What To Do in Rome, Italy Travel Guide

***Please note that this What To Do in Rome, Italy Travel Guide will be updated and recirculated periodically to reflect the most up-to-date information. This list was most recently updated as of December 2025.***

Over on my Instagram (let’s be friends @_thepinkchickadee), I have been sharing ALL about my 6 days in Rome, Italy! If you have watched the Lizze McQuire movie which takes place in Rome, there is SO much to do in this incredible city as in the movie the characters are sightseeing for two weeks with a jam-packed schedule. Rome, Italy – also known as the Eternal City – is an incredible city with literally an eternal amount of things to do. While it may be overwhelming to decide what to do in Rome, Italy, I decided to put together this travel guide to help you do just that.

*Disclaimer: Please note that this post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase through one of my links, then I will receive a small commission. This commission is at no extra cost to you. Additionally, this post is not sponsored, and all opinions are my own.*

For more travel abroad inspiration, check out my exploring 50 Countries Expedition page.

What To Do In Rome, Italy Travel Guide

This What To Do in Rome, Italy Travel Guide will walk you through not only things to do in the Eternal City but also share: About, Getting There (from the United States/Canada), Getting Around, and Where to Eat. That way, when you land in Rome, you will have a plethora of knowledge at your finger tips and be ready for some sightseeing!

But, before I get into all of the things to do in Rome, Italy, feel free to peruse lodging options for your trip!

 

About Rome, Italy:

Rome is the capital city of Italy. It is also the most populated city within Italy and has its home in the country’s Lazio region. Fun fact: Italy is made up of 20 regions, including the very well-known Tuscany alongside Umbria, Lazio (where Rome is!), and Abruzzo. Rome has a vast history, dating back to 753 AD at its establishment as the heart of the then-Roman Empire where much of its ancient ruins and sites remain today and are visited by thousands each year, to a mega center of the Christian faith and Renaissance, and to this day as the capital of a unified Italy since 1870. Rome is also home to Vatican City – an independent nation that ensures the Catholic Church’s autonomy on a global front. Vatican City was established on February 11, 1929 and is where the Pope resides. Today, Rome has left a huge mark and legacy on our world today, being the place where Christianity was established as a major world religion, the modern Western calendar and alphabet were developed, world-renowned artists like Michelangelo practiced and succeed in their artistic talents, and romance languages such as Italian, French, and Spanish were developed and nourished here.

Getting There (from the United States/Canada):

Within Italy, the two cities with major airports are Rome and Milan. The major airport in Rome is Leonardo da Vinci International Airport (FCO). FCO has several direct flight options from several major United States cities, including on American Airlines and United Airlines. As a United Loyalty member, I opted to fly a direct flight option round-trip out of Washington Dulles Airport (IAD) aka my home airport. From Washington, DC, I took an overnight flight to Rome that was 8 hours long there and 10 hours long to get home from Italy. As for those beyond the East Coast of the United States and Canada, I know cities such as Los Angeles on the West Coast have flight times of approximately 11-15 hours each way. So many fellow United States tourists that I chatted with in Rome happened to have connecting flight(s), so I felt very lucky to have been able to have a direct flight for my round-trip.

It is also worth noting that upon departure and arrival in/out of FCO airport, all visitors must have their passports ready to go through Italian customs. In addition to Italian customs upon arrival and departure, all visitors must go through the United States/Canadian customs upon arrival within their home country. Within Italy, the Italian customs process can be a bit confusing, however, there are staff members and usually crowds of people to help make it less so.

Getting Around:

While Rome does have its own transit system, I opted to either walk given my hotel’s central location downtown, take Ubers/taxis (you can find taxis on the Uber app in Italy!), or book a Big Bus Tours pass (which I will share more about below in the What To Do section!). From previous experiences, Rome’s transit system gets very crowded very fast, which is something I wanted to avoid in the August heat when I was there this time around. It is also worth downloading the Freenow app, which is essentially a digital platform for hailing taxis at least within Rome. Whatever mode(s) of transportation that you use within Rome, you are for sure to get your steps in!

What To Do:

Before I get into the meat of what to do in Rome, Italy, it is worth mentioning that I primarily used Get Your Guide to book all of my activities and have all of my tickets and vouchers in a central place on my phone. All of my activities were booked via Get Your Guide and you can pretty much find any ticketed item on this app.

