Travel from home - easy to make travel nights

Who said that staying at home has to be boring? Who said that you cannot travel from home? All it takes is a little creativity 😉 I have collected 20+ ideas from other travel bloggers to travel from the comfort of your home!

So, start making your shopping list with these great recipes from around the world! Also, get ready to learn how to dance the Samba and how to prepare a Mojito! Not into dancing on your own? I also have a couple of movie suggestions. I got you covered to complete travel plans from home in the most fun way possible!

These thematic travel nights can be done any time of the year too. Like you, I have a 9to5 job with limited PTO so doing these mini escapes from home can help you break out of the routine. So be prepared to cook, have a drink and enjoy other cultures without leaving home.

The Americas

Canada

by Sam from Sam Sees World

One of the most interesting and unique places to transport yourself to with a theme-based night in Canada! This is not the first place much think of when they are planning an at-home thematic night, but Canadian cultures and traditions are amazing and will surely lead to a blast of a night.

The first thing you need to consider is food. Canada has quite a few traditional foods you can whip up but the most popular and easiest has to be poutine. Poutine is a simple dish which consists of a bottom layer of fries, some cheese curds on top of the fries, and all of this covered in gravy, it is amazing and so simple to make! Plus, you can spice up the poutine and add in extra meats or toppings you like.

With this meal, you need a Canadian drink and there is nothing more Canadian than a Caesar, which is a cocktail with vodka, hot sauce, clamato juice, and Worcestershire sauce, and is garnished with celery and whatever else you’d like. Do you know that a Canadian Caesar is very similar to a Bloody Mary but is made with clamato juice instead of tomato juice? And yes, clamato juice is clam juice, but it is not as strange and gross as it sounds.

Ready for some entertainment for this exciting night? Interestingly, Canadian culture doesn’t really have a set of music that defines it. The country is a melting pot of different cultures so pinpointing one is a little difficult. But there are some very famous artists that have emerged from Canada that are well worth a listen. If you are looking for something a little younger you can choose artists like Justin Bieber or Drake or you can go with something more mature and choose Celine Dion or Michael Bublé. There is truly no shortage of amazing artists.

As for an activity, the most Canadian thing you can do is be nice! Reach out to some people in your life and give them a compliment, kindness truly has a far-reaching effect.

If you want more travel recommendations head over to her Pinterest!

PSST: Mel here, if you want to make it extra Canadian, you should watch a Hockey game, it does not get more Canadian than that! For more travel ideas about Canada, go to my Canada section.

USA

USA is one of the most diversed countries I have ever visited. However, the “Americaness” is visible in every state. You can click here for more travel ideas in the U.S

Hawaii

by Marcie from Marcie in Mommyland

One of our favorite things to do during self-isolation is doing Hawaiian night! Hawaii is a top vacation spot because of its world-famous beaches, epic hikes, unbelievable snorkeling, and rich culture. In fact, Haleiwa is the world’s surfing capital and you can see some amazing surfing competitions on the North Shore each year. We were supposed to spend Spring Break on Oahu this year, so we’ve been recreating our Hawaii vacation at home!

The main thing is that we make food. When you go to a luau in Hawaii, you always see a roasted pig. Kalua Pork is one of the easiest things to make at home, especially if you have a slow cooker or Instant Pot. We just eat it with rice for dinner and then we use the leftovers to make sliders with those King’s Hawaiian dinner rolls. For drinks, I usually make Lava Flows for the adults and then fresh fruit smoothies for the kids. And if we’re really full of energy, sometimes we make Malasadas for dessert. These are Hawaiian-style Portuguese donuts that are fried and rolled in sugar. Sometimes they are also filled with yummy tropical flavors like coconut, mango, or passion fruit.

For background music, it doesn’t get much better than Israel Kamamawiwo’ole. He’s the guy behind the famous “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” song that has been featured in tons of movies and TV shows. The rest of his work is fantastic and perfect for setting the right ambiance for your Hawaii night. You can also stream Hawaiian radio stations.

The final piece of our Hawaiian night festivities is the entertainment. If we’re trying to power down a bit, we go with a movie like “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” or “50 First Dates.” If we want something a bit more active, we head to YouTube and find hula dancing videos or Hot Hula workout videos and dance along!

Route 66

by Stephanie from Oklahoma Wonders

Throwing a Route 66 night is a great way to beat the claustrophobia of being indoors all the time because you’re trading it for the romance and freedom of the open road! Elements of this iconic American Road Trip are easy to throw together with what you have at home.

For your meal, you want to stick with quintessential American road trip food: hamburgers! There are lots of different classic hamburger options on the Route. If you want to make something at home, whip up a few cheeseburgers. If you are looking to take a break from cooking at home, pick up something from a local greasy spoon. Think diners and dive restaurants. Bonus points if you can find a charcoal burger.

For drinks, stick to classic soda pop. For an extra element of fun, put it in a cooler like you’re really on the road!

For music, start with the Rolling Stones classic "Route 66," and from there, stick to classic rock. Anything from the fifties, sixties, or seventies will do! Essentially, if people listened to it while taking road trips in the middle of the twentieth century, it can have a spot on your playlist. I’m also partial to the song "King of the Road" by Roger Miller.

Fun Fact: Route 66, which runs from Chicago to Santa Monica, is nicknamed the Mother Road and was an important immigration route for Americans moving east to west. It even appears in John Steinbeck’s novel The Grapes of Wrath.

If you want to turn this into a movie night you can watch the old classic Grapes of Wrath or the more fun Pixar’s Cars, which was inspired by Route 66.

Minnesota

by Danielle from Rambling Companion

Minnesota is known for its 10,000 lakes, nice people and Prince. Take an adventure to Minnesota by cooking a Juicy Lucy, listening to Prince and ending the evening with a screening of Purple Rain. 

