Travel Sites and Attractions You Can Tour Virtually
Travel From Home
It's an understatement to say that the travel and tourism industry is feeling the impact of the global coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak but, naturally, an industry that touches nearly every aspect of life remains there at an uncertain time. Here are some coveted attractions you can experience virtually from home.
Yellowstone National Park:
Yellowstone National Park, which spans three different states, is well known as a tourist hotbed come summer but first-time visitors don't need to leave home to experience some of the park's most iconic sites, thanks to the National Park Service (NPS), which offers convenient virtual tours and 3-D models.
Yosemite National Park:
Like Yellowstone, Yosemite National Park in California is among the nation's most-visited national parks. But seeing it while avoiding large crowds is easy as VirtualYosemite.org has done the work for you to provide a slew of lifelike experiences.
Georgia Aquarium:
Sea otters. Beluga whales. Piranhas. That's just some of the mesmerizing marine life that Atlanta's Georgia Aquarium is putting on display for free from its website in the wake of a two-week closure that began this past weekend.
San Diego Zoo:
The San Diego Zoo is also putting webcams to work so that would-be visitors can still experience their favorite animals while social distancing. Viewers have the option of watching live cams or archived footage of pandas Bai Yun and Xiao Liwu.
Walt Disney World:
The only thing better than being in Walt Disney World is experiencing it virtually. Fortunately, technology allows us to feel like we're there without actually being there. Google Street View offers 360-degree panoramas while virtual travelers can also experience the theme park's most beloved rides from a first-person point of view.
The Louvre:
The world's largest art museum, which recently hosted a record number of visitors, is closed for now but is still offering free virtual tours online. For the time being, users can tour Egyptian antiquities, remains of the Louvre's moat and much more.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art:
The country's largest art museum is also one of the world's most visited, attracting millions each year. Although the New York City icon has temporarily closed, it's still possible to experience The Met's award-winning art and architecture far from the Big Apple.
Monterey Bay Aquarium:
Like Atlanta's Georgia Aquarium, California's Monterey Bay Aquarium is providing free webcams while would-be visitors stay home. This spring, viewers can watch birds, jellyfish, penguins and even sharks from the comfort of their device.
Great Wall of China:
Travel to mainland China is near impossible amid the COVID-19 outbreak but you can still experience the Great Wall of China as if you were actually there. This bucket-list site spans thousands of miles and dates back millenniums, but a virtual tour ensures that you'll see the very best parts.