Hop on & off of Rome via a Big Bus Tour – It is NO secret that Rome, Italy is notorious like any other big city for all of the walking! One of the best ways to get around Rome is by booking a Big Bus Tour pass. There are several Big Bus Tour options for Rome, including a 24 hour day pass, 48 hour day pass, and 72 hour day pass – all of which you can use the next day as long as it’s within the 24-72 hours in which you book it for – as well as a 3 hour and 1 day pass option. Alongside a Big Bus ticket, pass holders depending on their ticket can book discounted tickets at an additional cost to the Colosseum, The Vatican, and receive a complimentary cup of gelato at participating locations. To limit the amount of walking and Uber fares myself, I booked a 72 hour pass which included a complimentary night tour route to see the Eternal City all lit up! See more on all of the Big Bus Tour options in Rome here.

Take a sunset guided tour of the Colosseum – The Colosseum is a amphitheatre that dates back to the Roman Empire with its construction starting around 72 AD. It is one of the most well-known structures to this day. When I visited Rome back in 2018 as a college student studying abroad in Tuscany and visited the Colosseum, I wanted to learn more about it. At the same time, it was pretty crowded when I went. SO, this time around I decided to book an excellent guided sunset tour of the Colosseum on Get Your Guide. The tour operator is Rome Tours and the tour was excellent and interactive, especially for the kids within my tour group who got to pretend to be gladiators! Since the tour started around 6pm/18:00, the crowds were extremely minimal and allowed for tons of breathing room and cooler golden hour temperatures to enjoy the Colosseum. I highly recommend a guided tour of the Colosseum, especially to learn more about this iconic structure and its history over the centuries! Book the exact tour I booked here.

Make a wish at the Trevi Fountain – Hey now, hey now! This is what dreams are made of!!! You may as well have your Lizzie McGuire moment (if you get my reference!) at the Trevi Fountain and make a wish! It is worth noting that at pretty much all daylight hours, the Trevi Fountain gets pretty crowded, so it’s suggested to avoid the crowds and visit around 6-7am if you want to avoid them. Somehow, I went at 5pm and got a nice photo spot though, so maybe luck will be on your side!

Climb (or just admire!) the Spanish Steps – The Spanish Steps are a famous Baroque monumental stairway in the heart of Rome. There are 135 steps to climb if you so choose to (I did not!). However, if you’re like me, it is worthwhile to admire the Spanish Steps in all of their monumental glory and beauty and indulge in some retail therapy  at one of the many shops nearby while you’re in the area.

Sit in the Papal Audience at The Vatican – One of the neatest experiences of my life was sitting in the Papal Audience at The Vatican! I write my in-depth about my experience, where to find the most up-to-date Papal Audience Schedule, and how to be apart of the Papal Audience yourself here.

Tour The Vatican & Sistine Chapel – Personally, I think that every person who visits Rome should tour The Vatican and Sistine Chapel at least once in their lifetime! I toured The Vatican & Sistine Chapel in July 2018 when I studied abroad in Tuscany and found it to be a super neat experience, however, it was super overwhelming and packed with tourists. The vast amount of magnificent artwork makes it worthwhile to do at least once in your lifetime! I highly suggest booking an early morning entrance (before 8am) if you’re able to to reduce the crowds and have a more enjoyable experience.

Take in city views and learn about Rome’s history at Castel Sant’Angelo – Constructed in 135 AD by Roman Emperor Hadrian and situated right alongside the Tiber River, Castel Sant’Angelo also known as Manusoleum of Hadrian, was initially used for Emperor Hadrian and his family. In the following centuries, Castel Sant’Angelo was used as a fortress and castle for the Popes. Today, Castel Sant’Angelo is a museum, showcasing the ancient rooms of Emperor Hadrian, beautiful Renaissance frescoes, and stunning riverfront and city views of the Eternal City. It is worth noting that Castel Sant’Angelo involves a lot of walking on uneven, cobblestone pathways and staircases.