The Juicy Lucy is essentially an inside-out burger. The cheese oozes out of the middle of the patty. According to legend, this burger was created in Minneapolis in the 1950s. To make it at home, begin by separating ground beef into two-ounce balls. Then flatten each ball with a pan to create very thin patties. Add a slice of American cheese to the center of half of the patties. Then place the non-cheese patties on top of the cheese patties and pinch the edges closed. Finally, shape each patty into a burger and sear it on a medium-heat burner. 

The perfect accompaniment to the Juicy Lucy is a craft beer. Minnesota has over 150 craft breweries throughout the state. One of the most popular is Summit Brewery’s flagship beer, The Summit Extra Pale Ale. To complete the Minnesotan meal, listen to one of Prince’s many award-winning albums. 

Continue your Minnesotan evening with a screening of Prince’s movie, Purple Rain. A few Minneapolis landmarks are featured in the film, including the First Street Entry concert venue. In the words of Prince, “I like Hollywood. I just like Minneapolis a bit better.” 

For more Midwest stories, go here.

Cuba

by Talek from Travels with Talek

Treat yourself to a sultry, sexy virtual Havana, Cuba night getaway. Havana’s fascinating and colorful Old Town was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982. It has the world’s largest ballet school and is the safest city in the region.  

Start the evening by cooking a delicious traditional dish of lechon asado (roast pork shoulder). Here is the recipe:

Ingredients:

• 1 leg of pork – 6 lbs

• 1 full head of garlic

• ¾ cup juice of bitter orange (naranja agria, available at Hispanic groceries)

• 1 TBSP of oregano

• 2 tsp of cumin

• ½ tsp of ground black pepper

• 1 lb of onion, sliced in rounds

• 1 tsp of soy sauce (optional)

• 2 bay leaves

• 1 TBSP salt

Directions:

• Perforate the leg with a long-prong fork in several places.

• Crush the garlic and combine salt, oregano, cumin, pepper, soy sauce, bay leaves and juice of bitter orange.

• Smear the leg with this marinade.

• Cover the leg with the onions slices and let it stand for at least 2 hours.

• Place the leg in a pre-heated oven at 325 degrees for about 4 hours.

• Serve with white rice and black beans.

Make sure you accompany this classic Cuban meal with copious amounts of mojito, one of the classic Cuban cocktails.

Stream some beautiful ambient music to create the perfect mood. A good example is “Havana” by Camila Cabello or the mellow ballads of Beny More. The music and the mojitos will help you to let yourself go and surrender to the night.  

PSST: Mel here, click here for more Havana pictures to get your wanderlust going.

Trinidad & Tobago

by Sarah from Dukes Avenue

Insert some colour and spice into your travel-inspired evenings by turning your living room into the beautiful Caribbean Islands of Trinidad and Tobago. Carnival may have just passed, but it doesn't stop you from celebrating this picturesque location with some traditional ‘curried crab and dumplings’ and ‘callaloo soup’, and washing it down with an Angostura 1919 rum punch (fret not, you can find it online!).  The beautiful thing about Trinidad and Tobago cuisine is that it’s the ultimate melting pot of flavours, with a rich mix of African, Creole, Indian, Chinese, European and Middle Eastern influences. A curried crab dish can easily be made at home with some basic household spices, coconut milk and crab from your local fishmonger. For the punch, just mix the rum with some Angostura bitters, sugar, citrus juice and water for a traditional Trinidadian recipe. Whilst you can substitute the rum, it really won’t be the same without the Angostura bitters, but you can find these at most supermarket chains.

Get into that Caribbean mood by switching on some ‘2020 soca music’ on YouTube and putting on a colourful outfit just for the fun of it. Remember that Limbo Dancing traces its roots back to Trinidad!

Tobago remains my all-time favourite holiday destination and there is nothing more calming than imagining that I am back on those beautiful beaches, where the water is crystal clear blue and locals seem to not have a care in the world other than living life to the fullest.

Bring the sunshine and all-round good vibe feels to your living space, until a time when we can all visit again. 

Follow her adventures here!

Jamaica

by Raquel from Meals and Mile Markers

When you start to have cabin fever, the beaches of Jamaica seem like the best place to visit! Fortunately, you can recreate a trip to Jamaica very simply without even leaving the house. While all 
Caribbean foods are popular in Jamaica (think red beans and rice, plantains, and other tropical produce), one of the most popular dishes on the island is jerk chicken. It’s not exactly comparable to many 
other foods, but it uses common ingredients and has a bit of a spicy and smoky flavor. The perfect accompaniment to a meal of jerk chicken and rice is an iconic bottle of Red Stripe beer. While you can find Red Stripe in most stores with a big selection of beer, it can be tricky to find in more rural areas. If you can’t find Red Stripe, then any other pale lager should hit the spot. If you’d rather stay in the Jamaican flavor zone, any rum cocktail will be a good choice! Jamaica, home to Appleton Estate, loves their rum. The most popular cocktails on the island all include rum as the alcohol of choice. If you need some background music, the most obvious choice is also the best choice. We thought that foreigners visiting Jamaica would be more excited about Bob Marley than the locals who inhabit the island. While that may be true, tourism is such a major industry in Jamaica that the locals embrace it! Therefore, reggae music is definitely the soundtrack of a Jamaican vacation. The island is home to iconic scenery, such as the luminous lagoon (a lagoon that essentially glows when you swim in it), Dunn’s River Falls (falls that you can hike up), and the Seven Mile Beach. Therefore the best “Jamaican activity” you can do is to simply go outside and enjoy the beauty! Maybe you can find a creek to walk along or some woods to meander through. If you really can’t go far from your home, then at least step outside and breathe in the fresh air! Maybe even close your eyes and imagine yourself on a white sand beach with a rum punch in your hand.

