I’m in Ohio and I have a cousin in California. Her son’s film is being shown at some event/competition in NYC in October. She said “you should meet us there! Please!!!” I had to laugh and say, “girl, I haven’t even been back in a TJ Maxx yet - I don’t think I’m flying on a plane to NYC too soon!!”
Rocky Mountain National Park has a reservation system with only 60% of capacity allowed in each day. This weekend every single reservation was taken by last Thursday (and then it rained). There is a way around this, and it is to enter the park by 6 am or after 5 pm. Reports are that the parking lots are PACKED at 6 am.
But it is summer, and that’s where people go in the summer. A friend complained that the cars are from out of state, but these are NATIONAL parks and people from Oklahoma have just as much right as Coloradoans to use the parks.
One town that is on the way up the mountain to RMNP has closed its parks to visitors. You can still walk along the river but no picnics, no playing in the parks, no fishing or tubing from the parks, no dumping your trash. They were being overrun with people who couldn’t get into RMNP and couldn’t keep up with their own parks
Guess this relative hasn’t read the NY quarantine guidelines. If you travel to NY from Ohio, you are required to quarantine for 14 days when you arrive. If you fly, you are required to complete a form which tells where you will be doing this quarantine. Not doing so could result in a fine.
There are 31 states on the quarantine list.
Does she really think folks will come to NY and quarantine to meet her?
Unrealistic.
The Sierra is packed also. And Mono County (northern Eastern Sierra) has a very high per capita case rate. I read that at times the line to get into Sequoia National Park (on the west side) is 6 miles long. Yosemite has a reservation system.
People want to get away from being cooped up at home so much. Hawaii, Canada and Europe are closed. People want an open air place they can drive to so consequently the national parks are packed.
We were optimistic about our late July trip until the EU locked us out. I would be surprised if they let Americans in for quite a few months. 
@thumper1 nope, clearly she is just not thinking things through! I mean, she would be coming from Orange County herself - not exactly a remote non-Covid area!!!
Even though I’ve been telling her “no, they won’t be coming” my mom seemed sad to finally realize that my brother and family who travel yearly in August to Michigan to stay with her for a week from Brooklyn won’t be coming this year. I tried to explain to her that it wasn’t just not wanting to “be” in Michigan but the 10 hour road trip here and back from NYC - where they have had it much tougher than us the last few months would not be desirable let alone the risk of ANY exposure outside of their bubble right now - for them, for her, for us!
The restrictions are so hard for elderly to understand.
My SIL’s mom and stepdad live in northern NJ and go to AZ in the winter where their other D lives. They missed COVID in NJ, but are now in the thick of it in AZ. They were reluctant to make the five day drive back to NJ in May (before it was bad in AZ, but lots of places were still shut down en route), and now they are stuck.
We’ve already decided there will be no Thanksgiving in NJ or winter break in GA.
My dad keeps telling me he’s staying home, but then mentions he went to Lowe’s, church, Kroger, the military post…
@abasket California is also on NYs mandatory 14 day quarantine list. Planning any kind of event in NY, in person with folks from OOS…or really anywhere for that matter, just might not be possible.
Is she prepared to quarantine for 14 days before the event?
I would love to know what this is. NYC events and performances and anything performing arts related has been shuttered until 2021 sometime. I find it unusual that some event like this is even taking place in NYC any time in 2020.
I agree with you. She is someone who jumps on a bandwagon without thinking things through. She is an overzealous mom who in the midst of her excitement forgets that we are in the middle of a pandemic and this event - even if it was held - is in one of the epicenters of the pandemic. It just struck me funny that she was clearly not joking about me meeting them (I think she also is geographically challenged - um, it’s not like NYC is right next to Ohio!!) that I had to respond to her that the fact that Costco and my workplace are my only outings that no matter how much she pleaded I would not be going to NYC! I don’t think she’ll be booking anything soon - because once she does some research she will probably find out that the event if held, will be virtual. THAT I can attend. 
My daughter is waiting to find out if a team try-out will be held in Oct in NYC. I don’t have to wait - I know it won’t be happening and that try-outs will be by stats and film. She’ll wait to hear (by Aug 10), and hold out hope, that she’ll be going to Long Island in Oct. Nope.
Rarely do typos make me literally LOL like this one did @Iglooo. For a second I thought it was some kind of racy, well you get what I was thinking.
The Bahamas changed its mind.
I think I’ll pass. 
My daughter & her husband, who have always been enthusiastic & adventurous world travelers, have booked a short vacation to Aruba in a couple of weeks. They said they had a very short list of countries that would allow them in. Aruba allows US travelers from some states, including NY (where they live), on condition that they pay for testing on arrival, purchase extra Covid insurance, and quarantine in their hotel room until receiving negative test results. (which are reportedly available within 24 hours or less.) From other states, including California, travelers need to have proof of a negative test within 72 hours of departure-- and may also need to be tested on arrival, depending on the type of test. (See Aruba here: https://www.visitaruba.com/traveling-to-aruba/entry-requirements-and-visas/aruba-travel-restrictions-covid-19/)
I think that at this point they are striking a balance between the risks of going stir crazy in their Brooklyn apartment vs. the moderate risks entailed in a brief getaway. They are planning on getting tested locally as well before they leave.
I need to see my 91-year-old father in Minnesota, 1200 miles from where I live. Right now his continuing care facility is offering 20 minute outside visits with masks and distancing, 1 time a day. I cannot risk flying and exposing him to whatever is going around planes and airports, so I have decided to drive out to MN from NJ with my sister (who lives in CT).My daughter in MA might be able to rent a car and meet us in CT (I am the driver). Public transportation is unacceptable to us (I do not want my D taking a train). It will take us 2 days out and back. We’ll stay someplace in OH west of Toledo (halfway) for one night on each leg of the trip (I can’t drive more than 9 hours, I get tired), then 2 days in MN, and back. 6 nights total. I am not thrilled about staying in hotels but I think it’s better than airplanes (which are always filthy in ordinary times based on reports from my retired flight attendant friends, and are probably worse now). I need to see my dad while he is still healthy and able to engage. He has declined notably since lockdown, and I think it’s partially due to lack of stimulation
My airplane experience in May and that of my co-workers currently is that the airplanes are clean- immaculate, in fact.
^Also my experience. Airplanes are as clean as it has been. I feel safe in a plane as far as the middle seat is empty. I wouldn’t fly first class now.
@iglooo if you want middle seats empty then you aren’t flying United, or American at all either. They are packing their planes.
IIRC, only Southwest and Delta have said they aren’t selling middle seats, and this only until end of September. Stay tuned.
It doesn’t make me feel good about plane cleaning when the airline hands you a bag with cleaning wipes and hand sanitizer.
JetBlue isn’t selling middle seats.
We have airline tickets for a flight to the Netherlands, leaving August 9th. Of course, we’re not going, but…I’m dreading contacting the airline. I’m currently playing a game of chicken, hoping they will just cancel the flight, so I don’t have to fight for a refund. As of right now, if I understand correctly, we would not be allowed through customs at the airport once we arrived. On a scale of 1 to tear my hair out, how difficult do you think it is going to be to get a refund (not a credit) from United?