While daily life is on pause to fight the spread of COVID-19, it can be difficult to find ways to keep ourselves occupied, especially without spending any money. Thankfully the internet has provided a multitude of ways to explore the world outside without leaving the comfort of our couches and without opening our wallets. Here are eight ways to get more art, culture, knowledge (and fun) in our lives while we do our part to practice social distancing and #StayInside.
1. Virtual Tour of the Great Wall of China
Take a virtual tour of some of the most popular points on the Great Wall of China on thechinaguide.com. The webpage gives great background information on the Wall including tips on the best time of year to visit, so when quarantine is over you can plan the trip of a lifetime!
2. Nightly Opera Stream from the Metropolitan Opera
If you have always wanted to go to the Opera but couldn’t find the time, the Metropolitan Opera is offering a Nightly Opera Stream so you can see these amazing performers in action! They have also made the schedule for the week available on the site so you can keep an eye out for what’s next.
3. Livestreams from Yellowstone and Yosemite
Visit some of the most magnificent national parks and take a look at the beautiful landscapes the USA has to offer. Both Yellowstone and Yosemite are offering virtual content to keep the world occupied (and feeling adventurous) during this time of isolation. Yellowstone offers a livestream of Old Faithful along with the next predicted eruption so you can always be ready to see Old Faithful blow! Yosemite offers virtual tours of some of the most popular sights in the park, such as the Leidig Meadow and Bridalveil Fall. Their tours even include sound so viewers can really get the full experience.
4. NASA app
Use the NASA app to explore NASA’s missions past and present, and even get a good look at Earth from the International Space Station!
5. Zoo Livestreams and Activities
Spend the day with penguins, polar bears, and pandas with the San Diego Zoo live cams! If you want to learn while also taking a look at some lovely live animals, the Cinncinati Zoo offers Home Safari Facebook Lives in which each day a zookeeper hosts a talk about one of the animals that includes an activity you can do at home.
6. Virtual Art Tours with the Van Gogh Museum and the Louvre
Is art more your thing? Then look no further than the Van Gogh Museum’s Unravel Van Gogh feature that gives us a view of Van Gogh’s paintings that is rarely seen: this exhibit includes x-rays of some of the artist’s most famous works. We can now see what is under the uppermost layers of paint to what is hidden underneath! The Louvre is also offering virtual tours of its exhibits on its website. The beauty of Paris has never been closer!
7. Virtual tour of the Vatican
The Vatican is giving an exclusive look at some iconic locations such as the Sistine Chapel and Raphael’s Room. This is one way to get an unrestricted view of that gorgeous ceiling!
8. Virtual tour of the New York Botanical Garden Orchid Show
Bring the outdoors in with a virtual viewing of the New York Botanical Garden Orchid Show! The Senior Orchid Curator tags along on your journey and gives background on all the different varieties of orchids included in the exhibition.