If you want to keep traveling from home, Raquel has other ideas! And click here to keep up with her travels,

Peru

by Megan from Packing Up the Pieces

What better way to jump into Peruvian cuisine than through the robust and comforting Andean stew, Locro. Locros are popular throughout almost every country in South America. These hearty dishes have deep roots in the ancient cultures that lived in harmony with the mighty Andes Mountains.

This dish spans across South America, so the results are many different variations. The Peruvian’s take on Locro is my favorites, as it highlights one of Peru’s most essential agricultural contributions, the potato. Peru claims to have over 3,000 different spud varietals!

I absolutely love this recipe for Peruvian pumpkin stew, or Locro de zapallo en español. These bloggers offer so many substitutes to recreate this Peruvian dish where ever in the world you may be!

Pair this hearty stew with the national cocktail of Peru, the Pisco Sour. The ingredients are simple and include: Pisco grape brandy, fresh lime juice, simple syrup, egg white, and a dash of bitters. Here’s a quick and easy cocktail recipe!

Interestingly enough, Peru and Chile are still in a “touchy” feud over who gets bragging rights for this delicious cocktail. As far as I’m concerned, after one or two of these smooth, yet sneaky cocktails, both sides become a little blurry.

More Peruvian Eats? Peru is a diverse country, which boasts a wide range of landscapes, ancient civilizations, and of course yummy culinary delights. These typical Locro stews are staple dishes from the mountains, especially the region around Cusco. Self-proclaimed foodies should put Arequipa at the top of their travel list, and try these typical dishes! The region around Arequipa prides itself on having almost 200 unique dishes! The coastline of Peru stretches almost 1,500 miles, resulting in some incredible ceviche. Peruvian food varies from region to region. It’s possible to fill weeks recreating traditional and modern dishes of Peru.

Not your Typical Peruvian Soundtrack. Wondering what to listen to while traveling to Peru via this culinary trip? I love the modern playlists of Huaira and El Búho. Although not from Peru, their inspiration comes directly from the powerful and majesty of the Andes Mountains. The music takes cues from ancient ceremonial music but merges it with modern, but diverse genres of music. It will instantly raise your vibration and mood. Find some excellent mixed playlists on Spotify.

Brazil

by Wendy Werneth of The Nomadic Vegan

Feijoada is the quintessential Brazilian soul food. The name comes from "feijão", the word for beans, which are the main ingredient of this thick and hearty stew. Usually, various kinds of meat are also added, but there are plenty of vegetarian/vegan versions as well.

For the most authentic experience, serve your feijoada meal on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon. Brazilians love any excuse for a party, and eating feijoada is seen as a celebration and an occasion to socialize with loved ones while you linger over a meal. This can be drawn out for several hours and is often paired with watching a soccer game on TV. While weekends are the most common time for eating feijoada at home, restaurants have their own traditions surrounding this dish. In Rio de Janeiro, it's often added to restaurant menus only on Fridays, while restaurants in São Paulo typically serve feijoada on Wednesdays. There are also some traditional accompaniments that are usually served alongside feijoada. These include white rice, fried kale, orange slices and farinha (cassava flour). Add in a few of these as side dishes for the full experience.

If feijoada is Brazil's national dish, then Caipirinha has to be the national drink. To make this drink, fresh limes are mashed together with sugar, then the glass is filled with ice, and cachaça (a Brazilian liquor made from sugarcane) is poured over the top. If you don't have access to cachaça, you can use vodka instead. This variation is called a caipiroska.

For background entertainment, either watch an old soccer match (one of Brazil's FIFA World Cup wins would be a good choice) or watch one of the Rio de Janeiro carnival parades. Videos of these can easily be found on YouTube. And if you feel inspired to join in, watch a couple of "how to dance samba" videos and then dress up in your most outlandish costume! For the ladies, your skimpiest bikini will work too.

For more Vegan Travels check out her Instagram

Buenos Aires, Argentina

By Marinella Yule from my Open Passport

If you are feeling a little romantic with a Latino vibe then try out this Buenos Aires thematic night! This lovely night is recommended to be a date night. To start the night, play some music by one of the most famous musicians from Argentina, Carlos Gardel. He is considered the king of tango. Next, cook up some milanesa. This dish resembles that of schnitzels from Austria. You take a slim piece of meat or eggplant and soak it in egg yolk then bread crumbs then fry it up. This goes well nicely with a glass of Malbec wine, a dark robust red wine from Mendoza, Argentina. While you are enjoying your meal, here are some interesting things about this European South American city. One of their most popular cartoon characters is a young girl Mafalda and she has some big ideas for her friends and country. Every Sunday in different areas of the city there are artist markets where you can find handmade goods. The accent of Buenos Aires is called Porteños and it is a blend of Spanish with hints of Italian. Argentina is also known to drink mate, a special tea that has more caffeine than black coffee. After dinner, you can learn to dance tango or improve your tango steps if you are familiar with the dance already. Tango originated in Buenos Aires and has since become an international dance. The dance requires the partners to be close together. The woman should feel what the man wants her to do through their chest touching. Dance the night away with the sweet voice of Gardel while finishing the bottle of wine. 

Follow her adventures here.

PSST: Mel here, Buenos Aires and Argentina are some of my favourite countries to visit. You can click here to have a tour of some of the finest street art in the capital. For more travel ideas from Argentina, read my other articles, spoiler alert, you can go walk with Penguins in the wild!

Europe

Ireland

by Nils from Let’s Go Ireland

Ireland is a great place to visit any time of the year, but if you can’t be there in person, then an Irish thematic travel night is a great alternative. Not only do you get to explore a new culture, but you also get to bring some craic (Irish for fun and entertainment) into your own home. The Irish are famous for their love of socializing and they have brought their easy-going culture all over the world. Most big cities worldwide have an Irish pub of some kind! 

To set the scene for a great Irish-themed evening, you must have some tasty Irish food and drink and lively music. Also: make sure to have green paper shamrocks or the like as decoration on the table. Take some time before the evening starts to prepare a traditional beef, lamb or vegetarian Irish stew. This dish is delicious with stout beer, so be sure to have enough Guinness at home to last the night!

