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Home » Wanderlust » 75+ Armchair Travel Experiences: Virtual Tours & More!

75+ Armchair Travel Experiences: Virtual Tours & More!

We live in crazy times. Our big beautiful world is facing challenges the likes of which we have never seen or experienced before. From global warming to global pandemics, fires to floods – and even locusts (!), the extinction of animal species, exponential population growth and diminishing natural resources (just to name a few – and all of which are too big to deal with here!) And when it comes to exploring this incredible world, mass over-tourism (until the start of 2020) was and is threatening to destroy some of our most loved and cherished sights and cities. As a response to our current situation armchair travel is becoming more and more important – both to our sanity and the tourism industry!

The term armchair travel has been traditionally used to refer to seniors and the elderly, unable to travel and so attempting to see the world from their living room; with virtual travel being used for the younger crowd, and even more so with the improvements in VR (virtual reality). But at times like this, terminology doesn’t matter. What does matter is that while domestic and international travel has been banned by governments around the world, the tourism industry has stepped up to try and offer some virtual relief in the form of live streams, webcams and 360-degree virtual tours. However finding then can be a bit of a hit and miss affair depending on how well they are marketed.

And that’s where we come in. As someone who is currently in lockdown myself, and looking for ways to virtually travel from home , live streams of incredible places in the world have become my daily escape. From ‘diving’ the Great Barrier Reef in Australia to Walking along the Great Wall of China; from going to the Ballet in London or watching Baby Goats in Indiana. I love that I can hop online and see our beautiful world continuing on around us. And I hope that by putting together a directory of armchair travel live streams and virtual tours and travel experiences in major destinations around the world, you will find a little bit of escapism too.

*QUICK TIP* Looking for something specific? Use the table of contents to narrow down by country, state and region or use CTL+F to search by text!

Armchair Travel – A Complete Guide to Live Streams & Virtual Travel Around the World

*Editors note: Whilst we are all in lockdown and unable to travel, the natural world is showing signs of recovery (improvement in air quality in China and Europe , pollution levels in New York are down, wildlife is making a resurgence etc) but many human-centric industries are suffering in its wake – including the tourism industry. For tourism businesses such as hotels and tour companies, restaurants and airlines, travel agents – and travel blogs – a global lockdown has been catastrophic on a scale no one could have predicted, and dependant on how long this crisis lasts could be the reason some of these organizations and travel companies don’t exist when we return to some semblance of normality (although I would encourage everyone to think about exactly what parts of ‘normal’ they want to bring back ). 

As a way keep tourism alive and to support those in the industry local to you there are a few things you can do: use takeaway options from cafes and restaurants (direct from the supplier if possible), shop small/shop local via online stores and share small businesses that need help with your friends. And for those further away, postpone don’t cancel your reservations; buy gift certificates for future travel experience, leave online reviews from past stays (they may not help now, but will certainly help build confidence when the industry starts to recover) – and please please please keep reading your favorite travel blogs ( like this one! )

Keep planning those dream vacations and click through your favorite websites for travel inspiration, because when the world opens it’s doors again, you might want to be ready and excited to jump back into travel as soon it is safe to do so. (I know I will!)

But until then, let’s keep travel alive through armchair travel, virtual reality and 360 degree tours – and if you know of a great virtual travel resource or live feed that we haven’t included in this list, let us know in the comments below so we can add it in!

In This Post

• 1.2.1 Melbourne & Victoria
• 1.2.2 Northern Territory
• 1.2.3 Sydney & New South Wales
• 1.2.4 Queensland
• 1.2.5 Western Australia
• 1.4 Cambodia
• 1.10 Israel
• 1.12 Maldives
• 1.15 Russia
• 1.16 UK & Ireland
• 1.17.1 Arizona
• 1.17.2 California
• 1.17.3 Colorado
• 1.17.4 Florida
• 1.17.5 Georgia
• 1.17.6 Hawaii
• 1.17.7 Indiana
• 1.17.8 Montana
• 1.17.9 New Mexico
• 1.17.10 New York
• 1.17.11 South Carolina
• 1.17.12 Tennessee
• 1.17.13 Washington D.C.
• 1.17.14 Wyoming

And if that’s not enough, you could virtually hike Kenya’s Mount Kilimanjaro !

Melbourne & Victoria

• Take virtual tours at both the Melbourne Museum and the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV)
• Spend an hour at the symphony: Melbourne Symphony Orchestra broadcast live & delayed performances
• Zoos Victoria have a range of live webcams to watch our furry friends, from snow leopard cubs (eep!) to koalas, lions to zebras and quite a few in between.
• Take in an aerial tour of the 12 Apostles and other natural features along Australias favorite coastal drive at The Great Ocean Road
• Take a peek under the coastline with ReefCam at Port Phillip Bay – or the view from above

Northern Territory

• Be virtually guided around the indigenous sacred site of Uluru , learning all about the sights and sounds that make it so important.

Sydney & New South Wales

• Take a virtual tour of Sydney itself; or
• See inside an icon with the Sydney Opera House 360-degree Tour
• Rewatch a classic performance by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra
• Zip Line through the trees with Illawarra Fly
• Explore the Great Barrier Reef with David Attenborough on an interactive journey; or
• Track some of the most incredible sea creatures found on the Reef with ReefTracks by Citizens of the Great Barrier Reef
• Get a dose of cute Aussie wildlife when you check in on the Koalas via Koala-cam at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

Western Australia

• Go Whale Watching and see Orca’s, Blue Whales and Whale Sharks on these incredible virtual tours.
• Explore the stunning Karijini National Park in HD

• Grab a Caipirinha and transport yourself to Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro in one click.

• The temples of the incredible Angkor Wat complex have never been so accessible. Explore in VR here & here .

• See the Northern Lights from Churchill, Manitoba
• #VirtuallyVancouver is bringing travel-worthy stories and experiences right to your fingertips.
• Explore Old Québec City in 360° in under 3 minutes!

• Take a virtual walk along the Great Wall of China
• Explore China through a Virtual Reality Tour of the Forbidden City
• Get an aerial view of the impressive Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge in 360° and 8K

• Take a virtual tour of the Louvre’s impressive art collection .
• Wander through history with a virtual tour at the Paris Catacombs
• Enjoy the beautiful Palace of Versailles on a virtual tour
• Get a glimpse of the Eiffel Tower – anytime day or night (we recommend sunset if you can swing it!)

• Virtually Visit the impressive Taj Mahal that typically sees millions of visitors each year.

• Take a cooking class with a real Italian Nonna !
• Tour the archives of the Vatican Museum – including the Sistine Chapel – without having to get dressed.
• Venice has a rolling live stream with cameras around the city showcasing views of the Rialto Bridge, St. Mark’s Square and Grand Canal

• The Inbal is a luxury hotel in Jerusalem, overlooking the old city – and their rotating webcam gives you a birdseye view of the holy city from dawn to dusk.
• The Postcards from Israel YouTube series takes would-be tourists on a virtual tour on this incredible country, with different sites in each video.

• Japan went all out when they started to focus on armchair travel and you can see the whole country in Virtual Reality!
• There is also a webcam of the famously busy (but currently very quiet) Shibuya Crossing ; and
• Webcams of the Niseko Snow Village

• Hit the beach with a live stream from Kuredu Island Resort . Those clear blue waters and white sands are enough to make everyone’s days a little bit brighter
• Take a virtual aerial tour of the Maldives with AirPano

• Virtually do something millions never can or will: Explore Everest Base Camp in High Definition!

• Explore Machu Picchu in HD (without the 4-day hike to see one of the worlds most beautiful sights)

• Explore the amazing Catherine Palace in virtual Reality.

UK & Ireland

• Explore London every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday with a 20-minute virtual tour with LookUpLondon live on Instagram
• Take a peek inside the Queen’s house with this virtual tour of Buckingham Palace
• Wander where giants once roamed on this virtual tour of the Giants Causeway in Ireland
• Stock up on your Shakespeare at the Globe Theater (performances available for a small fee)
• Explore Historical & Cultural sites: Take a virtual tour of the British Museum or the Tower of London
• Live at London Zoo – head on over to the webcams to check on our animal friends
• Virtually ride the London Eye (for free!)
• Have a night at the ballet with shows recorded and shared on YouTube by the Royal Opera House
• Use Google’s Art&Culture App to virtually explore The Natural History Museum
• Take a wander through the historic Edinburgh Castle (home to the annual Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo )

• Witness the majesty of the Grand Canyon without leaving your sofa with GoogleEarth!
• See the animals at San Diego Zoo with live streams of polar bears , giraffes and more !
• Watch the Jellyfish at the Monterey Bay Aquarium
• See the Bald Eagles at Channel Island National Park
• Take in the natural beauty of Yosemite Falls in Yosemite National Park
• View the Webcams at Rocky Mountain National Park
• Escape with stunning Drone Footage from the Garden of the Gods
• Immerse yourself in stunning imagery from Colorado National Monument NP (the prettiest National Park you’ve never heard of!)
• Take a Street Art Tour of Colorado
• Head to the Theme Parks and hop on a rollercoaster! YouTube channels such as CoasterForce and iThemePark allow you to tour the parks and virtually ride the coasters without needing to leave your living room (or buy a ticket!)
• Leave the planet entirely with the Housten Space Centre app – offering interactive tours, virtual reality experiences and various app-based exhibits to help you get among the stars.
• Need a little beach time in your virtual life? Check the webcam at Clearwater Beach and enjoy this little slice of paradise from your sofa.
• Watch the underwater world of the Georgia Aquarium , or check-in via webcam on a whole heap of sea creatures.
• Hit the beach with the Waimea Bay Live Webcam . Sand, sunsets, and waves. Apart from actually being there, what more could you want?
• Who knew you needed a live stream of baby goats in your life? It’s cuteness at a click whenever you need a boost!
• Explore the turquoise glacial lakes and rugged mountaintops in Glacier National Park
• Take a virtual tour of Carlsbad Caverns National Park with Google Earth

• Virtually walk through Central Station or Central Park learning about their history and cultural importance to the city
• Take a helicopter ride above New York City and see all the major sights
• Take a virtual tour through MOMA , the Museum of Modern Art thanks to Googles’ art and culture initiative.
• Have a giggle: Standup NY and Magnet Theater are both live streaming comedy performances.
• The ‘ Tourist in Your Own Town ‘ series of videos takes you through some of New Yorks’ lesser-visited sites and attractions.
• Broadway & Musicals in Your Living Room: Whilst there is a paid service for this (BroadwayHD) – YouTube can be a great resource, and help you save money at the same time. Tune into The Shows Must Go On for free for a new musical each weekend.
• Find yourself smack bang in the middle of New York’s Times Square in just one click.
• Tour the Guggenheim Museum on a virtual tour through its amazing halls.
• Go to the Met! The Metropolitan Opera is hosting nightly encore performances of some of its most iconic shows with free streams available from 7.30 pm each day and available for 20 hours after the performance.

South Carolina

• Walk through Charleston on a virtual Ghost Tour of the city every Friday and Saturday night.
• How cute are Otters?! Watch them frolic on OtterCam at the Tennessee Aquarium.

Washington D.C.

• Watch as the Cherry Blossoms bloom along the National Mall with BloomCam
• See the Pandas care of The Smithsonian at the National Zoo
• Take a virtual tour the National Portrait Gallery
• Discover DC in 360° – with virtual tours in and around the city.
• Tour the Smithsonian Natural History Museum with a selection of virtual tours.
• Get ready to watch Old Faithful spray in Yellowstone National Park (there’s a handy predictor on there too!)

And that’s a wrap folks – for now at least(!) We hope you have found some exotic place to virtually travel to or just by clicking a few of the live-stream links listed here you are getting the hang on modern-day armchair travels! And if you know of a travel-inspiration worthy virtual travel experience or 360° virtual tour from around the world please let us know, and we will add it to this list. We hope that this will turn into the most complete armchair travel resource on the web – which will be useful even after the global travel ban!

And if you know of anyone going stir crazy at home (who isn’t at the moment?!) or has got a travel itch they just can’t scratch – be sure to share this post with them or on social media. It can be shared on Facebook, Twitter, Flipboard or, by grabbing the image below, Pinterest. Hopefully they can virtually travel to their dream destination with the help of this list and scratch that daily travel itch!

And if you liked this armchair travel guide to virtual tours and virtual travel experiences throughout the world, take a look at the other recent posts, packing tips, travel accessories, travel resources, travel guides, travel tips, ultimate guides and packing lists in this series:

• The Ultimate Road Trip Packing List – & Road Trip Playlist (!) keeping you and your care happy, entertained & healthy on the road
• The Ultimate Ski Trip Packing List – packed full of ski essentials to help you have the best time on the piste
• The Best Time to Visit Iceland + How to Pack for Iceland (in Summer OR Winter) – Iceland can be cold and unpredictable, but our list will have you covered whatever season you plan to visit.
• Get Eco Friendly on your travels: The Best Solid Toiletries (that you can take in your carry on) and Eco-Friendly Gifts for travel lovers.
• Travel Gear: Travel Backpacks & Carry On Luggage , travel tripods , camera backpacks , passport holders & travel yoga mats !
• Get ready for the World’s favorite shopping holiday: Black Friday Deals for Travel 2020

Hi There! Thanks for reading my guide to Online Travel & Armchair Travel: 75+ live streams, virtual tours & virtual travel experiences to help you travel without leaving home while the world is closed! I just wanted to let you know that this post may contain affiliate links, which means if you purchase something after clicking any of the links we may earn – which is at absolutely no cost to you . If you enjoyed this article and are going to be searching for some of the things I mention anyway, I would love it if you could click through from the links above & thank you in advance! Read my full Disclosure here .

And thank you for reading the MakeTimeToSeeTheWorld travel blog.

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Armchair Travel to host flight experience to English Countryside

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If you’re looking for an unforgettable flying experience, then consider taking the Armchair Travel trip to Flying Over the English Countryside.

This event will take place from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sept. 18, at the John D. Spreckels Center in Armchair Travel.

The event will be headlined by Bill Sandke, who will share his exciting story of a WWII Spitfire flight and his visit the Duxford Air Show.

Tickets will be on sale for residents at $6, and $8 for nonresidents. Tickets can also be purchased at the door. For more information, visit www.coronado.ca.us/civicrec or call (619) 522-7343.

This story was generated with assistance from AI and was reviewed by a member of our publication.

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Ultimate Armchair Travel Guide: Experiencing Travel at Home

April 3, 2020

Anna Hammerschmidt

There is nothing like traipsing the globe; hopping from Milan to NYC to Sao Paulo in mere minutes. No, I’m not talking about teleporting. I’m talking about armchair travel. I have been armchair traveling for years and I didn’t even know it. If you are a travel addict like me, chances are you have been armchair traveling too. We just didn’t know there was a name for it. No need to pack your bags for this trip. We are delving deep into how you can experience travel without leaving your home.

Table of Contents

Armchair Travel Meaning

At this point, you may be wondering what exacting is the meaning of armchair travel? Armchair traveling is experiencing a destination without actually traveling there. This can be done through various virtual travel experiences such as virtual reality , travel books, and movies.

Why Should You Consider Armchair Traveling?

There doesn’t necessarily need to be a choice between actual travel and armchair traveling. If you have the opportunity and are able to travel, by all means, go see the world! But oftentimes, we can’t travel as much as we would like, whether it is for financial issues, time off or a global pandemic. These restrictions don’t mean that you shouldn’t be able to experience travel. If you love to travel, you should be able to experience it as much as you would like.

