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BriefsTravel

Family travel five: Virtual vacations at home

TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE
                                Create your own spa treatments using essential oils and salts, such as those used at the Arawak Spa at the Belmond Cap Juluca in Anguilla.
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TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE

Create your own spa treatments using essential oils and salts, such as those used at the Arawak Spa at the Belmond Cap Juluca in Anguilla.

TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE
                                Create a Tranquil Tonic Mocktail for the kids.
2/2
Swipe or click to see more

TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE

Create a Tranquil Tonic Mocktail for the kids.

TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE
                                Create your own spa treatments using essential oils and salts, such as those used at the Arawak Spa at the Belmond Cap Juluca in Anguilla.
TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE
                                Create a Tranquil Tonic Mocktail for the kids.

At home with the kids? If we can’t travel to a favorite hotel, resort, restaurant or ranch, we can always pretend. Here are five ways to create a virtual vacation in your own home.

1. GO CAMPING

Whether you set up a tent in the backyard or the bedroom, with a little imagination you can enjoy all the fun of a real camping trip without spending travel time! Create a campfire using flashlights under a towel or thin blanket. Listen to the sounds of your own backyard or create an alternate sound track featuring birds, waterfalls, streams or trees rustling via a music or meditation app. Tell stories around your campfire, sample s’mores, sing songs and plan for your next adventure.

Pro tip: REI offers advice for introducing kids to the outdoors through camping in your own yard and beyond.

2. PLAY RESTAURANT

Take turns playing executive chef and encourage every member of the family to play a role. Plan for various theme nights that might include an island luau, a ranch cookout, mountain meadow picnic fare, a safari sundowner or a Mexican fiesta. Encourage the kids to make their own menus, place mats and other decor. Choose music to suit the “destination.”

Pro tip: &BEYOND’s Wildchild Hub offers recipes, reading and activities to bring Africa home to your children.

3. ENJOY A SPA DAY (OR WEEK)

Channel the services of a famous resort spa and pamper yourselves at home. Give family members the chance to reserve a manicure, foot or head massage, a salt or sugar scrub, a relaxing soak or whichever services your creative minds concoct. Craft a soothing play list via your favorite music app, gather candles and supplies from your own beauty stash, your kitchen and you’re good to go!

Pro tip: The Arawak Spa at Belmond Cap Juluca on the Caribbean island of Anguilla recommends a detoxifying soak to ease the tension of these stressful times.

Arawak salt soak

1/2 cup salts (Epsom, pink Himalayan, sea salts)

1 cup baking soda (softens water)

Essential oils, if available in home (5-10 drops)

Loose tea leaves

Combine ingredients in a mixing bowl. If possible, crush or grind the tea leaves to open up natural oils in the plant and allow it to mix well with the salts. Once combined, run a hot bath and add 3 tablespoons of the mixture to the water. Soak in the tub for 15 minutes.

(Suggested blends: invigorating: peppermint or citrus oil /or tea leaves; calming: chamomile tea or oil, green tea loose leaves; or detoxifying: rosemary, anise or ginger / oil or tea leaves)

4. HOST A HAPPY HOUR

Don’t let social distancing requirements keep you from staying in touch (virtually) with family and friends. Plan a “happy hour” video call and encourage the group to join you in a toast to future family travels.

Pro tip: Serve a kid-friendly mocktail like the one offered by restaurant ZuZu in Scottsdale, Ariz.’s Hotel Valley Ho.

Tranquil Tonic

4 ounces blood orange juice

6 fresh raspberries

1/2 ounce simple syrup

3 ounces grapefruit sparkling water

Combine the blood orange juice (regular orange juice also works well with this recipe), raspberries and simple syrup in a shaker, then muddle. Strain and pour into a glass; top with sparkling water and garnish with an orange slice and a raspberry.

5. YOUR FITNESS CENTER

Take turns leading a yoga or Pilates class. Choose from a wide variety of exercise classes available online. Venture out for a fitness walk. Consider taking the kids on a “bear hunt” by walking through your neighborhood in search of teddy bears placed in the windows of neighboring homes. The idea of creating window-based scenes using teddy bears and rainbows is spreading around the world. If it hasn’t reached your area, perhaps you and your family can help expand the trend. #BearHunt.

Pro tip: Tara Cruz, senior spa director at Four Seasons Hotel New York Downtown, recommends starting each day with simple stretches, breathing exercises and positive thoughts to stay healthy during challenging times.

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