Music is a key element needed in order to recreate an authentic Irish atmosphere. While you may not be lucky enough to have musicians skilled in traditional Irish music at hand, you can recreate a lively pub atmosphere with a playlist of songs by The Dubliners, The Clancy Brothers or Kíla to help create the right mood. If all other musical attempts fail, you could also attempt to play the spoons! It’s actually very easy and it can be your party piece in times to come! You might even feel brave enough to try your skill at some Irish dancing. Why don’t you check out this tutorial on YouTube and see if you have what it takes to be the next Riverdance star? 

Fun facts to tell during this evening are that Halloween comes originally from Ireland, that about 10 million pints of Guinness are being produced in Dublin every day, that there are neither snakes nor moles in Ireland and that the remains of Saint Valentine are supposedly interred in the Whitefriar Church in Dublin.  

Looking for more Ireland travel inspiration? Visit their Pinterest.

"Photo by Fáilte Ireland via Ireland’s Content Poo

Edinburgh Harry Potter Night 

by Gemma from Everything Edinburgh

If you are a Harry Potter or Scotland fan this is a double win activity for you! 

The Potter Trail is originally a walking tour that takes to the cobbled streets of Edinburgh's Old Town. However, since not even a magic spell can help during this testing time, this offline tour is now available online via an Edinburgh virtual tour!

The tour takes place via a private conference call and kicks off when you meet your wizard guide. A bit of magic is conducted to export you from the muggle world to Scotland's capital. Here you get to visit the locations which inspired the Potter author, JK Rowling. These stops include a visit to Greyfriars Kirk which is a popular graveyard. 

This is where you study the gravestones to see if any names pop out at you. One could even jump out and the name might just rearrange to reveal a main character from the Potter series. Close to the graveyard, you will be introduced to the private school on which Hogwarts is based and also Edinburgh Castle which is more akin to the Hollywood version of the building. 

I don't want to reveal too much but there's a sorting hat process, house points to compete for and Scotland's answer to Diagon Alley, Victoria Street. A good all-rounder for all the family. 

Norway

by Izzy & Phil from The Gap Decaders

In Norway, brown cheese is a popular specialty. Known as Brunost, this cheese has a distinctive creamy texture and caramelly flavour. If you didn’t know it was the cheese you were looking at, you might mistake it for fudge! The love-it-or-hate-it taste is rich and not really very cheesy, but not sweet either and has been described as ’salty goats fudge'! It works well with sweet flavours though and a favourite is fluffy pancakes, cloudberry jam and sour cream…I can vouch for the deliciousness of the combination!  After our campervan road trip in Norway, we replicated this at home with small shavings of goat cheese and yes, caramel fudge on a pancake with strawberry jam and creme fraiche…it did actually come close and was a small taste of Norway in Spain!  

Eat this delicious confection with a warm glass of traditional cider, also known in Norway as apple wine. The sharp sweetness helps to cut through the rich cheese and cream, balancing the flavours perfectly. To be typically Norwegian, you should also be listening to a folk ballad or traditional 19th-century fiddle music by Lars Fykerud. The halling is a traditional and athletic dance to fiddle music, often performed at celebrations such as weddings. You can learn some of the moves here. After a few rounds of energetic dancing, take a step outside with a refreshing glass of brandy or aquavit on ice, a potato-based liquor flavoured with caraway, fennel and cumin.  Enjoy your drink as you gaze at the stars through clear skies with no light pollution!

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Madrid, Spain

by Hannah from Hannah Elizabeth

There is nothing like a romantic night in Madrid. The weather is lovely most of the year, leaving lots of warm evenings for walks through the city, stopping for a glass of wine here or there, and (if you have fallen into the Spanish timeline) dinner around 9 or 10 pm. From there you might go out to see some Spanish guitar or live jazz or just hang around with friends having beautiful conversations late into the night.  

Luckily, I think we can recreate something similar at home! Great food and wine are quintessential to a night in Madrid. Start with some amazing Spanish red wine- I love Tempranillo or anything from the Rioja region. You can likely find Campo Viejo wines in your local grocery store, they are a great, affordable option. Next, light some candles and throw on some Spanish guitar. A great song to start is "Big Brother" by Stephane Wrembel (he is technically French but often plays guitar in the Spanish tradition). That will likely generate a great playlist on Pandora or Spotify! From there, make some paella! Paella is a rice-based dish, traditionally cooked with saffron, seafood and chorizo, originally from Valencia Spain but a staple dish throughout the country. It gets a bad rap as being difficult or complicated to make but it doesn't have to be! I have a great easy paella recipe for you here.

Cooking in Madrid (and all of Spain) is something to be enjoyed, the process is part of the whole experience. The Spanish pride themselves on the beauty of food and how its made, truly, with love. On every corner in Madrid, you will find markets for fruits and veggies, as well as butchers and bakeries all over town to provide the freshest ingredients. I highly recommend getting over to Madrid as soon as this is over, but in the meantime, enjoy this Spanish experience at home!

Check out her photos here

Paris, France

by Tori from Tori Leigh

There’s nowhere in the world I’d rather be, in the midst of isolation, than Paris. Picnicking on the banks of the Seine, stopping at a café, and strolling down cobblestone streets are vivid memories I cannot wait to relive!

That said, it’s simple to recreate some Parisian favorites and whisk off to the City of Lights, if only for a night! Starting with a deceptively easy French dish sets the tone for Paris-inspired travel night at home. I, for one, couldn’t get enough of the simple, but flavorful, French dishes last time we were in Paris.

One of our favorites is Chicken au Jus, which refers to a flavorful gravy made from deglazing juices of pan-roasted meat and adding oil, stock, and a little butter. Even on a weeknight, it’s an easy, but flavorful and fancy, dish to throw together. While dinner cooks, slice some fresh baguette and serve it up with some brie cheese.