Personally, I wish to be engrossed in travel 365 days a year. But realistically, I can’t actually be traveling that frequently. So, I turned to armchair travel. I spend time learning about different countries and cultures. I virtually tour cities and tourist destinations. And I am always gathering inspiration for my next trip, knowing full well that there is no possible way I could travel to the thousands of destinations I have virtually experienced. But it’s nice to dream and to learn about other destinations.

Armchair travel is also a great way to plan for future trips. Before visiting a destination, I like to learn as much about it as I can. I delve through the internet searching for blog posts and videos about the destination. I create virtual “vision boards” on Instagram of photo spots I want to see. And I always make sure to pick up my favorite travel guide. This helps me feel prepared and fully knowledgeable about the destination, so I can truly appreciate everything I am seeing.

Interested in travel at home? Check out this guide to the perfect staycation!

Ways to Travel From Home – Armchair Travel

Travel blogs and guides, guide books.

A tried and true way to experience travel from home is by reading travel blogs and guides. One of the most exciting parts about travel (aside from actually being in the destination) is the planning phase. I love planning trips. Scouring through travel guides and blogs builds up the anticipation for visiting a destination. Reading travel guides typically helps outline the best places to see in a destination.

But you don’t have to be going on a trip to enjoy reading about a destination. If you’re like me, you may already have a shelf of travel guides at home. I have a collection of Eyewitness travel guides for destinations I’ve never visited and regions I love. But there is something about reading these guides that fuels me with so much wanderlust. If you don’t already have a collection of guide books, pick one up for a destination you’re curious about. Maybe it will inspire you to visit one day or fill you with more knowledge about the destination.

One of my favorite things to do when I’m not traveling is to grab a handful of books from the travel section at Barnes and Noble and compare the different guide books. Be sure to grab a coffee and allow yourself to get lost in the pages.

Travel Blogs

I may be biased, but I love researching travel online. There are so many resources and incredible travel blogs. If there is a particular destination you’re interested in, simply enter your query into Google and you will find endless blog posts about the destination. Or check out the destinations your favorite blogger has written about and use that as the base for your armchair travel destination. (Pssst check out the destinations I’ve written about for armchair traveling)!

If you’re looking for armchair travel on a particular country or destination, there are plenty of blogs with a focus on specific places. For instance, you can find ample inspiration about Chile on Gringa Journeys and tons of posts about Madrid from Lauren on Location .

Youtube Videos

Youtube is a great source for experiencing travel at home. When I want to know what a place is really like, I head to Youtube. While reading about destinations is a great source of information (for us who like to be very informed), Youtube is on another level for experiencing travel at home. Seeing a destination through video allows you to sit back and enjoy the experience. The best part is, watching Youtube is completely free. Simply enter the destination in the Youtube search tab that you wish to virtually escape. There are various videos to watch from uncut clips that allow you to get a true glimpse of the destination, beautiful inspiration type of videos and entertaining travel vlogs. Some of these videos are on par with travel shows and documentaries on major networks.

After being so inspired by armchair traveling with my favorite Youtube videos, I decided to start a travel vlog. Check out my Youtube channel here! I will be adding tons of travel videos and armchair travel ideas.

If you are looking for some Youtube travel channels to get started with, check out some of my favorites. These are the channels I find myself looking forward to watching their new videos because they allow me to virtually experience the destination.

Check out these channels:

Sandy Makes Sense: Sandy is a bubbly host, who’s videos always leave me smiling. While she doesn’t always travel with friends, her videos make you feel like you’re experiencing the ultimate girlfriends getaway.

Happy to Wander: The host of this channel is a hilarious Canadian expat living in Europe. The videos on this channel are more travel guides than vlogs yet she manages to do so in an entertaining yet informative way.

De Ja Shu: The videos on Shu’s Channel are cinematically beautiful and she is a very charming host. Be prepared, after watching her videos you will leave hungry as she is quite the foodie.

The Life of Jord: Jordan’s videos will bring you to far-flung destinations you may never have considered visiting (perfect for armchair traveling)! His videos will leave you curious about places you’ve never heard of before.

Backpacking Bananas: The host of this channel, Christianne, is high energy and relatable. Her videos mostly focus on her backpacking trips around the world. Great for entertaining videos to fuel your wanderlust from home.

Come Join My Journey: If you haven’t checked it out already, I actually have a travel vlog that I started recently to further share my travels!

A unique and amazing way to enjoy armchair traveling is via webcams. There are webcams all over the world, where you can watch a live stream of a destination. When it comes to truly experiencing a destination via armchair travel, they are a game-changer! These webcams allow you to get a glimpse of what is really happening at that very moment in the destination. Webcams verge on feeling like you’re spying, but they are typically scenic webcams so you’re not getting an up-close showing the people walking around.

Search Webcams

It’s astonishing how many webcams you can watch online. If there is a specific location you wish to visit during your armchair travels, simply search “Destination webcam” and plenty of options will come up. (PS never do anything you wouldn’t want someone to see when you’re traveling because evidently there are webcams everywhere!)

Not sure where you want to go? Browse through some of the top webcams on these websites:

Skyline Webcams

Destination Specific Webcams

There are plenty of destination-specific webcams. After a trip to Ocean City, Maryland, we revised the ocean and pier at home with their various webcams . While we couldn’t feel the sand or the salty air, viewing those live cameras from our couch felt like those we were there for just a moment.

Wildlife Webcams

If you’re an animal lover, some of the best aquariums, zoos and wildlife conservatories even have their own webcams that you can watch. There is nothing quite like being immersed in watching animals to feel as though you are no longer sitting at home.

Google Earth & Street View

One of my all-time favorite forms of armchair travel is browsing Google Street View. I have been pretty obsessed with Google Street View since the introduction of Google Earth . (Yes, I have always been travel obsessed). Google Street View on Google Earth is one of the best ways to get a visual of a destination. You are able to click and virtually “walk-around” the destination, getting 360 degrees of streets and squares in the world. To use Google Street View, simply drop your icon on one of the blue lines in the destination you are searching on Google Earth.

Additionally, there are little blue dots that you can drop your icon on. These are photospheres, which will show you 360-degree snapshots from around a destination. These are especially useful when you are searching for a particular tourist spot that may not be on a street.

Google Earth even pulls an excerpt from Wikipedia for each destination you search for. This helps to learn a bit about the destination as you are getting virtually lost in its streets.

If you’re not sure where you want to virtually explore, there is a “Feeling Lucky” feature on Google Earth, which pulls up a random location on the map for you to check out. I’ve noticed that this feature tends to pull up locations I have never heard of, many of which don’t actually have street view information. But that just means you’re “traveling” to a place that many people don’t go to. Take the opportunity to research this destination and try to pull up videos and blog posts.

Secret Door

Similar to the “Feeling Lucky” feature of Google Earth, there is this very cheesy and amazing website called Secret Door . This website is slightly more satisfying than the “Feeling Lucky” feature on Google Earth because it brings you directly to a random spot on Google Street View.

The website is a little slow, however, it is so worth the wait! Each click through the door brings you to a unique spot on Google Street View. On one click I was inside of the White House and on the next, I was in Shackleton’s Hut in Antarctica. It is so fun to try and guess where you ended up!

Virtually Visit Museums

If you are a museum buff when you travel, there is the perfect app for visiting museums worldwide from the comfort of your home. Via the Google Arts and Culture app , you can visit over 2000 museums across the world. I have spent more hours than I care to admit on this app. For someone who doesn’t typically have a long attention span for museums, this app has been a game-changer for me. Each museum on the Google Arts and Culture app has online exhibits. These online exhibits give a background of what the exhibits are about as well as various photos showcasing the collection. These exhibits provide the perfect amount of information, they are informative yet not overwhelming.

To start off your armchair travels at the museum, I would suggest picking a city to start exploring and prepare yourself for a long day at the museums. Spend time reading about the exhibits, walking around the museums with street view and even virtually hanging art on your walls at home. Yes, you can virtually hang masterpieces on your walls! It’s fun, a bit cheesy and a great way to see the art up close. If you have a Google Cardboard or other VR headset, you can even take virtual tours of museums and cultural sites on Google Arts and Culture.

Virtual Reality

Getting a Virtual Reality Headsets

Virtual Reality is by far one of the most realistic and immersive ways to experience armchair travel. All you need is a virtual reality headset. The best part is, you don’t have to spend an arm and a leg for a VR headset. You can get an entry-level VR headset for a reasonable price. I went with the Google Cardboard model as I didn’t want to overly invest in a headset. However, the actual Google Cardboard model was sold out. So I opted for this model . And it really works! I bought a virtual reality headset for under $8 and it works so well! Honestly, if you are using virtual reality for the first time, all you need is a cardboard model to start out.

If you have children or are planning to use virtual reality often, I would consider investing in something more durable. If you prefer a more durable model, consider getting an entry-level model such as this one by BNEXT.

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Virtual reality videos.

There are countless virtual reality videos and still images you can find online for free. After scouring the internet and apps, I have discovered endless places to visit in VR. With new virtual content being added daily, you will have no shortage of adventures during your armchair travels. Throw on your cardboard VR viewer and headphones and get ready for an adventure of a lifetime…from your couch.

Some of my favorite apps for travel virtual reality are the Google’s Arts and Cultures app, where you can virtually tour museums and cultural sites around the world and the Google Expedition app, where there are over 900 expeditions to choose from, including national parks and palaces.

A fantastic source of virtual reality videos is Youtube. Youtube has tons of high-quality virtual reality videos that are readily available. In order to use your VR headsets with Youtube videos, make sure you have the Youtube app downloaded and click on the “VR headset icon” on the corner of a virtual reality video. Some of my favorite channels for virtual reality travel videos include National Geographic and VR Gorilla . If you are looking for a particular destination, search for “destination virtual reality” on Youtube.

Travel Books

One of my favorite genres of books to read is travel books. These books tend to suck me into the destination the book is based on and fuel me with so much wanderlust. I find myself inspired by the author’s story and travels. A good travel writer will make you feel like you have stepped into the destination they are describing.

I love a good travel memoir! Some of my favorites are classics such as “Eat, Pray, Love” and “Wild” . The newest memoir on my virtual travel bookshelf is “Around the World in 80 Trains” . I use an e-reader for when I travel, so I’m not lugging around tons of books. You can also virtually check books out of your local libraries to use on your e-readers with the apps Overdrive and Libby.

There is nothing quite like having a good coffee table book. I have a few travel coffee table books that I often flick through for travel inspiration. One of my all-time favorites is “1000 Places to See Before you Die” , which is full of classic bucket-list destinations across the world. If you’re looking for a beautiful and inspiring hardcover coffee table book, add “Dame Traveler: Live the Spirit of Adventure” to your collection. This book is full of gorgeous photos and tips from female travelers. (PS I’m featured in the Dame Traveler book! I may be biased, but this is a great book!)

Subscribe to Travel Magazines

Similar to travel books, but the destinations you are visiting are a total surprise each month. There is something so special about holding a glossy travel magazine in your hands and flipping through the pages to discover a new destination the writers have covered each month. Travel magazines tend to be the beginning of my armchair travel binging. After reading a short article about a destination in one of my favorite magazines, Travel and Leisure or CN Traveler , I find myself scouring the internet to learn everything possible about the destination.  One of the best parts of travel magazines is that the stories are typically accompanied by beautiful imagery from the destination.

Travel Movies and TV Shows

One of my first inspirations for travel was watching movies travel TV shows. I lived for the Travel Channel growing up, watching my favorite series by Anthony Bourdain and Samantha Brown. Each episode of these shows brought a new destination with entertaining hosts. Now there are various travel shows on networks, streaming services and online. Some of my favorite travel shows include:

Check out the best travel movies here!

Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown:  Who doesn’t love Anthony Bourdain? I have seen perhaps every one of his travel series, my favorite being “Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown”. You can stream this on Amazon, or you can watch “Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations” on Hulu!

Samantha Brown’s Places to Love: Samantha Brown is adorable and lively and showcases highlights of a destination from places to see to history. You watch all the episodes of Places to Love on PBS!

Get Lost in Travel Photos on Instagram

My Instagram feed is flooded with inspirational travel accounts. These accounts allow me to experience a destination through someone’s perspective.  I love following people who travel frequently or live somewhere interesting. Instagram is an especially great place to do this because it feels more personal and in the moment than other media. While Instagram feeds can still be quite curated, I love seeing how Instagrammers showcase a destination.

One of my favorite features of Instagram is Instagram Stories. It is interesting to see the more candid moments these travelers share on Instagram Stories, which often go along with the photos they are sharing on their feeds. After following some travel accounts for years, it feels as though I truly know the person and I’m excited to see where they go next.  I use my Instagram @comejoinmyjourney_ to document my travels, sharing curated travel photos with captions talking about my experience or thoughts about a destination. My IG stories tend to be more behind the scenes documentation of my travels.

There are so many talented photographers and Instagrammers on Instagram, that scrolling through your feed can feel like you are looking at a beautiful gallery of travel photos. Be sure to follow specific accounts of individuals whose travels inspire you as well as some feature accounts. Feature accounts allow you to discover new destinations and accounts daily. Some of my all-time favorite feature accounts include  @dametraveler , feature female travelers and @italy.vacations , which showcases different destinations in Italy.

            View this post on Instagram                         A post shared by Anna ✈️ Travel Blogger (@comejoinmyjourney_) on Nov 6, 2019 at 9:40am PST

Create a Vision Board on Pinterest

Pinterest is such a great way to find travel inspiration and to organize it. Pinterest is a great took to use for armchair travel. Think of Pinterest as a visual search engine. So it makes searching for travel information fun! After searching for a destination on Pinterest, you will find tons of beautiful photos and blog posts. I love using Pinterest because it is so visual. If you are drawn to the image, you can click on it to be redirected to a blog post or webpage to find out more information.

When I am browsing Pinterest, either for research for upcoming trips or travel inspiration, I organize these pins into destination boards. These destination boards serve as a vision board for the specific city, region or country. Once I save and organize these pins, I can go back and read all the posts I saved or look back at the photos for inspiration.

Cook Regional Dishes

If you are a foodie, a huge part of travel is trying different dishes from around the world. Trying local dishes allows you to further experience a destination. Yet, just because you can’t travel does not mean you can’t try food from around the world. Pick up a cookbook from a particular destination or look up your favorite dish you’ve had abroad and get cooking. While it may not be authentically made, trying food from different places that you don’t typically eat is a great way to experience armchair travel.

Not only is cooking different types of dishes a great way to escape your everyday routine, but it also helps you appreciate those local delicacies. Here are some great cookbooks to try:

“Made in Mexico” by Danny Mena: For those who love Mexican food!

“Vietnamese Food Any Day” by Andrea Nguyen: For delicious Vietnamese dishes!

“Everyday Italian: 125 Simple and Delicious Recipes” by Giada De Laurentiis: Because everyone needs Italian food in their lives!

Research History

While I have always enjoyed history, travel fueled my love for it. Visiting a destination that you have learned about makes it feel so much more real. I tend to find myself in a research frenzy about the historical significance of a place that I visit. Learning about the history of a destination makes me feel like I have a great understanding of it. Learning about history is such a great way to enjoy armchair travel.

