While traveling is still pretty much off the table, virtual entertainment continues to be a lifesaver these days. There are so many FREE virtual field trips, live webcams, online tours and educational videos at our fingertips because of the pandemic. So while that trip to Paris may not be in your immediate future, you can still see it "up close" with your children right from your couch.
Check out our list of free and fun virtual tours, field trips and more to keep kids entertained this winter at home.
Check out our list of free and fun virtual tours, field trips and more to keep kids entertained this winter at home.
Take a Virtual Tour of the National Museum of Natural History
The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History virtual tours allow visitors to take self-guided, room-by-room tours of select exhibits and areas within the museum online. Learn about dinosaurs, Egyptian mummies, sea monsters, genomes and more! Check out the narrated virtual tours to enjoy have a guided experience.
For more incredible museums and cultural institutions try American Museum of Natural History, Boston Children's Museum, Boston's Museum of Science, Exploratorium, The Louvre Museum, British Museum, The Metropolitan Museum of Art for Kids and The Vatican.
For more science, check out NOVA.
The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History virtual tours allow visitors to take self-guided, room-by-room tours of select exhibits and areas within the museum online. Learn about dinosaurs, Egyptian mummies, sea monsters, genomes and more! Check out the narrated virtual tours to enjoy have a guided experience.
For more incredible museums and cultural institutions try American Museum of Natural History, Boston Children's Museum, Boston's Museum of Science, Exploratorium, The Louvre Museum, British Museum, The Metropolitan Museum of Art for Kids and The Vatican.
For more science, check out NOVA.
See the World with Google Arts & Culture
Google Arts & Culture is a treasure trove of over 10,000 famous sites, 2,000 museums and 100,000 artworks from 80 countries. There is an infinite amount of art, history, and cultural tours that can provide endless discovery, education and entertainment. See the Status of Liberty, take a tour of the White House, enter the Eiffel Tower, enjoy a nature walk at a national park, see worldwide castles, play games and more. There is a lot of navigation to be done, versus just hitting play on a video, so younger children may need you to be their tour guide. Older children on the other hand may get lost in delight with all there is to see.
For more global exploration, try Discovery Education, Global Trek, Google Earth: UNESCO World Heritage Sites, National Geographic Explorer Classroom, National Geographic Kids and Stages Around the World 360 Tour.
Google Arts & Culture is a treasure trove of over 10,000 famous sites, 2,000 museums and 100,000 artworks from 80 countries. There is an infinite amount of art, history, and cultural tours that can provide endless discovery, education and entertainment. See the Status of Liberty, take a tour of the White House, enter the Eiffel Tower, enjoy a nature walk at a national park, see worldwide castles, play games and more. There is a lot of navigation to be done, versus just hitting play on a video, so younger children may need you to be their tour guide. Older children on the other hand may get lost in delight with all there is to see.
For more global exploration, try Discovery Education, Global Trek, Google Earth: UNESCO World Heritage Sites, National Geographic Explorer Classroom, National Geographic Kids and Stages Around the World 360 Tour.
See the Marine Animals Live at the Georgia Aquarium
The Georgia Aquarium is remarkable. Virtually there are nine different live webcams to see marinelife, in action, in real time, from home! Marvel at the sea otters, jelly fish, Beluga whales, piranhas, penguins, sea lions, fish, gators and more.
For more captivating, virtual aquarium experiences, try Baltimore's National Aquarium, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Sea Life Sydney and Sea World, Shedd Aquarium.
The Georgia Aquarium is remarkable. Virtually there are nine different live webcams to see marinelife, in action, in real time, from home! Marvel at the sea otters, jelly fish, Beluga whales, piranhas, penguins, sea lions, fish, gators and more.
For more captivating, virtual aquarium experiences, try Baltimore's National Aquarium, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Sea Life Sydney and Sea World, Shedd Aquarium.
Meet Your Favorite Zoo Animals at the San Diego Zoo
If there’s one virtual zoo trip to do – it’s the San Diego Zoo. There are 13 different live webcams including elephants, koala bears, tigers, hippos and more. Also, there is an engaging video series specifically designed for kids to learn about animals, their habits and habitats.
For more animal encounters try Atlanta Zoo, Bronx Zoo, Houston Zoo, National Parks Service, Reid Park Zoo, Saint Louis Zoo, Taronga Zoo Sydney, Singapore Zoo, Smithsonian National Zoo, Toronto Zoo and Wild Life Sydney.
If there’s one virtual zoo trip to do – it’s the San Diego Zoo. There are 13 different live webcams including elephants, koala bears, tigers, hippos and more. Also, there is an engaging video series specifically designed for kids to learn about animals, their habits and habitats.
For more animal encounters try Atlanta Zoo, Bronx Zoo, Houston Zoo, National Parks Service, Reid Park Zoo, Saint Louis Zoo, Taronga Zoo Sydney, Singapore Zoo, Smithsonian National Zoo, Toronto Zoo and Wild Life Sydney.
Explore Natural Wonders and More Outdoor Destinations with Austin Adventures Virtual Adventures for Kids
Visit Costa Rica, Yellowstone, Mount Rushmore and more stunning sites in these in depth tours made for children. An hour plus long video takes you into a journey through history, highlighting key facts and attractions you will love learning about.