Round of the travel night at home by truly enhancing the romantic, Parisian feel. Picnic on the living room floor, dim the lights and pop some Edith Piaf on the record player (or your smartTV). 

Pair your picnic with a White Bordeaux or Provencal Rosé. Maybe open a few bottles of French wines and recreate a Caves du Louvre wine tasting. If wine isn’t your thing, take a virtual tour of the Louvre or the Musée de l’Orangerie, featuring Monet’s water lilies. Though temporary, a Paris-inspired night at home will help satisfy your wanderlust and transport you elsewhere.

Italy

Italy is a great country to visit, it has so many distinct travel regions and different cuisine from North to South. No wonder, I needed to create 2 entries for this lovely country. After all, it is one of my favourite destinations. You can click here for more travel ideas in Italy.

Rome, Italy

by Merryl from Merryl's Travel & Tricks

Italy is easily my favorite county to travel to. And so through the lockdown I have tried to recreate an Italian style travel night right at home. In fact, one of my main goals for this period is to learn how to master the Italian Pizza. I mean, Italy is the home of the original Pizza after all! And the best way to do that is by making it fresh at home with simple ingredients.

Since I started I have been addicted and amazed because it is so easy to make at home and is absolutely delicious. Each time, I try making it with different toppings like prosciutto, salami, mortadella, mushrooms and basically with whatever I feel would taste good. Pair it with a glass of Italian wine and that’s pretty much all you need to take you back to Italy. If you’re not inspired to make your own pizza, you can always pick one up from the nearest supermarket.

Fun fact though, while Italy is considered to be the country where the pizza was originally invented, you will find various versions of the pizza in every city or region you visit. The original one however was invented in Naples. And if you ever visit Italy, that is the one you don’t want to miss. People from Naples take their food very seriously!

Now that we have our food and drink ready, you may want to put on some typical Italian music. Believe me, nothing sets the mood like That’s Amore or Volare by Dean Martin. And if you’re looking for a great playlist to play, the Vecchio Italiane playlist on Spotify is just perfect for the Italian Thematic travel night you have planned. Throw in some typical Italian hand gestures and there you have it! A mini Italy right in your home.

As a backdrop of your Italian night, click here for the best view in Rome.

Sicily, Italy

by Michelle from Moyer Memoirs

Join me in a themed travel night to Sicily!  Sicily is an autonomous island and also a part of Italy.  Sicilians are proud of their heritage and the many traditions that have originated there.  They consider themselves as Sicilian first and foremost and then as Italians. Palermo is the capital of Sicily and makes for a great vacation destination because there is so much history and architecture to appreciate.  Around every corner is a beautiful church full from floor to ceiling with gold mosaics and gorgeous artwork and sculptures dedicated to Saint Rosalia, the patron saint of Palermo. Make sure to put a PALERMO CITY TOUR on your bucket list to reward your eyes with this sparkling beauty bounty.

For our thematic Sicilian night we will prepare arancini, which are the fried rice balls that are a popular street food found all around the Sicilian markets.  The arancini are easy to make with ingredients that are probably already found in your pantry. The only variation from common household ingredients is the Italian rice, which is also used to make risotto.  However, it is still obtainable because the Aborio rice can be found in the Italian section in your local grocery store. You can fill your arancini with meat or vegetables to customize it for your preference.  Here is an easy-to-follow RECIPE AND VIDEO FOR ARANCINI.

Italian dishes pair nicely with a wine glass of slowly sipped Chianti or Pinot Noir while you dine in your new Sicilian dining room.  Tune your iphone to this hour-long playlist of Sicilian music while you prepare your arancini, sip your wine and say SALUTI, the Sicilian ‘Cheers’. 

Once you have finished your arancini feast, hopefully you have room for dessert.  Surely you cannot go without a cannoli on this Sicilian-themed night. Cannoli are another Sicilian creation.  They are made of fried dough, rolled into a tube and filled with a thick, sweet ricotta filling or a savory ice cream.  Pick them up at a local bakery, or try your hand at another Sicilian recipe!

You can follow more of Michelle’s adventures through her Facebook page

Holland

by Lynn from Be Your Own Travel Guide

A romantic visit to Holland from your kitchen

Setting up a thematic night-in is never easier when you aim to recreate The Netherlands. Appropriately, the name means "low-lying" regions, which lends itself well to visions of water between fields. I 
imagine that tulip-filled gardens and windmills dance in your head when you dream of visiting The Netherlands. However, my favourite thing might just be the snacks! Cones of thick french fries, 
traditional Dutch herring and sweet stroopwafels are all must-try foods when you visit Holland.

If you're looking for an easy dish to cook from home, you're in luck. The Dutch are known for their poffertjes, or mini pancakes. Pancakes can easily be made with ingredients that you likely have on hand in 
even the sparsest of times - flour, milk, and yeast. Although you can get creative with the toppings, like strawberries and Nutella, poffertjes are just as delicious with butter and powdered sugar.
Who can also forget that the birthplace of Heineken is...Amsterdam! No need to stick to a pale lager; any beer will pair well with your pancakes. Play some traditional Dutch accordion music and imagine 
yourself cruising down the canal, admiring a windmill just ahead.

Continue to set the mood by grabbing some tulips or ordering some online to plant yourself. They are the first flower to come up in the spring and always bring a little hope after a long winter. If you do 
manage to make it to Holland one day, be sure to visit Keukenhof, the largest tulip garden in the world, located only 30 minutes from Amsterdam.

Finally, go above and beyond by hanging the Dutch flag of red, white and blue in the background and sit back, relax, and enjoy the true Netherlands experience.

To go further on your Dutch experience, why not see these 5-Day Trips from Amsterdam?

