COVID-19 Travel: Was It Scary to Take a Vacation During the Pandemic?

Skeleton wearing mask sitting inside the Jekyll Island Club hotel's hallway
Smalls being a good sport and posing in his mask sitting in the 3rd floor hallway of the Jekyll Island Club Hotel.

September is a celebration month around Haunt Jaunts headquarters. Two birthdays and a wedding anniversary, and this year one of the birthdays happened to be a milestone (50) and so was the anniversary (25). I had big trips planned to mark these occasions, but we all know how that story goes: the coronavirus pandemic canceled them.

Well, I should say modified them. We still hit the road, just not en route to our original destinations.

So what was COVID-19 travel like? Was it any scarier than normal travel?

The Old Normal vs. COVID-19 Travel

Normal travel isn’t usually all that scary. For me, it is a bit nerve-racking most times because I don’t normally have much notice. I’m at the whim of my husband’s work schedule. If he rolls off a project and has time in between the next, I’m lucky to get two weeks advance notice. Most times it’s five days or under. (So, yeah, one of my superpowers is planning spur of the moment vacations.)

We were a little leery about hitting the road. Wayne is a germaphobe and I have asthma (and extra weight) so I’m probably in a higher risk category. We’ve pretty much social distanced and followed all the other guidelines since the beginning of the pandemic and have so far managed to stay healthy.

But we were desperate for a vacation (it had been about two years since our last real one), so we decided, “YOLO!”

Still, we were cautious and responsible. We wore our masks inside for sure and out when it was crowded. We also social-distanced and made sure to keep our hands clean. You know, all the stuff the CDC recommends to do.

Man in mask posing in front of COVID-19 travel guidelines sign in Helen, Georgia
Wayne (and I) had often to wear our masks when wandering around the streets of Helen, GA, because it was very crowded and hard to social distance at times.

COVID-19 Travel: Hotel Rooms

Our trip took us to two locations, Helen, Georgia, for one night before proceeding on to Jekyll Island for three nights.

We stayed at the Helen Hampton Inn. It was very convenient to the quaint but very busy downtown. We did arrive on Labor Day Sunday, though, so that might’ve made it busier than normal but also not as busy as it might’ve been if we’d been pandemic-free.

Hampton Inn Helen Georgia exterior
The Hampton Inn is a newer hotel, but all architecture has to meet a certain building code where the exteriors are Bavarian-themed.

We arrived to our room and noticed some definite COVID-19-inspired differences from what we’d ever seen before. Like a room seal on our door and a bagged remote.

Hilton Stay CleanStay seal
All rooms get this seal after cleaning.
COVID-19 hotel room remote
I still wiped it off, because I always wipe certain surfaces in our hotel rooms down.

COVID-19 Travel: Meals

The other thing we were both leery and cautious about was food. Well, not the food itself but where we ate it.

We’re bigtime foodies so we love trying new restaurants. We still ate at some new-to-us places, but we ate all meals (except one) either outside on a patio or back in our hotel room. Both hotel rooms we stayed in came with balconies so we still enjoyed al fresco dining!

River view balcony at Helen, Georgia Hampton Inn
We had a river view balcony at the Hampton Inn in Helen, GA.

Breakfast came with our room at the Hampton Inn in Helen, Georgia, but instead of being help yourself like it would be normally, it came pre-bagged with a bottle of water, a muffin, a breakfast bar, and an apple.

COVID-19 travel friendly breakfast from the Hampton Inn
COVID-19 grab-and-go travel-friendly breakfast from the Hampton Inn.
skeleton pushing balcony doors open
We also had a pool and river view from our room at the Jekyll Island Club Hotel, which Smalls loved.
Breakfast sandwich and coffee at Jekyll Island Club's patio
A breakfast sandwich and a cup of coffee at the Jekyll Island Club Hotel’s patio was how we started each of our three mornings there.
Hofbrauhaus patio in Helen, Georgia
The Hofbrauhaus’s patio in Helen, GA, was super popular. We got our meal takeaway though, and ate on our balcony back at our room.

COVID-19 Travel: Activities

Basically, getting out and having some fun was pretty much the same.  We took tours, went sightseeing, hit the beach, and even explored a couple of museums.

River Rafting

We didn’t go rafting, but our route took us past the Ocoee River on our way to our first stop, Helen, Georgia. We decided it was a perfect spot to admire the view and take a break from driving to stretch our legs for a bi.

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Skeleton admiring view at the Ocoee
Smalls was glad we stopped at this scenic overlook along the Ocoee.
Skeleton reading sign about bear country
After seeing this sign, Smalls kept his eyes peeled in the hopes he’d spot a bear!
Skeleton watching rafters on a river
This spot on the bridge made a fun place to watch the rafters!
Man holding tiny skeleton's hand while watching white water rafters on the Ocoee
Smalls wants to go rafting someday!

Tubing

We also didn’t go tubing. However, that was a super popular activity in Helen, Georgia. The buses were packed and continually running back and forth to make drop-offs and pick-ups of new tubers.

Helen GA tubing bus
One of the tubing buses in Helen, GA.
Helen GA tubers
There were plenty of tubers enjoying the river and cooling off on a hot day.
Tubers floating under bridge in Helen GA
I’m not gonna lie. I was a little shocked to see the lack of social distancing and disregard for guidelines, but I also envied them their abandon to just have fun, consequences be damned!

Beach Time

Beach time is the best time!

