2021’s Best Cities for Spring Outdoor Activities

What will spring travel look like this year, given the COVID-19 vaccine rollout and continued pandemic restrictions?

More people will stay closer to their homes, go camping, take day trips, and visit nearby family

The governors of Mississippi and Texas recently announced fully reopening their states and lifting mask mandates. If other states follow suit in the near term, what effect will this have on spring travel, if any, and COVID-19 cases?

People will travel more following safe protocols as restrictions are reduced.

What are your top three tips for enjoying outdoor time safely this spring?

Stay physically active, find less populated locations, and find meaning in what you do.

What creative ideas for fun and safe spring activities, if any, have you seen in different cities that could be duplicated in others?

Local bike ride tours, music in the parks with picnics by local restaurants and local food trucks (reservation and spacing provided), community gardens to help those in need from the winter storm.

For people who can’t leave home, what are your top three tips for enjoying spring break?

Go back yard camping, have outdoor scavenger nature hunts, and plant a few plants to support monarch butterflies.

What will spring travel look like this year, given the COVID-19 vaccine rollout and continued pandemic restrictions?

A cautious re-entry, gradually accelerating but less than pre-pandemic

The governors of Mississippi and Texas recently announced fully reopening their states and lifting mask mandates. If other states follow suit in the near term, what effect will this have on spring travel, if any, and COVID-19 cases?

There will be an increase in travel in the south and west, gradually extending north and east. Hopefully, the mutations will not expand to create another wave with this pushing the reopening. It really depends on how the production of vaccines continues to increase and how solid the science behind their development, and the stability of potential variants.  

What are your top three tips for enjoying outdoor time safely this spring?

1. Stick with family and your “pod” of contacts as much as possible.
2. Continue to enjoy outdoor experiences.
3.  Focus on relatively safe, non-crowd experiences where you are in control.

What creative ideas for fun and safe spring activities, if any, have you seen in different cities that could be duplicated in others?

Multiple pedal vehicles with a beer bar and a host/driver (like in Asheville) for touring city streets. The seats can maintain certain distances, which may be down to 3-feet by then, and allow a “control” to the experience compared to crowds roaming the streets with alcohol.

For suburbs, towns, and rural areas, continue to develop and enjoy your lawns–Americans have turned back to these as the seat of outdoor experience along with parks.

For people who can’t leave home, what are your top three tips for enjoying spring break?

Treat it as a personal recreational, rather than group recreational time. now that we see the light at the end of the tunnel we do not want to regress, so stay safe and take reasonable recommended precautions. enjoy your family and neighbors–your immediate “pod” of people.

What will spring travel look like this year, given the COVID-19 vaccine rollout and continued pandemic restrictions?

Spring travel especially in Bloomington, Indiana is projected to be very strong. The destination has the ideal mix of outdoor attractions and being a short drive-to destination for several large population centers. This is very important, as there is still a large reluctance for travelers to get on an airplane and fly to remote destinations.

Indiana is also far along in vaccinating the population with the new group eligible being those residents 40 and above.

The governors of Mississippi and Texas recently announced fully reopening their states and lifting mask mandates. If other states follow suit in the near term, what effect will this have on spring travel, if any, and COVID-19 cases?

While the lifting of mask mandates may encourage some additional travel, most people will still observe the use of masks as the best prevention from catching the virus.

The travel in those states will still be primarily drive-in tourists so we are still a way off from seeing the benefits of travelers from distant destinations.

It will remain to be seen the impact on the overall cases of COVID-19 in those states but they do run the risk of seeing increases and further delaying the large-scale resumption of tourism.

What are your top three tips for enjoying outdoor time safely this spring?

The top 3 tips I have for enjoying outdoor activities currently are:

1) Look for activities that still encourage social distancing (golf, hiking, tennis, biking)

2) Continue to wear a mask, as this will also continue to move us back to “normal” faster.

3) Get out of the house as often as you can.

Number 3 is especially important for the well-being of our mental health. The pandemic has affected us for one year now and we really need to take small steps to begin to reclaim our lives back.

What creative ideas for fun and safe spring activities, if any, have you seen in different cities that could be duplicated in others?

One creative idea that is appropriate for families is a “learning science camp.” This is an activity where you would take children camping and spend the days and evenings working on STEM activities. Creating experiments in nature for children to develop a deeper appreciation for science.