Find more travel memes on Facebook with Be Your Own Travel Guide

Germany

by Eric and Lisa from Recipes From Europe

It’s definitely possible to experience some German culture from the comfort of your own home. We’d start with a very easy-to-make at-home dish like Strammer Max. This classic meal is made from fresh rye bread, with some cured ham (like prosciutto) and a fried egg placed on top! To North Americans, it might sound like a breakfast item but it’s also often eaten for dinner!

Next, you’ll need a drink to wash it down - and a cold German beer would be a great choice. There are a number of classic German beer companies with Hofbräu München, Löwenbräu, Hacker Pschorr, Paulaner or Augustiner being some well-known brands internationally. True to the old Bavarian brewing law called “Reinheitsgebot”, most German beers are only made with four ingredients (malt, hops, yeast, and water) to this day. If you’re not usually a huge fan of beer, try mixing a pilsner with some lemonade to get a “Radler” (in some parts also known as “Alsterwasser”) or mixing a wheat beer with some Coke/Pepsi to get a “Cola Weizen”.

Of course, you can also learn a bit about the country. Germany is so much more than just Bavaria which is the part of Germany that internationals are usually most familiar with! Germany is a geographically diverse country with towering mountains in the south and a beautiful coastline in the north. Many people might be aware that the capital is Berlin but the next largest city is not Munich - it’s the beautiful port city of Hamburg in the north! The country is also known for its castles, Christmas Markets, and “Volksfeste” - the most popular obviously being Oktoberfest.

While you learn all about Germany, you might want some music to make you feel like you’re there. We’d recommend listening to “99 Luftballons” by Nena for a classic or “Auf Uns” by Andreas Bourani for a more modern song. In fact, the latter was Germany’s “World Cup song” when the soccer team won the World Cup in Brazil in 2014. If you want a more “beer hall” feel, you can always listen to some “Volks- or Schlagermusik” instead.

Go to Eric’s YouTube channel for more travel content

PSST: Mel here, German Christmas markets are a must! Here are some ideas to get you planning your next holiday trip.

Budapest, Hungary

by Giulia and Darek from Travelling Sunglasses

Let’s start with a super-easy dish: palacsinta! Hungarian crepes are extremely popular both in a savory and sweet versions. You can find an elderly grandmother spreading them with jam at a local festival, but also at fancy restaurants filled with chicken and paprika sauce. What’s the twist, compared with other pancakes? Hungarian pancakes are thin, they are rolled up instead of folded in half or triangles and are traditionally filled with sweet cottage cheese or apricot jam. Sprinkle them with sugar to reach pro-level. Enjoy!

Did you know that Hungary is famous for its wine production? Tokaj wine, in particular, is a sweet dessert wine produced in the North-East of Hungary. Also spelled Tokaji, it ranks among some of the most expensive wines in the world! But no worries, during your Hungarian night it’s easy to experience the Budapest nightlife with a simple “fröccs”: this popular drink mixes white or rosé wine with sparkling water. Perfect to quench your thirst on a hot summer night by the Danube River.

Now, for sure you’re already familiar with Hungarian music without even knowing it. Remember the Tom and Jerry Piano episode? That’s Hungarian Rhapsody n.2 by Franz Liszt! The “Cat Concerto” episode even won an Oscar in 1946. Franz Liszt (1811-1886) is famous for his virtuoso skills on the piano and for the size of his hands, which could span 13 keys. When in Budapest, check out his statue at Liszt Ferenc square, where the Music Conservatory in his name is also located.

You have also already heard the Hungarian language without noticing it. Listen again to “Cell Block Tango” from the musical Chicago: the mysterious prisoner who can only say “uh-uh, not guilty!” tells her story in Hungarian! (Albeit with a very strong Slavic accent). With only 13 million speakers worldwide, movie-makers often make use of this alien-sounding language whenever no one is supposed to understand what a character is saying. 

End your night with something invented by a Hungarian! Play with the Rubik Cube, invented by Erno Rubik in 1974; do the crosswords with a ballpoint pen, invented by Laszlo Biro in the 1940s; and stay healthy with vitamin C, discovered by Albert Szent-Gyorgy in the 1930s.

After this great night, you will want to plan your trip to Budapest and Hungary, here is an itinerary and tips. Follow the Travelling Sunglasses Facebook page for fresh content and new destinations.

Greek Islands

by Ryan from The Nutty Trekkers

Take a trip to the Eastern Mediterranean, and experience a travel night of energy, world-famous food, and dancing on the Greek Islands. Greece is blessed with over 5,000 islands, and each with their own unique dishes, music, and dress – you could spend every night of the year enjoying a unique Greek island travel night. However, no need to think or research, we have an incredible sun-soaked evening already planned for you right here.

A Greek evening is no better started than with a glass of wine, accompanied with a block of feta cheese doused in olive oil and oregano. Cretan wine is the highlight of the Greek island’s repertoire, with its dry Sauvignon Blanc-esque whites, and sweet reds. Assyrtiko and Agiorgitiko grape wines are what you are looking for and can be easily be found in most large supermarkets. Ensure you are wearing an unbuttoned satin shirt, shorts, and flip-flops as if you had joined the flocks of Greeks heading to the islands during the month of August.

Rosto (aka pork casserole) is an iconic celebration dish from the island of Naxos, that is simple yet wholesome. Click here for the recipe. Prepare the Rosto and then let it simmer for an hour while you flip on Youtube and learn the infamous Greek dance – sirtaki. Ensure you put in plenty of practice (with intervals of wine of course), as you will be putting your skills to the test during the post-dinner movie – Zorba the Greek. The movie that popularized this style of dance.

Layer your plate with a healthy portion of rosto, accompanied by a pile of potato fries and sprinkle a little oregano over everything. Take your time and enjoy your dinner the traditional Greek way – over 2 to 3 hours – never in a hurry, with 100% focus on the company you are with. Once you have had your fill, put on Zorba the Greek and be transported to the island of Crete where you will lose yourself to an evening of song and dance.

