It’s been a year since the World Health Organization declared the pandemic, and most of us have been stuck in quarantine for all of that time. Even if you’ve been able to go out, it definitely hasn’t been the same. In the summer of 2020, we went without some of the most exciting staples that we typically would look forward to. Thankfully, with the vaccines rolling out, it looks like we may be able to make up for it in 2021. So, we’ve compiled a list of five things we can’t wait to get back to. Let’s get excited about a new summer!
5 things we’ve missed
1. Movie theaters
In 2020, we got one blockbuster, and it wasn’t until December! If you’re like me, you may have been at the movies once a week in previous years. Taking advantage of Tuesday night discounts and going to opening weekends were staples in my house. During quarantine, we got none of that; most movies were delivered straight to streaming – convenient but not nearly as exciting. Thankfully, if things work out as planned, we’ll have a new huge superhero movie on May 7!
2. Bars and restaurants
Restaurants were partially open – at least, in some parts of the country – but it definitely wasn’t the same experience. With indoor dining either closed or at a limited capacity, many of us had to sit outside. This was fine in the summer, but when cold weather and blizzards showed up, the ideal situation wasn’t ideal.
And if you could get into a bar, the experience wasn’t nearly the same. Everyone had to keep a distance: There was no dancing and no meeting new people. Hopefully, this summer, we can all get down on the dance floor with a drink in our hands (if we’re over 21).
3. Amusement parks
Maybe you were able to take advantage of the limited capacity at Disney World last year, but if you’re like the rest of us, you probably missed out on your thrill rides. Well, Disney is reopening their California location this April! Yay! And for the real thrill-seekers, Six Flags is opening all 26 of their locations this summer.
4. Concerts and festivals
The live performance industry was one of the hardest-hit industries in 2020. Attending a live show is like a hotbed for virus spreading, so concerts were shut down first and probably will open up last. Thankfully, we may not have to wait too much longer to see our favorite artists live. Festivals like Governors Ball, Bonaroo and Summerfest are scheduled for September. If things stay on track, we could be dancing at an outdoor arena in no time. Fingers crossed!
5. Travel
For the first time in history, an American passport was like dirt in 2020. We could barely go anywhere except a few select countries. Even our own states had strict restrictions on who could visit, when and where. People had to get creative if they wanted a getaway during quarantine. Not to mention, the travel and hospitality industry lost billions of dollars and laid off hundreds of thousands of people. Hopefully, with the vaccine, we’ll see some job growth and well-deserved vacations.
What did you miss most last summer? And what are you excited to do this year?