Champaign County Stay-at-Home Kit
It's National Travel and Tourism Week! This year's celebration is a little different due to COVID-19, but the passion for travel and hospitality is alive and well here in the greater Champaign County area and across the country! This year's theme is the Spirit of Travel, and while we can't welcome visitors at the moment, we're anxiously awaiting the chance to do so again. For the time being, it's inspirational to see our community come together to support local businesses, restaurants, and creators in a big way. To celebrate the amazing offerings in our community, here's a guide to a Stay-at-Home kit you can put together by shopping curbside and delivery options from a few of our local businesses.
Stay-at-home kit featuring local businesses
The act of staying home during these uncertain times saves lives and ensures we'll be back and better than ever when things are safe. For the time being, shopping curbside and delivery options from local businesses can go a long way. Here are a few ideas of ways to stay entertained at home while supporting local!
Activities for all
Just because you're home doesn't mean you have to be bored! Kits from Art Coop help make sure artists and creative minds stay entertained no matter the age or interest! Likewise, Live Action Games is a great place to pick up the latest titles and retro favorites to play while home. For board games and puzzles to make the time fly by, be sure to shop Dr. G's Brainworks online, including recommendations from the store's game experts! Painting studio favorites Pretties by Paris and The Pottery Place CU are also offering take-home kits for those who love adding a creative flair to a piece of pottery or canvas. With great options for stay-at-home activities for any interest, it's easy to support local and have fun doing it!
Springtime Essentials
Spring is usually a time most of us associate with plants, gardening, and adding some living things to our home to freshen the place up. That sentiment is even stronger with all of us staying at home! A great place to start to grab some plants to keep you company and breathe life into your home is Plant Mode, which sells great starter plants and herbs as well. Simply shop their new online store and pick up curbside! For seeds and gardening must-haves, Prairie Gardens is also featuring online ordering with curbside pick up. You can also call them to ask if they have your favorite spring blooms in stock. If you don't feel like growing flowers but simply want to buy a bouquet or your favorites, there are options for that too. Fleuirsh and Flora Design Studio are just two shops ready to help brighten up your home!
The Flavors of CU and Beyond at home
For many of us, our favorite restaurants and bars are more than just places to eat a meal. They are where we make memories, meet friends, celebrate occasions, and wind down from a busy day or week. As you've probably seen on our social media and website, we've been collecting a list of restaurants and bars offering takeout options in the greater Champaign County area. It's worth mentioning that some who aren't open to serve food are still offering gift card purchases to show support now and get a great meal or drink later down the road when things are opening back up. Places like Collective Pour, Hamilton Walkers, and Nando Milano Trattoria are serving their top spirits and beers for curbside pickup, and Blind Pig Co. is even delivering their brews within a 25-mile radius of their downtown Champaign locations. Be sure to explore all the great takeout and delivery options on our businesses page!
Stay Active with new gear
There are a lot of perks to staying active and getting outdoors this time of year. It's warming up, the sun is shining, and the emotional and mental benefits of walking, jogging, and biking are vital now more than ever. If you're ready to grab a new pair of walking or running shoes to optimize your time spent outdoors, Body N Sole is doing free local delivery for online and phone orders to get you your gear quickly. If you're looking for a fix to your bike or shopping for a new one, Neutral Cycle is open by appointment to help keep you riding. Plus, they offer rental options if you're wanting to use this time to get back into cycling!
What's In Your Stay-at-home kit?
These ideas hopefully spark some inspiration for you to shop local and keep the stay-at-home order interesting! Everyone has their interests and hobbies, so let us know what you essential Champaign County stay-at-home kit looks like. Share your ideas with us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram! Celebrate the Spirit of Travel with us on these channels all week long to mark National Travel and Tourism Week as well!
HOW TO SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESS DURING THE CORONAVIRUS
As we see a reduction in business to our area, we continue to encourage the support of our local businesses and the hospitality industry. As of Sunday, March 15, it is state-mandated that bars & restaurants close. Please note that carry-out and curbside pick-up options are available. As of May 1, new rules apply via a stay-at-home extension with new guidelines for curbside operation and outdoor recreation. We are collecting information on these options and posting them here, but also encourage patrons to follow their favorite spots on social media for updates or call for more information.
We will continue to post updates on our Business Updates and Cancellations page as we receive them, but encourage everyone to take guidelines from the Illinois Department of Public Health and the CDC seriously.