What ways can you safely celebrate Memorial Day this weekend?

Memorial Day weekend is typically one of the busiest times to travel. It also marks the unofficial start of summer.

This year will be very different, with fewer cars on the road. For the first time in 20 years, AAA is not issuing a Memorial Day travel forecast.

But not everyone is staying home.

“I think people are looking for places they can drive to,” said Mollie Fitzgerald, co-owner of Frontiers International Travel.

Whether that’s a nearby lake, park or road trip to the beach.

“I think they should really do some homework in advance about what’s open and what isn’t,” Fitzgerald said.

Before you make any plans for this weekend or later this summer, Fitzgerald said to look up the restrictions, closures and health guidelines in place at attractions, hotels and restaurants.

“There is definitely pent up demand and I think it’s going to start with travel within our own country,” Fitzgerald said.

Once nonessential travel is allowed, she said people are eyeing up states opening sooner, like Florida and Texas.

Yet, families should manage expectations.

“I’ve talked to so many hotels and I think the idea is they are trying to remove the human contact as much as possible,” Fitzgerald said.

Room service and check-in will change, spas and pool areas may be closed and getting on a plane will even be different.

As for international travel, she says that’s a long way off.

“Many of these European countries for starters still have their borders closed at least parts of the summer, some even into the fall,” Fitzgerald said. She said many of her clients are either postponing trips to next summer or booking trips for this winter.

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