Indulge in some retail therapy – There’s no shortage of opportunities to indulge in some retail therapy in Rome! From luxury shopping on Via Condotti and the surrounding streets near the Spanish Steps to vintage shopping and thrifting in the Monti neighborhood, the Eternal City truly has something for every shopper!

Admire sculptures and masterpieces at the crowd-controlled Galleria Borghese – Housed in the former Villa Borghese Pinciana which was home to the Roman Borghese family, Galleria Borghese is a breathtaking art gallery featuring the Borghese family’s vast collection of Roman sculptures and artwork. At every turn, Galleria Borghese has magnificent pieces of artwork and will leave you in awe! A unique feature of Galleria Borghese is that the museum is crowd-controlled and every visitor only gets 2 hours in the museum to ensure everyone has a crowd-free experience. It is highly recommended to reserve your tickets in advance and show up early to your ticket time.

Stroll the magical Villa Borghese – Villa Borghese is a landscape garden in the heart of Rome that is home a several buildings, attractions, and museums including the Galleria Borghese. It is the largest park in central Rome and has close proximity to the Spanish Steps and luxury shopping at Via Condotti. Villa Borghese also has several magical photo opportunities and architectural delights to enjoy, spots to rest and read to book or take it all in, an onsite cafe and cocktail bar, and gorgeous gardens. There are also opportunities to rent a golf cart or bike to enjoy all that Villa Borghese has to offer!

Take in the incredible palace-like interiors and gardens of Colonna Palace – One of the oldest and private homes in Rome, Colonna Palace has belonged to the Colonna family for over 20 generations. Colonna Palace has onsite gardens and Galleria Colonna which showcases authentic Roman Baroque. Truly, Colonna Palace is a hidden gem in the heart of Rome and will leave you with your jaw on the floor! Be sure to reserve your tickets to this Roman jewel as its only open to the public on Fridays and Saturdays and be appointment any other day.

Say a prayer and blessing and tour the museums at Basilica Papale di Santa Maria Maggiore – Also known as the Basilica of Saint Mary The Great, the Basilica Papale di Santa Maria Maggiore is one of four Papal basilicas in Rome and one of seven Pilgrim Churches of Rome. Most notably, the Basilica enshrines the venerated image of Salus Populi Romani which depicts the Blessed Virgin Mary as the health and protector of the Roman people. Additionally, eight Popes are buried within the Basilica, which is also known for its intricate Baroque architecture. Alongside saying a prayer and admiring the baroque architecture within the church from the ceiling to the floors, the Basilica also has an incredible museum with a 360 degrees terrace to take in the Eternal City from up above. The museum is less crowded and showcases some neat facts about the Basilica as well as the Catholic faith, including one of the world’s oldest Nativity sets! If visiting just the Basilica there is free admission with no reservation needed, otherwise reserve your tickets to the museum, terrace, or a guided tour here.

Stroll the Roman Forum and take several moments to learn about Roman history and enjoy the historic sight’s atmosphere – The Roman Forum was the city center of ancient Rome, a key political, civic, religious place. It is a rectangular forum that is surrounded by several ruins of key government buildings of ancient Rome. Ancient Roman citizens referred to this space which was originally a marketplace as Forum Magnum or simply Forum. While an archaeological site in the heart of Rome, the Roman Forum also functions as a historical park containing not only ruins but greenery and is truly a magical place to take in tons of history and scenic views. It is worth noting that tickets must be reserved in advance to visit the Roman Forum. Reserve your tickets here.

Get lost in the magical streets of the Eternal City – Last but not least, Rome offers no shortage of opportunities for LOTS of walking! Why not get lost in the gorgeous and incredible streets of the Eternal City?!?! There’s truly something unique and beautiful at every turn!

Where To Eat:

Before I get into sharing where I ate in Rome, it is worth mentioning that there are several places to dine at across the city. Whether it be an upscale restaurant, wine bar, Gelateria, cafe, pizzeria, or sandwich shop, the Eternal City has eternal dining options! You truly cannot go wrong with any spot!! I will mainly list out where I ate while in Rome, but, as previously mentioned, you can’t go wrong at many different spots!