You can follow Ryan through his Instagram.

PSST: Mel here, in case you want to plan your next Greek getaway, here is a little help.

Africa

Morocco

by Amber from The Bean Bites

Time to escape the confines of self isolation, even for an evening, with a trip to Morocco. While the beauty of Morocco’s Atlas Mountains and the controlled chaos of Marrakech’s bazaar are temporarily out of reach, there’s Moroccan food to satisfy our wonderlust. Instead of preparing a traditional Moroccan tagine, our evening’s meal will be a dish that even the most novice of cooks can prepare. Loubia is a traditional Moroccan bean stew. It is made using white beans, tomatoes, garlic, spices like cumin, and sometimes a little spicy chili. Beans and lentils have become increasingly important and popular in this time of self isolation. They last long, are highly nutritious, and are versatile. Aside from the tomatoes, all the ingredients can be found in the kitchen pantry. Preparation is minimal and best of all loubia requires only one pot. For all these reasons, it’s understandable why loubia is very popular in Morocco, especially with nomadic groups like the Berbers. No Moroccan dining experience would be complete without enjoying a glass or two of mint tea. Every social interaction in Morocco includes mint tea and so will our virtual evening. Brew up your tea and perhaps spend the evening listening to one of the many Moroccan playlists on services like Spotify. Or while not 100% Moroccan, enjoy watching the movie classic, Casablanca.

South Africa

by Campbell from The Stingy Nomads

A real South African braai is the food and social experience I miss the most as a South African while traveling. Braai is the Afrikaans word for barbeque and lighting a fire and braaing some meat is something many South Africans do every weekend. You can braai anything; beef, pork, chicken, fish and vegetables, but lamb chops is a South African favorite. Here is how to do a typical South African braai. You will need; wood, good red wine, beer, lamb chops, sausage, greek salad, bread, onion, tomato, chutney, cheese, snacks you love and music. Before lighting the fire make salad and ‘braaibroodjies’ this is toast bread you are going to make on the fire. Each braaibroodjie is a sandwich with thin chutney, tomato, onion and a generous helping of grated cheese. Light the fire and start the night with some awesome chilled-out South African music, Johnny Cleg ‘the white zulu’ will do some songs not to miss are Impi, Great Heart and African Sky Blue. Make a nice big fire that will give you enough coals to braai all your meat and braaibroodjies. Make sure everybody has enough wine and keep those glasses full. Try to find wine from a nice South African winery, a Pinotage would be good since this red grape varietal was created in South Africa and can pair well with lamb chops. Each guest usually brings his own drinks and some snacks e.g. brie cheese, camembert cheese, biscuits, dips etc. Cooking is the main event, everyone sits around the fire eating snacks, drinking wine and talking while the fire burns out. The host or other braai master does the cooking, first, the meat and veggies, followed by the braaibroodjies, while he is talking to the other guests. After dinner, we usually have coffee or a nightcap, but some nights we put more wood on the fire, open another bottle of wine and the conversations can go on until late.

For more travel adventures, check out their Youtube channel

PSST: Mel here, I love South Africa, we did a Safari in Kruger National Park and we explored Johannesburg.

Asia

Oman

by Daisy from Oman Travel Guides

Mishkak is a popular street food from Oman. It is marinated meat that is skewered and grilled to perfection. Whether it be lamb, shrimp, or steak, simply immerse it in a combination of spices, including pepper, curry powder, cumin, cardamom, and garlic. Let it sit for some time and skew it onto a stick. Put it over the grill and within minutes, you will have a delicious feast. Have it with fresh juice, as would the Omanis.

As a country south of the UAE, Oman is known for its beautiful mountains and vast coastline. Due to the subtropical dry weather, the locals would often camp in the wild on the weekends. Mishkak is not popular just because it is incredibly tasty, but also because it is an easy meal to make during these outings. If you plan to go to Oman, definitely treat yourself to some fresh pineapple juice while having some mishkak at one of its beach-side stands in Muscat.

For now, heat up your stove at home, put on some traditional Arabic melodies, and enjoy the meal from afar! 

For more pictures about Oman, go to her Insta

India

by Athul Menon from Our Backpack Tales

The perfect way to recreate an evening by the beach in Kannur is by snacking on some sweet Unnakkaya made with smashed bananas and nuts or the savory Arikkadukka made with mussels which are typical Malabar style snacks. Pair this with the Sulaimani, which is a Kerala-style spiced tea, for a perfect combination. The music to create the best mood will be 'Subanallah' song from Ustad Hotel which is a Malayalam movie.

Kannur is a beautiful coastal city standing ashore on the Arabian Sea. Kannur was an important trading port in the past and has witnessed several invasions in the Indian history. It is known for its spice trade and its pristine beaches. Kannur is also home to the longest drive-in-beach in Asia, the Muzhappilangad beach. It's a great place for lovers of beaches and historical tourism. The St.Angelo Fort, the Payyambalam beach and the Arakkal Museum are some of the most famous places to visit in Kannur. Kannur is also home to the vibrant 'Theyyam', which is a dance form associated with temple festivals occurring from October to April every year. Kannur also has its own beautiful hill stations, out of which the Palakkayam Thattu is seen to be gaining popularity among tourists.

For more Indian adventures, go to their Facebook page

Indonesia

by Halef and Michael from The Round The World Guys

We love authentic Indonesian dishes, which are usually easy to prepare and very flavorful. Plus, it's usually cheap to get the ingredients! So we think an Indonesian theme night during self-isolation would be pretty simple.

