As more and more kids are being kept at home all day due schools shutting down, parents are suddenly faced with the challenge of keeping them occupied. And while it’s sanity saving to give everyone a change of scenery, there’s really not that much you can do other than the occasional hike or walk. But thanks to technology, many organizations have created virtual field trips and educational resources that allow families to explore zoos, museums, and other exciting places while still staying safe at home. Now more than ever, is it easier to visit virtual destinations around the world from the comfort of your couch.
We’ve gathered some of our favorite virtual field trips below:
Animal Lover Virtual Field Trips
Spy on your favorite animals (think giraffes, penguins and polar beats) with live cameras from the San Diego Zoo.
Take a peek at animal favorites like Fiona the hippo each day on Facebook Live.
Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute
Giant pandas, elephants and lions are ready for your viewing pleasure on webcams.
Check out otters, sharks, turtles, jellyfish and more at the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
The Georgia Aquarium has live cams of kids’ favorite creatures – like sea lions, beluga whales, piranhas and otters.
Tune into their Blacktip Reef, Jellies Invasion and Pacific Coral Reef livestreams and enjoy a piece of the Aquarium from home.
Museum and Art Gallery Virtual Tours
Explore the Galerie d’Apollon and view Egyptian antiques or the remains of the Louvre Moat at The Louvre in Paris, France.
New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art has immersive looks at the highlights of their impressive art and architecture collection using spherical 360° technology.
Smithsonian Museum of Natural History
Virtually visit select exhibits and areas within the museum.
Italy’s Uffizi Gallery allows visitors to view several online exhibits.
In addition to virtual tours of the museum exhibitions and gardens, The Frick offers daily online kids’ activities.
National Parks
Virtually tour some of the main attractions (Grand Canyon, Fort Yellowstone, Mammoth Hot Springs) around the park.
Check out the mud volcanoes and Mammoth Hot Springs with Virtual Yosemite. It includes hundreds of virtual reality panoramas that allow you to look up, down, zoom in and explore California’s most famous grouping of natural landmarks.
Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska
Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii
Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico
Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah
Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida
Google Arts & Culture has teamed up with five national parks in the U.S. so families can enjoy the beauty of the natural world, virtually. These parks feature different climates and environments from across the country, including famous desert vistas and snowy terrains.
More Ways to Keep Kids Busy:
- Keep Bored Kids Busy With a DIY Cardboard Skee Ball Game
- 10 Toddler Approved Bath-Time Activities
- Turn a Drink Pouch Into a Rocket With a Few Basic Supplies
