12 Virtual Day Trips You Can Now Take Online
Updated: Mar. 30, 2020
It's possible to see the world from the comfort of your own living room...
Experience the world, virtually
The COVID-19 crisis is nothing like we’ve ever seen, and people around the world are making unprecedented sacrifices, including self-isolating at home. Luckily, staying at home doesn’t mean you have to be bored. If you’ve got Internet access, fabulous virtual adventures await you. So, sit back and venture to Africa, climb aboard an amazing aircraft, watch a concert, and more, all from your own home!
Visit Africa from home
What if we said you could take a safari without getting out of your pajamas? The folks at andBeyond are Bringing Africa Home through fun and exciting virtual experiences. Their website includes curated musical playlists, movies, book recommendations, and delicious African-inspired recipes. There are even links to short wildlife videos from their lodges that are sure to delight curious kiddos (and their parents).
Afterward, find out how smart elephants really are!
Step inside iconic aircraft
The Museum of Flight in Seattle is the largest non-profit, independent air and space museum in the world, with over 175 aircraft and spacecraft on display alongside other fascinating exhibits. If you can’t get there in person, they’ve got you covered! The Museum of Flight’s Virtual Museum Online experience allows visitors to step inside and explore some of the highlights of their collection including the NASA Space Shuttle Trainer and Boeing VC-137B (AKA, Airforce One).
If that whets your appetite, consider planning a trip to the most popular museums in the world in the future!
Take a virtual journey to Yellowstone National Park
If you’ve always wanted to visit Yellowstone National Park but never had a chance, today is your lucky day. Yellowstone National Park offers virtual tours of some of its most iconic attractions including Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, Mammoth Hot Springs, and Mud Volcano alongside amazing photos and videos of wildlife and stunning scenery at the park.
For adventure closer to home, check out these gorgeous national parks across Canada.
Visit the Louvre from your living room
The Louvre is one of the world’s most popular museums, with over 380,000 pieces of art, including Leonardo DaVinci’s Mona Lisa. Luckily, you don’t have to go all the way to France if you want to search for hidden messages in its famous paintings or immerse yourself in its collection. The Louvre offers virtual tours of their Egyptian Antiquities, their historical moat, and more alongside resources for learning about art.
Walk the Great Wall of China without getting off your couch
If you want to see The Great Wall of China but can’t make it quite that far, you’ll love this virtual tour which will allow you to walk one of the greatest wonders of the world without putting your shoes on. Get up close and personal with this feat of architecture and the beautiful vistas surrounding it. And in case you’ve ever wondered, here’s what it’s really like to restore the Great Wall of China!
Immerse yourself in country music
Nashville is the country music capital of the world and there’s perhaps no place better to experience it than the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Fortunately, you don’t have to make it all the way to Tennessee to revel in their collections. The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum has plenty of offerings for anyone who wants to enjoy all things country from their own home. Their website offers free videos and podcasts of performances from your favourite artists, a digital archive to explore parts of their collection and even live stream performances.
Tour Frank Lloyd Wright’s personal estate
There is arguably no name more famous or influential in American architecture than Frank Lloyd Wright, and perhaps no greater example of his work than the home, school, studio, and garden sanctuary he called Taliesin. Located in Spring Green, Wisconsin, his 800-acre state wasn’t just the architecture’s home, it served as his creative laboratory and the grounds hold examples of buildings from nearly every decade of his career. If you’d like to explore Taliesin but can’t make it to Wisconsin in person, be sure to take the 3D Virtual Reality Tour. Step inside his home, studio, school, and explore the estate grounds. You’ll even be treated to several behind the scene areas that are normally closed to the public.
Inspire your wanderlust with these gorgeous travel photos!
Go underwater without getting wet
The National Aquarium in Baltimore is a magical place and home to over 20,000 birds, fish, and animals living in gorgeous natural habitats. Happily, you can still check it out, even if you’re nowhere near Baltimore. Its live broadcasting experience allows you to watch Blacktip Sharks, Reticulated Whiptail Rays, and giant Humphead Wrasses weighing up to 400 pounds in real-time via underwater cameras. You can also watch their Pacific Coral reef cam and their jellyfish invasion video. Kids will also enjoy online activities and tutorials like word searches and art projects.
Next, discover the creepiest things at the bottom of the ocean.
Go wine tasting
People flock to wine country for a reason: there are so many gorgeous wineries everyone should visit at least once. What’s more, the conversations you have with winemakers and tasting room staff open up new levels of appreciation and understanding of the art and labour that goes into each and every glass. St. Supery Winery has figured out a way to bring that experience right to your home with their virtual wine tasting experiences. Wine lovers can sip away, ask questions, and learn all about the wines included in St. Supery Winery’s tasting kits.
Take a trip to the virtual zoo
If your kids are disappointed you can’t take them to the zoo, the San Diego Zoo will help you turn those frowns upside down. The zoo’s website is a treasure trove of games, trivia, activities, and videos. You can also gather the family around to enjoy live camera footage of polar bears, koalas, owls, elephants, and more.
While you’re at it, check out these photos of the rarest animals on Earth!
Blast yourself into outer space
If you’re taking a virtual trip, why limit yourself to Earth? With Access Mars you can get a 360-degree view of Mar’s surface as recorded by NASA’s Curiosity Rover without having to blast off to outer space. The information might come in handy, Tesla founder Elon Musk said humans could be visiting Mars by 2026.
Don’t miss these miraculous facts about the Apollo 13 mission.
Go to the Guggenheim with Google Street View
If you’re in New York City, be sure to visit the Guggenheim Museum for an immersive art and cultural experience. If you can’t make it to the Big Apple, you can still enjoy toggling through their hallways and enjoying highlights from the more their collection through the technology of Google street view. In addition, the Guggenheim also has over 1,700 gorgeous pieces of art available via their online collection.
Stuck at home? Do these things to get through a quarantine healthier, happier, smarter and even a few pounds lighter!