Driftwood beach Jekyll Island Georgia
Driftwood Beach Jekyll Island Georgia
Skeleton at the beach with towel and beach bag
Smalls trying to spread his towel on the sand but the wind wasn’t cooperating.
Man with skeleton on his shoulders at beach looking at rainbow
Smalls and Wayne checking out the rainbow over the water.

Museums

Last time we stayed at the Jekyll Island Club Hotel I wanted to check out the Mosaic Museum, but we didn’t have time. This time I was able to see it. They were COVID compliant, requiring masks and helping with social distancing by guiding everyone through the museum along a certain route. (However, I had the whole place all to myself so I didn’t have to worry about other people.)

This is the first big exhibit to greet you.
Arrows inside Mosaic
Floor arrows to guide you in a socially distant route.
Timeline banners inside Mosaic
Jekyll Island has a surprising amount of history spanning many centuries.
From Native Americans to plantation life and slavery to an exclusive millionaire retreat and now a vacation destination, Jekyll Island has seen a lot of varied ways of life.

Tours

We took a tour of a few places:

1. The Georgia Sea Turtle Center

Georgia Sea Turtle Center sign
The Georgia Sea Turtle Center is divided into two parts: an educational section with exhibits and the rehabilitation part.
Georgia Sea Turtle Center where they rehabilitate turtles
This is where the sea turtle rehabilitation gets done!

2. Hollybourne Cottage 

Hollybourne is my favorite of Jekyll’s Millionaire Cottages!

Hollybourne Jekyll Island front entrance
The front entrance to Hollybourne.
Hollybourne Bridge Builder's House tour sign
The house is named Hollybourne but is also referred to as the Bridge Builder’s Cottage because the man who built it, Charles Stewart Maurice, was a bridge builder. It was not open to tours last time we visited so I was over the moon to tour it this time!

3. Faith Chapel

I knew from the horse-drawn carriage ghost tour we took last time that gargoyles graced the outside of the chapel, but I’d never been inside. Entrance to it was included with our Hollybourne tour tickets, and I was glad I finally went in. There was a delightful surprise waiting within…

Jekyll Island Faith Chapel
Jekyll Island’s Faith Chapel
Faith Chapel gargoyles
Gargoyles surround each corner of the bell tower.
A grotesque inside Faith Chapel
But inside a variety of grotesques keep watch over the pews!

Sightseeing

Sometimes we just like to roam and stop if we see anything that catches our interest.

One morning I got up early and wandered around Helen trying to get shots of the town’s alpine-themed architecture.

Helen Georgia crepe haus
Cute shops and eateries like this line the main street.
Hansel and Gretel kitchen Helen GA
Was I really in Georgia?
The Shoppes at White Horse Square Helen GA
The Shoppes at White Horse Square in Helen, GA.
The afternoon before, this bridge has been jammed packed with people crossing from one side of town to the other and very little social distancing. I was glad to get a chance to see it like this!

We also checked out a few places on Jekyll Island we’d never been before, including the Horton House ruins, the du Bignon Burial Ground, and St. Andrews Beach where we found a haunting outdoor exhibit.

Horton House ruins exterior
There’s not much left of the Horton House, just ruins, but it sure is photogenic!
du Bignon Burial Grounds Gates
The Du Bignon Burial Grounds.
Bignon Burial Grounds through the gates
The gates were locked so I had to shoot through them.
The Wanderer Exhbit sign
Our map noted the “Wanderer” exhibit at St. Andrews Beach. We stopped to check it out not realizing what we would find…
The Wanderer and Exhibit Trail sign
A trail too? We had to follow that!
Wanderer Exhibit Slaves Marched to the Sea sign
Confession: I hadn’t read the Wanderer information. I learned from the trail that it was a slave ship with a tragic history.
This is what haunted me. I had seen Roots but for some reason, this depiction of slave life aboard a slave ship gut-punched my heart.
They don’t have many names of the survivors who were illegally smuggled aboard the Wanderer, but of the 409 men, women, and children, they list the few they do know and will add on as they find others.
Viewing platform Jekyll Island St Andrews beach
The end of the Wanderer trail led to this viewing platform.

COVID-19 Travel: Signs (so many signs)

Everywhere you go now there are signs, right? It’s no different on vacation.

Both hotels we stayed at had signs everywhere, which at first I thought was a bit much…until I found myself forgetting to put my mask on before heading back to our room at the Jekyll Island Hotel. So I was glad for the reminder. I’d hate to inadvertently possibly infect someone and wreck their vacation, or vice versa.

Wayne kept asking why I was taking pictures of all the signs. I wanted to document this historic time we’re living in and the time we took a vacation during it.

COVID-19 travel mask up Georgia sign
That sums it up.
COVID-19 travel elevator etiquette
COVID-19-inspired elevator etiquette.
Jekyll Island Club coronavirus sign
This precautions sign awaited us upon arrival at the Jekyll Island Club Hotel.
Jekyll Island Club Hotel check-in sign about COVID-19
A sign about slight changes in services.
COVID-19 travel keep it safe sign at Jekyll Island Club shops
A reminder to keep it safe by keeping your distance.
Please keep six feet apart floor sticker
Floor reminders too.
Close-up of Mask Up Georgia sign on Hollybourne Cottage
Another mask up sign graced the door of Hollybourne Cottage for any of those entering to take the tour. (Like we did!)
COVID-19 travel disclaimer
But this sign was unlike any of the others…and a little perplexing.

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Have you traveled since the pandemic started?

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2 Comments

  1. I have not traveled since covid started, but it looks like you had a WONDERFUL time.

  2. Author

    We made the best of it. It was nice to get away but also a little nerve-racking since we weren’t sure what to expect. Luckily it turned out okay. Phew!

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