5 Ways to Travel Virtually during Quarantine
Let’s just put it out there – Quarantine sucks. Our lives have been completely flipped upside down with stay at home orders and businesses closing. But of course one of the worst parts is the cancelled trips. Losing out on those memories and experiences is a hard pill to swallow. But fear not! There are tons of ways to travel virtually right from your couch.
360 Cities
As the world’s largest collection of stock 360 images and videos, it’s impressive to see VR photographers submit stunning video and panorama photography from all over. Travel the streets of Havana, Cuba or watch a sunset from the top of a mountain in Chile. What’s really cool is you can search for whatever fits your fancy. You can do this by looking through curated sets or the world map. The quality of the images and video is so clear that it feels like you’re actually taking in that 360 view. In my opinion, this kicks Google Maps’ butt.
Google Arts & Culture
I didn’t even know this platform existed before coronavirus, but it seems to be popping up everywhere – and for good reason. This is THE digital library to find everything from art museums, virtual street view tours and culture pages by country. It’s a rabbit hole of artsy goodness. One of my favorite picks so far explores the different U.S. national parks in a super immersive and engaging experience. The intro videos are gorgeous and are followed by a virtual tour with a guide that chats through cool facts. Who said traveling from your couch wasn’t possible?
Thrillist
This media site does a really good job of covering travel and surprise! They put together a list of virtual travel trips perfect for those of us craving new scenery. Join a virtual salsa lesson in Puerto Rico or stream the Northern Lights.
Youtube
Travel influencers and vloggers have boomed over the last few years, which means there is tons of content to pour over on YouTube. If you’re curious about different countries and want to get a more personal look on what the culture and attractions are like, travel influencers are the way to go. Their videos are entertaining and it’s an easy way to do some fun research. Check out a few of our favorites: World of Wanderlust, Flying The Nest, and Hey Nadine.
TikTok
I wasted many hours flipping through dance and dog videos before realizing what a great app it was to gather some travel inspiration. Just like with Vine (RIP), these short clips of stunning landscapes backed with trendy songs put me right back in the travel mood. Just search #travel. You’ll get tiny glimpses into places you’ve never even considered traveling to. Places out West – like Grand Falls in Arizona and Arches National Park in Utah- are now on my radar thanks to TikTok.
If you’re feeling restless or wanting to stay out of a Covid slump, travel virtually. There’s no better time to look at beautiful places and learn about new cultures, which will help you feel inspired to travel the second we get the heck out of this mess. For more tips on staying entertained while stuck at home, check out our post on how to keep an adventurous mindset during quarantine.
