For the past six months, COVID-19 has felt like a heavy weight that restricts our daily lives, threatens our health, and cancels our much needed vacations. The summer of 2020 has been unlike any other in recent history. In a pleasant turn of events, I began to notice that rather than the typical family photos at amusement parks or on cruise ships, my social media feeds have been filling up with photos of Acadia National Park and the Grand Canyon. Families on kayaks and at campgrounds have replaced indoor summertime activities. It’s refreshing.
Mayo Clinic Recommends Outdoor Activities
A recent statement by the Mayo Clinic encourages people to enjoy the great outdoors. The COVID-19 virus is primarily spread through respiratory droplets. When we are indoors, the likelihood that person to person transfer will occur is much higher than when we are outdoors. Outdoor air is constantly moving, reducing our risk of infection. Health professionals recommend enjoying the summer with these low-risk activities:
- Hiking
- Biking
- Fishing
- Golfing
- Kayaking
- Outdoor fitness classes
Farmers markets, picnics and small gatherings are fairly safe as long as masks are worn and distance is maintained.
Outdoor Recreation Sales Are Soaring
Now that we understand a bit more about how the virus is transmitted, outdoor vacations are being scheduled. Campgrounds are sold out. RV sales are up across the nation. Families realize that a motorhome or travel trailer is safer than hotel rooms and that campground adventures naturally include outdoor activities and social distancing. First came the rush to buy bikes in April, causing a shortage in availability. The next outdoor gear to run low were kayaks and paddleboards. Last month, camping gear shot up in sales as people realized that the summer is nearing its end and some kind of vacation is a must.
Golf car sales experienced a higher than normal summer spike beginning in May and most golf car parts have been backordered since that time. Cruising around on golf cars is an acceptable socially distanced activity that is gaining popularity outside of the typical golf car community.
We Will Remember the Summer of 2020
When we think back to the summer of 2020, my hope is that we think of it as a summer of awakening. This summer forced us outdoors. For those of us within the golf car community who already had an appreciation for campgrounds, the fairway, and the freedom of a golf car, we were ready for this. We traded planes and hotels for golf cars and tents. National parks are our new amusement parks and road trips replaced cruises. The summer has grounded us- in more than a few ways. While we mourn the lives lost through this challenging time, we can hope that this summer has inspired people of all ages to continue spending more time enjoying outdoor adventures for summers to come.
Julie Starr, Owner of WHEELZ Custom Carts & Accessories, was one of the industry’s first online retailers of golf cart parts, when she founded her business in 2008. Julie’s eCommerce store, www.WHEELZLLC.com remains a popular online shopping experience for innovative golf car parts and accessories.