  • Lunch at Alla Rampa
  • Wine, snacks, & gelato at White Bar & Restaurant
  • Dinner at Angelino “ai Fori” dal 1947
  • Gelato at Gold Ice
  • Dinner at Ristorante Plebiscito
  • Wine at La Bottega del Caffe
  • Gelato at Caffe Roma Gelateria
  • Lunch at Bistro Monti
  • Dinner at Santa Maria Osteria
  • Lunch at Moderno Bar Bakery & Cucina
  • Dinner at Le Bistro Roma
  • Lunch at Alimentari
  • Snacks at Autogrill

Wrap-Up:

When figuring out what to do in Rome, Italy, it is tough to narrow down all that I wanted to do. There is SO MUCH to do in Rome, Italy that you truly cannot go wrong with anything! My biggest piece of advice for deciding what to do in Rome, Italy is to prioritize activities that you and your group are interested in the most and use GetYourGuide to book them so you have your tickets in one central location. GetYourGuide was my central spot for finding out what to do in Rome, Italy but also a place to decide what to do and learn more about all of the incredible sights to see. Indeed, you cannot go wrong with whatever you decide to do in Rome!

XOXO – Katie <3

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Travel Guide: Seeing Washington, DC On a Budget

Growing up right outside of the nation’s capital was something that I unfortunately took for granted until I moved to Raleigh for college. However, after hearing many of my college friends and classmates share with me how much they wished they could be able to live outside of the nation’s largest cities, I knew how lucky I truly was! Having lived right outside of Washington, DC, I have been very fortunate enough to be able to go into the city just for a day and take in some of the city’s many sights. Since starting college, I have had a few friends come to visit me in my hometown over the years, with multiple trips into Washington, DC. On each of these trips, I have been able to budget accordingly to allow for my friends and I to have an enjoyable experience while not spending a lot of money. Personally, I think that Washington, DC is an extremely affordable city to visit, especially with all that it has to offer. Today, I will be sharing the tips and ways that I use when visiting Washington, DC.

1 – The Smithsonian Museums are FREE

Photo taken at the National Gallery of Art

You heard that right – all of the Smithsonian Institution museums are FREE! Guess what?! There are a total of 11 museums that are a part of the Smithsonian Institution just on the National Mall. That means that there are tons of spectacular things to learn and see at your fingertips at no cost to you. The museums pretty much line up both sides of the National Mall, and they could easily take months just for you to see everything within each of them. Luckily, there will be a museum for everybody to enjoy, as the museums on the National Mall include the National Museum of African American History and Culture, National Air and Space Museum, National Museum of American History, National Museum of the American Indian, and the National Portrait Gallery. While spending some time museum hopping, you can also snap a few pictures at the Renwick Gallery with their extraordinary art collections, the Smithsonian Gardens, and the Hirshhorn Sculpture Gardens. If you get tired of museum hopping, then you can always go right outside and enjoy spectacular views of the city’s monuments or head on over to the National Zoo, which is also a part of the Smithsonian Institution and FREE. The Smithsonian Institution’s plethora of museum offerings the don’t even cost a penny to any of its visitors leaves it such a great, budget-friendly asset for Washington, DC. 

Photo taken at the National Zoo

Some of my favorite exhibits & museums include:

  • The Freer Gallery of Art – it primarily showcases Asian art pieces; it’s such a hidden gem!
  • The Wizard of Oz‘s Dorothy’s Red Slippers at the Museum of American History – I think this was from the Movie/Film/Pop Culture Exhibit, and it was such a cool piece of cinematic history to see!
  • National Gallery of Art – they have pretty much all of the famous artists, from Vincent Van Gogh to Claude Monet.
  • The Hope Diamond at the Museum of Natural History – definitely a favorite of mine, along with the many other gemstones on display nearby.
  • National Museum of African American History – I found this museum to be such an incredible place to highlight the extraordinary works of African American advocates over the years. Moreover, this museum places an emphasis on the struggles that African Americans have faced in America for centuries in their ongoing fight for equal rights.
  • The Planetarium at the National Air and Space Museum – I went as a kid and LOVED it!! I highly recommend for people of all ages.
  • First Ladies/Presidents Exhibit at the Museum of American History – if you love fashion, then this one is for you! Former First Lady Helen Taft created the First Ladies collection at the Smithsonian to preserve the First Ladies’ inaugural gowns, many of which are still on display.
  • The National Archives – you can see the official copy of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution!