One of the things to try for your Indonesian theme night is tempeh, a fermented soybean meat alternative. To start, find some tempeh at the grocery store. If you have a few days to prepare, here's a homemade tempeh recipe so you can make your own. Once you get the tempeh ready, there are a few Indonesian dishes that you can prepare. The easiest way is simply to fry the tempeh - fried tempeh and tofu is a staple Indonesian dish. They can be paired with white jasmine rice and sweet soy sauce called kecap manis, along with some hot sambal sauce. Another more creative tempeh dish is sambal goreng tempe - a fried tempeh dish paired with sambal sauce. It is a sweet, savory, crunchy and spicy dish common in Indonesian homes However, you might need to summon your inner chef, as well as a few more Indonesian spices such as galangal and turmeric to create this popular dish.

To drink, you can make a sweet jasmine tea or coconut drink that can be found in many Asian markets. If you want to feel authentic, you can add the nuance of a Balinese gamelan orchestra as background music.

For more Indonesia inspiration, check out their YouTube videos about the country.

Thailand

by Kristin from Growing Global Citizens

While self-isolating in cramped apartments and noisy cities, there is nothing like imagining being on a sandy beach in Thailand, overlooking the open water, or, if you are the partying type, at the notoriously crazy Full Moon Parties on Koh Phangan.  

Thailand is one of the most popular travel destinations in the world for a reason: it’s beautiful, cheap, and has some of the friendliest people in the world. Theravada Buddhism plays a significant role in Thai culture and is practiced by around 95% of the population. Buddhist monks in orange robes and towering, golden stupas are common sights here.  While you can’t visit the famed wats (temples) of Thailand right now, here are some ideas for bringing a bit of Thailand into your home.

Set the mood by lighting a sea breeze-scented candle and listening to some traditional Thai music.  Or, since Thai music isn’t exactly well-known, binge some travel videos on the best places to visit in Thailand.  

Perhaps the best-loved Thai drink, at least by tourists, is the Thai tea.  It starts with a basic black tea with some additional spices like cardamom, cinnamon and anise (and often food coloring) that gives the tea its signature burnt orange color.  Put the freshly brewed tea on ice, add sweetened condensed milk, and after one sip of this sugary blend, you’ll understand why it’s everyone’s favorite.    

If you are looking for something alcoholic, you can special order the popular Singha or Chang beers or just grab a local lager and throw some ice in it like they do in Thailand.  

For food, making the classic Pad Thai is a must. This rice noodle dish is one of Thailand’s national dishes, created in the 1930s or 40s as a way to promote nation-building.  You can find pre-made pad thai kits in just about any grocery store nowadays, you just add egg, veggies, and your choice of protein.  

If you want to be a bit more adventurous, try cooking mango sticky rice from this recipe.  This sweet Thai concoction of rice, sugar and coconut milk makes a tasty dessert to end your meal (although, honestly, I like to even eat it for breakfast!).  

Go to Kristin’s social media for more stories

Japan

by Cassie from Cassie the Hag

In between daydreaming about a future trip or reminiscing about my past solo travels in Japan, instead, I can turn my attention to planning a fun Japan-themed night. Japanese cuisine has so many options for all taste buds - from ramen to katsu curry or having a sushi night. Some traditional Japanese desserts - such as delicious mochi - may be a little hard to make from scratch. Alternatively, you can even get kids involved in baking cute cat cupcakes or green tea cookies. Try edamame or miso soup as a side dish… or treat your family to fermented soybeans if you’re feeling brave. Sake, plum wine or jasmine tea make the perfect accompaniment to the food.

You could try your hand at origami for table decorations and, if you’re feeling anxious, you could practise some Buddhist meditation. Just take care to be sensitive to the culture while celebrating this beautiful country.

Finish off the evening with a Studio Ghibli film marathon. A whole host of these sumptuous animations have recently been added to Netflix so sit back and enjoy. I personally love the fairytale Princess Mononoke and the strikingly devastating Grave of the Fireflies which pays tribute to the devastating final months of the Second World War. If you prefer romance, try Makoto Shinkai's latest animated movie Your Name. 

You can follow Cassie's solo travels through her Insta

PSST: Mel, here, if you haven’t seen any of these movies, you are in for a treat! They are one of the greatest animated movies of all-times. Japan is my favorite travel because it stole my heart during our honeymoon, you can read more about it here.

Oceania

Australia

 by Chelsea from BRB Busy Living Life

What better place to travel to while you’re stuck at home than Down Under! Us Aussies know how to have a good time and you’re sure to follow suit if you plan an Aussie themed night.

To set the initial scene you need some absolutely classic Aussie music. If you were to enter any Aussie pub on a Saturday night, the top three songs that would be playing are Daryl Braithwaite – The Horses, Cold Chisel - Khe Sanh and Jimmy Barnes - Working Class Man, so these songs are a great place to start. Other legendary Aussie artists include John Farnham and Shannon Noll.

Next up is food and drinks. You will be having a classic Aussie BBQ and some stubbies (beers). Unlike the saying that is often associated with Australia, Aussie’s don’t actually “throw shrimps” on the barbie. Our BBQ’s are made up of LOTS of meat; burgers, sausages, chicken, steaks and salads. Side note: We also call shrimps, prawns, so this saying is totally wrong about Oz!

To tie all of this together, Aussies would normally sit around the campfire and have a good old yarn (chat). As you can’t do this right now, why not light your indoor fireplace (if you have one) and chat about all things Aussie. If you’re looking for topics to start with, I suggest, The Almighty Steve Irwin, the fact that we don’t actually ride kangaroos to school and just how much of a great breakfast spread Vegemite is! Enjoy!

If you still need inspiration, then go read all the links in this article to other travel blogs, there are many amazing travel ideas, destination guides, travel experiences and travel tips for a lifetime. You can also listen to a travel podcast, learn a new language, and learn how to do travel photography like a pro. You can also read travel-inspired books or spend time on Google Earth to see where to go next. Maybe this is the right time to see if you have the right travel insurance.

Hope this list gave you tons of travel ideas to do at home! Did you recreate one of these? Tell me about it or better yet, send me a picture! :)

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