What a spring it has been! The world has grounded to a sudden and jarring halt, with all travel along with it.
I’m not sure about you, but it’s been hard. I miss the hustle and bustle of daily life. I miss working and booking travel. I miss connecting with you and making your travel dreams come true. I miss hugging my parents and our Sunday lunches. I miss celebrating birthdays, going out to eat, and getting my nails done. I miss having a trip to look forward to. I miss the happiness of feeling free. And I know I’m not the only one.
I have tried my best to enjoy this new pace of life. Spending more time with the family, watching video clips from our travels, playing board games, cooking, and trying new recipes. Reading more books and doing more online learning. I have also tried my hand at homeschooling and have realized that I am REALLY, REALLY bad at it.
For those of you who love to travel like me, I am sure the wanderlust is also growing. Isn’t it strange how when you take things away, it makes you want them even more?! It’s like when you are on a diet and not supposed to eat, all you do is think about eating! ALL I do is think about travelling. Think about my past travels and my future travels.
I know that it will be some time before we can go out in our communities, much less travel again, but that isn’t stopping me from dreaming. I hope it isn’t stopping you either.
While we wait for travel to return, I’ve been collecting some fantastic virtual vacations to keep the bug alive, to continue to inspire you and learn at the same time.
And when you’re ready to travel again, I will be right here waiting for you.
For more information, and assistance with your future vacation plans, schedule an appointment to chat with us HERE.
Click on the links to start your Virtual Vacation!
1. Hello World!
With Google Street View, you can visit famous sites and monuments (outdoor clothing optional).
History buff? Take the kids to Rome’s Colosseum
Aspirational surfer? Peak the view at some of these Super Surf Spots
Up for a walk? Stroll through the Palace of Versailles in France
Take a rollercoaster ride on the Mako rollercoaster at Sea World Orlando
Wander Diagon Alley at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and much more!
Explore the Great Wall of China
Other sites to virtually explore:
2. Adventure at Your Doorstep, Literally!
Adventurous? Check out Google Maps’ virtual treks offering virtual climbing to Everest Base Camp in Nepal to diving in the Galapagos Islands of Ecuador to searching for polar bears in Churchill, Manitoba.
Other adventures to virtually explore the great outdoors:
Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park
3. Wildlife Experiences to Feed Your Wild Side
Is your pet feeling stir-crazy? Take your four-legged on a virtual trip to the zoo!
San Diego Zoo: Offering 10 live streams
Beekman 1802’s farm: How about some adorable baby goats
Great Barrier Reef: Virtual Diving Tours
4. Museums Without Lines? Count Me In!
Did you know? The world’s best galleries and museums are virtually accessible through Google Arts & Culture.
A few places to check out: British Museum, The Louvre, The Smithsonian and The Vatican.
Proudly Canadian, The Virtual Museum of Canada has stories and experiences shared by Canada’s museums and heritage organizations. Don’t forget to zoom in to get up close and personal with the art pieces!
Other online museum tours to get your virtual steps in:
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
5. Outer Space: Let’s Go!
NASA offices: Astronaut training at the Johnson Space Center. Educational live streams at the Kennedy Space Center
The Houston Space Center offers an app that takes you to space with an audio tour and has a VR experience of the moon
Access Mars: A 360-degree virtual tour of the red planet.
I also included a downloadable worksheet that you can complete with the kids as you explore your “Virtual Vacation.”
Leave A Comment