As the social distancing measures around COVID-19 halt travel around the world, companies, destinations, conservation organizations, zoos and museums are finding ways to bring travel and all of its wonders right into people’s homes.
Our virtual age means that we can continue experiencing new destinations, learning about other cultures and discovering incredible attractions without leaving our houses—which is a welcome escape from the fact that our options for leaving the house are so limited.
While it’s hard to beat the real thing, for now we can satisfy our wanderlust (and curb our restlessness) with some of these online journeys.
Natural Attractions
Get a Daily Dose of Nature every weekday at 1:00pm Mountain Time with Natural Habitat Adventure guides, sharing field reports, conservation updates, and wildlife insights from around the world.
View the second largest animal migration in the world at home with Rowe Sanctuary’s virtual crane cam in Nebraska.
The National Aquarium in Baltimore is livestreaming their Blacktip Reef, Jellies Invasion, and Pacific Coral Reef exhibits. Viewers can zoom in, zoom out, and toggle the cameras around.
Visit the nest of a Cahow, a Bermudian bird thought to be extinct for 300 years. Even better: baby chicks made an appearance this spring.
South Carolina’s Table Rock Webcam takes hikers past mountain streams and waterfalls to the tops of Pinnacle and Table Rock mountains.
Sightseeing
Take a virtual, 360-degree tour of Albuquerque, the land of enchantment, from the top of the Sandia Peak Tramway to kitchens of the city’s best restaurants to the banks of the sparkling Rio Grande River.
Enjoy a live streaming HD-quality video window into the waterfront life of Bermuda's historic dockyard — sailboats, yachts, and sunsets.
Edisto Beach is one of four beautiful oceanfront state parks in South Carolina. Via the webcam, viewers can virtually enjoy some of the best sandy spots.
Experience views from the top of Toronto from a unique vantage point with the CN Tower Cam live HD streaming webcam from 1,800 feet above the city.
Culture
Tolosa Winery in San Louis Obispo has launched virtual tastings via social media and on their website. They’re selling tasting kits that include wine, tasting notes and tech sheets.
The Alley Theater, one of Houston’s leading non-profit theaters, will be bringing their production of George Orwell’s 1984 into the homes of patrons.
Take a virtual tour of Willa Cather’s Red Cloud, Nebraska, made famous in the author’s beloved novels.
Go on a shopping spree in Houston thanks to Virtual Shopping at Manready Mercantile. Shoppers can FaceTime the crew to build a custom shopping cart that can either be picked up curbside or shipped.
Visit South Walton, located on the Florida Panhandle, has always been a cultural hotspot. They’ve launched Virtual Beach Vibes, a digital program that will showcase live performances, art gallery tours and workshops, and even educational sea turtle awareness videos.