There are various ways to learn about the history of a travel destination you are visiting. Many travel shows and blogs have a historical element. You can go on a Wikipedia binge about the destination you are visiting from home. Or you can pick up a history book about the destination you are visiting.

Practice Language Skills

Language is such a beautiful part of travel. I yearn for foreign tongues; languages and words that I have never heard before. There is something so rewarding about learning a new language, even if it is just bits and pieces of it. Before I visit a destination, I am sure to learn a few key phrases and words of the language spoken in the destination. And I feel so rewarded when I start picking up on the language while traveling.

Just because you are at home, does not mean you can’t learn language skills. Spend some time practicing your language skills with phrasebooks and language apps. Duolingo is a great app to use to learn a language for free! I use this app before traveling and when I’m at home. There are various languages you can learn on Duolingo. However, if you truly want to learn a new language , you may want to consider investing in Rosetta Stone .

If there is a language that you already know or enjoy listening to, put on a movie or tv show in that language. Even if it is just background noise, you will feel like you are in that destination.

Have a Destination Theme Night

Now that you have tons of ideas for different ways to enjoy armchair travel, you can bring them all together to have a destination theme night. This is one of my favorite ways to delve into travel at home. This allows you to truly immerse yourself in the destination. After picking a destination, do as many things as you can from this list of ideas for traveling from home. Do some research on the destination you want to virtually travel to, just as you would do for an actual trip. Then delve into the destination, making your favorite dish from the destination and enjoying an evening of watching Youtube videos and movies about the destination or enjoying a good travel book.

Some Travel Theme Night Ideas:

Paris Theme Night: Grab a glass of wine and a cheese tray and tune into “Midnight in Paris”. If you have a beret , throw it on to feel like you are in the City of Lights.

Las Vegas Theme Night: If you have a poker set , have a poker night. Start drinking whatever and whenever you want (because it’s Vegas, right?) and finish the night watching “The Hangover”.

Singapore Theme Night: Get a Singapore street food cookbook and create some delicious dishes. Then throw on your most extravagant outfit and watch “Crazy Rich Asians” .

Travel Photos

Who better to live vicariously through than yourself. Yeah, you! Chances are you have been on some pretty fabulous trips before. So, if you are unable to travel at the moment, might as well take this time to relive your past trips. I love having a chance to go through my old travel photos. This gives me a chance to remember the moment I took the photo and share the stories about my past trips with others. A few ways you can experience armchair travel through old travel photos include:

Show the photos to family/friends: Tell them all about your experiences.

Post your travel photos on social media: Now is a great time to make that inspirational travel account on Instagram!

Create a scrapbook: Making scrapbooks is a great way to showcase your travel photos and mementos in one place.

Write a Travel Bucket List

While armchair travel alleviates my need to travel right now, it still leaves me wanting to visit the destinations I have virtually traveled to. I have a mental list of places I want to visit that is constantly growing. A great way to continue dreaming about these destinations is to create a travel bucket list. While you may be stuck at home right now, there is no reason you can’t dream of visiting these places one day. By writing these destinations down on an organized travel bucket list or even pinpointing places you want to go on Google Maps, you may be able to plan a trip when you can travel.

1 thought on “Ultimate Armchair Travel Guide: Experiencing Travel at Home”

This is such an amazingly in-depth guide!! Proof that it’s not the end of the world that we can’t travel right now 😉 I’ll be using some of your ideas- thanks!!

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Armchair Travel Is Springing Back to Life

Whatever form armchair travel assumes, it’s not something I personally have much experience with. As a professional travel writer who spends the majority of my time physically on the road, it rarely comes into play. But that’s not to say I don’t see the value in it. Wanderlust is an almost universal human trait—I’m not sure travel journalism would even exist without it—and the need to scratch that itch comes with a pronounced set of challenges.

First and foremost, there are the financial hurdles. Beyond that, it’s almost always a veritable pain in the ass to get from A to B, and that goes double for anyone dealing with limited mobility or other circumstances that might make flying less accessible. Considering that travelers filed 1,693 disability-related complaints against US airlines in 2022 alone—triple the number filed in 2020—this issue is growing increasingly relevant as post-pandemic travel continues to surge.

Even without mobility limitations, relying on planes is a frustrating affair. I say this as someone who just spent four whole hours on hold with United Airlines after a battery of flights were delayed with no prior warning. During that exceedingly frustrating downtime, I began to seriously question my life decisions. Is travel overrated? Ralph Waldo Emerson famously called it a “fool’s paradise,” and the list of notable philosophers throughout history who have ridiculed the pursuit runs long. And while I’ve always assumed they were sour grapes-ing the fact they hadn’t earned Delta Diamond status, maybe there’s more to it than that.

According to one expert, while my movement might be a mandatory work hazard, I’ve been journeying in the wrong direction.

“Traveling inward to explore the vastness of one’s own consciousness is an adventure few people have yet to embark upon,” says Dan Marko, senior spiritual wellness provider at the famed Canyon Ranch retreat and spa in Lenox, Massachusetts . “Traditionally mystics and shamans intentionally move into a non-ordinary state of awareness through adapting the breath rhythm and adding the vibratory sound of an instrument or a sound found in nature to travel into the vastness of the three worlds—upper, middle, lower—[of] what in modern conversation might be called the multiverse.”

"This type of travel should be considered a pilgrimage,” he adds. “You are traveling to the sacred within and returning with a renewed or refreshed reverence for life.”

This concept hits particularly hard considering we know for certain that physical movement across long distances can negatively affect the very environment we’re seeking to explore. Simon Ford , for one, is pointedly aware of this fact. As co-founder of Fords Gin , he’s had to trek to bars and restaurants across the globe to promote his product. When he’s not in the air, however, he uses armchair travel as a way to help him ultimately be more intentional with his travel plans.

“The travel industry certainly has an impact on climate change, and as more and more people travel this will only worsen,” he points out. “Armchair travel gives us an opportunity to research and be selective, which is a good thing. For example, after reading Eric Newby's The Big Red Train Ride , I found myself booking a trip to take the Trans Siberian Railway across six time zones. Most of my bucket list travel comes from great books.”

And Simon’s hardly alone. Dr. Melissa Boudin, a clinical psychologist from Santa Barbara, California , classifies this method as “travel-based daydreaming.” Most of us do it from time to time, she suggests, as if we’re crafting an internal vision board that keeps us relaxed and open to new possibilities while also reinforcing goal-oriented behavior.

“Daydreaming about travel, in particular, lets you be fully creative and in control of where you are, allowing you to escape briefly from your physical point of being,” she says. “This can be useful for taking a breather during a workday or whenever a mental break is needed—people who ‘travel’ during their breaks are often more likely to feel refreshed, happy, and optimistic.”

But armchair travel doesn’t just make you feel better, it can actually make you physiologically better, too, she contends. “Daydreaming in general produces alpha brain waves, which are linked to decreases in anxiety and depression, as well as increases in creativity.”

Those specific benefits are becoming more obvious to a broader range of travel industry professionals. As a result, armchair travel is forging some unlikely allies, including tourism boards in popular international destinations like Thailand .

Through a combination of robust online portals and roving activations in big cities across the world, the TAT brings a taste of Thai culture to people all over the world, no matter when or even if they might be able to visit in person. And they won’t even need a passport—sometimes, all it takes is a hearty appetite. (Nothing brings me back to this part of the world like a well-composed serving of Pad See Ew .)

Of course, there are plenty of people who would love to explore the beauty of Southeast Asia, but as mentioned, issues like limited mobility mean that a fulls day's worth of continuous air travel might not be in the cards. Physical movement requires physical exertion, and for that reason, it tends to favor those who are young and particularly mobile. Indeed, many of the books written in service of armchair travel are aimed entirely at older generations, including one that goes so far as to subtitle itself, “A Sensory Experience for Seniors.”

The cruel irony is that this exact demographic contains the highest percentage of retirees , a population presumably flush with ample time to actually get out there and explore. Of course, many have found a middle ground between the ability to travel the world in search of in-your-face adventure and traveling from home via a vacation slideshow by opting for less hectic and demanding transport options like cruises and sleeper trains . Which, in all honesty, sounds pretty good to me.

“For me, the appeal is also largely about nostalgia,” says Steven Bowden, a tour guide for the kiwi-based company. “Rail travel was integral to New Zealand's development, and was the primary mode of interregional travel for over 50 years—everyone traveled by train, to work, to school, to visit family and friends, and it was the primary promoter and facilitator of tourism. Building the rail network was an incredible achievement in itself given the topography.”

For Gen-Xers, Millenials, and the rest of us whipper-snappers, though, our sunset years are paved with the promise of traversing a simulated topography via virtual reality travel and similar technological advances. And while that might make a certain forms of travel much more accessible, it does come at a cost.

“Armchair travel can provide valuable insights, but it can’t replicate the experience of being in a new place, meeting new people, and feeling their culture,” says Stanislav Harciník, co-host of the tourism industry-focused Mirror Hospitality Expo in Bratislava, Slovakia. “The sights, sounds, and smells of a new destination are impossible to capture through books and movies alone—it’s the same as trying a dish in its place of origin versus trying to recreate it back home.”

Despite the warning signs, our meta-future is inevitable. Today, I can easily venture into lands unseen from the confines of a cozy armchair with an LED snorkel tethered to my face, or maybe even devote a more concerted effort to journeying inward, as proscribed by Mr. Marko. The fact that it sure sounds a lot easier on my back is one advantage I’m considering while typing away on a hotel patio overlooking Lake Wakatipu , a view I traveled some 8000 miles to make my own. Perhaps it is a fool’s paradise I pursue. But to me, it’s a paradise just the same. Want more Thrillist? Follow us on  Instagram ,  TikTok ,  Twitter ,  Facebook ,  Pinterest , and  YouTube .

Brad Japhe  is a contributor for Thrillist.

• Destinations

Wild Junket

Armchair Travel: 45 Fun Ideas to “Travel” Without Leaving Home

Last Updated on June 9, 2020

Sometimes travel isn’t an option — whether that is due to illness, financial issues or personal circumstances. 

Right now, it’s a global pandemic that is sweeping across the world, putting a halt on travel.   Whether you are stuck at home in a lockdown or a self-imposed quarantine, there are some creative ways to feed your travel addiction . 

From joining online travel communities to taking virtual tours of UNESCO sites, here are my armchair travel recommendations to help you “travel” without leaving your home.

Table of Contents

How to Travel Without Leaving Home

Explore museums virtually on your laptop, take a digital hike around america’s national parks, take virtual tours of the world’s unesco sites, read travel books, read travel blogs, join an online travel community, take an online travel-related course, learn a new language, watch travel-related shows on netflix, watch travel vlogs on youtube, indulge in travel movies, start scratching your world map, make a travel scrapbook, get a travel coloring book, make jigsaw puzzles or models of your favorite places in the world, entertain your kids with travel games and books, create multicultural crafts and activities, cook exotic dishes from around the world, order food delivery.

Many of the world’s musuems have been forced to temporarily shut their doors. But that doesn’t mean that we’ve lost access to the countless treasures housed by these great museums.

Thanks to the extensive  Google Arts & Culture project, we can now access more than 2,500 art spaces from around the world online, and many offer virtual tours. This is the perfect armchair travel activity for museum buffs.

Remember that COVID-19 still poses a threat while you’re surfing the web at home. Hackers are creating thousands of fake pandemic sites to steal your personal information. Make sure to use a COVID-19 scam site checker  before going to any suspicious sites.

Here are some museums worth checking out virtually:

• Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam —   View over 164,511 pieces of artwork from the revered art museum in high-definition. The museum’s most famous art pieces include Vermeer’s  The milkmaid and Rembrandt’s  Self Portrait.
• The Tate, London —This respected museums houses the foremost collection of British art dating back to the the Tudor era and including a large holding of J.M.W. Turner’s work.
• Guggenheim Museum, New York — This contemporary art and architecture museum has over 200 works viewable through Google’s portal.
• The MET (Metropolitan Museum of Art), New York — One of America’s best museums has 26 virtual exhibits and over 200,000 documented works of art from nearly any era.
• Musée d’Orsay, Paris —Check out the virtual exhibitions and 278 pieces of art from 1848 to 1914, including include Van Gogh’s  Bedroom in Arles .

Google Earth has rolled out virtual tours of some of the most beautiful national parks in the United States. The map and satellite imagery masters at Google Earth have put together a series of guided virtual tours of 31 national parks around the country .

Now you can literally travel without leaving your home and take a digital hike on Google Earth. It may not be the same as lacing up your hiking boots and inhaling the crisp clean air of the wilderness, but they’re pretty neat nonetheless. Here are the national parks offering virtual tours:

• Acadia National Park
• Arches National Park
• Badlands National Park
• Big Bend National Park
• Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
• Bruce Canyon National Park
• Canyonlands National Park
• Channel Islands National Park
• Cuyahoga Valley National Park
• Death Valley National Park
• Denali National Park
• Dry Tortugas National Park
• Everglades National Park
• Glacier National Park

Not just that, Google Earth has also recently launched  Heritage on the Edge , an online experience that uses 3D maps to showcase a handful of UNESCO World Heritage sites facing the looming threat of climate change.

The goal was to digitally preserve the legacy of the landmarks. For now, you can enjoy a zoomed-in view of the moai on Rapa Nui  (Easter Island), the ancient city of Chan Chan in Peru, and the coastal city of  Kilwa Kisiwani in Tanzania .

Not only will you be able to interact with 3-D models and 50 exhibits, but you’ll also have access to expert interviews and information on how to conserve these historical sites – an important lens, self-isolating or not. Check out this list of best virtual tours around the world .

The best travel books are often the ones that have the power to transform you as much as a journey does. My love for travel books was probably the reason why I became a  travel blogger and writer .

I have always been obsessed with travel books, especially biographies of adventurers who have embarked on extraordinary journeys.  Reading George Orwell’s Burmese Days when traveling in Myanmar made the trip all the more special. And reading Escape from Camp 14 before my trip to North Korea definitely piqued my interest in the hermit kingdom.

If you have a long list of books you’ve been wanting to read but never had the time for, this is the best time to hit that list. Check out my massive list of 50 best books on travel .

• Escape from Camp 14 (by Blaine Harden)— One man’s remarkable odyssey from North Korea to freedom in the West.
• Desert Flower (by Waris Dirie) — A true story of Waris’ escape across the dangerous Somali desert to London as an internationally renowned fashion model; and ultimately to New York City, where she became a human rights ambassador for the U.N.
• The Kite Runner (by Khaled Husseini) — A fictional book about the struggles of a young boy Amir amidst the backdrop of an unstable Afghanistan.
• Burmese Days: A Novel (by George Orwell) — A story of the waning days of British imperialism, by an Englishman living in a settlement in Burma.
• Into the Wild (by Jon Krakauer) — The remarkable story of a young man’s solo adventure in Alaska.
• Gratitude in Low Voices: A Memoir (by Dawit Gebremichael Habte)— A man’s true story of how he fled his homeland  of Eritrea during the war to find solace and success in America.
• It’s Our Turn to Eat (by Michela Wrong) — The story of a Kenyan whistle-blower

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TIP: I recommend getting a Kindle Paperwhite if you don’t have one. You can store a ridiculous amount of books on it and read it at night without ruining your eyesight. You can buy books individually or  sign up to Kindle unlimited (first month is a free trial).

