You may not have had a proper guys’ trip since the pandemic started, what with all the lockdowns and restrictions in place. But as lockdowns ease and public spaces continue to reopen, you may not have to wait until COVID is over for a proper trip with the boys.
As long as you follow health and safety guidelines to protect yourself and others from the virus, there are plenty of activities that you can do for proper bonding with your best friends. After ensuring that you and your friend group are COVID-free (through testing and self-isolation), here are some of the best ideas for a much-awaited guys’ trip that you can choose from:
1. Snow Sports
Skiing, ice skating, and helicopter snowboarding or heliboarding are reasonably safe as long as the lodge follows COVID safety guidelines (social distancing, symptom screening, frequent sanitation of facilities, etc.) and you maintain at least six feet away from other groups, which is very easy to do on a huge mountain slope or an ice-covered lake.
2. Camping
Camping on a campsite where there are a lot of shared spaces is out of the question until COVID is gone. For now, camping in the wilderness is where it’s at. Out in the open, you can truly experience nature and work on your survival skills as a group. Building a fire, catching and cooking food, putting up a shelter, exploring the wilderness; good old camping fun without getting exposed to other groups.
3. Road trip
This summer, an ultimate road trip may be just the thing that you and your best friends need after months of being cooped up in your houses. There is a relatively low chance of getting exposed to the virus inside a car with the windows closed. However, you need to be careful when stopping in public spaces; always wear masks and sanitize your hands before and after returning to the car. Avoid crowded places entirely. Better yet, plan your stopovers in sparsely populated locales to decrease your risk.
4. Fishing
Fishing is a classic guys’ trip bonding activity. You get to relax on a boat, drink beers, and talk about anything and everything while basking in the fresh air and warm sunlight. Oh, and catching fish is always a plus.
Select a fishing destination that is uncrowded. Since you’ll be spending most of your time on the boat, you don’t have to worry about coming in contact with others until you get to shore.
5. Private resort
Going to public beaches and swimming pools can be risky. If you want to enjoy the sun, water, and sand without thinking too much about crowds and germs, book a private resort for your next guys’ trip. However, make sure that the resort has good anti-COVID policies in place. Read reviews online to help you get a feel for the place, both for its level of COVID safety and overall quality.
Still, it’s better to be safe than sorry. A private resort can be difficult to clean in its entirety, so when you arrive, take the time to sanitize surfaces, especially the most frequently touched ones (light switches, countertops, and doorknobs).
6. Backyard BBQ
Enjoying some steaks and ice-cold beers in the backyard with your best friends always makes for a good time. Even if you’re technically going anywhere, just being outdoors and with the right company can be enough for a fun and memorable guys’ bonding time. Just remember to keep the attendance to a minimum to avoid increasing the risk of exposure for everyone.
7. Rafting
River rafting is an exhilarating experience that all adrenaline junkies will love. With a handful of your best guys, take a weekend trip to a river rafting lodge or resort that follows best COVID safety practices (read reviews and testimonials to find out) and get ready to raft through some rapids.
8. Less-traveled beach
Craving a beach trip but don’t want to increase your risk for COVID? Find a beach that is less-frequented by travelers and locals. Although it may not be as pretty or exciting as other beaches, an uncrowded beach offers both privacy and safety for your boys’ bonding time.
9. Lake
There are tons of things to do at the lake, including swimming, water sports, fishing, and relaxing by the shore. Same as the last destination, find a lake with little to no people around it. Apart from giving your boys the freedom to do pretty much anything, an uncrowded lake is the best place to enjoy the outdoors safely in the middle of a pandemic.
The pandemic has made it unsafe to do pretty much anything that involves crowds and close contact with each other. So if you’re craving for a guys’ trip, these are the best activities to consider for a safe and memorable experience.