Another activity as the weather warms up would be to participate in a round of “night golf”. This activity involves playing golf in the dark using golf balls that glow and minimal lighting on the holes to guide the golfers. Both of these activities are another way to take advantage of the outdoors.

For people who can’t leave home, what are your top three tips for enjoying spring break?

My top three tips for those who can’t leave home are:

1) Get everyone in the house their vaccines as soon as they are eligible. With the new CDC guidelines, you would then be able to have gatherings with other vaccinated people.

2) Spend time outside in your own yard doing activities like gardening or landscaping.

3) Do a home project that you have been putting off for a while. Change the color of one of your rooms or even just rearrange the furniture. It will give you a fresh outlook on the space you have spent the last year in.

What will spring travel look like this year, given the COVID-19 vaccine rollout and continued pandemic restrictions?

Spring travel will likely be a mixed bag with conventional tourist hubs such as Orlando and Las Vegas seeing increases in visitation relative to recent months. Regional and cooler climate destinations will likely not see the same increases until summer.

The governors of Mississippi and Texas recently announced fully reopening their states and lifting mask mandates. If other states follow suit in the near term, what effect will this have on spring travel, if any, and COVID-19 cases?

One of the truisms of recreation, leisure, and tourism is that people will not participate if they do not feel safe. As such, we will likely not see dramatic spikes in travel right away. They will happen more slowly and will be more closely tied to the rate of vaccination than the lifting of restrictions.

For instance, last fall when many states re-opened indoor dining, most restaurants reported that they rarely reached their diminished capacity. This is because even though restrictions had been minimized, many potential restaurant goers did not feel comfortable in that setting. Something similar will likely be true with potential travelers – at least at the outset.

What are your top three tips for enjoying outdoor time safely this spring?

• Get vaccinated the first chance you get. The peace of mind that comes with knowing you are unlikely to catch or spread the virus will enhance your ability to enjoy your time in the outdoors.
• Avoid traveling to National Parks during Memorial Day weekend. The annual spikes that occur during that holiday are both predictable and avoidable. Instead, consider alternatives such as National Wildlife Refuges, National Forests, or local and regional parks which are typically less crowded.
• Be patient with both places and people. The world did not shut down overnight, and it will not re-open overnight.

What creative ideas for fun and safe spring activities, if any, have you seen in different cities that could be duplicated in others?

Large-scale events like full-capacity concerts, festivals, and sporting events will continue to be unlikely this spring in most places.

Enjoyable alternatives in many communities have included things like drive-in movies and bicycle riding events. These are low-cost, high-impact events that leave residents feeling active and more connected to their communities.

On an individualized level, participation in activities such as hiking, photography, and kayaking have all increased, as they allow people to spread out while still enjoying the company of others.

For people who can’t leave home, what are your top three tips for enjoying spring break?

• Buy a bird feeder. Even in the busiest cities, birds are doing their best to carve out a living. By helping them in that process, the positive side effect is that you can see them up close and get to know the avian residents of your neighborhood. Birdwatching can be particularly fun with kids, as it offers an alternative to watching a screen.
•  Plant a pollinator garden with native plants. Spring means the return of butterflies and other pollinators. As they travel, they look for food and refuge. In addition to supporting their life cycles, adding native plants such as milkweeds to your yard is a gift to yourself that will pay off all summer long, as unique butterflies and caterpillars visit.
• Utilize local parks. If you don’t want to attract birds or butterflies to your own yard, you can still find them at your local parks. If the pandemic has taught us anything, it is to appreciate the little things. Watching birds and butterflies fly through grasses and trees is certainly a good example of finding value in life’s little details.

What will spring travel look like this year, given the COVID-19 vaccine rollout and continued pandemic restrictions?

We’ve actually been doing some research on park visitation and, for those park systems that remained open during the pandemic, some parks saw 200%+ increases in visitation.

The distance traveled from home was also much smaller, so we know people haven’t been going as far away for travel.

So, while cities and towns were seeing fewer visitors, outdoor places have been inundated. We expect that to continue through the summer, and for the overflow into towns and cities to increase, as well.

With vaccines rolling out and mask mandates being rescinded, people are, for better or worse, beginning to relax their standards. Our restaurants, gyms, and recreation centers are filling back up already, and when outdoor seating is more feasible in spring, it will only get busier.

The governors of Mississippi and Texas recently announced fully reopening their states and lifting mask mandates. If other states follow suit in the near term, what effect will this have on spring travel, if any, and COVID-19 cases?