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The pandemic has affected many small businesses, travel companies and websites. I am one of them — my blog’s readership and income have dropped by over 80%. It’s heartbreaking to see all that I have worked hard to build in the past 12 years be reduced to nothing.

Of course I’m not the only one. So many travel bloggers are worried about possibly losing their livelihood. I ask for your support — just read travel blogs and websites whenever you can. There’s no need to make any purchase; just reading and scrolling can help us out at times like this! 

Here are some of my best travel stories:

• World’s Most Remote Islands
• ​ Spirits and Spells: Voodoo Culture in Benin ​
• ​ 12 Interesting Facts About Madagascar ​
• ​ A Photo Essay of Tajikistan ​
• ​ Iraqi Kurdistan — The Other Iraq ​
• ​ Travel in the Caucasus: Where East Meets West
• ​ Asmara, Eritrea: An Art Deco City in Africa

Other travel blogs and websites with brilliant narratives and inspirational stories:

• Roads and Kingdoms
• Uncornered Market
• Atlas & Boots
• The Candy Trail
• Candace Rose Rardon

Looking to connect with like-minded travelers virtually? There are plenty of online travel communities catering to specific types of travelers, from solo female travelers to extreme travelers who like to veer off the beaten trail.

• Extreme Travel — A Facebook group I set up to connect with curious travelers seeking out the extraordinary in unusual places like North Korea, Iran and Sudan.
• Every Passport Stamp — A Facebook community of travelers planning to travel to every country in the world. They have strict rules and requirements, so please join only if you share the same goals as everyone.
• Travel Community — This massive Facebook group caters to all travelers from different parts of the world. Currently, there are quite a few positive discussions in light of the pandemic.
• Wanderful — This is a leading network for female travelers. The brand is currently giving away 500 free one-year memberships (typically $69/year).
• Girls Love Travel — A Facebook group for female travelers covering all kinds of travels and destinations.

If you have always been interested in travel photography or sketching, this is the best time to sign up for a travel-related online course. There are tons of virtual workshops and courses on Skillshare and Udemy .

Here are some interesting travel-related courses worth checking out:

• Travel sketching — Take an adventure into your imagination with illustrator and children’s book author Mike Lowery.
• Oil painting — A fun and informative course that will teach you basics of mark making, glazing and oil painting.
• Travel street photography — Learn popular street photography techniques, as well as composition, lighting, and photo editing for visual storytelling.
• Drone photography — Up your skills from beginner to professional drone photography with this step-by-step vide guide.
• Travel writing class — Learn to write travel tales readers (and editors) will love and sell your freelance writing to newspapers and magazines.
• Travel poster illustration : Design your favorite city and place in Procreate5. 

I have always had a special interest in languages — they are the best way to connect with locals and cultures when traveling. My first experience learning a foreign language was in college, when I took French and Spanish classes. Eventually I took intensive Spanish courses in Madrid. I also took Arabic classes after that, and recently finished my 6-month Dutch course here in Amsterdam.

Technology has made it really easy to learn a language online these days. Here are some apps and online courses I recommend:

• Duolingo — A language app that helps beginners to build up vocabulary. It is free to use and has many languages available.
• Mindsnacks — Another app that offers free language-learning games to help you learn vocabulary, grammar, practice your listening.
• BBC Languages — Free online language lessons, with crosswords, videos and quizzes accompanied by audio. Courses covering 40 languages, including Urdu, Icelandic and Slovak.
• Verbling — Interactive language lessons with a native teacher over video chat. You can choose the teacher you prefer, schedule the lesson and pay her hour.
• Lingoda — Similar to Verbling, Lingoda also offers video lessons with native teachers. But it offers monthly plans and a free 7-day trial.

Many of us are turning to Netflix to entertain us and feed our wanderlust. Forget depressing series like Outbreak, check out the following travel-themed shows that will sure to uplift you in hard times like these.

You can even use the new Google Chrome extension  Netflix Party  to watch these shows with your friends online. Just click the extension button to create a “party” and share a link to the event with whoever you want to watch the program with. The extension also allows all party members to group chat about the show in real-time.

• Dark Tourist — Definitely top on my Netflix’s favorites list, this show covers lesser-known areas and unfamiliar cultures. Check out the episodes on Pablo Escobar’s hitmen, vampires in New Orleans, and Japan’s suicide forests.
• Larry Charles’ Dangerous World Of Comedy — Another of my favorite shows (cos I love travel and comedy), this travel show follows film director, Larry Charles, around the world seeking out how comedy is done in war zones, in slums, and beyond.
• Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner — One of the many foodie travel shows on Netflix, this is what I’ve been binge-watching lately. Chef David Chang brings big-name celebrities around the world and dives in local food scenes, from Phnom Penh with Kate McKinnon to Marrakech with Chrissy Teigen.
• Conan Without Borders — One of my favorite talk show hosts, Conan O’Brien, gives a non-traditional and humorous take in this travel series. He lightens up the mood before delving into serious topics, like the humanitarian crisis in Haiti or the war in Israel.
• Our Planet — This nature series is Netflix’s very own  Planet Earth, narrated by Sir David Attenborough.

Don’t have a Netflix account? Youtube actually has some high quality videos from vloggers and videographers who are out there doing some great stuff. Here are some of my favorite Youtube channels:

• Drew Binsky — This unique vlogger brings viewers to unique places and he always has an interesting story to tell. Some of his videos are insightful and educational, such as these ones on Equatorial Guinea and Congo.
• Karl Watson — Karl produces quality travel documentaries that are professional and definitely inspirational. His videos tend to cater to younger millennial looking for some adventure.
• Migrationology — Foodie travelers have to check out his awesome food-focused videos. He’ll bring you on street food tours in Pakistan, feast on home-cooked food in Iran, and try top-notch Wagyu beef in Japan.
• WildJunket — Shameless self promotion here: I’m not a Youtuber or vlogger, but I do have some short travel videos on my Youtube channel. Watch me jump off a canyon in New Zealand , drive around Iceland on a campervan , and l earn about voodoo in Benin .
• Eva Zu Beck — This girl has interesting vlogs from the world’s least visited places, including Syria, Pakistan and Yemen. She shows us some of the world’s most beautiful hikes, remote islands and delicious food along the way.

And for movie lovers out there, you are spoiled for choice when it comes to movies about traveling . I have been inspired to go to certain destinations thanks to these travel movies, and I hope they will inspire you too. Check out my giant list of 60 best travel movies of all time !

• Secret Life of Walter Mitty — Embark on an adventure with magazine writer Ben Stiller (as Walter Mitty) as he goes in search of a photojournalist from the streets of Manhattan to Greenland and the Himalayas.
• The White Maasai — Based on a non-fiction memoir, this German movie sparked my interest in Africa almost 12 years ago. It tells the story of Corinne’s trip from her home country of Switzerland to Kenya , where she met and fell in love with a  Maasai  warrior and builds a home with him in the savanna. 
• The Motorcycle Dairies — This movie traces back to where it all began for Ernesto “Che” Guevara (Gael García Bernal), whose road trip across Latin America with his pal Alberto Granado (Rodrigo de la Serna) opened Che’s eyes to political injustice.
• Slumdog Millionaire — One of my all-time favorite movies, this Oscar winner tells the story of an Indian Muslim from the Dharavi slum in India. He is a contestant on “Who Wants to Be a  Millionaire ?”, and is one question away from the grand prize. 
• Wild — This movie follows the journey of Reese Witherspoon as Cheryl Strayed, as she treks 1,100 miles on the Pacific Crest Trail after the devastating loss of her mother.
• Tracks — Another non-fiction movie based on the adventure of Robyn Davidson, who traverses across the r ugged landscape of Australia with only four camels and a beloved dog for company.
• The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel — A story about a group of aging Brits who follow advertisements and arrive in India, with the promise of a second act.

This is the perfect time to reflect on past travels, and think about how far we’ve come.  Get a scratch map and spend time scratching off the places you have been! It’ll bring back some beautiful memories and get you excited about future travels.

I have a scratch map myself and it’s great fun to come home from a trip and scratch off a new country each time. My friends got me this scratch off world map when we moved to Amsterdam and it’s the best travel gift I’ve ever gotten. I hang it on a cork board with push pins, where I also pin souvenirs or memoirs (like bus tickets) from each trip. It’s such a great way to keep travel memories alive!

Another awesome thing to do to bring back beautiful memories is to make a travel scrapbook. The scrapbook could be based off one epic trip you’ve done. Perhaps an awesome adventure in Southeast Asia , or a Silk Road overland trip . It could also be a collection of all your travels from the past.

Since Kaleya was born, I’ve been wanting to make a special travel album packed with photos, postcards, brochures and stubs I collected during our trips together. It would be an awesome thing to look back on with Kaleya when she grows up. Perhaps now is the time to start making one!

I have my eye on this vintage style scrapbook album ,  but technically you can use any notebook to create an album of travel memories.

Coloring is scientifically proven to have countless health benefits for adults. It can help relax the fear center of your brain, the amygdala, and help you stay calm and mindful.

I enjoy coloring with my daughter when I get the chance. It not only soothes me, but also brings back wonderful memories from places I’m coloring.

Here are some excellent travel coloring books designed for adults:

• Lonely Planet Ultimate Travel Coloring Book
• ColorIt — Around the World in 50 Pages
• Travel Between the Lines — Inspirational Coloring for Globetrotters and Daydreamers
• Crayola City Escapes — Color Your Favorite World Cities

Growing up, I did lots of jigsaw puzzles with my family during our free time. It was how we spent quality time together.

You can easily find jigsaw puzzles of all kinds for both adults and kids, whether that’s 3D puzzles of iconic landmarks or traditional puzzles of landscapes. I love making 3D puzzles with my daughter!

• 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle of world’s greatest attractions
• CubicFun 3D puzzle of Notre Dame de Paris
• LEGO built-it-yourself kit of New York city skyline
• ROKR 3D wooden craft puzzle of an airship

Now that school is closed in many parts of the world, parents who are stuck at home with kids will need as many resources as they can. To keep your kid engaged, here are some travel-related ideas to pique their interest in the world.

• The books from Lonely Planet Kids are educational, interactive and fun. Kaleya has a few of this Let’s Explore series of sticker activity books  and she absolutely loves them.
• Inspire your kids with this book, Explorers: Amazing Tales of the World’s Greatest Adventurers , written by yours truly!
• Teach your kids geography with the Beginner’s World Atlas  from National Geographic, suitable for kids ages 5–8. 
• An  interactive world map  is a fun and engaging way to teach kids about the world. It has over 1000 facts about countries, capitals, oceans, and languages, that your kids can learn through interactive quizzes!
• Join online read-alouds and activities organised by your kids’ favorite authors — here’s a full list .

Another fun thing to do with kids that can pique their interest in travel is creating art and craft or products from other cultures. My daughter loves making Japanese origami and it always brings back fond memories from Japan for both of us.

Adults can also enjoy making multicultural crafts together — it’s a great way to learn about a culture and engage with it without actually traveling. Here are some other ideas:

• Make Mexico’s Day of the Dead masks
• Make Japanese origami
• Make a Native American rain stick
• Make a Japanese karp kite
• Learn Aboriginal dot painting from Australia

Food is one of the best ways to engage and connect with a culture and destination.  Some of my favorite dishes I’ve tried around the world, include the Moroccan chicken tajine (slow cooked stew), Hungarian beef goulash, and the traditional Japanese ramen. I’m not a great cook, but I enjoy making Mexican tacos, Vietnamese pho, and Indian prata from time to time.

But you don’t have to travel to tickle your tastebuds — sometimes you learn even more about a cuisine by making it in your own kitchen. Here are some great websites that provide excellent recipes from around the world:

• All Recipes
• BBC Good Food
• Serious Eats

Can’t cook or don’t enjoy cooking? I recommend looking at your local takeaways and trying something brand new. If you live in a multicultural city like I do, there are lots of international cuisine to choose from: from Nepalese to Mongolian, Ethiopian to Peruvian.

Support your local restaurants and give them some business to help you make it through the pandemic! This is seriously armchair travel at its best.

What other things are you doing at home to get that “travel” experience? Share your armchair travel ideas with me in the comments field below!

Disclaimer: Some of the links above are affiliate links. That means I get a small commission when you purchase anything through my links. AT NO EXTRA COST to you. Thank you for your support!

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Nellie Huang

Nellie Huang is the founder of WildJunket. Originally from Singapore, Nellie has traveled to over 150 countries across 7 continents. As an accomplished travel writer, she has written for BBC Travel, CNN and Rough Guides . She is also the author of five travel books, including the latest Lonely Planet's Mexico guidebook. Read more about her here and follow her on Facebook and Instagram .

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Marc Latham

Comprehensive fun list, but I have one more… I virtually travelled via the internet and wrote fiction books creating a storyline (vegetarian werewolf protagonist looking for its origins years before Missing Link did similar with a bigfoot) using real celebrities and places along the way, with Simpsons inspiration. I think it helps you find new places, learn more about places, and remember them; for me it was nostalgia too, as I virtually travelled places I’d passed through, but didn’t know much about at the time.

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Armchair Traveling: 22 Ways to Travel Virtually from Home

Last Updated: September 4, 2024

This post contains affiliate links. At no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission if you book or purchase through these links. You can read my full disclosure policy  here .

Armchair Traveling Guide

There are 22 ways to guide you in armchair traveling below including travel-themed ideas for kids, adults, families, and couples. From destinations to activities and products, there is something for everyone!

1 | Take A Virtual Destination Tour

Technology is a great thing and thankfully, we have come a long way with it. So, take advantage of that with virtual tours of the following destinations:

Entrance to Keukenhof Gardens in Lisse, The Netherlands (April 2019)

Tour Keukenhof Gardens-The Netherlands

Tour USA National Parks

Times Square, NYC (February 2019)

Tour New York City

Tour Chicago, Illinois

Tour Oklahoma, USA

Tour Alaska, USA

Machu Picchu, Perú (May 2017)

Tour Machu Picchu, Perú

You might also like my Peru posts !

Floralis Genérica, Buenos Aires (March 2019)

Tour Buenos Aires, Argentina

You might also like my Argentina posts !

Eiffel Tower, Paris (July 2018)

Tour Paris, France

Tour London, England

You might also like my Paris posts !

Goðafoss Waterfall, Iceland (October 2018)

Tour Iceland

You might also like my Iceland posts !

Schönbrunn Palace, Vienna (December 2018)

Tour Austria

Tour Sydney, Australia

You might also like my Austria posts !

Torii Gate-Chureito Pagoda, Japan (November 2019)

Tour Hong Kong

You might also like my Japan posts !

Chefchaouen “Blue Pearl”, Morocco (June 2018)

Tour Morocco

You might also like my Morocco posts !

2 | Livestream Destinations

Taking virtual travel to a higher level, many destinations have webcams where you can see what’s going on in real time. Try these out:

Times Square, NYC

Sydney, Australia

Northern Lights-Manitoba, Canada (seasonal)

Trevi Fountain-Rome, Italy

Yosemite Falls, Yosemite National Park

Old Faithful, Yellowstone National Park

CN Tower-Toronto, Canada

Shibuya Crossing-Tokyo, Japan

Niagara Falls, USA/Canada

Las Vegas Strip

Banff, Canada

St. Peter’s Square, Vatican City

The MOON (yes, I’m serious!)

These are just a few of the million more webcams around the world . They even have a most viewed webcams category!

