 
• The Louvre Museum in Paris (France): time will fly as you visit the endless exhibits!
• The Broad in Los Angeles (USA): this one is for contemporary art lovers. You can browse photos of the different works, read detailed descriptions and even take an audio tour!

Canadian museums

• Royal Ontario Museum, in Toronto (Ontario): take a peek at over 47,788 artifacts online!
• Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (MMFA), in Montreal (Quebec): in collaboration with an art therapist, the MMFA is offering several online activities and exercises to bring out your creative side. You can also virtually access several of their thought-provoking collections!
• New Brunswick Museum, in Saint John (New Brunswick): take in nine different exhibits that cover everything from geology to the history of New Brunswick!
• Nova Scotia Museum (includes several websites): take advantage of your time at home to learn something new with the Nova Scotia archives and provincial bookstore. You can also check out seven of their exhibits online.
• The PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation (includes several websites): you can browse several of their collections online. This museum was also featured on the @52museums Instagram account for an entire week! 
• Association of Newfoundland and Labrador Archives (ANLA), in St. John's (Newfoundland and Labrador): you can peruse several archives online—from law and medicine to maritime history!

A music-filled summer!

If your road trips and summer travel plans usually involve hitting up a concert or live performance, you will be happy to hear that some artists will still be performing this summer by live-streaming their events!

Some of the biggest headliners from international music festivals have announced that they will be holding virtual concerts on social media. You can stay in the know about the latest concert dates and news with apps like Bandsintown.

The best documentaries about breathtaking landscapes

Do you dream of basking in the beauty of nature from atop a snow-covered mountain? Well, now you can … by watching documentaries online! Whether you want to see the Rockies for the first (or twelfth) time or are dying to travel to the UK to marvel at the scenery, the internet has you covered!

The National Film Board (NFB) has an array of documentaries that you can buy or watch for free online if you are dying to take a trip to the Rockies!

On the other side of the Atlantic, the BBC and YouTube (for that matter), offer you the chance to visit Wales and admire its majestic landscapes!

Looking for another way to quench your curiosity? Why not virtually walk the streets of your very own city or the city of your dreams on Google Maps? Google Street View lets you explore almost anywhere in the world from the comfort of your very own home!