The coronavirus outbreak has disrupted everyone’s routine in all sorts of ways.
If you had a nice vacation planned, you might be feeling especially disappointed right about now. But even if you can’t go anywhere, you can still enjoy some luxurious time off in the comfort of your own home! From taking a virtual field trip to creating a spa in your own bathroom, there are all kinds of creative ways to relax while you’re stuck in lockdown. ( this is an abridged version of the post , to read the entire post click here)
Getting Outdoors
Camp out in the backyard if you’re starved for fresh air.
Nothing says “vacation” like sleeping under the stars. If you have a tent and some yard space, set up a little camp on your own lawn. If the weather is nice, you could even skip the tent and sleep in a hammock.
Dine al fresco on your porch or patio to make meals more fun. Sitting outside can transform any dining experience into a vacation-worthy event. If you have a porch or balcony, set up a dining area there and enjoy breakfast, lunch, or dinner in the fresh air. You could also spread out a picnic blanket on your lawn and enjoy a backyard picnic.
Walk a local hiking trail if any are open. While some of the more crowded parks and trails have closed down due to the epidemic, you may still be able to find open trails and walking paths in your area. Head out for a nature walk if you’re feeling cooped up and want to get out of the house—just make sure to stay at least 6 feet ( 1.8 m) away from any other hikers
When you get home, wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, just in case you came into contact with any contaminated surfaces during your trek.
Since trailside services will be more limited due to the virus, make sure to bring any essentials you need, like food, water, and first aid supplies. You might not even be able to find an open outdoor restroom along the trail.
Exploring the world from your living room
Take a virtual walk through a museum if you’re an art lover. If you’ve always dreamed of visiting the Louvre, you’re in luck! It’s one of several museums that are offering virtual tours of their collections during the coronavirus pandemic. Visit your favorite museum’s website to see if they’re offering tours or other special online content, or explore material from 500 museums all over the world with the Google Arts and Culture app!
If you’ve got kids at home, the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s MetKids website is a great way for them to explore the museum’s collection and learn about art history: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/online-features/metkids/.
If you love museums but you’re more into the sciences, try taking a virtual tour of the Smithsonian Institute’s National Museum of Natural History: https://naturalhistory.si.edu/visit/virtual-tour.
Have an underwater adventure with a reef or aquarium live cam. Even if you’re missing out on a tropical diving expedition right now, you can still visit the reef virtually from the comfort of your home. Check out live cams from the Monterey or Georgia Aquariums, or visit a wild reef cam at Explore.org.
Some aquariums, like the New England Aquarium, also have live presentations from their researchers and staff!
Stroll around a national park via Google Arts & Culture if you love nature. If you’re longing to go hiking in the wilderness, try exploring some of the world’s natural wonders in 360° on Google Arts & Culture. You can get started by visiting the National Park Service page: https://artsandculture.google.com/project/national-park-service.
Some of the parks you can explore include Yosemite National Park, the Redwood National and State Parks, and the Grand Canyon.
You can find other parks to visit online at https://www.nationalparks.org/connect/blog/take-virtual-visit-national-park
Attending events online
Livestream a concert to enjoy live music from home. Your favorite music festival may have been canceled because of the virus, but the good news is that many artists and musical groups are hosting live events online! Tune in on your computer or check your TV listings to find out about upcoming musical events.
For example, if you’re an opera lover, the Metropolitan Opera is offering nightly live opera streams in HD.
If you’ve got children at home, keep them entertained with the Lincoln Center’s Concert for Kids series
Look for your favorite artists on YouTube, Instagram, or Facebook to find out if they’re releasing live content!
Join a virtual karaoke party if you like to sing. If you’re the type of person who likes to belt along with your favorite tunes, take advantage of the karaoke parties that have been popping up all over the internet since the outbreak started. Organize your own using a platform like Zoom, Discord, or Google Duo, or hop onto a website like https://karaoke.camp/ to drop into a public karaoke session.
You could also host or join a virtual dance party or jam session. If you have a favorite DJ, check their social media to find out if they have any online dance events coming up.
Organize or attend a movie-watching party with friends. You can’t go to the theater or even invite friends over for a movie night, but that doesn’t mean you can’t watch your favorite movies and shows together. Install the Netflix Party extension to set up a group viewing experience on your computer, or hop on Metastream or Kast to access multiple streaming platforms through a single app!
If you really want to see your friends’ faces, you can video chat and watch Netflix at the same time with the Scene extension.
These are just some of the ways you can vacation safely this summer.