Lehigh Valley grapples with summer vacation
Steven Bost tries to take a camping trip every year, but 2020 is different. After months of being cooped up inside, he’s desperate to get out of the house. At the same time, he and his girlfriend are not eager to travel to a crowded urban center or a bustling resort.
So next month, the two will take a trip to Vermont. Where exactly they wind up and whether it’s in a tent or a yurt still isn’t set in stone.
“We had a setback when our first reservation was canceled on us last week due to COVID. Now we have three reservations in with no cancellation penalties in case we get dropped again,” said Bost, 41.
While Bost was the only person I communicated with who went to such lengths to protect his travel plans, he’s far from alone in scheduling a trip. More than half of the people who responded to last week’s column said they still intended to venture out of the Lehigh Valley this year. While many original plans have been scrapped, people won’t be denied their summer vacation.
It’s not a local phenomenon. The U.S. Travel Association, a nonprofit trade organization that focuses on travel and tourism matters, found that Americans are warming to the idea getting away as the thermometer rises. For the week of June 22, just 7% of respondents said they would not travel for six months after the pandemic. A month earlier, the same question found 25% of people would avoid travel for that long. But Alex Michaels, executive director of Discover Lehigh Valley, noted the only thing certain is uncertainty.
“This situation is so fluid that what I tell you today could change by tomorrow,” he said. “A week ago, everyone was so excited. All of a sudden, we’ve seen an upsurge and people are getting cautious.”
For now, people are eager to get away if it’s to the right destination, Michaels said. Travelers are cautious about heading to large cities, partly because of the difficulty in social distancing and partially because many are still somewhat locked down. Concerts, museums, Broadway shows and sporting events are either shut down or offering limited attendance.
Tourists are also being careful about how they get to their vacation. Bookings for flights have plummeted and are not rebounding quickly. Instead, people are more likely to load up the car, where they can drive for hours without having to get close to anyone outside their group. Outdoor destinations like a mountain lodge or the shore seem to be doing better because the open air provides some added protection.
“Instead of going to Philadelphia, they might consider going to the Appalachian Trail or something outdoors they wouldn’t normally consider,” Michaels said.
That more or less aligns with Mark Nebbia’s plan of action. He and his wife planned on leaving Bethlehem for a Viking Cruise around Europe, but the coronavirus squashed those plans. Their backup plans to England and Newfoundland were dashed, too. Now, they intend to fly to Rapid City, South Dakota, and rent a car to tour Mount Rushmore, Devils Tower National Monument and Dinosaur
National Monument, among other national parks and monuments. Many of them are not fully reopened, but they’re hoping the limited options will also limit the number of visitors.
“We thought it would be best to go where it wasn’t so populated. Scenic, beautiful long drives in our rented SUV will serve to naturally socially distance ourselves,” he said.
In some ways, the vacation is only possible because of the pandemic. They managed to arrange a night at a lodge in Yellowstone National Park that is normally booked a year in advance.
Not everyone is in the same boat. Alberta and Jim Baggest planned on taking their teenage grandchildren to New England and Canada this week for an outdoor adventure. They had gone on trips west to the Grand Canyon and the Oregon Trail, so this year was supposed to be a similar trip east.
But travel restrictions made
Interstate 78
Median barrier repair between Cedar Crest Boulevard, Salisbury Township, and Lehigh Street, Allentown; 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Thursday.
Route 22
Milling and paving between 25th Street, Palmer Township, and Route 191, Bethlehem Township; 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. weeknights and 9 p.m. Fridays to 6 a.m. Mondays, July 10-30; may be delayed by rain. Route 222
Utility work between Grim Road and Grange/Milkl Creek Road, Upper Macungie Township; rolling traffic stoppage 9-10 a.m. Tuesday; rain could delay project to Wednesday.
Route 191
Pothole patching between Pen Argyl Road, Plainfield Township, and Monroe County line; 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday to Friday; may be delayed by rain. those plans impossible. Canada has closed its borders for nonessential travel, and tourists can only enter Maine if they agree to quarantine in the state for two weeks.
“We called different sites we wanted to see. All closed. Instead, we’re taking the kids kayaking every week in Bethlehem on the Lehigh,” Alberta said.
Joe Fulfs of Palmer Township finds himself in similar territory. Given his history of heart problems, he decided by early March that his plans for a European vacation weren’t in the cards. In his retirement, he’s taken up guitar and learning new languages.
He expects he’ll keep those hobbies up for the rest of the summer, along with a possible trip to see family in New Jersey. He was volunteering for ArtsQuest and the Center for Animal Health and Welfare in Williams Township, but he’s put those activities on hold, too.
“I’m not taking any chances,” the 70-year-old said. “I’m going to remain in a personal ‘yellowto-red zone’ until a proven vaccine or treatment is available.”
For what it’s worth, the Road Warrior family will be making an extended stay at Chateau Shortell here in the Lehigh Valley. We’re expecting a little bundle of joy to arrive toward the end of this year. Given the circumstances, we can’t justify making a trip when the risks are so high.
If you do go out, please make sure you’re wearing a mask and social distancing when in public places. There is not a lot that Sens. Mitch McConnell and Bernie Sanders agree on, but they’re in lockstep on this. It’s critical for our collective health, safety and economic vitality that we do this. I’ve mostly been encouraged by how people have behaved in the Lehigh Valley, but I’ve seen too many bad examples to get comfortable yet.
Morning Call reporter Tom Shortell can be reached at 610820-6168 or tshortell@mcall .com.