3 | Take a Virtual Library, Museum, or Palace Tour

It’s not just the outdoors we can explore virtually, but we can tour the indoors too. Try the following virtual tours of libraries and museums:

National Museum of Natural History (Smithsonian)

Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum (NYC)

Uffizi Gallery (Florence, Italy)

The Sand Museum (Tottori, Japan)

Palace of Versailles (France)

Ronald Reagan Presidential Library (California)

Austrian National Library (Vienna)

Royal Palace Amsterdam

4 | Take a Virtual Arts Tour

Staying with indoor tours, one of my favorite places to explore when traveling is opera houses. Here are a few of my favorites you can tour virtually :

Sydney Opera House

Vienna Opera House (December 2018)

Vienna State Opera House

Palais Garnier

For The Family

5 | virtual travel with kids.

Take time to assist your kids with armchair traveling. There are plenty of options out there to help them virtually travel or bring travel-themed ideas to them:

20 Virtual Field Trips for Kids

Amazing Virtual Tours for Kids

Little Passports (a great monthly subscription service for kids ages 3+ to “travel the world”)

Best Travel Books for Kids

Daily Travel Inspired Itinerary for Kids

Best Around the World Card Games

Printable Travel Games for Kids

6 | Play Travel-Themed Board Games

The olden days of playing board games are olden no more. They have made a huge comeback! Try out these travel-themed games for some family fun:

Ticket to Ride-First Journey

• Europe version
• NYC version

Explore the World

Trekking the National Parks-The Family Board Game

7 | Put Together a Travel-Themed Puzzle

Also making a comeback in popularity are puzzles. Satisfy your wanderlust by putting together a puzzle of a beautiful destination:

Sunny Santorini

4D Cityscape Las Vegas

Dreamy Positano, Italy

Route 66-America’s Main Street

Machu Picchu, Peru

London 4D Cityscape

8 | Try Travel-Themed Activity Books

As a way to travel while simultaneously decreasing anxiety and stress, coloring books are great activities for adults. While kids like to color, activity books typically keep their attention longer. 😉 Check out these travel-themed books:

Landmarks of the World Adult Coloring Book

Adventures Around the Globe Activity Book for Kids

Couples and Individuals

9 | make travel-themed dinners.

Vegan Ramen Bowl at The Fieldhouse in Montana (September 2019)

Food is one of my favorite aspects of traveling. I mean, food is the way to our hearts, is it not? Try out a travel-themed dinner and reminisce about a trip you’ve taken or where you’d like to go next! I will start you out with my own travel-inspired recipe for my favorite Spanish pizza .

Looking for more than just a recipe? Want to learn to cook like an Italian or bake like a champ? These chefs are hosting free online cooking classes .

You might also like my food posts !

10 | Travel the World via Cocktails

Left: “Swimming Pool” cocktail in Paris (2018)  | Right: Peanut Butter Cup Martini in Montana (2019)

For those who love to try the local drink when they visit a new destination, try these international cocktail recipes .

11 | Virtual Wine Tastings

Red wine tasting on a food tour in Paris (July 2018)

What? Yep! Wine lovers can actually do these virtual wine tastings that come with tasting kits! Don’t worry about traveling to Napa. Bring Napa to you!

12 | Light a Travel-Scented Candle

Okay, I know what you’re thinking. What is a travel scent? Well, that depends on you. It might be the ocean to take you to the beach, lavender to transport you to France , Mediterranean inspired scents or the smell of the great outdoors . Find your favorite scent and connect your sense of smell to your love of travel!

13 | Plan a Travel-Themed Spa Day

Spa at Palace Luzern in Switzerland (August 2016)

Transport yourself to a French spa by getting yourself a plush spa robe , spa slippers , lavender bubble bath , a bottle of French wine, and the aforementioned lavender candle .

Another option is to recreate your own spa experience from your travels. My favorites included this Swiss spa , this Austrian spa , and this Canadian spa .

*Disclaimer: Significant Other optional. It’s okay if you just need a moment alone..especially if you have kids!

14 | Watch Travel Movies

Once you’ve had that relaxing bubble bath, carry that glass of wine to the bed or the couch and settle in for a great travel movie off this list .

15 | Watch Travel-Themed Netflix Shows

Photo Credit: Rafael Henrique | Depositphotos.com

Maybe a movie isn’t exactly what you’re in the mood for. If not, try these travel Netflix shows to satisfy your wanderlust.

16 | Read Travel-Themed Books

If you are like me, reading is something you love to do but never have the time. Maybe it’s time to start back. Crawl into bed after your movie or TV show is over and wind down before going to sleep with a good travel read and travel-themed books .

My personal favorite reads aren’t necessarily travel-themed but are set in London. This hilarious nine-book series is stress-relieving chic-lit. When reading these, I always imagine being in London and all of its sites. Penned by a British author , I enjoy the language and the London way of life.

17 | Read TRAVEL BLOGS!

My blog’s homepage 🙂

While we’re on the subject of reading, please keep reading travel blogs. You achieve several purposes at the same time: fueling your wanderlust, inspiration for planning future travels as well as supporting small businesses. Like mine, so many travel blogs are small businesses. Just by reading our blogs (which costs you nothing), you can help us greatly and we very much appreciate it!

18 | Bring Broadway Home

Hamilton at the Richard Rodgers Theater in NYC (February 2018)

Are you a theater lover? Have you always wanted to visit NYC and see a play on Broadway? If you currently can’t travel, bring Broadway to you or see these other 6 ways to enjoy Broadway at home .

You might also like my New York City posts !

19 | Learn a New Language

If you can’t currently travel, use the time to learn a new language. If you don’t already have a favorite, start with the language of the next destination you want to visit. No, learning a new language isn’t easy. Yes, it’s extremely useful. No, you don’t have to be fluent to make a difference. Just learning a few words in the language can make a huge difference when traveling not only in terms of helping you out but it’s much appreciated by the locals!

Maybe you already speak another language but you aren’t quite fluent yet. I fall into this category with Spanish. I’m between conversational and fluent and I am constantly learning especially when I’m not traveling.

My personal tips for learning a new language:

• Watch TV in that language
• Listen to music in that language
• Read your daily news source in that language. ( X-formerly Twitter is good for this because you can follow a news source in another language, read the tweet in the foreign language and view its translation to check your progress)
• Read books in that language (if you are far enough along)
• Practice with friends who speak that language
• Constantly think in that language

My favorite language learning apps:

• Rosetta Stone

My favorite language learning tools (and what I personally have used) are the McGraw Hill Practice Makes Perfect series. You can get them in Spanish , French , Italian , German , and English for ESL .

20 | Participate in Virtual Travel Run/Walk Challenges

If you can’t travel, you can still be active with a travel theme. Try these virtual travel fitness challenges . They can be running, walking, biking, swimming, etc and you can complete them at your own pace . You can track your progress along the trail and even see a street view.

Sign up (there is a fee to join a challenge), download the app ( iPhone or Android ), connect your favorite fitness tracker and your outdoor activity will be recorded. It’s that easy. Once it’s completed, your medal is sent to you!

My Inca Trail Marathon Virtual Challenge t-shirt (April 2020)

I recently completed the Inca Trail marathon through Machu Picchu in Perú . I’m currently waiting on my medal and I even got the shirt (extra purchase). However, if you prefer something different, there is Route 66, Grand Canyon, Great Ocean Road, Appalachian Trail, or create your own !

21 | Drawing Disney

My drawing of Disney’s “Bambi” (2015)

Missing Disney World and wanting to visit? How about trying your hand at Disney animation drawing? I love to draw, had the opportunity to draw at Disney, and have both of mine framed on my wall. If you can’t get to Disney right now, this ultimate guide to Disney animation is the perfect tutorial to complete over 60 drawings at home!

22 | Airbnb Online Experiences

Last, but not least, if none of the above have piqued your interest, try one of Airbnb’s online experiences . For a small fee, you can participate in a number of different activities in many different countries. From family baking experiences to tango lessons in Argentina and snuggling with pets in the USA , there is something for everyone!

Sometimes, due to various reasons, you aren’t able to travel. So when you can’t travel then bring the travel to you! Where there’s a will, there’s a way, right? I hope you have enjoyed this comprehensive list and have already found an activity to try. Happy armchair traveling!

Have you been armchair traveling somewhere cool? If so, please post it below so we can all “travel” there!

‘Til next time…

Trimm Travels,

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10 Comments

Ohh I think so many people are starting to get the travel blues. You’ve got so many great ideas here. My favourite way to stay positive and keep the travel vibes high is to live vicariously through others. Reading a book set in a beautiful location or watching a movie on Netflix is a great way to do that.

Hi Emma-I totally agree! Netflix or TV in general for me has helped a lot. But, I’ve also enjoyed doing the virtual tours and definitely, my virtual destination marathon. Thanks for reading! 🙂

I love how creative people are getting and how we are adjusting to a world where we are traveling from home. These are great virtual tours, many of these places I’ve not visited!

Hi Chelsea-I totally agree. Thankfully we are very adaptable just hoping for a return to normalcy (or something to its effect) soon! Thanks for reading! 🙂

Oh my goodness, there is so much to do, virtually, I had no idea there were so many options these days. Some of these I hadn’t heard of. Virtual marathons, virtual airbnb experiences and livestream the Moon, wow! All such fantastic suggestions. I’m going to give some of these a go to keep me busy until we can travel again. I think I might try the Inca Trail too, as I’ve always wanted to go to Machu Picchu.

Hi Tania-I know!! I couldn’t believe how much there is to do virtually either! I’m going to try some Airbnb experiences as well. I highly recommend the Inca Trail Virtual Marathon. It was SO much fun! When you’re able definitely visit Machu Picchu . Perú is absolutely amazing and in my top 3 favorite countries! Thanks for reading! 🙂

Live streaming destinations sounds interesting, but I wonder if it’s at all planned out or if it’s just a webcam sitting in one location for hours. I love National Parks and I know it won’t be the same as if I were there, but if this continues live streaming may be something I actually resort to 🙂

Hi Candy-I think there’s some of both involved depending on what it is. For example, I think Old Faithful is fixed. However, there is definitely some creativity out there so it’s worth checking out! Thanks for reading! 🙂

You had me at “travel-themed cocktails”! But seriously, as a teacher I am so thrilled with how many museums and national parks have been doing live-streaming and tours. It’s awesome to still be able to take kids on field trips right now, even if it’s not the same. It gives them a nice break from the day-to-day, just like all of your awesome suggestions here!

Hi Dani-Thanks for your feedback. Glad you liked it and especially the cocktails! I am also glad that so many places have provided virtual tours for kids because they need it and the adults need the break but also for the adults who need it too! Thanks for reading! 🙂

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Armchair Travel: 28 Virtual Travel Ideas

Stuck inside for a bit? Have no fear – you can travel without ever leaving home. These incredible virtual travel destinations will give you the chance to tour epic museums, explore the wilderness at national parks, and even ride some virtual theme park rides – all from the comfort of your sofa. We like to call it “armchair travel”.

Virtual Travel Ideas

Here are all the best virtual travel sites, so you can explore the wonders of the world without ever leaving your sofa.

National Gallery of Art

The National Gallery of Art is committed to keeping it’s Gallery available for viewing during this time. They believe that among its many powers, art has the ability to relieve stress. You can access online galleries on their website and take a tour led by curators, gallery by gallery, each day on their Facebook page. 

Photo Credit: AgnosticPreachersKid / CC BY-SA

Monterey Bay Aquarium 

Experience the wonder of the ocean no matter where you are. Check in on the coral reef cam, watch the sharks, or see what the penguins are up to. With Monterey Bay Aquarium’s live web cams you can choose from ten different live feeds for an interesting and calming way to pass the time.

Photo Credit: Monterey Bay Aquarium

Smithosonian's National Portrait Gallery

With thousands of Portraits in their online galleries, the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery tells the history of America through individuals who shaped its culture. If you’re looking for a learning experience that puts faces to its lessons, there are online exhibits to provide learning for days.

Photo Credit: Difference engine / CC BY-SA

San Diego Zoo

Choose one of ten live webcam feeds to keep you occupied featuring animals such as baboons, penguins, polar bears, apes, koalas, elephants, and more. San Diego Zoo was at one time home to 27-year-old panda, Bai Yun, and her son, 6-year-old Xiao Liwu. Although they have been repatriated back to their ancestral homeland in China, San Diego Zoo has plenty of pre recorded footage that you can view any time you like.

Photo Credit: I, Cburnett / CC BY-SA

Metropolitan Opera

During this difficult time, the Met hopes to bring some light to their audience and possibly attract a new audience. They have made their encore presentations from the company’s Live in HD series available for free on their website. Each performance will be available for streaming for 23 hours, 7:30 p.m. EDT to 6:30 p.m. the following day.

Photo Credit: Ajay Suresh from New York, NY, USA / CC BY

Virtual Yosemite

Parks are still open for the season, but Yosemite recognizes that most people won’t be able to make it there during this time. Thanks to their dedication, you can experience the park like never before. Via Yosemite’s website you can take a virtual tour of some of their most iconic landmarks. These tours -- complete with sound -- will draw you in and make you feel like you’re seeing it all in person.

Photo Credit: Diliff / CC BY-SA

The Louvre in Paris

Travel to the world’s largest art museum and a historic monument in Paris, France, right from the comfort of your home. The Louvre offers online tours along with written descriptions that take you through each of the museum’s exhibition rooms and galleries. Home to the “Mona Lisa” and other priceless works of art, the Louvre offers an opportunity to dive into rich art history.

The Salvador Dali Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida

The Dali Museum in St. Petersburg, FL is dedicated to the world of Salvador Dali and houses the largest collection of his work outside of Europe. This interactive tour was created to inspire your future visit and the museum hopes to make you feel like you’re right there within an arm’s reach of the art. It typically takes around two hours to complete a tour of the Dali Museum so you break up your tour or do it all at once. 

Photo Credit: Taty2007 / CC BY

The Vatican Museums

The Vatican Museums are the public art and sculpture museums in the Vatican City. The Roman Catholic Church and the Papacy have amassed an immense collection throughout the centuries, including the most renowned Roman Sculptures and most important masterpieces of Renaissance art in the world. Their website offers seven virtual 360° tours featuring incredible works of art and architecture, including Michelangelo’s breathtaking ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.

The Museum of Modern Art, New York City

Often identified as one of the largest and most influential museum of modern art in the world, The Museum of Modern Art in New York is reaching out to connect with the world through art during this difficult time. Through their website you can read, watch, and listen to passionate perspectives on art, artists, and ideas that shape culture today. You can take online art classes for free and see what art is on view “in the collection.” 

Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Yellowstone National Park

You don’t have to wait for an opportunity to visit Yellowstone to start exploring. Via their virtual tours, you’ll get to see some of the main attractions around the park. Some of those attractions include the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone National Park, Mammoth Hot Springs, and Norris Geyser Basin. Each tour includes information about planning your future visit.

Photo Credit: Detroit Publishing Co. / Public domain

Virtual Theme Park Rides

Since the temporary shutdown of parks like Disney World and Disneyland, it was exciting to find that some people have taken to the internet to provide a little vicarious excitement for your days. Thanks to these people, you and your kids can be virtually transported to the top -- and then the bottom -- of Space Mountain and other rides like Pirates of the Caribbean and Frozen Ever After.  

