12 Creative Ways to Satisfy Your Wanderlust When Travel Isn’t Possible

Even full-time travelers sometimes need a break. By choice or, well, external circumstances, like a dwindling bank account. Travel is incredible, but it’s also hard on your body and your budget.

Being stuck at home while dreaming of the next place on your bucket list or returning to Europe to taste that life-changing tomato can feel pretty grim when you’re used to circling the globe. We asked the experts for the best ways to cure, or at least, semi-indulge your wanderlust when you really can’t travel.

Bonus: You don’t have to brave TSA.

1. Take a Language Class

Immersing yourself in a new language can provide that mental escape you’re seeking while exploring a new place.

“Language classes are a fantastic way to travel without getting on a plane. In class, you’re immersed in a foreign language and culture,” stated David Del Vecchio, owner of New York’s travel-focused Idlewild Bookstore. “Classes, especially in languages like Spanish, enhance your ability to connect with people from other countries living right here in the U.S.” Consider combining this with streaming foreign media or discussing current events with a language partner for enhanced “armchair travel,” suggested Del Vecchio.

2. Plan a Bucket List Trip

When feeling stuck, planning a dream trip can reignite your sense of adventure. Whether it’s a long-desired honeymoon or a long-planned trip to Australia, take the time to read guidebooks, watch documentaries, and compile inspiration for your upcoming travels—even if they are distant.

3. Meet Other Travelers

“One of the best aspects of travel is the connections you make,” said Debbie Arcangeles, host of the podcast “The Offbeat Life.” Try platforms like Bumble for friends, Facebook groups, or local travel meetups. You might just find a new travel buddy for your next adventure.

Additionally, consider hosting travelers through Airbnb or Couchsurfing. As Maggie Turansky, co-founder of The World Was Here First, suggests, you can meet people from all over the world without leaving your home.

4. Taste a Cuisine You’ve Never Experienced Before

Travel is not just about seeing new places; it’s also about tasting new flavors. “Food broadens horizons and offers insight into different cultures,” stated chef Simone Tong of New York’s Little Tong Noodle Shop. Introducing yourself to unfamiliar cuisines can create a sense of familiarity before you travel.

5. Be a Tourist in Your Own City

Explore your hometown with fresh eyes. Plan your day as if you were visiting for the first time—take a cheesy tourist bus tour, visit a renowned museum, and discover new lunch spots. Utilize resources like Atlas Obscura’s city guides to uncover unique attractions in your area.

6. Reminisce on a Past Trip

Instead of letting past adventures fade away, create a memory book using photo services like Artifact Uprising or Blurb. Scrapbooking souvenirs, ticket stubs, and other flat mementos can enhance the nostalgia of your travels.

7. Mimic the Hotel Experience

Create a luxurious atmosphere at home by ordering in meals or replicating hotel-style decor. Ave Bradley, of Kimpton Hotels, suggests incorporating unexpected design elements for a well-traveled aesthetic.

8. Read a Great Travel Book

Transport yourself to new destinations through literature. Pulitzer Prize-winning Less by Andrew Sean Greer and other novels set abroad can spark your wanderlust. Consider starting a travel-themed book club to discuss books with fellow travel enthusiasts.

9. Master an Activity You Can Enjoy on Vacation

Why not learn a new skill that you can use on vacation? Consider activities like horseback riding, scuba diving, or tennis. Community centers often offer classes in these areas, providing the perfect opportunity to enhance your travel experiences.

10. Change Up Your Routine

Break free from monotony by taking different routes when you go out. Frequent traveler Christina Cherry explains that changing even simple routines can offer the thrill of discovery and a sense of adventure.

11. Plan a Day Trip

Shorter excursions can alleviate travel blues. A quick train or bus ride might lead you to a charming town or a beautiful state park. As Nikki Scott, founder of South East Asia Backpacker, emphasizes, adventure doesn’t always mean traveling far from home.

12. Take Care of Your Future Travel Needs

Renewing your passport or fixing your suitcase zipper may not be exciting tasks, but they can alleviate stress for future travels. Consider researching travel rewards credit cards and organizing your travel essentials in advance.