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While regular travel may be off
the cards for the foreseeable future, virtual escapes are open to
everyone with an internet connection.Discover how you can visit
favorite attractions across New England and around the world that
you may have never delved into beforeall from the comfort and
safety of home.
Examine a local exhibit.
The Google Arts & Culture page has dozens of panoramic images of
various exhibits currently on display. Peruse the
Museum of Fine Arts, one of the largest museums in the
country, or the
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, a house of art
collected by Gardner, who asked that her collection be made
available to the public for education and enjoyment.
The virtual walking tour of Bostons Black Heritage
Trailexplores the rich history of Bostons 19th-century
black community on Beacon Hill.
Learners worldwide can draw with artist and childrens book author
Mo Willems once a day through The Kennedy Center’s
website. Grab some paper and pencils, pens or crayons and get
creative together!
Visit with the animals.
The beloved New England Aquarium has temporarily closed its
doors, but is taking virtual visitors behind the scenes with
daily videos on its website. Kick back and watch
Reggae the Atlantic Harbor seal brush his teeth, watch
sea lions in training, and more. So far,
the most popular video has been a feeding of Myrtle the
turtle, which currently has over 12,000 views on
YouTube.
Looking to travel a little further? The world-renowned
San Diego Zoo is offering live camera and recorded
footage of wildlife as they explore, eat, swing,
pounce, groom, and play through their day.
Experience history at home.
Courtesy of Historic New England, virtual visitors can tour
historic mansions like the
1878 Eustis Estate Museum in Milton and the
1938 Gropius House in Lincoln. Wander the buildings to
check out photos, videos, and archival materials. If youve never
had a chance to tour Newport, Rhode Islands historic mansions, you
can do sonow from the comfort of your couch: The Preservation
Society of Newport has launched
virtual tours of several mansions and exhibitions. At
home with the kids? Explore the
Family Ties Online Curriculum, which uses primary
sources to teach children a history lesson.
Join a virtual book club.
Books, fictional or not, are windws into different parts of the
world. Exploring books in your favorite genre, elf-improvement, or
even something outside of your comfort zone, can be a source of
enlightenment and relaxation. Whats more, you can join a
virtual book club to enhance your experience and
connect with new people.
Wander a national park.
While the National Parks Service hasn’t closed any of its parks to
the public, making a special visit to a national park
may not be in the cards for travelers for the time being. Take a
virtual trip to
Cape Cods National Seashore, the great Outer
Beach described by Thoreau in the 1800s. Or, virtually trek
Acadia National Parks famous 1,530-foot Cadillac
Mountain, where sunrises and sunsets are bucket-list experiences,
according to Fodors. Part of Montana’s Rocky
Mountains, picturesque views of
Glacier National Park are sure to evoke a sense of
calm.
Smithsonian Magazine has compiled an exhaustive list of unique
virtual reality experiences that open up some of the
countrys most spectacular wonders to everyone.
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