Photo Credit: Pixabay

The Great Wall of China

Take a 360° virtual tour of The Great Wall of China. The wall was built as a defense mechanism and is generally recognized as one of the most impressive architectural feats in history. Such an impressive structure with its rich history is sure to spark your kid’s interest.

Photo Credit: Severin.stalder / CC BY-SA

Palace of Versailles

The Palace of Versailles was the principal royal residence of France from 1682, under Louis XIV, until the start of the French Revolution in 1789, under Louis XVI. Google Arts & Culture gives you a private tour of the former home of French royalty in three parts. You can also learn about the kings and queens who lived at Versailles.

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City

It’s the largest museum in the United States and you can visit from anywhere. They have learning opportunities on their website as well as The Met 360° Project. This series accords and access and perspective typically not available to the public. Also available on their website is #MetKids. #MetKids features interactive maps and behind-the-scenes videos with fun facts and creative projects that feature kids.

Photo Credit: Carlos Delgado / CC BY-SA

Broadway might be dark but performers are partnering with Broadway World to bring you “Living Room Concerts.” You can subscribe to receive email updates so you don’t miss any of these living room performances by your favorite broadway stars. These “Living Room Concerts” are sure to brighten your day and get your singing a new song.

American Museum of Natural History, New York City

There are exhibits and online resources for science enthusiasts of all ages on the American Museum of Natural History’s website. They offer a highlight each day and plenty of resources for families and students. You can explore the museum virtually, learn the stories behind the exhibits, and watch behind-the-scenes videos. There isn’t a shortage of entertainment for the natural history lovers out there.

Photo Credit: George Hodan

The Georgia Aquarium

The Georgia Aquarium offers eight live webcam views and a gallery of photos of all the species it houses with information about each other them. This is perfect for the aquatic animal lover in your family with learning experiences and a chance to see the animals in their daily lives.

Photo Credit: Georgia Aquarium

Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

The Museum of Fine Arts contains one of the most comprehensive collections in the Americas. While they are closed, they are offering a look at their collections and descriptions by curators on their youtube channel.

Frida Kahlo Museum

Known as the Blue House for it’s cobalt blue walls, the Frida Kahlo museum is a house museum dedicated to the life and work of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. Take a virtual trip to Mexico City to get to know this historic sight and learn more about the artist. You’ll also find a video about the life of Kahlo and a museum map to help you get acquainted with the house.

Photo Credit: Kgv88 / CC BY-SA

Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit

Housing one of the largest and most significant art collections in the United States, the Detroit Institute of Arts covers 658,000 square feet. You can view many of their collections online thanks to Google Arts & Culture.

Photo Credit: Diego Rivera / Public domain

New York’s 92nd Street Y

New York’s 92nd Street Y will live stream special performances with no audience in their concert hall. You can tune into these performances from anywhere in the world for free. You’ll also find highlights from their archives and family activities on their website.

The Art Institute of Chicago

With a collection of more than 260,000 artworks and artifacts, the museum has particularly strong holdings in Impressionist and Post-Impressionist painting, early twentieth-century European painting and sculpture, contemporary art, Japanese prints, and photography. You can view some of their collections online thanks to Google Arts & Culture.

Photo Credit: vagueontheshow / CC 2.0

J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles

The J. Paul Getty Museum at the Getty Villa in Malibu features Greek, Roman, and Etruscan antiquities presented in a setting modeled after a first-century Roman country house, the Villa dei Papiri in Herculaneum, Italy. Explore art, videos, and learning options on their website. They offer K-12 resources and art activities for kids.

Photo Credit: Jelson25 / Public domain

High Museum of Art, Atlanta

High Museum of Art houses a collection of classic to contemporary art. The Museum is one of Atlanta’s hot spots for all ages. You can view their collection of fun and informative videos on their youtube account. There are videos for adults and children, learning and entertainment.

Photo Credit: Daniel O'Neal / CC 2.0

Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

This is Houston’s largest, most high profile museum. Their collection spans more than 6,000 years of history with approximately 64,000 works from six continents. You can view current and past exhibitions and collections at the Museum of Fine Arts’ website.

Photo Credit: Patrick Feller / CC 2.0

Guggenheim Museum

The Guggenheim Museum is a famous New York City landmark.  You can tour this popular museum thanks to Google Arts & Culture. The building itself is an architectural masterpiece, the art inside is icing on the cake. Enjoy this tour of current art on display.

Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, Santa Fe, New Mexico

The Georgia O’Keeffe Museum is dedicated to the artistic legacy of Georgia O'Keeffe. Through their website you can see collections currently on view, learn about the life of Georgia O’ Keeffe, and even watch a live webcam of her garden at her home. Student interns work to plant and tend to the garden all Summer to harvest vegetables that were originally grown by Miss O’Keeffe. 

Photo Credit: John Phelan / CC BY

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Armchair Travel: 16 Ways To Travel The World From Home

Got the wanderlust but you’re not able to travel anywhere at the moment? That’s okay – you can become an armchair traveler and explore all the places you want from the comfort of your bed.

You’ll need a computer or a smartphone, a good internet connection, and an idea of a place you want to explore. Nothing else is required for armchair travel, and if your interest is peaked, you can read all about armchair travel right here in this detailed guide!

What Is Armchair Travel?

Armchair travel is kind of like a staycation, but instead of exploring the local attractions, you don’t even have to leave the house. It’s discovering new places from the comfort of your chair, hence the term armchair travel.

It can include anything from looking over photos from your past trips to spending hours on Google Earth, walking around the streets of a city you’ve never been to. It’s pretty much just detaching yourself from your current surroundings and immersing yourself in things related to a different country so that for a moment you actually feel like you are there.

It’s as simple as reading a book about Paris while listening to Edith Piaf and eating a croissant.

16 Ways To Travel The World From Home

Technology has come far enough to allow us to travel the world from the comfort of your own home. Well, not quite, but it’s almost there – you can explore the streets of any country in the world from the comfort of your bedroom, you can learn about the best restaurants, and you can even do virtual tours of museums and other famous attractions – you just have to zoom in enough on the world map. That’s the beauty of living in the age of virtual reality and 360-degree images.

I’m just getting started, and here are even more armchair travel ideas that will help you explore your dream destination from home!

Read Travel Blogs

Just because you can’t hop on an airplane and head to a new destination doesn’t mean you can’t learn about it and explore it. Reading travel blogs is a good way to explore new countries through the eyes and lenses of other travelers.

It’s a form of virtual travel that allows you to draw from other people’s experiences. The key is to find a travel blogger you can relate to and whose content you enjoy reading. Immerse yourself in their content, and sooner than you know it, you’ll become an expert on a destination you’ve never even visited.

There are thousands of travel blogs run by people from all around the world, so it shouldn’t be too hard to find at least one that you enjoy.

Virtually Explore US National Parks

Most US National Parks offer virtual tours that are absolutely perfect for an armchair traveler. You can explore any national park you want from the comfort of your home, and you can even peek inside museums and other unique attractions that the national parks have.

Of course, it’s not the same as reaping the benefits of a hot spring inside a national park, but it’s a great way to explore nature and get to know more about the national parks. There’s also the added benefit of not having to deal with snakes, bugs, and the changing weather that’s so common in the NPs.

Head to the Google Arts & Culture website to see all the 52 national parks and historic sites from the US that have made their collections available for digital exploration. You can also see loads of other famous attractions from countries all over the world here, but more details on that later.

Read A Travel-Related Book

If you’re a bookworm, this is the easiest way to become an armchair traveler. Find some travel-related books that you enjoy reading and allow yourself to live in their worlds for the next few days.

Also, a travel-related book can be anything. It could be the autobiography of your favorite artist who recounts all the places life has taken him to, a proper travel guide to a different country, or even a fiction novel set in a foreign country.

Travel guides and coffee table books related to travel are the safest options if you’re not an avid reader. From travel guides through the US to detailed exploration of Italy’s best beaches – there are countless travel books out there, and you just need to search for one that’s about the destination you’re most interested in.

Those who prefer fiction have even more options. I can’t help myself and I have to recommend Jo Nesbo’s Harry Hole series – the popular crime novels are set in Norway, primarily Oslo, and the detailed descriptions of the city’s top sights will truly transport you to the Nordics for a moment.

Listen To Travel Podcast

Not a big fan of reading or watching TV? Put on a travel podcast then and listen to other people recount the details of their latest trips. You’ll hear some fun and interesting stories for sure, but you may also learn about the inconveniences that might arise should you choose to travel to the same destinations.

We Travel There is a great podcast hosted by Lee Huffman. He interviews locals from all around the world, so every episode is about a different city. The local attractions and best places to visit are usually highlighted in each episode, making this podcast worth checking out even when you’re planning a travel itinerary.

Where To Go is also a great podcast, mostly because it’s hosted by the team behind DK Eyewitness travel guides. They’re some of the best travel guides out there, and the podcast episodes truly give them a run for their money.

Watch Travel Vlogs On Youtube

There are countless travel vloggers trying to make a living by doing the one thing they love most – traveling. You can support them and help them make their dreams come true by consuming their content and exploring the different countries of the world from the comfort of your own couch.

Finding a travel vlogger you like shouldn’t be too challenging, especially with so many different options out there. The key is to find a person you genuinely enjoy watching, otherwise, you won’t be able to focus on the travel destinations!

You can also find live camera streams on YouTube from countries all over the world. They usually include short snippets from various cameras, but it’s a great way to get a glimpse of distant landscapes and everyday life in foreign countries in just a few minutes. Plus, if you see a stream that you particularly like, you can always just find that specific live camera and refer to it whenever you want.

Enroll in A Travel-Related Course

If you still enjoy learning and you’ve particularly interested in travel, why not enroll in a travel-related course. Working on yourself and furthering your education is always a good thing, and you never know what opportunities may present themselves after you’ve completed the course.

I’m not saying enroll in a five-year college course about tourism, but you can take various online and offline courses on a myriad of topics relating to travel. The best way to get started is to get acquainted with all the different diplomas and certificates that are relevant to the tourism industry.

There are dozens of them, and there are many ways to earn them, from attending free online courses to enrolling in MBA degree programs.

Learn what it takes to become a travel agent, get a certificate that allows you to be a tour guide in your hometown, or complete a flight attendant training program. There are countless travel-related courses you can take, and you just need to see which ones interest you the most. This can also increase your chances of getting a job with one of the travel companies if that’s something you are interested in.

Additionally, you can also enroll in language-related courses. They usually include learning about the culture, literature, and history of the country whose language you’re learning, plus learning a new language is always a great idea.

Cook Your Favorite Dishes From Around The World

Exploring a new country means exploring its cuisine and getting to know all of its different flavors. So, if you’re feeling like traveling somewhere but you can’t actually go to that country, you can try to make it – or at least a tiny bit of it – in your own kitchen.

Turn to YouTube or one of a million different recipe websites, and find a dish you enjoy from the cuisine of the country you want to visit. Tacos will immediately fill the room with staple smells from South America, a good curry can never not remind you of India, and sushi is entirely self-explanatory.

So, if you can’t go on a trip right this minute but you’re desperate to at least feel like you’re traveling, just make your entire kitchen smell like a street full of food vendors from that country!

Watch TV Shows Related To Travel

Sometimes it’s enough for a show to be filmed at the right location for it to become extremely popular. Emily in Paris proved that – despite the fact that the show was criticized for a number of different things, it remained extremely popular and mostly because of the fact that it’s filmed in Paris.

People love to tune in to see Lily Collins strolling down the cobblestone alleys of Montmartre and enjoying croissants with a fabulous view of the Eiffel Tower, and I have to admit I’m also guilty of binging both seasons.

It doesn’t have to be a show about one specific city – there are countless travel shows that will satisfy your wanderlust for a moment, and many of them feature a different city or country in every episode. Put on some of Anthony Bourdain’s classics – No Reservations and Parts Unkown are still some of the best shows that combine food and travel!

The Grand Tour is another gem that covers remote destinations from around the world, and it’s particularly interesting for car lovers. But you don’t have to be into cars to appreciate the humor of Jeremy Clarkson, James May, and Richard Hammond, and you certainly don’t need to know anything about vehicles to admire the spectacular landscapes that are featured in the episodes of this humorous travel show.

Watch Travel Movies

If you don’t want to commit to an entire TV show, you can just put on a travel movie. Into The Wild is a textbook example of a travel movie, and probably the best-known film in the genre. But a travel movie can be almost anything, as long as it’s set in the place that you’re yearning to visit.

I get the urge to travel to Sicily whenever I watch Godfather, and I doubt anyone would consider that a travel movie. But the beautiful landscapes that Al Pacino escapes to are so fascinating that, for a moment, it’s entirely possible to forget you’re watching a movie about mobsters.

The entire Before Sunrise/Sunset/Midnight trilogy showcases the beauty of spectacular European cities – Vienna, Paris, and Greece, in that order. Mamma Mia also depicts the beauty of Croatian and Greek islands, and it’s a great film to put on if you’re dreaming about a beach vacation.

Wild, starring Reese Whitherspoon, follows an inexperienced hiker setting out on the Pacific Crest Trail. The entire movie was shot on location, so it features the actual highlights of the iconic US long-distance hiking trail.

Go On A Virtual Tour of World’s Famous Museums

Some of the most famous museums in the entire world offer free virtual tours, and you should take advantage of that. J Paul Getty Museum, London’s Natural History Museum, and Musée d’Orsay in Paris have all made their collections available for virtual exploration.

Head to Google Arts & Culture again to go through the collections of these museums. You can even browse the various digital collections they have by genre or time period, so finding a collection curated specifically for you is easier than ever.

Learn A New Language

Learning an entirely new language is the best form of armchair travel. Not only does it get you closer to the culture of a country you’re fascinated by, but it’s also a way of developing a new skill that you can use for the rest of your life.

Learning a new language isn’t exactly the easiest thing you can do to satisfy your wanderlust, but it’s certainly the most useful one. You’ll particularly be happy you took up that happy if you manage to travel to the country whose native language you’ve mastered!

Also, keep in mind that learning a new language usually includes learning about the history and culture of that country, as well as reading a few books written by the nation’s most prominent writers. So, you’re not just learning how to talk to locals on your next trip, but you’re also getting a complete guide to the most important landmarks and attractions of the country you choose!

Plan Your Next Trip

Do you already have a destination in mind for your next trip? Then why not start planning it right now. You don’t have to purchase airplane tickets if you’re not sure when you’ll be able to go, but it’s a good idea to start researching other details that will come in handy during your trip.

Look at hotels and AirBnBs to see where you would like to stay and be sure to check out all the top tourist attractions and things to do at the destination. You can even make little maps for any future trip, and you can refer to the map when you actually arrive at that destination.

If you often go on road trips, you already know just how much planning goes into them, if you want things to go smoothly. You can get a head start on your next trip right now – it will get you excited about the trip, plus you can plan out a good chunk of the road trip.

Reminisce About Your Past Trips

Nothing can transport you through time and place quite like a personal photograph. Blow the dust off your online albums and take the time to go through all the 2365 photos you took on that trip to Rio de Janeiro. It can’t be just me that takes a million photos wherever I’m in a new city, and it can’t just be me that never looks at them again.

Take the time to go through the old photos and choose your favorites. You can even print them out if you like and create a travel collage to hang on a wall. Or you can just turn them into a throwback post.

You can also use this opportunity to make room in your phone for photographs you’ll take on your upcoming trips. Delete any blurry shots, images you don’t like, or images that you have a dozen copies of, and create some space for the photographs of places you’re yet to visit!

