In an age of self-quarantine, virtual travel experiences have popped up across the internet. Armchair travelers can be transported to the wonders of the world, from national parks in the USA to temples in Japan to art museums to see Monet without leaving the sofa.
Take a Virtual Visit to the Czech Republic
If you’ve ever been to Prague, you know how beautiful it is. Now you can explore Prague and six other destinations in the Czech Republic. Just pull out your iPad or other device and sit back and enjoy. Click through to the video, press play, and use the buttons in the upper-left corner of the video to look in any direction.
Bustling city streets of Prague
Kayaking and castles in Český Krumlov
Natural beauty of Moravian Karst, Punkva caves
Expansive elegance of the Lednice Chateau and gardens
Bohemian spa town of Karlovy Vary
Hiking the hills of Hřensko, Bohemian Switzerland
Following the Royal Route through Prague
Virtual Online Tours of Museums in New York City or Around the World
Check contemporary art at the Guggenheim Museum in New York via Google street view or the Mona Lisa at the Louvre or Study by Adam by Michelangelo at the British Museum or famous Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam.
To honor the 500th anniversary of Raphael, Musement.com, an online platform that helps travelers book tickets to their favorite attractions, has created a virtual museum that display’s Raphael’s works in 11 different countries and more than 30 cities. You can explore and admire all of his creations at the click of a button, without leaving the sofa.
See the Natural Wonders at National Parks via Virtual Reality Experiences
The National Parks Service invites you to take a virtual tour of some of the most beautiful spots in the United States. Explore Yellowstone National Park’s most famous natural wonders including Upper Geyser Basin, Mammoth Hot Springs, Fountain Paint Pot or the Mud Volcano.
Travel Oregon’s most rugged backcountry terrain through an online photo tour of the cascading Toketee Falls in the Umpqua National Forest, experience The Milky Way illuminating Crater Lake at the Crater Lake National Park or take in a spectacular sunset setting behind Mount Hood.
You can also take in some of the most spectacular sites at the United States National Parks in just fifty seconds thanks to Google and top park rangers who are your virtual tour guides.
Visit Austria’s Most Historic Sites Via Virtual Reality
Walk the halls of the Schönbrunn Palace and experience the opulence of 17th-century neo-Rococo style and the enchanting Mirrors Room.
Get outside on Austria’s Großglockner High Alpine Road which winds through the mountain forests, rock formations, and the peaceful Alpine meadows.
Finish your climb to the highest mountain with a trip to the Pasterze glacier. You can also check out a live view of Austria’s Großglockner via webcam.
Find a seat on your sofa and take in a concert, opera or ballet performance at the Vienna State Opera. You can also stream the performances on your smart TV or mobile devices.
Finally, see the magnificent giant ice caves in Werfen. A virtual tour provides the perfect backdrop for sofa-bound travelers to experience floors and tunnels fashioned from ice and the most impressive sight, the “Dome” which is the largest room on this virtual tour.
Virtual Tours of Japan
Japan had a minor setback with the date of the Olympics being postponed, but you don’t have to wait for this event to the rescheduled. The Japan National Tourism Organization wants you to see all that Japan has to offer.
The 360-degree virtual reality movie experience highlights include a walk through a bamboo forest, sushi making, sumo wrestling and Geisha performances. Animal lovers won’t want to miss the live webcam of the Nihondaira Zoo featuring two celebrity polar bears which are a big draw to the zoo.
Get a Guided Virtual Tour from a Local
For over six years, Withlocals have been connecting travelers throughout the world for one-of-a-kind travel events. With the grounding of all travel, Withlocals LIVE allows those suffering from wanderlust to stay connected by offering 35 online experiences from 20 locals from 12 countries and 15 worldwide cities!
Thankfully, virtual reality has come to the rescue of those weary of ennui and grounded from travel. We will all get through this together. In the meantime check out this article on the Top 5 Ways to Escape When You Can’t Travel.
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