Travelling Without Moving – not just a great Jamiroquai album, but a necessity for wanderlusters in the time of a certain pandemic. Modern technology can bring the world to the screen of your nearest smart device through interactive 360 degree images, video and live feeds. Here are a few top virtual tours to get you started on your world exploration.
National parks and nature
Take a virtual visit to some of the world’s best National Parks. I have a particular preference for tours with commentary or that record the sounds of a place, as it lends another dimension to make you feel like you’re there. Virtual Yosemite does this beautifully. Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park in Australia, offers a virtual tour through Story Spheres with commentary and music by the traditional landowners. Google Earth brings 31 US National Parks to life – no sounds, I’m afraid, but awesome imagery.
Cuddle up to a koala at Lone Pine Sanctuary, with their various webcams. See what the animals at San Diego Zoo are up to and observe Beluga Whales among other underwater species at Georgia Aquarium.
Museums and galleries
Browse the collections of more than 25,000 museums around the world via Google Arts & Culture, including the British Museum, Uffizi Gallery, Art Institute of Chicago, Van Gogh Museum and more.
Many Museums also offer their own tours, such as the Louvre, Smithsonian National Museum of National History and The Palace Museum, Beijing.
Historic sites & heritage homes
Go for an onscreen wander down the Great Wall of China, through the Sistine Chapel or even Machu Picchu. Stonehenge, the Taj Mahal and Christ the Redeemer are all yours, no ticket required.
Take virtual tours of regal residences such as Buckingham Palace and Blenheim Palace. Explore presidential palaces like Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, George Washington’s Mount Vernon and The Istana, official residence of the President of Singapore.
Be inspired by the homes of creatives, like Frida Kahlo’s Blue House in Mexico City, Mark Twain’s Connecticut Home, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West and Claude Monet’s Giverny abode and gardens.
For more opulence, drop in digitally to Vizcaya Mansion in Miami and the Gilded Age mansions of Newport – Marble House and The Elms.
Become a virtual astronaut
Launch yourself into all things space with virtual tours of NASA’s Hubble Telescope home for mission operations, Glenn and Langley Research Centers. Roam the surface of Mars via footage captured by NASA’s Curiosity Rover.
Basically, if there is somewhere you want to explore, chances are there may be a live feed, video or 360-degree image of it somewhere on the interwebs. Your best bet is typing it into Google with the phrase “virtual tour” and you are well on your way, no luggage required. If you find an inspiring virtual tour, please share it with our community in the comments below.
Make it fashion
If you are a fashionista at heart, you’ll love Google Arts We Wear Culture Project. Here you can tap into museum collections and organisations around the world that document the history and evolution of fashion. I personally love the Origin Stories which are virtual exhibits about the cultural history of particular materials or garments such as The Art of Making a Kimono or Lace-Making in Switzerland.
For more on travel at home, take a look at these ideas for exploring your hometown like a tourist, or relive your favourite travel memories by creating your very own travel photo books.
Peace, love & inspiring virtual travel,
Madam ZoZo
