The Best Virtual Field Trips To Finish The Summer
School is winding down and to celebrate we have 16 of the best virtual field trips to finish off the summer. If your family is like ours, summer vacation means summer travel but in today’s uncertain times, travel may look different in the years
to come. Whether you’re looking to take in the magic of the Disney Parks or are looking to visit the 7 Wonders of the World, now thanks to the marvels of technology, we can load up the family and “hit the road” without ever leaving the comfort of our own homes. Even better, when you and the family are making the decision as to where to travel to next, taking a virtual field trip allows you to narrow down the choices. The more you know will help you go. It may not be the same as getting in your car and driving off into the sunset, but it’s still a great way to escape from our current everyday routine. With thousands of virtual field trips now out there for you to take, our list of the 16 of the best virtual field trips to kick off the summer will get you headed in the right direction.
Explore The Disney Parks, Universal, Legoland, and So Much More
Walt Disney World- With Halloween having already started at Walt Disney World with the Disney After Hours Boo Bash it is definitely time for the most spooktacular time of the year. Gather ‘round for a special #DisneyMagicMoments viewing of “Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular” at Walt Disney World Resort. For this bootiful pre-recorded viewing of “Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular,” you’ve got the best seat in the house to experience the show’s state-of-the-art projections and dazzling fireworks. Watch as host Jack Skellington delights with a not so scary-tale that proves anything can happen at Halloween!
Disneyland Paris “Illuminations” Thanks to #DisneyMagicMoments you can now have a front-row seat for Disney “Illuminations” at Disneyland Paris. For this special pre-recorded viewing of “Disney Illuminations” at Disneyland Paris, you’re front and center for the amazing special effects and fireworks at Sleeping Beauty Castle. Prepare to hold your breath and “ahhhh” as the show recreates iconic Disney moments in ways you never thought possible!
Disneyland Virtual Tour is a Disney enthusiast’s magical dream come true. There are lands and rides in the Anaheim theme park that are different from the ones in the Orlando, Florida-based theme park. So who knows? This might inspire you to add this one to your future travel bucket list!
Legoland California is easy to visit thanks to Google street view. Explore this California Lego theme park and enjoy the ride together as a family.
Magical Wizarding World of Harry Potter is easy to access, too. Just go into Universal Studios and let the magic of technology reel the whole family in.
SeaWorld Orlando offers a virtual tear of Seaworld, which includes the chance to ride Mako, the steel roller coaster or tour Discovery Cove.
Travel to a 17th Century English Village
With a simple click, you can now visit a 17th century English village and what life was like in the past. They recreated the original settlement of Plymouth Colony and there are actors who reenact events and live life just the way the English colonists used to back in the day.
Travel to Space For a Moment and Listen to Your Favorite Story Time
Go on to Story Time From Space and explore a selection of videos of NASA astronauts reading children’s stories from outer space like “The Incredible Intergalactic Journey Home.” There’s seriously nothing cooler on Earth right now!
Take a Trip to the Zoo or an Aquarium
Spend the afternoon watching baboons, penguins, and giraffes from the San Diego Zoo’s live cams. Then, go wildlife watching and check out the elephants and rhinos at the Houston Zoo.
For an underwater adventure, dive into the Monterey Bay Aquarium to check out their incredible moon jellies, sharks, sea otters, and coral reef cams. The Georgia Aquarium has sea lion and beluga whale cams that are seriously breathtaking. Like dolphins? Head on over to the National Aquarium and jump in.
Warm Up at Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park
The Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park offers a guided virtual tour of two of the most active volcanoes on the planet. It’s just a matter of clicking and dragging to explore the magnificent lava tubes, volcanic cliffs, and active volcanos.
Take a Virtual Walk Across an Epic Glass Bridge
Carefully walk through the Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge in Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon. It’s one of the world’s highest and longest bridges, standing at 600 feet above the canyon. Even a virtual tour is bound to make the whole family a little squeamish.
Take a Trip to Mars
Go to the Access Mars site and take an out-of-this-world trip by clicking on points of interest to learn more about the red planet courtesy of NASA. The map icon allows users to travel to different parts of Mars by clicking on the surface.
Tour a Haunted Mystery House
Visit the spooky Winchester Mystery House in San Jose, California, the former home of Sarah Winchester, the widow of firearm maker William Winchester. The property is said to be haunted, but the only thing this virtual tour will provide is a look at this bizarre yet beautiful architectural landmark.
Turn Back the Clock Virtually
The Turn Back the Clock exhibit takes virtual guests on a journey through 70 years of history. The exhibit was up for 2 years at the Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago. Some of the topics discussed include major historical events, personal stories, climate change, pop culture objects, and disruptive technologies. The exhibit wants to teach people how they can help turn back the clock.
Snoop Around at Steve’s Weird House
Take a 360-degree virtual tour of Steve’s Weird House, which is crammed with weird trinkets like taxidermy objects, old medical instruments, antique coffins, and even a 25-foot-tall Rapunzel tower. This Victorian home has major The Addams Family vibes so it’s perfect for kids who love oddities.
Hang out With Manatees and Bald Eagles
Interested in manatees? Go to explore.org and use the cam at Florida’s Blue Spring Park to hang out with manatees or check out bald eagle nests in Decorah, Iowa with the Decorah Eagles cam. The world is your oyster, now more than ever!
Visit Universal Studios
Go to Visitorlando.com and take a virtual trip of the wonderful Universal Studios. With a click of a mouse, families can navigate throughout the theme park. It’s not the same as actually being there, but it’s the next best thing for now.
Visit a Few Medieval Castles Around The World
Check out the Windsor Castle in the UK or the visually stunning Catherine Palace in Russia. There are other spectacular castles to explore like the Palace of Versailles in France, the Sidon Sea Castle in Lebanon, the Prague Castle in the Czech Republic, the Blarney Castle in Ireland and Edinburgh Castle in Scotland.
Visit the New Seven Wonders of the World
The New7Wonders site offers virtual tours of various places around the world like Machu Picchu, Taj Mahal, and the Great Wall of China. Over 600 million votes elected these breathtaking landmarks, but they also keep an archive of the 21 finalists that didn’t make the top seven.
Check Out a Ghost Town
Pripyat is a city that was abandoned after the Chernobyl incident, but it can be safely explored with Google Street View from your very own home. So, venture into the radioactive Exclusion Zone. No radiation suit required!
Get the Chills at the Paris Catacombs
If you like spooky tunnels and your kids have an interest in history and a tough stomach, then check out the Paris Catacombs, a mine that became an underground resting place for about six million people who were exhumed and relocated here centuries ago. The walls are full of the skeletal remains of those who passed long ago, so be warned!
From the far corners of the world to your favorite museums to the best in theme and amusement parks to space and under the sea, it’s easy tp see how you can travel the world and beyond without ever leaving home. What are some of your favorite virtual field trips to that you would add to our 16 of the best virtual field trips to finish out the summer and to kick off the school year?