2 – Be Your Own Guide: See the Monuments Yourself

Photo taken at the top of the Lincoln Memorial steps

Ever log onto a site such as TripAdvisor and search for a guided sightseeing tour?! While a guided sightseeing tour is always convenient when in a new city, I highly recommend seeing the monuments on your own in Washington, DC, especially on a budget. Fortunately, the monuments are within close proximity to one another that they are usually within walking distance. The Washington Monument and United States Capital Building line the National Mall on both sides with each being closer to several of the nation’s monuments. Right by the Washington Monument is the Lincoln Memorial and World War 11 Memorial as well as the Constitution Gardens Pond, which is absolutely gorgeous and makes for a stunning photo opportunity. Meanwhile, the United States Capital Building is right by the Library of Congress and the United States Supreme Court Building. The White House, on the other hand, is a nice walk from the National Mall. Not only will you get to see all of Washington, DC’s iconic monuments for free, but you will also get to explore a lot of the city’s streets and see its timeless, historic charm.  

Photo taken at the Constitution Gardens Pond
Photo taken on the National Mall

3 – Tours of Many Monuments are FREE 

Photo taken in front of the Washington Monument

YES, the Smithsonian Institution is not the only place in Washington, DC that offers sights for free to its visitors. The Washington Monument is also free to guests as well, that is, as long as you line up outside of the ticket office starting at either 7am or 8am to get your tickets the day of. The same also goes for the Library of Congress, the White House, and the United States Capital Building, even though for those you do typically need to get a Congressmen’s approval to visit, through submitting a tour request. If you do choose to tour either the Library of Congress, the White House, and the United States Capital Building or all of them, I would highly suggest looking up your representative and their tour request form and submitting it months in advance to reserve your spot, since tickets are on a first-come first-served basis. I have done the Washington Monument tour, and I highly recommend it, as you get great skyline views of the city, and the monument keeps the number of people in it at a time at a small capacity. That all being said, Washington, DC definitely has a ton of iconic sites that you can see FOR FREE!

4 – Take Metro EVERYWHERE

Photo taken on the National Mall

I cannot stress this one enough!! If you do not know already, the Metro is essentially Washington, DC’s subway transit and bus system. It is also easy to use and navigate once you get the hang of it and a whole lot cheaper than calling an Uber everywhere you go. Additionally, using public transportation is super environmentally-friendly. While taking Metro, you’ll be saving yourself some cash and helping the planet in the long run!

5 – Eat Most Meals at Cafes or Local Joints

Photo taken at Le Pain Quotidien

I most definitely recommend this when in any city! Right along the National Mall, there are several food trucks at various price ranges available to visitors. I would highly recommend taking advantage of these food trucks while spending a day at the Smithsonian/on the National Mall. Besides food trucks, Washington, DC has several budget-friendly cafes and local joints. One of my favorites is Lincoln’s Waffle Shop as well as Cosi and Le Pain Quotidien. Another great restaurant to hit up, although a bit pricey for fast food, is Shake Shack – their burgers are up to par with In-N-Out Burger and are TO DIE FOR GOOD! While you can easily splurge on food in Washington, DC, there are many ways that you can save while still eating just as good if not even better!

6 – Reserve in Advance

Photo taken at a Justin Timberlake concert at Capital One Arena

As previously mentioned with the White House, United States Capital Building, and the Library of Congress, reserving in advance is most definitely the way to go. Washington, DC is a world-renowned tourist destination, so millions of people visit each year and want to see all of the sights that the city has to offer. While many activities are offered for free here in DC, places like the Madame Tussands Was Museum, International Spy Museum, and the National Museum of Women in the Arts come at a minimal cost. Performances at the Kennedy Center or Fords Theatre will cost you some dollar as well. Along with assuring that you have a spot in any activity or tour that you want to do while visiting, you also will probably save a bit of cash as prices are typically lower the earlier that you book. Not only will you be guaranteeing yourself a spot on the must-see activity of your dreams, but you will also probably be saving yourself some cash too. 

