Just when life started to get back to “normal,” this new villain called the Delta Variant came along. So, here we go again, back to the days of not leaving the house without our favorite mask. For healthcare professionals, this means stalking up on filters for your respirator.
The most significant needs that we are finding now are in the critical care areas related to the increase in demand for ventilators. Intensive care nurses can find ICU positions on Wanderly that are paying up to $7500 per week. These higher-paying assignments are frequently accompanied by a 48-hour to a 60-hour workweek, leaving you 2-3 days off. “Oh, what to do with all that spare time?”
Now that Covid-19 and the Delta variant are running wild, what are the top destinations for travelers along with great activities?
- Phoenix, AZ – It is best known for its hiking trails. There are several places to visit, including Camelback Mountain, South Mountain, Piestewa Peak, Hole in the Rock, and Papago Park. For a bit of desert culture, I would visit the Desert Botanical Garden and the Heard Museum. With the temperatures cooling off to 95 degrees, it’s the perfect time to play a round of golf and take your frustrations out on a little white or pink golf ball. If you have two days off for exploring, you must take a trip a few hours north to the Grand Canyon.
- Bay Area, CA – The two main attractions here are the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz, but there is so much else to see. I loved riding on the Hop On – Hop Off bus tour there. You get on the bus, decide which attractions you want to see, and then hop off the bus. Then, when you are done looking at that attraction, you hop back on the bus – a very economical way to see all the sights and sounds of San Francisco.
- Danville, PA – This small town in Pennsylvania is rich in history, going back to the 1600s when it was first established. It was best known for trading beaver pelts. Later it was known for its coal and iron mines, with it becoming a hub for the railroad in the late 1880s. Some fun things around there are having your Victorian photograph taken a right before you go on your ghost tour. Gettysburg is a short 2 hours drive if you are a Civil War enthusiast. And don’t forget about the fall colors there also!!
- El Paso, TX – Looking for an extreme adventure on your day off? El Paso has it with the UTV Tours and an indoor skydiving facility. It also has some great scenic drives if you wanna chill out for the day or take a hike at Franklin Mountains State Park. For military buffs, you can visit Fort Bliss and the Old Ironsides Museum. The Mission Trail is another excellent piece of history that you can visit while there. If you want authentic Mexican food, you are in luck because Juarez is right across the border. Just do your research before going there.
- Santa Fe, NM – This is one place that radiates with culture. You can watch glass objects being formed, make your own pottery, take art classes, make chocolate art, or go on a southwest safari. This is also a mecca for some great food. If you don’t like Hatch Chilis when you got there, you will by the time you leave. If you need a little vino after all that great food, they also have wine tours.
- New York, NY – The main attraction here is the Twin Towers. They have a memorial to commemorate all those who lost their lives. There is also a museum to visit while there. Other attractions here include the Empire State Building, the Staten Island Ferry, and a reasonably new structure, the High Line. And the food! If you watch the Food Network, you will have an insider’s guide to all the great places there. Of course, all your favorite stars have restaurants there, but I would also seek out kitchens of those participants who have been on Chopped.
- Atlanta, GA – The top things to do in Atlanta start out with visiting the area’s plants and animals at the botanical garden and the aquarium. Next would be a monument to Martin Luther King, Jr.’s National Historic Site. It not only tells the story of the life and times of MLK, but it is the final resting place for him and his wife, Cora Scott King. This is a definite go-to for those in history! Oh, and don’t forget the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library. In need of refreshments? Don’t miss out on tour at the World of Coca-Cola specialty museum. Finally, for sport’s fans, the College Football Hall of Fame is a must-see.
Whether you pick these top seven destinations or you plow your own path, Wanderly is here to help you find the most fantastic travel healthcare assignment that there is on the planet.
Authored by Kay Slane, RN, AND, BSed, CGM has been a nurse for over 25 years and a traveler for 18 years. She is the author of the number one travel nursing book on Amazon, “Highway Hypodermics: Travel Nursing 2019.” Also, check out her website that provides the roadmap for today’s traveling nurse: www.highwayhypodermics.com.