Whether you view it as quarantine, physical distancing, or an extended spring break, we all have one thing in common: the kids are out of school. As if parenting wasn’t stressful enough in a pre-pandemic world, throw in a few stir-crazy children in tight quarters, and it’s only a matter of time before you need some new activities to spice things up. With social distancing as the new normal, our entertainment choices are limited.
How can I expose my children to new and exciting experiences without leaving the house?
Easy! Welcome to the world of virtual tours. You can now virtually “walk” through some of the world’s most prestigious cultural institutions and national parks, catch a glimpse of exotic animals at the zoo and aquarium, and even take a ride on your kids’ favorite Disney roller coaster, all from the comfort of your couch.
Many major tourist attractions worldwide have created a way for you and your family to branch out, continue learning, and be a part of the experience even if it looks a bit different. Take a second to think about all the times your family has been split in half over where you want to vacation. Or, if you’ve gone to a theme park and one kid is dying to go on the biggest roller coaster it has to offer while the other one is scared of heights.
With virtual tours, you don’t have to choose!
Let’s say you want to tour the Louvre at 10 am and see the Vatican Museums that afternoon without spending a dime on a flight to Europe. It’s possible. Not to mention, you can even get yourself to Mars! The list goes on, as hundreds of entities strive to provide the world with some sense of normalcy and a way to escape the confinement of being stuck at home.
So start planning your week with some of the links below!
- Need to get outside? Tour these 5 national parks virtually: https://www.travelandleisure.com/trip-ideas/national-parks/virtual-national-parks-tours
- A collection of tours from the Vatican Museums: http://www.museivaticani.va/content/museivaticani/en/collezioni/musei/tour-virtuali-elenco.html
- A virtual tour of the Musée d’Orsay, Paris: https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/musee-dorsay-paris?hl=en
- Check out the Natural History Museum here: http://nhm.ac.uk/
- https://www.georgiaaquarium.org/webcam/beluga-whale-webcam/
- A massive list of museums, zoos, and theme parks offering virtual tours: https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/travel/a31784720/best-virtual-tours/
- 6 types of virtual tours to keep yourself entertained (including Mars): https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2020/03/16/social-distancing-free-virtual-tours/5060244002/
- 101+ virtual tours from 35 countries around the world: https://upgradedpoints.com/virtual-tours-of-popular-attractions
Written by: Shelby Candler