The Tennessee governor made a public statement, as well, saying that TN is open for business and welcoming visitors for spring break. Honestly, since the response to COVID lacked uniformity from the beginning, this is just an extension of the norm.

We had many visitors last summer from states like MI and NY because their states were shut down and they were seeking places to play. I would expect to see spikes in cases, and an influx of variants that may or may not be reactive to the vaccines as a result.

The reality is that we have a robust debate in the U.S. about freedom and restraint, and we will have to see how it plays out. The fact that many universities have scrapped spring break (including UTC) will provide some relief, and many visitors will be seeking outdoor spaces to play in, which is less risky for everyone right now.

What are your top three tips for enjoying outdoor time safely this spring?

1) Find the diamonds in the rough. Every area has extremely popular trails and some that are off the beaten path. Now is the ideal time to explore the areas with less traffic and fewer crowds.

2) Keep masking and distancing. It’s really not that hard to wear a mask when you are close to people and eat your food at an outdoor table. Remember, a lot of these areas you are visiting might not have a great medical system. Your tourism dollars really aren’t helping if they bring sickness that causes stress in the local community.

3) Buy local. When you do go to the stores & restaurants in town, do what you can to support the local guys. Many towns depend on tourism dollars and small businesses took a major hit during the pandemic. Go out of your way to put your money directly into the local economy.

What creative ideas for fun and safe spring activities, if any, have you seen in different cities that could be duplicated in others?

We just created a food truck alley here in Chattanooga, which provides a place for local vendors to sell food without the concerns of indoor seating.

The Southeastern Climber’s Coalition is doing a distanced competition, where competitors have a span of weeks to complete as many boulder routes at a location as possible, and points are awarded at the end. This allows for competition without the crowds.

Any ideas that maximize time outdoors and allow for distance are great: outdoor movies in the park, distanced races & competitions, extended sidewalk space for restaurant seating, etc.

For people who can’t leave home, what are your top three tips for enjoying spring break?

You know, I’ve traveled to a lot of places, and each place is unique and beautiful in its own way. This pandemic is dragging on, but it will end, in time.

Instead of regretting everything you are missing out on, take this chance to really get to know your backyard. Most of us have parks and trails close to home that we’ve never explored. Take this time to make the most of what you can do where you are, and not focus on your limitations. And, be sure you get your recommended weekly dose of outdoor time (at least 2 hours).

What will spring travel look like this year, given the COVID-19 vaccine rollout and continued pandemic restrictions?

Spring travel will increase, especially among the younger (college-age) population.  Unvaccinated older populations will probably be reluctant to engage in extensive travel until after they are fully vaccinated.

  However, it is clear that travel-related businesses are ready to open fully and will be actively promoting destination travel, perhaps with bargain rates initially.

The governors of Mississippi and Texas recently announced fully reopening their states and lifting mask mandates. If other states follow suit in the near term, what effect will this have on spring travel, if any, and COVID-19 cases?

Living in Texas, not being fully vaccinated, and a senior citizen, I think it is still a little bit early to lift all restrictions.  Fortunately, my workplace, my church, and most of the local businesses I frequent are not dropping the mask requirements, despite the governor having dropped the restrictions. 

If Covid-19 infections continue to drop, then spring travel will increase, but primarily on the local level initially.  Restaurants, bars, and movie theaters will be avidly advertising for customers to resume previous habits.  However, many attractions such as festivals and similar events will be slow to restart—and those are important for destination travel.  We will probably see the start of recovery in the summer.

What are your top three tips for enjoying outdoor time safely this spring?

Wear a mask in crowds (even if others are not) and maintain a respectable distance, even in outdoor areas.  If I lived up north, I would be wary of driving the highways in bad weather.  Since I live in Texas, I suggest planting a vegetable garden (now is the time) and enjoy the fruit trees which are now in bloom.

What creative ideas for fun and safe spring activities, if any, have you seen in different cities that could be duplicated in others?

The only thing new I have seen this spring is a wildflower viewing at a historical park/cemetery in the adjacent city.  It was canceled last year, but was a splendid affair the previous year.  Unfortunately, the recent freeze may delay the flowers or reduce the numbers.

For people who can’t leave home, what are your top three tips for enjoying spring break?

Read a book in the sunshine, plant your garden, do spring cleaning in your house and garage.   Can you tell I’m getting old?