Life during the COVID-19 crisis presents no shortage of challenges, but for me one of the hardest to cope with has been losing the ability to travel. Long ago I set a goal and made a pact with myself to travel to at least one new country every year. Starting after college, I managed to stick to the plan and have had the pleasure of exploring wonderful places all over the world since then. Following each adventure I’d begin planning the next one, assuring that I always had something exciting to look forward to.

Of course I could never guarantee having the means to travel internationally every year, but I managed to find ways to reach new destinations even while on a limited budget. Some years I was able to save up and take an outright vacation, but other times I sought opportunities to travel for work or conferences, or I signed up for volunteer opportunities. During my most recent trip to Ghana in 2019 I bunked in a volunteer barracks without running water or indoor plumbing – “roughing it,” for sure! I never imagined that what would stand in the way of my goal would not be vacation time, funds, or opportunity, but rather a global pandemic forcing us to stick close to home for months!

Travel may not be completely banned as we navigate the current phase of coronavirus mitigation, but for all intents and purposes I do not see it as an option in 2020. The state’s current travel order calls for a potential two-week quarantine after returning to Massachusetts from all but a handful of locations. Logistically this would present problems, but even if I could do it, I wouldn’t want to take the risk, preferring to stay safe and limit my exposure to others while we wait for a vaccine. Eventually I had to embrace the concept of the “staycation,” and I wondered whether I could keep my wanderlust at bay and enjoy being a homebody for a while.

While homebound in March and April I was busy working remotely spending all day on my laptop and on Zoom. When I wasn’t working I ended up taking on projects in the house and garden that were ambitious and not exactly relaxing. Eventually cabin fever loomed large and prompted me to venture outside, discovering places to go nearby. Since then I have been pleasantly surprised by the multitude of outdoor destinations the Bay State has to offer.

Even with indoor sites and museums closed I discovered many places to hike and enjoy nature throughout the spring and summer. The non-profit Trustees of Reservations preserves and maintains properties throughout Massachusetts including historic estates, gardens, beaches, and more. I visited the impeccably maintained World’s End along the harbor in Hingham, and the picturesque Ames Estate in Easton. I enjoyed a stroll (as opposed to a more vigorous “hike”) at the Fork Factory Brook in Medfield, and another at Moose Hill Farm in Sharon. Our library has a guide to the Trustees’ properties, and their website has the latest information including changes in access due to Covid-19.

The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation manages a vast network of state parks with many options for outdoor activities. One of my lengthier hikes took place at Blue Hills, the massive reservation spanning multiple towns. Visitors may download a trail map for help navigating the over 7,000 acre site with over 120 miles of trails. I also had fun climbing around the rock formations at Purgatory Chasm in Sutton (and was glad I wore sneakers instead of flip-flops that day). The library lends out parking passes for the state parks.

Although I’d love to be on safari in Africa or exploring the Amazon in Brazil, I have enjoyed learning about local wildlife right here in Massachusetts. The Parker River National Wildlife Refuge on Plum Island attracts birdwatchers and photographers from near and far, with plenty of boardwalks, blinds and observation towers. The Mass Audubon wildlife sanctuaries throughout the state protect our wildlife and provide opportunities for outings and day trips.

If you’re interested in getting outside and exploring more of the local environment, the Minuteman Library Network and the Morrill Memorial Library have plenty of resources to help you decide where to go. Check out AMC’s Best Day Hikes Near Boston, or 50 Hikes in Eastern Massachusetts. They have a wide variety of field guides and books to help identify flora and fauna, and the library even has a birdwatching kit in its library of things, which includes binoculars, a field guide, and a CD of bird calls.

I recommend checking online or calling before any excursion; some sites such as Broadmoor in Natick and World’s End require timed tickets to prevent overcrowding. Many sites have reopened for outdoor activities but visitor centers and rest rooms remain closed.

When it is safe to do so, believe me, I will get on an airplane and venture off someplace far away, picking up where I left off with the plan to visit at least one new country every year. In the meantime, Massachusetts still has plenty to offer, and I am delighted to continue discovering its natural beauty.

Lydia Sampson is the Assistant Director at the Morrill Memorial Library in Norwood, MA. Look for her article in the October 29, 2020 issue of the Transcript and Bulletin.