Like many other college students, I was disappointed when the coronavirus disrupted my plans to study abroad. I had been planning my coursework and job application timelines around spending four months in Scotland during the fall semester, and when reality sunk in, I was disappointed and frustrated. For all of us—whether we intended to travel extensively or not—the past several months have been isolating, emotionally draining, and full of missed opportunities.s
Despite the challenges associated with staying at home, I’ve been incredibly fortunate to visit a few charming locations on the East Coast this year with family and friends. With the next year looking a bit uncertain, I would like to share some of these places I’ve visited in the hope that some of you might have the opportunity to see them yourselves (while abiding by covid safety guidelines, of course). It turns out that some of the most fulfilling travel involves “touring” close to home, and I look forward to doing a bit more local traveling next year.
The National Gallery of Art—Washington, DC
I am grateful to have grown up near some of the best museums in the country, and regardless of how many times I visit the National Gallery of Art, I never grow tired of it. In early January, I celebrated the start of the New Year by popping over to the National Gallery with my sister and a childhood friend. Art museums aren’t for everyone, but to me, there is nothing more soothing than spending a few hours wandering among paintings and sculptures.
I am most drawn to surrealist and landscape paintings, like the ones pictured above. My friend and I had a chat about how the eye is first drawn to pockets of light in landscape paintings, and I found quite a few paintings I wanted to crawl into and spend the entire afternoon in.
Some of the artwork featured in the Gallery’s permanent collection includes photography by Diane Arbus, impressionist paintings by Claude Monet, and sculptures by Alexander Calder. There are also many different special installations that appear on the museum website.
The National Gallery is unfortunately closed to visitors right now, but hopefully it will reopen next year. If you’re ever in the DC area, this museum is a must-see, and admission is free!
Charlottesville, Virginia
I had the opportunity to visit this charming town, home to the University of Virginia, twice this year. The first time, I visited my sister at UVA during my college’s February break, and the second time, I went to celebrate my sister’s graduation in May. My first visit entailed a daylong Amtrak odyssey from Boston to Charlottesville, with a train change in DC. Despite running around in the cold in search of the right train and the soreness that struck my limbs after I spent hours cramped in the same seat, I loved the train ride. To me, watching the world go by outside the train window is magical. I took the above photos during my train journey; images of the New York City skyline during golden hour are truly remarkable.
Some Charlottesville highlights include The Lawn at UVA, which functions as the center of campus life, and scenic views of the train tracks. My sister also took me to see the UVA’s Fralin Museum of Art, which has an amazing installation of aboriginal Australian memorial poles. If you’re visiting a friend or family member at UVA post-covid, be sure to ask them to take you to a basketball game!
Ponds Galore!
The Boston area is full of beautiful bodies of water. Many people have heard of Walden Pond, where Henry David Thoreau famously spent several winters in an isolated cabin. I enjoyed my visit there with my boyfriend and two friends of ours early this fall, when the colored trees reflected in the water created a stunning images.
There is also the lesser-known White Pond in Concord, MA. I visited for the first time over the summer and fell in love with it! The water is exceptionally clear, and the temperatures are mild enough for swimming between summer and early fall.
Gloucester, MA
This ocean view from the Fourth of July speaks for itself! Gloucester is a great place to stop at in the summertime, particularly if you’re craving a fresh lobster roll. In addition to visiting beaches and consuming absurd amounts of seafood, some other delightful activities to enjoy in Gloucester include exploring its various lighthouses and hopping aboard a Schooner for a relaxing afternoon.
Winter Walk of Lights at the Meadowlark Botanical Gardens (Washington, DC area)
What an incredible way to round out my year! Some highlights from this light display included a field of “flowers” and a giant “blue light river” with duck figures in it. I also had to pause in amazement at the “light show” below, which timed dancing lights to holiday music. I left this walk feeling much more eager to celebrate the holidays, and I highly recommend visiting the Meadowlark Botanical Gardens if you’re ever in DC.
Lastly, I would like to add my mini-getaway to York, Maine to this list. Check out this post for more details on this relaxing destination!
Here’s to more travels next year, whether the destinations are across the ocean or just a few minutes from home.
