My partner and I are trying to figure out where to go for our honeymoon in early Nov. Before the pandemic, it was Bali. Now, only two months out, we have no idea. But one option I thought I would never consider (but now I’m thinking, why the heck not?): doing a mini-moon, then doing the whole shebang in 2022.
Patience is a virtue during these tough times. That dream trip you were supposed to take in 2020 got pushed to 2021 and is now planned for 2022 *fingers crossed*. Remember that brief feeling of post-pandemic life this summer? It was a beautiful lie, but it also made me realize that there’s no guarantee that “normalcy” will resume. Delta was a wakeup call to change our way of living versus assuming that things will go back to the way it was. As a result, vaccinated travelers are becoming accustomed to checking travel restrictions, abiding by COVID testing/proof protocols, and, at the end of the day, being entirely flexible and prioritizing safety. However, there’s one thing I love about all of that — we are adjusting to a new way of travel because that means we are traveling again, whatever that might look like.
Travel News
The US gets hit hard by Hurricane Ida: On Aug. 29, the 16th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Ida made landfall in Louisiana — a devastating blow to a state that was already facing hardship with its COVID-19 surge. The overall damage in the South and Northeast is still being assessed, but there is no doubt that it has left many homeless and in need of food, water, electricity, and shelter. Here’s how you can help right now.
Italy restrictions and Alitalia shutdown: Following the EU’s decision to remove the US from its safe travel list, Italy is the first European country to start placing additional restrictions on US travelers. (As someone who has seen a lot of people traveling to Italy in recent months, this doesn’t come as a complete surprise).
Outside of COVID-related issues, Venice has announced that starting in summer 2022, it will be limiting the number of day-trippers entering the city and charging an entry fee, among other guidelines. This is the city’s latest effort to preserve Venice’s fragile ecosystem and curb over-tourism that has contributed to structural deterioration.
And finally, Alitalia has announced that its airplanes won’t be leaving the ground starting Oct. 15. As someone who has flown Alitalia and has appreciated their warm hospitality, I’m a bit bummed! But luckily, carbs aren’t restricted to just the Italian airlines.
Fun/Bizarre Trends
Space tourism blasting off: Hold onto your helmets: you could be going to space in the near future. The race to space tourism is alive, with multiple companies competing against one another to get people to book reservations on their spaceships for the next year. But tickets to space don’t come cheap, with prices ranging from $200K to tens of millions of dollars. However, the fact that space tourism is actually developing into a thing is exciting — you can pay to be put on a waitlist and everything — and as it becomes more and more common, prices will hopefully drop. And hey, there are always lotteries.
Apple picking too damn early: This is more of an opinion, although it is fact that some orchards are open for apple picking business. I need to be clear about one thing: I love fall. I ran to Dunkin’ the morning they brought pumpkin spice back (and naturally recorded the whole thing on Instagram). But are apples even ripe yet? It is an iconic photo op, but don’t you want the apples to reach their tasty potential? However, I do agree that it’s never too early to start getting excited for fall activities such as apple picking, which you can do by scrolling through this fun ranking of apple varietals (I’m team Honeycrisp, hbu?).
Things to Do Next Weekend
New York
Friday, Sept. 10 - Sun., Sept. 12: Events honoring the 20th anniversary of 9/11 (multiple locations): There are several ways to commemorate the day and honor the lives lost on 9/11 across NYC. You can go searching for buildings lit up around the city as part of the annual Tribute in Light, attend an outdoor performance called “Memory Ground” at the Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, or visit the two special collections in remembrance of the day at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, among many other events.
Cost: Varies by event, but many are freeSat., Sept. 11 - Sun., Sept. 12: Bushwig 10 (Queens): This festival celebrating the LGBTQ+ community is commemorating its 10th anniversary. Come for one or both days/nights filled with live music and performances with an impressive, jam-packed lineup, lots of food, and plenty of dancing.
Cost: Tickets start at $45
Connecticut
Friday, Sept. 10 - Sun., Sept. 12: Norwalk Seaport Association Oyster Festival (Norwalk): This three-day event celebrates the history of the oyster industry in Norwalk. Stop by for live entertainment, family-friendly activities, and — of course — plenty of oysters.
Cost: $12 for adults, $6 for kidsSat., Sept. 11 - Sun., Sept. 12: Health Wellness & Lifestyle Expo (Stamford): Celebrating its 10th year, this Health Wellness & Lifestyle Expo is all about promoting a healthy lifestyle. Participate in health screenings, shop wellness products, and connect with fitness instructors over wholesome bites and beverages (including sustainably produced wine, spirits, and beer).
Cost: Free
New Jersey
Sat., Sept. 11 - Sun., Sept. 12: The Empty Sky Memorial, Ceremony + 5K Walk/Run (Jersey City): Come pay respects to those who lost their lives on 9/11 and their families at the Empty Sky Memorial at Liberty State Park. There is a ceremony on Sat. and a 5K Walk/Run on Sun., and all money will go toward the preservation of The Empty Sky Memorial, which honors both the memory of those lost and their home of New Jersey.
Cost: Free to attend the ceremony, $35 for the 5K Walk/RunSat., Sept. 11: NJ Taco Festival (Augusta): The name says it all. This all-day event features an impressive list of taco vendors and specialists to get your food fix, plus a full schedule of entertaining activities — from a spicy taco eating competition, to a chihuahua beauty pageant, and even a taco championship award ceremony.
Cost: $10 for general admission
Pennsylvania
Sun., Sept. 12: Night Lights Sky Lantern Festival (Scranton): Inspired by the traditional Thai Lantern Festival, this reimagined sky lantern experience is a sight to see. A ticket gets you a personal sky lantern to decorate, and a lighter to be able to send it up into the sky — alongside thousands of others — during launch time, which makes for a magical moment.
Cost: $39 (sale might end tonight!)Sat., Sept. 11: Philadelphia 90's Crawl 2021 (Philadelphia): As the event page says, it’s time to party like it’s 1999! Sign up for this 90s-themed bar crawl, come dressed in your best retro swag, hop around the Old City, and sip on drinks in your free retro mug.
Cost: $15
Virtual
Friday, Sept. 10: Pentagon 9/11 Memorial 20th Anniversary Tour: To commemorate the 20th anniversary of 9/11, join this livestream history program that gives you a virtual look at the Pentagon 9/11 Memorial. This tour is guided by a member of the non-profit community organization Washington DC History & Culture.
Cost: Donate what you canSun., Sept. 12: Birthplace of the Renaissance: Florence Interactive Live Virtual Tour: As someone who is completely and utterly in love with the city of Florence, there’s no way I wasn’t including this one. Tune in for a 60-minute session focused on Firenze, which includes a guided tour through the city’s many sites and museums, plus a Q&A portion to answer any questions you have.
Cost: $15
A final thought: I would love to hear any/all feedback on this newsletter. What are you loving? What is unhelpful? What do you want to see more of? Help me help you by providing your ideal travel fix!
Travel Boldly (& Safely), friends — see you next weekend x