“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page” -Saint Augustine
For many people, taking a vacation or traveling to somewhere new is one of the best ways to relax and unwind for self-care. And it seems that it is healthy for us, as travel has been linked with increasing creativity and happiness while decreasing stress and depressive feelings1. With the current reality of travel restrictions, financial hardships, and temporary closures of many vacation destinations, a great way to experience the feeling of getting away without leaving your own home is through virtual experiences. There are hundreds of places all over the globe that are giving access, almost always for free, to their artwork, performances, and landmarks; some are simple cams that you can watch at your leisure whereas others are guided tours by some of the greatest experts in the world.
Below are some of my favorites:
The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/moma-the-museum-of-modern-art
The British Museum
https://britishmuseum.withgoogle.com/
The Museum of Natural History
https://naturalhistory.si.edu/visit/virtual-tour
Monterey Bay Aquarium
https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/animals/live-cams
San Diego Zoo
https://animals.sandiegozoo.org/live-cams
U.S. National Parks
https://artsandculture.withgoogle.com/en-us/national-parks-service
Metropolitan Opera
https://www.metopera.org/user-information/nightly-met-opera-streams/
Virtual Tours of Popular Tourist Attractions Around the World
https://upgradedpoints.com/virtual-tours-of-popular-attractions
Photo from Pexels
1 https://www.nbcnews.com/better/wellness/5-scientifically-proven-health-benefits-traveling-abroad-n759631