Read travel-oriented novels

Reading is an ideal way to escape the current climate and to immerse yourself in another country, city, or culture. Some books may inspire you to travel to places you have never considered. Here are a few books worthy to read:

Bella Tuscany: The Sweet Life in Italy

African Diary

Lands of Lost Borders

A Year in Provence

A Walk in the Woods

Watch travel-oriented movies, documentaries, and TV shows

Travel movies and TV shows are another great way to escape for a few hours and satiate your wanderlust. Here are a few of my favorites:

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

Under the Tuscan Sun

Midnight in Paris

The Way

The Bucket List

DIY Destinations TV Series

Research a future trip

Eventually, the current situation with coronavirus will pass and we’ll be able to travel again. So, while you are stuck at home, now is as good a time as any to start planning your future trip to keep the spirit of trave alive.

Did any of the travel books you read or movies you watched inspire you to travel to a place you never considered? Is there a destination on your bucket list you’ve always wanted to travel to, but have never been?

Many of these travel guidebooks will provide you with detailed itineraries, maps, hotel suggestions, and recommendations for reliable tour operators to help plan your next trip.

Join online travel forums and communities

While you’re in the process of planning your future dream trip, it can be helpful to connect with other travelers through travel forums and online communities. It can be a good place to ask questions, get first-hand reviews, and seek advice from like-minded travelers. Here are two online communities:

Lonely Planet’s Thorn Tree

Trip Advisor Forums

Subscribe to travel blogs and on-line travel magazines

Whether you’re researching a particular city or country, are looking for hotel recommendations, or want destination-related things to do, travel blogs have an array of insider tips and first-hand accounts that can give you insight into planning your next trip.

My favorite travel blog, of course, is Boulevards and Byways. It focuses on Puerto Rico and the sunny islands of the Caribbean.

Cook International Cuisine

To taste the food of a nation is to experience its culture — and I have found that to be true no matter where I travel. Experimenting with international recipes or creating a theme night can prove to be a fun evening. Perhaps finding an authentic take-out or outdoor dining venue that offers Middle Eastern, Japanese, or Italian food can also very well satisfy your craving for travel to a new country.

Learn a new language

Think about where you want to travel to next and learn that language or a least a few keywords while you have the time to do so. There are various online language learning apps like Duolingo that will give you the basics of any language.

We can’t travel in real life right now, but there are many ways you can bring the spirit of travel to you while you are at home. Try out these 7 Ways to Satisfy Your Wanderlust without Leaving Home and keep travel alive until you are one day able to visit in person.

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Needless to say, now is not the time to travel, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy some of the world’s top museums, zoos, and national parks from the comfort of your own home. This week I’ve gathered over 15 incredible virtual travel experiences, all possible from your living room couch.

Museums

Louvre, Paris France

Exploring the Louvre while it’s empty is a real treat because in real life this museum gets crowded. The museum is offering its virtual tours here. Be sure to check out the famed Mona Lisa and the mysterious Egyptian wing.

Sistine Chapel, Rome Italy

The 15th century Sistine Chapel is most renowned for Michelangelo’s strikingly beautiful ceiling frescos. Visit the Sistine Chapel virtually and then make your way through all of the Vatican Museums which can be found here.

Music

The Metropolitan Opera, New York City

One of New York City’s greatest cultural institutions is streaming free encores of its Live in HD performances each night at 7:30 p.m. ET and will be available to stream for 20 hours. Check out the Met’s full schedule here.

Vienna State Opera, Austria

Another of the world’s great opera houses, the Wiener Staatsoper, is streaming not only operas but ballets. Check out the full schedule here.

Broadway, New York City

A roundup of Broadway stars, sharing their talents from home, can be found here.

Zoos & Safaris

San Diego Zoo

The country’s most-visited zoo, with more than 3,500 animals in residence, is available on a live stream.  Check out all the zoo’s cams here.

Central Kenya

Explore African wildlife at the Mpala Research Centre, a 48,000-acre conservation park. Their 24/7 live-cams allow visitors to see lions, tigers, hippos, and more, oh my.

South Africa

Embark on a safari tracking lions, leopards, elephants, and more with a ranger-led tour. Check out the Safari Live collection here.

National Parks

Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii

Visit Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on a ranger-led tour. Traverse black rock formations and fiery lava flows. Hike the rainforest and go underground to tour a lava tube. Then, take a helicopter flight over the volcano. Check out Volcanoes National Park here.

Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico

At Carlsbad Caverns viewers have the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of early explorers and see formations like Devil’s Spring, Whale’s Mouth, and Iceberg Rock. Check out Carlsbad Caverns virtual tours here.

Niagara Falls, New York

Viewing and hearing the thunderous crash of the Niagara Falls via a live webcam lets you get up close with an aerial view. Watch the Livestream here.

Bryce Canyon, Utah

Bryce Canyon’s brilliantly colored rock clusters, known as hoodoos, are the main attraction here. Check out the virtual Bryce visit here.

Yosemite Falls, California

The Yosemite webcam streams the 2,424-foot-tall Upper Yosemite Falls. Watch the Livestream here.

Underwater adventures

Florida Keys, Channel Islands, Monterey Bay, and more

Ever dream of diving? Now you can explore the incredible underwater life of the Channel Islands, Monterey Bay, and the Florida Keys without even getting wet. Check out the various virtual dives here.

While physical travel isn’t possible at this time, consider traveling the world virtually and visiting some of those must-see sites on your bucket list.

Whether it’s strolling through the Louvre in Paris, embarking on a safari in South Africa, or discovering the mysteries of underwater life, virtual travel is an entertaining and fun way to see some of the world’s most beloved sites.

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