Create A Travel Scrapbook

Now that we all have amazing cameras in our pockets, it seems like we’re always taking photos, but never taking the time to go through them. Do you remember going through your childhood albums, and how happy you’d be when you saw that one photo you have a great memory of? Or when you looked at images from your travels as a kid?

You can still do that now, even if you’re a full-blown adult. You can even create an album if you want, but a travel scrapbook is a bit more fun. Go through the photos of the last (or any) place you visited, and select the ones you like the most and you want to have in your travel scrapbook.

If you need some travel inspiration, why not dedicate a few pages to every destination you visited. Print out your favorite photos with your friends and family, but also of the landmarks you liked and any places that stood out. Put all the photos in the scrapbook, and be sure to write little captions beneath the photos.

If you do go through with this, two decades from now, when your travel memories start to fade, you’ll be thrilled every time you lay eyes on your little travel scrapbook.

Play A Travel-Themed (Board) Game

Why not try a travel-themed board game to satisfy your itch for a quick trip? Trekking The World is one of the best-selling board games out there, and it’s great for families and friend groups of up to five people. You play the game by racing to visit as many countries in the world as you can and you collect souvenirs along the way. It’s extremely fun, and a great way to learn about some of the most popular destinations in the world.

The World Game is a travel-themed card game for up to five players. It tests your knowledge of geography by asking you to name the capitals of countries, point them out on a map, or guess their flag. It’s a fun card game, but only if you’re into geography.

It’s worth noting that board games aren’t the only types of games you can play that are related to travel. If you’re into gaming, you’ve got even more options when it comes to armchair travel! Many recent AAA games are set in existing cities, and most of those open worlds are incredibly detailed and pretty true to life.

Not all the details will be identical, but it’s important to point out that the reconstruction of Notre Dame will be done with the help of Ubisoft’s drawings that they used to recreate the iconic church in their Assassin’s Creed Unity game.

You can walk through the streets of London, New York, San Francisco, Paris, Tokyo, and many other cities if you’ve got a computer that can run newer AAA games. If not, just try Geouesser – the online game is one of the best things for armchair travel, especially if you want to explore places off the beaten path.

Socialize With Fellow Travel Enthusiasts on Social Media

If all else fails, turn to social media. Go on Reddit, Instagram, or even Facebook and find a group of like-minded travel enthusiasts with whom you can share travel stories and photos. This is also a great way to meet new people and make friends, and you could potentially travel with those people sometime.

But it’s a way of armchair traveling that only extroverts will consider, so it’s definitely not for everyone. You could be one of those people that lurk around the groups and forums, taking in all the stories and images, but not sharing anything with strangers.

About the Author Anna Timbrook

Anna is the co-owner of expert world travel and can't wait to share her travel experience with the world. With over 54 countries under her belt she has a lot to write about! Including those insane encounters with black bears in Canada.

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Sidewalk Safari | Part-time Travel Blog

31 ways to be an armchair traveler from the comfort of your own home.

What Does Armchair Travel Mean?

Armchair travel ideas.

• Watch a travel-inspired movie

Watch a travel-themed TV show

Tune into wildlife on youtube, live vicariously through rick steves, listen to a travel-themed podcast.

• Create and curate a "Top 10 List" from each of your past trips

Create and print a photo book

Make a travel photo mosaic, reminisce with family over travel photos from past trips, put a travel slide show on your tv, create a travel shrine with souvenirs from past trips, reminisce with the help of your social feeds.

• Organize your vacation memories
• Research a trip, just don't book it
• Create a travel gratitude list

Keep a journal

Play a travel-themed board game, go on a virtual tour, work out to a destination-themed exercise video.

• Take a photowalk while respecting social distancing
• Go balcony birdwatching

Read travel blogs

Read a travel-themed book, write a travel story, break out the snacks you brought home from your last trip, cook a meal from your favorite destination.

• Order takeout of different cuisines from around the world
• Drink a bottle of wine from your favorite destination or place you were planning to go.

Set-up a call with your travel-minded friends

Organize a travel slideshow virtual viewing party with friends, socialize with like-minded travel-lovers on social media, armchair travel ideas: watch and listen, watch a travel-inspired movie.

• National Lampoon's Vacation : Watch the comedic (mis)adventures of the Griswolds and their family truckster as they make their way to Wally World on the ultimate American road trip.
• Honeymoon in Vegas : Suspend your sense of disbelief and get a taste of both Las Vegas and Hawaii as Jack Singer loses his fiancee in a hand of poker and chases her to tropical locales to save her from gangster Tommy Corman. Oh, and there are flying Elvises.
• Up in the Air : If you are a frequent flyer and miss that gold-plated business/first-class experience, follow George Clooney as he takes to the skies.
• Romancing the Stone : "Is this the bus to Cartagena?" Follow romance novelist Joan Wilder on a treasure hunt to save her sister in the jungles of Colombia.
• Dirty Rotten Scoundrels : Steve Martin and Michael Caine always make me smile in this con artist comedy. Bonus points for the sunny French Riviera setting of Beaumont-sur-Mer. 
• A Place in the Sun : Watch British couples agonize over where to buy that perfect second home in warm sunny climes. You'll get to see some super-cool real estate as well as some really fun sun holiday destinations across Europe and beyond.
• The Amazing Race : Do you have a competitive streak? If so, the Amazing Race is for you. Watch 10 teams of two face their fears and battle it out for a 1 million dollar prize in a race around the world. 
• The Love Boat : Transport yourself back in time to when cruise ships were full of romance, not harbingers of doom. 
• Panama Fruit Feeders : Watch an amazing display of colorful exotic birds stop by for a snack in the jungle in Panama.
• Namibia Livestream in the Namib Desert : Journey into the African desert and catch a glimpse of the wildlife grabbing a drink at a rare watering hole.
• Sloth TV : Get a dose of cuteness with this live feed of baby sloths in Costa Rica . 

Armchair Travel Ideas: Reminisce

Create and curate a top 10 list from each of your past trips.

Armchair Travel Ideas: Organize

Plan a trip, but don't book it, create a travel-focused gratitude list, armchair travel ideas: do.

• beach workout
• sunset workout
• virtual scenery
• workout scenery
• virtual cycling 

Take a photowalk

Balcony birdwatching, armchair travel ideas: read and write.

• Roaming Required is written by an Australian couple living in London and focuses on great destinations near and far and goes particularly in depth on places in the UK. If you're a history buff, Roaming Required is definitely for you.
• Reflections Enroute is written by an American-expat couple living abroad with an adventurous streak. Self-drive in Uganda, anyone?
• Wayfaring Views shares a lot of amazing street art and book recommendations; two of my favorite things.
• Hokkaido Highway Blues is a travelogue by Will Ferguson covering his quest to follow the Spring cherry blossoms in Japan clear across the country from South to North.
• Batavia's Graveyard will take you back to the age of exploration when the Dutch East India Company ship, Batavia, was shipwrecked and the crew marooned on a small island off of Australia. The killing spree that ensued reads like a work of fiction but is even more mesmerizing because this is a work of non-fiction.
• River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey shares the story of U.S. President Teddy Roosevelt's scientific expedition to the darkest corners of Brazil.
• First They Killed My Father will put what we are currently going through into proper perspective and make you realize how much worse things could be. First They Killed my Father is a first hand account of life under the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia.
• Long Walk to Freedom is an inspiring biography about the life of Nelson Mandela and the quest to abolish Apartheid in South Africa.
• A Sense of the World: How a Blind Man Became History's Greatest Traveler . This book is truly inspirational. An 18th century blind man didn't let his lack of sight stop him from having some great (and often dangerous adventures). 

Armchair Travel Ideas: Eat and Drink

Order takeout of different cuisines around the world, drink a bottle of wine from your favorite destination or place you were planning to go, armchair travel ideas: socialize at home and online, did you enjoy this post on how to be an armchair traveller when you have to stay at home sharing is caring... .

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Mastering Armchair Travel: 10 Ways to Enjoy Travel from Home

Last Updated: April 1, 2021

*FYI - this post may contain affiliate links, which means we earn a commission at no extra cost to you if you purchase from them. Also, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Check out our Privacy Policy and Disclosure. for more info.

In a time when the farthest I travel is literally from my desk to my fridge, antsy has become my middle name. And as a travel blogger unable to travel, I suppose you can say I’ve kinda been fired. From a job where I’m the boss.

Despite this setback however, I have discovered the wonders of armchair travel, and wow – what a world.

You heard me – armchair travel, as in the art of vicarious travel from the comfort of your armchair, bed, bean bag, or hey, even the toilet (I’m not here to judge).

And I mean sure, armchair travel may not command the same glittery glamour as necking aperitivo in Milan or gliding through Switzerland by train , but it’s travel you can do in your underwear AND nobody will even call the cops. 

So, if you’re feeling weary from gazing blankly out the window or simply want to read something that will distract you from the bleary news ticker, here’s a guide to the wonderful world of armchair travel, with 10 (actually satisfying) ways to enjoy travel from home. 

Editor’s note : the following methods will feel more like real travel if you are also cradling an infant-sized margarita. My jokes may also seem funnier. Carry on.

Save this guide to armchair travel for later!

You’ll be very glad you did.

1. Binge travel blogs & videos

Let’s begin this post with a Christina signature move, shall we? Pure desperation.

Please, if you find yourself in need of some mindless entertainment while weathering this dystopian storm, try to support independent creatives as much as you can.

Reading blogs (if you’re here right now, wow you’re super ahead) and watching YouTube videos is an incredible free way to help keep your favourite creatives’ businesses afloat.

So yes, allow me to quickly hurl my YouTube channel at you real quick. Catch!

It’s a tough time for businesses and individuals all around the world, but freelancers and small business owners are especially feeling the pinch (particularly in the travel industry), SO if you crave something to fill your boredom gaps, please consider supporting the many bloggers, vloggers and creatives in your life.

We need you more than ever! And we’re free. SO FREE. * relentless sobbing *

2. Snoop around on virtual museums and apps

For my fellow museum lovers, there’s an easy way for you to get your fix while nestled in the arms of your own comfy bed.

Many of the most famous museums in the world actually have virtual tours that you can do, including the Louvre, the MET, the British Museum, and more. Click here for a huge list I put together.

To get your culture fix, I can highly recommend the Google Arts and Culture website and app . It’s filled with interesting articles about art, culture, and history intrigue.

PLUS it has the most incredible feature called “Art Selfie” where you snap a selfie and they compare it to their archives to find your fine art doppelgänger. See below for the fair maiden I supposedly resemble.

Download for iOS | Download for Android

3. Find the hidden gems of the world with Secret Door

So this is a really clunky website that screams early 2000s, but I am still mildly obsessed with it.

Long story short, Secret Door is a site where you open a virtual door and it randomly brings you to a hidden gem of the world via Google Street View. Imagine Chat Roulette (throwbackkk!) but for quirky places around the world. Much like a girls’ outing involving tequila, you never know where you’ll end up.

For example, one visit brought me to an eerie art museum in Spain, another brought me to a colourful Willy Wonka inspired candy shop, and my last visit dropped me off RIGHT on the train tracks of the Bernina Express !!

NOTE: I find that the site can be a little glitchy, so I usually have to reload it each time I want to re-open the door, otherwise it won’t work properly… but still, give it a try here ! It’s cool.

4. Explore a random place on Earth with MapCrunch

In a similar vein, there’s another website called MapCrunch that ALSO drops you off in a random Google Streetview location, except it doesn’t necessarily focus on unique/hidden gems… it literally drops you off anywhere.

You might be thinking “why would I want that, Christina? Why?”

WELL, besides getting to catch a glimpse of daily life somewhere completely random in the world, this site was actually the source of a viral internet game of the early 2010s… basically, if (on desktop) you navigate to the MapCrunch Options tab, you can check a box on the bottom the says “Stealth” which will drop you off in a random Streetview location without telling you where you are…

The objective of the game is to pretend you woke up in this random location and somehow navigate your way “home” by finding the closest airport. Tough right? Can you imagine? A great game to play with friends if you want to race. Might be more fun if you’re mildly drunk, but what in life isn’t?

5. Spy on worldwide webcams 

Okay, this fact might either be really cool or really creepy depending on your persuasion, but did you know the world is covered with cameras that stream everything live to webcams 24/7?

(Alright, I admit it does sound a little creepy when I put it that way)

Nonetheless, checking out these webcams is prime armchair travel material. Sites like EarthCam have live HD webcams from all over the world, so you can quickly check in on Times Square  or the balmy waves of the Maldives all while eating guacamole by the fistful in your other hand. In fact, I’m writing this article while watching sunset at the Eiffel Tower! (I will save my guac for later.)

NOTE: While not live, if you get tired of staring at webcam footage, you can also go for an HD view of the world by checking out Full Screen 360 where there is plenty of 360 degree eye candy from interesting places around the world, from beautiful Cinque Terre to even my beloved Munich!

6. Stream some wanderlusty movies or TV shows

In the world of streaming, Netflix is of course king, but if you want to expand your horizons (or take advantage of something free!), you can register for a free one month trial of Amazon Prime Video and binge their huge library of free content (or otherwise rummage through their very extensive paid offerings).

In terms of recommendations, I have a list of great travel movies to watch here.

Show-wise, here are some quick recommendations:

• Departures – One of my favourite all-time travel shows. It’s about 2 Canadian guys that hit the road and travel the world through personal connections/friendships, so you get a good mix of tourist sights and local secrets/know-how. It’s a little dated now (originally recorded in 2008), but guess what? These legends have put a lot of full episodes on YOUTUBE for FREE! Check them out here.
• An Idiot Abroad – A hilarious and mildly offensive show that’s great if you want something a little different than your standard travel programme. It’s a documentary series that follows Karl Pilkington, a guy with zero interest in travel and global cultures…. being forced to travel by his friends Stephen Merchant and Ricky Gervais. If you like Ricky Gervais humour, this is a must-watch. Watch it here.
• Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown – Like many travel enthusiasts, I adore everything from Anthony Bourdain, but there’s just something about Parts Unknown with its incredible visuals and storytelling that makes it my favourite. Watch it here.

7. Cook up global inspired dishes

If you often find yourself traveling for food, sending your tastebuds on their own lil voyage might be the most delicious form of armchair travel you can enjoy right now… all the better if you’re learning to make it yourself (because then your gluttony can be disguised as self-actualization.

Trust me, I’ve been doing it for years).

Where can you get free ideas and tutorials for recipes?

Honestly, YouTube is such a wealth of information these days that I can guarantee you’ll find a video teaching you to cook any foreign dish of your choosing!

If you’re feeling especially fancy though, you can also purchase online cooking classes! This is an amazing way to support local businesses who might be suffering otherwise due to the dip in tourism.

8. Enjoy a country-inspired night in

Combining points 6 and 7, for extra dorkiness points, consider hosting a country themed night-in. Simply pick a special film that’s focused on a destination and cook a meal (or order one in if you feel like it) related to that destination.

You can even have a watch party with friends on Skype (or do a group viewing on Netflix Party ) and all tackle the same recipe together before/after.