For more breathtaking, outdoor experiences try Ancient Egypt, Ellis Island, Farm 360, The Grand Canyon (more here), Great Salt Lake, Great Wall of China, Haleakalā Volcano Crater, The Leaning Tower of Pisa, Machu Picchu, Mount Rushmore, The Nature Conservancy, Niagara Falls (more here), US National Parks, US National Parks on Google Earth, World National Parks 360 Tour, Yellowstone National Park (more here) and Yosemite National Park.
Visit Costa Rica, Yellowstone, Mount Rushmore and more stunning sites in these in depth tours made for children. An hour plus long video takes you into a journey through history, highlighting key facts and attractions you will love learning about.
For more breathtaking, outdoor experiences try Ancient Egypt, Ellis Island, Farm 360, The Grand Canyon (more here), Great Salt Lake, Great Wall of China, Haleakalā Volcano Crater, The Leaning Tower of Pisa, Machu Picchu, Mount Rushmore, The Nature Conservancy, Niagara Falls (more here), US National Parks, US National Parks on Google Earth, World National Parks 360 Tour, Yellowstone National Park (more here) and Yosemite National Park.
Go to DisneyWorld
Head out on a virtual excursion around Disney World right on your computer. See the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom, Blizzard Beach and Hollywood Studios. Then, get in depth with these video tours and details about the park. And then get on the rides here!
For more thrilling theme park experiences try Universal Orlando Resort, LEGOLAND® Florida Resort and go on the rides here.
Head out on a virtual excursion around Disney World right on your computer. See the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom, Blizzard Beach and Hollywood Studios. Then, get in depth with these video tours and details about the park. And then get on the rides here!
For more thrilling theme park experiences try Universal Orlando Resort, LEGOLAND® Florida Resort and go on the rides here.
Explore Baseball's Highlights from the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
You can watch highlights of some of baseball's greats, listen to in-depth interviews, go on virtual field trips and view digital collections & exhibits all from the comfort of your home.
For more remarkable sports experiences, try stadium tours at Yankee Stadium, Citi Field, Every NFL Stadium, NY Knicks, NY Giants, NY Jets. Or check out the NHL Hall of Fame, NBA All-Star field trip and Pro Football Hall of Fame.
You can watch highlights of some of baseball's greats, listen to in-depth interviews, go on virtual field trips and view digital collections & exhibits all from the comfort of your home.
For more remarkable sports experiences, try stadium tours at Yankee Stadium, Citi Field, Every NFL Stadium, NY Knicks, NY Giants, NY Jets. Or check out the NHL Hall of Fame, NBA All-Star field trip and Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Travel Back in History With Historic Hudson Valley
One of our local favorites, Historic Hudson Valley, is bringing the rich and enchanting history of our region right to your home. There are Zoom backgrounds, historic recipes, virtual jigsaw puzzles, tinsmithing and more.
For more monumental historical experiences try Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown Settlement & American Revolution Museum, National Constitution Center, The Alamo, Mount Vernon and Museum of the American Revolution.
One of our local favorites, Historic Hudson Valley, is bringing the rich and enchanting history of our region right to your home. There are Zoom backgrounds, historic recipes, virtual jigsaw puzzles, tinsmithing and more.
For more monumental historical experiences try Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown Settlement & American Revolution Museum, National Constitution Center, The Alamo, Mount Vernon and Museum of the American Revolution.
Take a Trip to Outer Space
Now you can go to Mars directly from your couch! Discover the surface of Mars with NASA’s Curiosity rover in a 360-degree view. Learn about space exploration and more in this interactive experience.
For more wondrous, out of this world experiences try Google Moon, NASA Glenn Research Center Tour, NASA Videos, NASA Space Cam, Nickelodeon Slime in Space, Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum, US Space and Rocket Museum, and Virtual Trips With Boeing.
Now you can go to Mars directly from your couch! Discover the surface of Mars with NASA’s Curiosity rover in a 360-degree view. Learn about space exploration and more in this interactive experience.
For more wondrous, out of this world experiences try Google Moon, NASA Glenn Research Center Tour, NASA Videos, NASA Space Cam, Nickelodeon Slime in Space, Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum, US Space and Rocket Museum, and Virtual Trips With Boeing.
Learn About Candy and More on Unwrapped
Watch Unwrapped's library of videos to see behind-the-scenes details on classic American food, from peanut butter and chocolate syrup to French fries and bubblegum. Join host Marc Summers (yes from Double Dare!) as he heads into test kitchens, factory tours and more.
Watch Unwrapped's library of videos to see behind-the-scenes details on classic American food, from peanut butter and chocolate syrup to French fries and bubblegum. Join host Marc Summers (yes from Double Dare!) as he heads into test kitchens, factory tours and more.
That concludes our list! For more ideas, check out our blog 10 Virtual or at-Home Things to Do in Westchester During COVID. It features local museums and classes that offer virtual experiences. Do you have any to add? Share your suggestions in the comments below or in Facebook, Instagram or Twitter!
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