Chances are you know what a “Safecation” is, but have you heard of a “Toe-Dip Trip”? According to the travel experts at Travelocity, a “Toe-Dip Trip” is a shorter getaway to help rebuild confidence levels before booking a bucket-list vacation.
If your venturing spirit is starting to stir, you may be looking to plan a getaway. Although the pandemic is not behind us yet families are ready to roam again and are looking to plan their first post-pandemic jaunt within the next nine months.
“We may be dreaming of that big bucket list trip, but what travelers are actually planning so far this year are visits to familiar destinations nearby, weekend getaways or road trips and beach trips,” says Melissa Dohmen, travel expert from Travelocity.
Tennessee is the top family-friendly destination with four destinations (Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, Nashville and Chattanooga) ranked in the top 20 most reserved and most loved by families so far in 2021. Orlando and Las Vegas both feature resorts that are popular for families with extra amenities and safety built-in, like free cancellations in case you change your mind.
In the West, families are heading out on road trips looking for lake views and tiny mountain towns. Lake Tahoe, Big Bear Lake and Lake Havasu City are among the top road trip destinations, in addition to smaller ski towns with mountain views.
Midwest cities are popular for weekend getaways. Chicago, Detroit and Minneapolis are seeing the greatest demand for weekend getaways and shorter stays (2-night stays or less). Kansas City, Lincoln, NE, Indianapolis, Oklahoma City, and Columbus, OH are also in the top 25 most reserved by families.
So if you are not ready to take the plunge, dip your toes in and plan a shorter getaway. You may find the water feels just fine!
