Kick Back and Relax with These Virtual Vacations

Weeks of social distancing can make anyone go a little stir crazy. But, we’re all in this together and luckily, many popular tourist attractions around the world are finding creative ways to fuel our wanderlust with virtual tours and live broadcasts. Travel the world from the comfort of your own home with these exciting virtual vacations.

Museums

Berlin, Paris, New York, you can now explore the halls of some of the world’s most famous museums from the comfort of your own home. In early March, Google Arts & Culture partnered with more than 2,500 museums and galleries to create virtual tours and online exhibits making it easier than ever to gain a little bit of historical, artistic and scientific knowledge during this time of self-isolation. Catch a glimpse of the Mona Lisa at the Louvre, virtually visit the Pergamonmuseum and marvel at the Ishtar Gate or get modern at MoMa, NYC’s Museum of Modern Art.

Beaches

Did you have to cancel your spring break getaway thanks to COVID-19? Enjoy some virtual sun and sand instead with an online escape hosted by the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority. The destination plans to release two episodes a week as part of a social media mini-series with themes like ocean-side yoga, tropical cocktail recipes and authentic Saint Lucian cooking classes.

Experience the joy of Saint Lucian culture and the island’s natural beauty on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Concerts

Whether you prefer Broadway hits, classical opera or modern bops, finding live music to enjoy on the World Wide Web is easier than ever. The Metropolitan Opera is streaming archived performances each night at 7:30 p.m. (EST), the platform BroadwayHD boasts an impressive collection of full-length shows ready for your viewing pleasure and Together at Home, an Instagram Live initiative organized by musician John Legend, is the place to see your favorite radio-approved artists perform throughout the duration of the quarantine protocols.

Parks

Still looking to #OptOutside? Five of the nation’s most popular National Parks are offering virtual tours to help fuel your wanderlust. Explore icebergs, glaciers and fjords at Kenai Fjords National Park in Alaska; channel your inner volcanologist as you fly over an active volcano at Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park; live like a bat at Carlsbad Caverns National Park in New Mexico; admire the picturesque desert landscape of Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah; or, enjoy the aquatic wonders of Dry Tortugas National Park in Florida, home to the world’s third-largest coral reef.

Zoos, Safaris and Aquariums

Something about watching animals has a soothing effect. Take a trip through the animal kingdom with a cyber excursion to the Monterey Bay Aquarium where you can hang with moon jellies and sea otters for as long as you please. Or, take a trip to San Diego Zoo where you can meet the new baby orangutan of the Lost Forest and spend some quality time with adorable koalas and penguins. And for the wildest experience yet, don’t miss SafariLive a streaming service that brings you up-close-and personal to majestic desert wildlife ranging from wildebeest and elephants to big cats and hyenas.

Castles

Are you getting tired of the same four walls? Daydream about living in the expansive palace of Versailles instead. Once home to King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette, the palace of Versailles is an incredibly ornate (think dripping in gold) estate totally worth virtually exploring.