7 – Stay in an AirBNB or Budget-Friendly Hotel

Photo taken at the top of the Lincoln Memorial steps

Even though I have a home to stay at when I come to Washington, DC, I do know that there are several places to stay on the budget-friendly side. Whether going with one or many of your crew, AirBNB is a great option to look into, as you and your crew can usually find a nice place to stay and potentially get your own rooms at a steal of the cost for a hotel. If you choose AirBNB, then I would highly recommend only booking through hosts that are SuperHosts, meaning that they have been highly rated for their AirBNB’(s) that you would be staying at. If you prefer not to stay at an AirBNB, then there is always the option of a hotel. When searching for a budget-friendly hotel, you may have to sacrifice location downtown for something potentially on the Metro line in Virginia or Maryland or not near all of the sites in DC. I would try a site like Hotels.com to look for hotels on a budget. Wherever you choose to stay, just ensure that it is a safe place and READ THE REVIEWS!! 

Overall, I have found Washington, DC to be an extremely budget-friendly city to travel to for families and friends alike. One of the biggest assets of this city is the vast amount of things to do that are FREE. While Washington, DC is a city that I am extremely knowledgable on due to it being in my backyard, it does not mean that you cannot use some of these tips in booking a budget-friendly trip to another city. Like Washington, DC, you can pretty much travel to any city on even a tight budget, as long as you are strategic with your research and spending. Once it is safer to travel, the world will be your oyster and maybe a trip to Washington, DC will be seen in your near future.

XOXO – Katie <3

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Traveling During the Coronavirus Pandemic

At the beginning of this year as any other year, I got real giddy about all of my possible upcoming travels. As it has affected us all, something that starts with a C, known as the coronavirus pandemic has put a halt and has risen a lot of uncertainty on our anticipated travel plans. This year, I had trips in the works to Bethany Beach, Delaware for girl’s and family trips at our family beach house, Charlottesville, Virginia & Charleston, South Carolina for my 21st Birthday, East Grand Lake, Maine & North Lake, New Brunswick, Canada for a family reunion, Emerald Isle, North Carolina & Greenville, North Carolina to visit my roommate in a summer program, Boston, Massachusetts with a hopeful day trip to Newport, Rhode Island to visit my cousin, and a September trip to Asheville, North Carolina with my Honors Program for their annual Fall Trip (luckily, that one has been pushed back to Spring 2021 so fingers crossed!). However, each of those plans has been put on halt. Personally, I hate to say “cancelled”, as I believe that we will ALWAYS have opportunities to travel to the places that may have been crossed off of our bucket lists this year – 2020 is just not the year for some of our trips. While it may be saddening to watch many of our travel plans get put on halt, it DOES NOT mean that we cannot travel; we just have to travel in a different way. Although 2020 may not be the year for us to pack our bags and hop on a plane to someplace far away, it is for sure the year of traveling to places in our own backyards!

Dealing with Travel Uncertainty

Photo taken at Prince William Forest, Triangle, Virginia

I know that for myself, I have experienced the worries of when my next trip will be. For most of us, it appears as if most of our travels will be postponed and/or eventually put off for the 2020 year. While it is extremely hard to not know when your next big trip will be, do not dwell on it. Instead, focus on what you can control and try and explore some place nearby your home or go and visit a friend or family member in a different area (only if you both are comfortable and discuss precautions taken before the visit). Most importantly, remember that you are NOT alone. In fact, pretty much everybody is struggling with the extreme uncertainty that the coronavirus pandemic has brought upon us all, especially as it has affected many of our much-anticipated plans of all kinds. Through it all, we are a community of people that are each going through similar things during this coronavirus pandemic, even if you cannot see it on the surface.

Use This Time as an OPPORTUNITY

Photo taken in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia

Even though it is a real damper to see many of our trips be put to a halt, it is definitely not good practice to remain in a rut. Remember that it is OKAY to grief and you have every right to feel all the feels. On the contrary, those sad feelings should not keep you from living your best life, especially when it comes to planning new adventures. In commemoration of some of the trips that you were supposed to take this year, it may be fun to plan a day trip nearby or an overnight trip at a friend or family member’s place to still keep those travel feels going strong! Ever want to explore a trail nearby your house or even a State or National Park within a day trip’s reach?! Then, this is the time do it! Having limited time to travel leaves most of us to choose trips to places that are much further than our own homes, which leaves us with not much time (if any) to explore places nearby. For example, I took a day trip to Harpers Ferry, West Virginia – somewhere I’ve always wanted to visit yet never had the time (more on that later!). If you cannot think of any cool places near your house that you’re interested in visiting, then you may want to try Google searching places within a day trip reach of your hometown and see what pops up. You never know what you can find!

