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To say that things have been crazy lately is probably the biggest understatement of the century. In fact, I would love to add an adjective or two to that statement to make it more accurate (but less appropriate for my blog).
For me personally, it has been the change of routine that has been the most unsettling. Yes, I work at a busy health clinic and I’m potentially exposed to all sorts of things all day long. However, I’m used to being exposed to all sorts of nastiness. What’s really ramping up the anxiety is the loss of control I’m experiencing. My daily routine has been flipped on its head, I can’t visit my parents like I’m used to doing, I’m wearing a mask while grocery shopping and I (like everyone else) have no clue when I can get back to my normal, safe little life. For you control freaks like me you know exactly what I’m talking about.
The good news that I keep repeating to myself over and over is that, eventually, this WILL end. Life WILL get back to normal. I’m trying really hard to embrace the fact that life is uncertain right now and that’s ok. We’re all just doing what we need to do. If anything, maybe this is what I need. A harsh reminder that you can’t control every aspect of your life and that’s why you can’t take anything in your life for granted.
For us travelers, the need to stay home is especially hard. I know it’s completely 100% necessary, but for people who live for being wild and free, being stuck at home feels a little cage-like. Is it temporary? Yes. Is this particularly something I’m patient with? No. I’ve spent the last week figuring out different ways to satisfy my travel bug while taking the time to maybe learn a little bit about the world along the way. During my search, I’ve found some pretty cool virtual tours that are perfect for those who love to travel but can’t right now.
The Louvre
Anyone who knows me also knows that Paris is my favorite city in the world. I was ecstatic when I discovered that the Louvre museum is offering virtual tours. The museum itself is closed until further notice, but there are several online exhibits available. The format is very easy to use once you figure out the mouse situation. You can access the Louvre tour here. If you’re memorized and want to book your tickets for when the Louvre opens back up, you can find them here.
The Great Wall of China
While the Great Wall of China is on my bucket list, I have yet to go. The virtual tour offered for this one is a little short but still interesting. You can access the Great Wall of China tour here.
The San Diego Zoo
The San Diego Zoo is just one of many zoos currently offering live video feeds of their animals. The zoo is offering streaming for polar bears, elephants and, my personal favorite, giraffes as well as several other animals. You can check out the San Diego Zoo live feed here.
Yellowstone National Park
If you read my post about visiting Yellowstone over the summer (if not view it here), then you know I can’t wait to spend some more time there. Luckily the park made it happen by offering- you guessed it!- several virtual tours of some of Yellowstone’s biggest attractions! You can access the Yellowstone National Park tour here.
Yosemite National Park
Just like the Great Wall of China, Yosemite is on my bucket list. My best friend and her husband visited last year and loved it, so I knew I had to check out this tour. The Yosemite virtual tour turned out to be a very pleasant surprise. There were a ton of areas to explore. I also liked that when you clicked on each explorable area, the site gave you some information on the area of interest as well. You can access the Yosemite National Park tour here.
The Winchester Mystery House
If you’re looking for a tour that’s not for the faint of heart, check out the Winchester Mystery House virtual tour. So a little back story- this house was originally built by Sarah Winchester in San Jose, California. Sarah’s father-in-law was the founder of the Winchester rifle company. Sarah never like the company. She believed the Winchester family was haunted by spirits who were killed by Winchester rifles. When her father-in-law passed away, Sarah inherited a large fortune that allowed her to up and leave her Connecticut home and build a fortress for herself in San Jose.
What started with an 8 room farmhouse turned into a 24,000 square foot Victorian mansion as Sarah continuously had more and more rooms built to confuse any ghosts. The house ended up with 10,000 windows, 2,000 doors, 160 rooms and 1 creepy séance room by the time Sarah died in 1922. If creepiness is your thing, you can check out the Winchester Mystery House virtual tour here.
Catacombes de Paris
Well would you look at that, we’re back to Paris. Maybe you remember me talking about the Catacombs in my post about the 10 Top Attractions to See in Paris. If not, you’re seriously missing out. The Catacombs are probably the creepiest place to hang out in Paris. If you liked the Winchester Mystery house, then you will definitely like the Catacombs virtual tour. The thing that struck me the most is that somehow they managed to not only capture the creepiness factor of the Catacombs, but also the sense of claustrophobia you experience once you’re in the underground tunnels. You can access the Catacombes de Paris virtual tour here. If you’re still craving more Catacomb after your virtual tour, book a live tour for after the quarantine ends here (ps I’ve taken this tour- its awesome!)!
Machu Picchu
Ok, so writing this post has made me realize that there’s a ton of places I still need to go! I just moved Machu Picchu to the top of the list after this tour. What I like about the virtual Machu Picchu tour is that 1) it is simple to use and 2) there is a nice audio narrative as well. You can access the Machu Picchu virtual tour here.
The Vatican
Having just returned from Rome a few months ago, I was really interested in comparing the Vatican virtual tour experience to the real thing. While you really can’t get the full experience from your computer, I will say that it’s nice to be able to have a look around without being jostled by crowds of people. You can check out the Vatican virtual tour here. You can give yourself something to look forward to by booking a real life tour of the Vatican (the same one we took when we were in Rome) here!
The British Museum
You can now see one of the best museums in the world from the comfort of your own house. Located in the heart of London, the British Museum is not to be missed. I liked this tour a lot because of the interesting audio commentary for each exhibit. You can access the British Museum virtual tour here.
Am I missing any tours? Be sure to add them to the comments below!
