The plus-sides of living and traveling during a pandemic – by Kelly

Kelly is a traveling enthusiast and certified tour guide based in Chicago working remotely as a nomad as often as possible. When not fostering partner relationships with the guest experience-based app, eATLAS, she enjoys making new friends from around the planet hosting guests as an Airbnb host and leading walking, food, kayak and virtual cooking tours and experiences. Follow her on Instagram and Facebook as @ChiCitiGirl Treks & Bites

Without a doubt, living during a pandemic as a tour guide and travel aficionado has not been easy. Though it has forced me to travel differently, that has also allowed me to make great discoveries in unexpected places. Here’s what I’ve learned and how I  plan to apply it to my travel resolutions in 2022:

Farm stays

Road trips have always been a thing, especially in the US. During 2020 and 2021, I’ve taken about a dozen, with a special excitement for those that include farm stays. Recently, I spent 5 days at Northwind Llama Farm in Sawyer, Michigan, where you can stay at the “Red Barn” retreat, as well as lodging in the “Chicken Coop”, “Farm House”, and “Barn Retreat”.

This trip was as idyllic as it sounds. With funny llamas, crisp fresh air and beach-glass strewn along the coastline, it was an amazing experience–during winter, nonetheless! Amenities such as Wi-Fi and local coffee shops allowed me to work from a barn converted into a cozy lofted retreat. I was also able to spend time hiking Lake Michigan’s sand dunes or visiting the farms’ llamas, dogs, chickens and cats. Let me warn you that if bugs are not your thing, then farms  may be a place where you’ll change your mind about that.  Spiders may become your friends. Or else, just bring a can of Home Defense along. Either way, nature and all of her creatures provide a perfect getaway.

Be a tourist in your own city

While this might seem obvious, there’s so much to discover when you go deep into the city streets! I’ve made the point to venture to other neighborhoods for food and festivals like 2021’s newest festival, Sundays on State: https://loopchicago.com/events/sundays-on-state/

If history and architecture are your thing, there’s likely several local experts to help you see your city with new eyes, like Brick of Chicago’s walking tours. Yes, Chicago has its own brick expert, Will Quam, who will share the history, design, variety and artistry of masonry: https://www.brickofchicago.com/tours

He has virtual tours too, which lead me to the next topic.

Online experiences and tours

We’ve all missed visiting with friends, family, and relatives overseas. However, I’ve discovered the excitement of adventures within online hosted events. As a tour guide, I’ve created my own Original Brownie Bake & 1893 Time Travel experience, to share the history and tastes of Chicago. And I’ve also been a guest in about a dozen experiences, which have allowed me to learn how to shake up homemade craft margaritas with my college friends, and virtually stir up drag queen sangrias with my brother and sister-in-law in Madrid. Here are a few of my favorites:

https://www.airbnb.com/experiences/1661135?guests=1&adults=1&s=67&unique_share_id=d23092aa-5cca-41c2-b4f3-47647fc2fa3f

https://www.airbnb.com/experiences/1659307?guests=1&adults=1&s=67&unique_share_id=2a4ca054-044e-44e7-bfcc-7bf705946417

So whether you like farm stays, tourism in your own city, or online experiences, be sure to get in touch and share those moments with me on social media, at @ChiCitiGirl. and @playeatlas. I’ll be looking forward to reading about your adventures!