Experience venues, museums, and excursions from your computer, tablet, and/or phone
A fun memory I have is of my View-Master and collection of cardboard reels that took me from Disneyland to a 3D Mount Everest in seconds. I’ve found I can duplicate those travels — and that jolt of wonderment — today, with the help of some websites and apps.
In fact, modern technology has made those moments more realistic than ever. From 360-degree panoramas to virtual walkthroughs, you can visit numerous destinations and share incredible experiences. Here are a few sites to try out:
Look Around
- www.fullscreen360.com — Panoramas.
- www.destination360.com — Destinations such as Trafalgar Square and Napa Valley.
- www.gettyimages.com — Use their search tool for “360-degree view” to find over 50,000 professional images. Click on the RF and RM filters on the left for maximum selection.
- www.vatican.va/various/basiliche/san_pietro/vr_tour/Media/VR/St_Peter_Nave/index.html — Panoramas and Gregorian chants!
Walk Around
- www.mountvernon.org/site/virtual-tour/ — An excellent digital experience on Mount Vernon.
- www.naturalhistory.si.edu/about/virtual-tour — Smithsonian walkthrough tours, including past and permanent exhibits.
- www.westminster-abbey.org/learning/virtual-tours — Explore and learn about Westminster Abbey.
Get Into the Action
- www.metmuseum.org/art/online-features/met-360-project — View much of the timeless work at the peerless Metropolitan Museum of Art.
- www.artsandculture.google.com/explore — Outstanding cultural experiences that include standing in the middle of a philharmonic orchestra performance.
- www.youtube.com/watch?v=rG4jSz_2HDY — Great Hammerhead Shark Encounter.
- www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwRjPP-ANzs — Tiger Shark Encounter in the Bahamas.
- www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6SsB3JYqQg&t=148s — Fly with the Blue Angels.
- www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9EClKA1VeQ — A London City Guided Tour. (Search YouTube for similar city tours of Amsterdam and Rome.)
