Dreaming about your next holiday has taken on a new meaning since the outbreak of Covid-19. Many of us are missing holidays and facing uncertainty as to when we might travel again.
Thankfully, there are ways we can travel, albeit vicariously, via technology, from the comfort of our armchairs. And the best bit? There’s no queueing!
Here are some ideas to get you started.
Virtual Tours
Virtual tours have never been so popular. No need to put on shoes, figure out which ticket option is best, or even change out of your pajamas because, with just a few clicks, you can be roving around a myriad of famous attractions.
- Explore Angkor Wat in Cambodia and a handful of the surrounding temples without breaking a sweat.
- View the Christ the Redeemer Statue in Brazil at sunrise, in the fog, at night, and from a host of angles and in many conditions.
- Explore The Vatican; options include The Sistine Chapel and Raphael’s Rooms.
- Wander around Machu Picchu in your slippers.
- Walk along The Great Wall Of China.
- Explore fjords, volcanoes, caverns, canyons, and more locations.
There are many virtual and video tours online, and there’s perhaps nowhere you can’t visit, even Mars is available to travel to.
But don’t just take my word for it, go and explore. If the attractions webpages don’t offer a tour, then I can guarantee someone on YouTube has put together their take, with varying degrees of proficiency.
Live-Action
Virtual tours are one thing, but how about live-action? There are a surprising number of webcams around the globe.
Have you ever seen the Trevi Fountain this quiet? SkylineWebcams have cameras pointed at some of the most famous attractions and city views around the world. You can search by country and city location or browse top viewed beaches and cityscapes.
WebcamTaxi is another network of global webcams that you can search by country, city, and browse by location on a map. Want to watch the giraffes at Melbourne Zoo or see who’s out and about in Times Square? Big brother is there for you.
Once you’ve assured yourself that everyone is staying at home, you can go on a virtual safari. There’s far more action at Tembe Elephant Park and Tiger Lake. Explore.org has live cams pointed at everything from kitten and puppy rescue to nursing spoonbills, manatees, bobcats, and penguins.
Fact and Fiction
How many times have you watched a film or TV series and wondered about the locations? There’s some great action, drama, and fantasy movies with locations that have inspired thousands of vacations. In the interests of research, watch:
- The Lord of The Rings to see New Zealand like never before
- Outlander for sublime Scottish history and scenery
- The Beach for a flavor of Thailand
- The Secret Life of Walter Mitty for a romp through Greenland
- Lost In Translation for Tokyo’s lights
- The Talented Mr. Ripley for Sicily, Rome, San Remo, and Venice
- Any Robert Langdon movie for being chased through a variety of historical landmarks
And there are many more with justifiable backdrops for fictional escapism – just don’t forget the popcorn!
Make the Most of It
Some travelers have made up for missing their holiday by trying to recreate their vacation in their front room or backyard. Why not?
You can camp out in your backyard, or get dressed up, dim the lights and go to Broadway or The National Theatre in London.
Recreate your favorite cuisine; learn to cook Thai, Mexican, French, Italian.
Learn or brush up on your language skills. Duolingo offers free language classes that are surprisingly easy to get into. The major languages are all there plus some unexpected ones like High Valyrian and Klingon.
You can also use the time to get the most out of your camera. Both Udemy and SkillShare have some great resources aimed at improving your travel photography skills. Your subject selection will be limited to what you can find within the limits of your restrictions. However, you might find that the results will give you a new perspective and appreciation of what’s around you.
Combine using your camera with some walking or follow a plan to improve your fitness, ready to get the most out of an active vacation.
Which destinations have you visited virtually? What was the experience like? Where have you yet to travel? Which of these destinations have you decided you’d like to see in person as well? Let’s have a discussion in the comments!
