If you are missing traveling right now or thinking about the globetrotting trips you’ll take when it becomes safe again to travel, you are not alone. Nearly 80% of the respondents in a survey from Full-Time Travel intend to travel with family and friends to reconnect after social distancing guidelines are relaxed. And it’s not just daydreaming, as 50% of the respondents said they were actively planning a trip now.
In the meantime, a growing number of places—museums, national parks, iconic landmarks and under-the-radar destinations—are creating ways for people to visit them virtually. Some are using interactive tools and immersive video, which help bring travelers closer to the thrill of being there. Better yet, many of the options are free, so you can save the price of an admission ticket for your next in-person adventure. If you want to get a little wanderlust inspo and build up your bank of travel dreams while sheltering in place, here are some options.
1
Visit Museums
Thanks to Google Arts & Culture, you can walk through more than 2,500 museums and galleries—no fees or crowds!—navigating with the same Google Street View tools. Stroll down a formal hall of classic statues in Florence’s iconic Uffizi Gallery and get an up-close view of famous works by Botticelli and da Vinci. Head over to London’s British Museum to spy on mummies, then visit with Van Gogh and Degas at the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles.
2
Get Outside
Explore the great outdoors from your living room (or step into the backyard, to add some fresh air). Walk the trails of majestic Grand Canyon National Park from up high, gazing out over the vast chasm of multihued rocks, and from down low, along the banks of the mighty Colorado River. Or stroll through the rose garden and tropical plant-filled conservatory of the United States Botanic Garden, with the Capitol in the background.
3
Check In on Zoo Critters
Want to watch exotic creatures at play? An increasing number of zoos are turning their animals into stars through the magic of live webcams. Catch the antics of Australian koalas at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary in Brisbane. Check in on tigers, polar bears and penguins at the famous San Diego Zoo. And if you love marine life, be mesmerized by sharks at Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada.
4
Hop a Disney Ride
Mickey and Cinderella may be taking a break, but the Disney magic lives on, thanks to virtual Disney rides. Interactive, 360-degree videos let you pan the camera in any direction as you sail through Pirates of the Caribbean, experience the Soarin’ Over California ride at Epcot and feel the ups and downs of the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad roller coaster.
5
Read a Book
Lose yourself in the pages of a travelogue or learn the backstory of someplace new. Smithsonian Magazine’s list of new travel books—one of many smart lists—includes everything from the history of tacos from a taco editor to a deep dive into 25 hidden places.
6
Watch Movies
Chances are your favorite movies include at least one set in a bucket list destination, whether that’s across the country or around the world. Watch (or re-watch) those inspiring flicks, and check out this list of the 50 best travel movies of all time. From Africa to Alaska, on surfboards and motorcycles, these movies span the globe.
7
Take a Local Adventure
Airbnb Experiences—which connect you with a local for a tour or a class—are a cool complement to the company’s accommodation selections. And though you may currently be sleeping in your own bed, you can still participate in these adventures. Airbnb’s Online Experiences include everything from Irish dancing to meditation with a Japanese Buddhist monk.
8
Explore New Flavors
Frozen meals and delivery get old quickly; instead, learn to make something from a far-flung land (then combine it with a travel movie and feel transported). Pick up the finer points of Italian classics from an Italian grandmother, Nonna Nerina; take free classes with your kids via Delish.com; or get Instagram lessons from Michelin-starred chef Massimo Bottura.
9
Tour Landmarks
Bring the world’s wonders to your screen and direct your own visit with Google Street View. Examine the architectural intricacies carved into pink-rose sandstone at Cambodia’s Angkor Wat temple, starting at the dramatic main entrance. Check out another ancient wonder, Rome’s Colosseum, from the outside or inside. And feel the air grow thin as you make the virtual trek to Everest Base Camp, passing Nepalese villages and Buddhist temples along the way.
10
Learn a Language
What’s the top spot on your bucket list? Before you go there, learn some local phrases—or a whole new language. Take a Duolingo course and you’ll be speaking in tongues (and ready for your trip) before you know it.
11
Take a “Faux-cation”
Do you miss Instagramming selfies from iconic global landmarks? You’re not alone. In fact, many people are still doing just that…with a fun spin. Using backdrops, costumes and a little Photoshop magic, travel-starved trekkers have been creating their vacations virtually, then posting them to social media. Try it yourself!
Rich Beattie is a former executive digital editor of Travel + Leisure and has written for outlets such as The New York Times, Popular Science, New York Magazine and SKI.