Some ideas for your country inspired soirée:

• Watch Parasite and make ramdon – not the most wanderlusty combo but this is the best movie I’ve seen in years so I have to recommend it
• Watch Amélie and have roast chicken + creme brûlée – you’ll see why if you watch the movie. Bonus if you buy some fresh raspberries to eat from your fingers
• Watch Eat Pray Love and Pizza Napolitana or Spaghetti all’Amatriciana – truthfully, the spaghetti will probably be easier to make from home…
• Watch Crazy Rich Asians and dumplings or Hokkien Fried Mee – in addition to wanderlust, a bonus side effect of this movie is it will make you feel incredibly poor and alone

9. Cozy up with a good travel book

At a time when we’re constantly bombarded with one distressing headline after the next, boyyy does it feel good to curl up with a nice book far away from the horror-show that is social media.

So, treat yourself to some wanderlusty reads! Blogs are great, but there’s something unbeatably satisfying about holding a book.

Now, while I prepare myself for excommunication from the League of Extraordinary Bloggers for saying that, let me think of some recommendations… 

I’ll be very honest, I haven’t read a ton of travel memoirs, but one hilarious classic I can wholeheartedly recommend if you’re looking for a good laugh is What I was Doing While You Were Breeding. Otherwise, if you want something more conventionally travelly (but a tad cliché), I did also enjoy Eat Pray Love. Please let me know in the comments if you have any travel memoirs that you would highly recommend!

Otherwise, if you’re looking for some non-travel related reads, I’ve been really into memories from awesome female comedians lately, and both Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? and Bossypants are great.

NOTE: If you don’t mind reading off a Kindle, you can click here for a free month of Kindle unlimited… all you can read!

10. Try actual virtual reality

Lastly, despite being a millennial who works on the Internet, I am shockingly out of touch with technology and how far it has come. Did you know for instance that virtual reality travel is a thing now?

Like, not just in testing phases, not just a clunky pixellated prototype, you can literally just buy an entry-level headset online that uses your phone?

… I only discovered this while researching armchair travel options for this article, and I have to say this one might just take the cake.

There are all sorts of apps that you can download on your phone (both free and paid) that allow you to enjoy really cool virtual reality travel experiences all around the world.

Better yet, there are full-blown YouTube videos now that can be watched in VR mode, which is how I spent my lockdown Spring in Europe taking a taxi ride through New York City, enjoying an overwater villa in the Maldives and even gliding through space , all of which I just did in my pyjamas in Munich.

If you’re interested in this, I got this set for really cheap and it works great!

Any more ideas for armchair travel?

I’m all ears! I hope you enjoyed this read… and safe travels (from the couch).

My Go-To Travel Favourites:

🧳 Eagle Creek: My favourite packing cubes

💳 Wise: For FREE travel friendly credit cards

🍯 Airalo: My go-to eSIM

🏨 Booking.com: For searching hotels

📷 Sony A7IV: My (amazing) camera

✈️ Google Flights : For finding flight deals

🌎 WorldNomads: For travel insurance

🎉 GetYourGuide: For booking activities

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36 Hours in Door County, Wis.

By Julie Bosman Updated September 4, 2024

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By Julie Bosman Photographs by Michelle Litvin

Julie Bosman, a Wisconsin native, has visited Door County with her family since she was a child.

Door County, Wis., burst to national prominence in 1969 in a cover story in National Geographic that described the area, a peninsula that juts out into Lake Michigan like a crooked finger, as “Cape Cod on an inland sea.” It is no longer the sleepy artists’ colony it was then, but much of what drew locals and visitors there in the first place still remains. Cherry orchards dot the countryside, dramatic limestone cliffs and beaches define the shoreline, and the handful of tiny, walkable towns on the mostly rural peninsula are replete with boutiques, independent coffee shops and art galleries. A new wave of restaurant openings this year shows Door County maturing into an even more compelling Upper Midwest destination, with an eclectic dining scene that has evolved dramatically in a generation.

Recommendations

• Eagle Tower is a former fire lookout tower that is now a popular stop for visitors, who climb it to take in sweeping views of the peninsula.
• Daughters and Co. , in a restored vintage building in Egg Harbor, offers art, unusual home goods, children’s wear and a thoughtful selection of wines and liquors.
• The Peninsula Players Theater stages plays by writers like Neil Simon and Agatha Christie, as well as musical adaptations.
• The Ephraim Preserve at Anderson Pond is a secluded spot for hiking amid a protected wetland.
• Cave Point County Park offers views of limestone cliffs and crashing waves on Lake Michigan.
• The Baileys Harbor Farmers Market showcases the area’s agricultural and artistic bounty.
• The Farm , just north of Sturgeon Bay, gives visitors a history lesson of Door County and an up-close look at farm life.
• South Shore Pier rents pontoon boats, the leisure watercraft of choice in Wisconsin.
• Thyme is a sophisticated restaurant with Midwestern influences in an airy, meadow-like setting in Sister Bay.
• Sway serves pastries, breakfast burritos and locally roasted coffee in Baileys Harbor, on the “quiet side” (the Lake Michigan side) of the peninsula.
• Pearl Wine Cottage has a charming patio on which to enjoy sustainable European wines.
• Cultured sells sourdough bagels, focaccia and fermented goods.
• Door County Creamery makes gelato and cheeses using milk from its own goats, raised on a farm nearby.
• Jackalope Trading Company offers a selection of clothing, gifts and perfumes, many from local producers.
• House of Crain sells pillows, bedding and other home goods made from repurposed textiles, both vintage and modern.
• Maxwell’s House , in a former grocery store, is a favorite shop for home goods.
• Wish , in Egg Harbor, sells clothing, gifts and Door County-inspired merchandise.
• The Dörr Hotel is an upscale newcomer in bustling Sister Bay, with a name inspired by the Scandinavian heritage of Door County. The interiors are simple and modern, and if you want to stay in the center of the town, surrounded by restaurants, shops and the beach, the location cannot be beat. Rooms start at around $210 in the fall.
• The Shoreline Resort is off the usual tourist path in Gills Rock, a town near the northern tip of the peninsula. All rooms have either a balcony or a patio, and some are dog-friendly. Rooms start at about $159 in the fall.
• Lodgings at Pioneer Lane is a small inn just off the main street in the postcard-perfect town of Ephraim. There are few amenities — you won’t find a gym, or even a 24-hour front desk — but the owners are quick to respond, and the rooms are beautifully decorated. (If you’re traveling with children, choose the adjoining Helen’s Suite and Bill’s Room.) Rooms start at about $105 in the fall.
• Short-term rentals are plentiful in Door County, though during the popular summer and fall seasons, they can fill up a year in advance. Search early.
• All of Door County’s towns are walkable , but to get around the peninsula and truly explore, you’ll need a car . Rentals are available at Green Bay Austin Straubel International Airport . Public transportation is extremely limited , and ride-hailing services like Uber are hard to find, so try Door County Courier to book a taxi .

Eagle Tower

Look at the grand shoreline, tiny islands and rugged rocky ledge known as the Niagara Escarpment from the best spot possible: the top of the Eagle Tower , a wooden structure that offers panoramic views 250 feet above the waters of Green Bay, an inlet of Lake Michigan. The tower, in Peninsula State Park , has stood in some form for more than a century; it was originally a spot to watch for wildfires, but was later opened up to visitors. Rebuilt in 2021, it now offers an invigorating 100-step climb to the summit — and it is newly accessible to visitors with disabilities, who can ascend to the top on an 850-foot-long zigzagging ramp. The name of the tower is no accident: Keep an eye out for bald eagles.

The Hardy Gallery

Drive about 10 minutes up the coastal Highway 42 to one of the peninsula’s most lovely and picturesque towns, Ephraim (pronounced EE-frum), known for its bay views and historic white clapboard houses and churches. Founded as a Moravian religious community in 1853, the village was the last dry municipality in Wisconsin until 2016, when residents passed a referendum allowing the sale of wine and beer. A happy result is Pearl Wine Cottage , which focuses on sustainable and biodynamic European wines, along with delicious snacks. Sit under a striped umbrella on the patio and try the cheese and charcuterie plate ($28) and a glass of rosé ($14). Stroll along the waterfront afterward to look at fine art in the Hardy Gallery , inside a warehouse covered in (welcomed) graffiti at the end of a dock.

Peninsula Players Theater

Head a few miles southwest down the peninsula to Fish Creek, once a village for 19th-century settlers traveling by boat to pick up timber on their way to the city of Green Bay. Hill Street , a casual restaurant that opened in 2022, faces the bay and offers burgers, salads and sandwiches with Vietnamese influences, like a bánh mì-style hoagie with candy pork, cilantro, mayo and lime ($16). Follow dinner with a beloved Door County tradition: a play at the Peninsula Players Theater , which is tucked in a pristine wooded area and one of the country’s oldest regional summer theaters. Visitors can gather around a bonfire during intermission. Wear sensible shoes and a sweater; Door County is chilly at night, even in summer. (Tickets from $47 to $56; students are half-price.)

The Boynton Chapel, completed in 1947 in Baileys Harbor, is built in the style of a 12th-century Norwegian stave church.

The line might be out the door, but the sourdough bagels are worth the wait at Cultured , a bakery in Sister Bay, one of the peninsula’s northernmost towns. Grab a bagel with local smoked whitefish, herb-and-garlic cream cheese, tomato, cucumber and pickled red onion ($14), or for something on the sweet side, one topped with cream cheese, lemon curd and blueberries ($9). Then check out the abundant shops and art galleries in Egg Harbor, a town about 15 minutes south. Don’t miss the newly restored Cupola House building , from 1871, which houses Daughters and Co. , a serene space selling home goods and children’s clothing. Leave with a bundle of dried flowers, a set of brass candlesticks or a framed oil painting depicting a Door County landscape.

Recharge with a classic Door County must-do: a peek at the goats grazing on a grass roof at Al Johnson’s , a Swedish restaurant in Sister Bay and a favorite of visitors, who gather on the sidewalk hoping to spot the animals above. ( Skal next door sells playful jewelry, vases and other Scandinavian-themed souvenirs.) Walk across the street for a salad or a sandwich at Door County Creamery , like the BLT ($15) or the hot-honey and chèvre cheese, produced from the creamery’s own goats, on bâtard bread ($16). Children who need to blow off steam after lunch will delight in the nearby playground at Sister Bay Beach , a nod to the peninsula’s nautical past and present.

A South Shore Pier boat

Rent a pontoon boat at South Shore Pier in Ephraim, and head out on the crystal-clear waters of Green Bay. (A 22-foot boat that holds eight passengers rents for $195 for up to two hours, plus fuel.) That gives you plenty of time to cruise along the shoreline, checking out the towns of Fish Creek and Sister Bay, and Nicolet Bay Beach, where archaeologists have found Native American artifacts dating back to about 400 B.C. Get an up-close view of curvy Horseshoe Island, uninhabited but popular with kayakers and hikers, as well as the Sister Islands and Eagle Bluff Lighthouse , a brick structure built in 1868 that still helps boats navigate through the narrow Strawberry Channel. The water in Green Bay is warm, by Great Lakes standards — before you head back to the dock, drop anchor and take an invigorating swim.

Ephraim Preserve at Anderson Pond

The peninsula has a long history of fierce preservationists who fought overdevelopment and forest destruction to keep Door County’s rural character and raw beauty intact. Two of the county’s most prominent conservation groups, the Door County Land Trust and the Ridges Sanctuary , have continued the tradition by protecting woodlands, coastal wetlands and marshes that are habitats for birds, plants and endangered dragonflies. Immerse in one of the land trust’s most magical, nearly hidden spaces, the Ephraim Preserve at Anderson Pond : The 26-acre preserve has a gentle, one-mile hike with views of great blue herons and the remnants of the Anderson family farmstead. To explore other preserves, download the Door County Land Trust app , a handy guide with maps to more than a dozen hikes.

Traditional Wisconsin supper clubs, serving brandy old-fashioneds, prime rib and perch, still thrive in Door County, but newcomers have rounded out the culinary possibilities. Thyme in Sister Bay offers a modern update with local flavors: Expect Great Lakes whitefish, Wisconsin cheese curds in Spotted Cow beer batter and salmon with a Dijon-lingonberry sauce, a nod to the area’s Scandinavian heritage. (Dinner for two, without drinks, about $80.) Then head to Baileys Harbor, a fishing town about 10 minutes away that overlooks Lake Michigan. It does not attract hordes of tourists (and locals prefer it that way), but Saturday nights pick up at the Door County Brewing Co . Try the Vacationland, an I.P.A. with a map of the peninsula on its can ($7 for a pint), before taking a nighttime stroll along the lake.

Sunrise on the causeway at Cana Island in Baileys Harbor.

Keep the respite from bayside crowds going. Start the day at Sway , on a tranquil side street in Baileys Harbor, known for its granola bowls ($10), breakfast burritos ($10) and housemade pastries, some with locally grown cherries. Then duck into the nearby Jackalope Trading Company , a purveyor of leather goods, jewelry and décor, with an emphasis on local artists, and House of Crain , whose owner creates pillows and bedding from vintage and modern fabrics. Baileys Harbor has a thriving Sunday farmers’ market , on the lawn of the Town Hall, with live music, produce and artwork. One highlight is a booth offering sweaters and gloves made with wool from alpacas that live on a ranch nearby — the alpacas can usually be spotted in an enclosure at the market, greeting shoppers.

Cave Point County Park

First-time visitors to the Great Lakes often have the same reaction: Is this really just a lake? While the waters are relatively placid on the peninsula’s western, or bay, side, the eastern shore is where you can see the vast, ocean-like quality of Lake Michigan, with its rolling waves on full display. One of the prime spots is Cave Point County Park , south of the town of Jacksonport. Take one of the short hiking trails (you’ll see the trailheads from the parking lot) that guide visitors along a ridge at the lake’s edge, with dramatic limestone cliffs and stunning rock formations visible below. Note that the trail is uneven in places and the drop-off is steep, so take extra care if your group includes children or people with mobility challenges.

Explore Door County’s agricultural heritage at the Farm just north of Sturgeon Bay, a “living museum of rural America” that has been around since 1965 (and has barely changed in decades). Children will enjoy feeding tiny goats milk from bottles, carrying small bags of corn around the farm for cows and horses, or milking a goat themselves. Stroll past horses, ducks, cows and vegetable gardens, while reading about their connection to the peninsula’s farming history. (If you’re especially lucky, you might happen to witness a calf, foal or baby goat being born.) Log buildings house vintage farming equipment, historical exhibits and even a bunny hutch. Admission for teenagers and adults is $9.50; children 3 to 12 are $6.

Open Up Your World

Considering a trip, or just some armchair traveling here are some ideas..

52 Places:  Why do we travel? For food, culture, adventure, natural beauty? Our 2024 list has all those elements, and more .

D enver, Colo.: The city is undergoing a rebirth , with a newly refreshed Union Station and the gradual reopening of the mile-long, pedestrian-friendly 16th Street Mall to go along with views of the snow-capped Front Range.

La Rioja, Spain:  A drive through rolling vineyards will take you to 5 family-run restaurants  where you’ll find flavorful, affordable dishes you can linger over for hours.

Seattle, Wash.:  Today’s Seattle is ever evolving, filled with colorful neighborhoods that are emblematic of the Emerald City’s  natural beauty, vibrant street life ,  and commitment to both preservation and progress .

Stockholm-Helsinki Ferry:  The 16-hour trip between the two northern European cities is a festive summer ritual , with plenty of singing, gambling, limbo contests and maybe a bit too much to drink.

Swim in the Wild:  Looking to take a dip in or near a city center? Here are some European urban areas that have successfully opened up waterways for swimmers .

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