Be Sure You Can Keep Your Social Distance

Photo taken at Burke Lake Park, Burke, Virginia

While a trip to a big city may sound like an appealing day trip if you’re near one, I would not recommend putting it on your 2020 trip radar. The Covid-19 pandemic is still looming upon us, and it is not going away at least for now. That being said, it is important to take social distancing precautions while you travel. ALWAYS bring a mask with you no matter where you go, as you never know when and where you may need it. Consequentially, I would suggest keeping a bottle of hand sanitizer with you in your car and/or in your bag as well. Some of the best trips to take to social distance involve walking and hiking trails as well as parks that may offer opportunities for each. However, I wouldn’t discount towns that may have ice cream shops, cafes, or restaurants where you can social distance and still take a stroll. If you choose to explore a town, I recommend going to one that has some sort of outdoor activities or scenic views where you can still maintain your social distance. Additionally, vineyards/breweries are also a great way to take a fun and scenic day trip while keeping your distance.

My Summer 2020 Travels So Far!

Photo taken in downtown Clifton, Virginia

Although my summer travels do not look anything like I anticipated them to, it does not mean that I have not made the best of the current situation. Instead, I have decided to use 2020 as an opportunity to explore where I live. So far, I have explored: Burke Lake Park in Burke, Virginia, the town of Clifton, Virginia, Sugarloaf Mountain & Sugarloaf Vineyard in Dickerson, Maryland, Fountainhead Regional Park in Fairfax Station, Virginia, the town of Harpers Ferry along the Appalachian Trail in West Virginia, and Prince William Forest in Triangle, Virginia. While they are close to home, I have really loved getting to explore each of these destinations. In fact, Harpers Ferry has been a place that I have been dying to see for a few years now, and little did I know, it is such a gem and a great day trip from Northern Virginia. I never truly knew how great the non-suburbia parts and outskirts of the Washington, DC-Virginia-Maryland tristate area were until just a few weeks ago. Personally, I really wish I got to know my backyard outside of the city a lot sooner!

Photo taken at Sugarloaf Mountain, Dickerson, Maryland
Photo taken at Fountainhead Regional Park, Fairfax Station, Virginia
Photo taken in downtown Harpers Ferry, West Virginia
Photo taken at Sugarloaf Vineyard, Dickerson, Maryland

Future 2020 Travels

Photo taken at Holts Landing State Park near Bethany Beach, Delaware

Having traveled to various places close to home, I am very excited about some of the upcoming travels that I have planned for the remainder of 2020. While past the summer is up in the air at the moment, I do have some exciting adventures planned for the rest of the summer. I will be spending about two weeks including the Fourth of July at my family’s beach house in Bethany Beach, Delaware. After a few weeks of relaxing seaside, I will be heading for the mountains for an unplugged few days in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia right nearby Shenandoah National Park. My Big Sis (essentially a mentor and potential best friend for life) from college and I are also planning a vineyard outing in the upcoming week. There is also a creek right by my house that I’m hoping to plan more outings to with family and friends as well (social-distanced of course!). Excitedly enough, I am planning to share posts on my travels to Bethany Beach, the Blue Ridge Mountains, and the vineyard that my Big Sis and I visit in the coming weeks!

With most of us scratching to get out of our homes, I highly suggest taking a day trip (or two or three) whenever you can. Travel may not look the same right now, but it does not mean that you cannot get out and explore. What the coronavirus pandemic has taught me is to always prioritize travel. Travel has been one of my biggest passions and has taught me SO much about different people and cultures. At the same time, you do not have to go far to meet and see a new culture – there are so many places within a day’s reach that can provide you with just that! Whether you’re in a small town in Virginia or a big city in Europe, there is always room for learning, growth, and exploration along with culture. Just look around: there is SO MUCH adventure out there!

XOXO – Katie <3

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