Whether the pandemic grounded you, or you prefer to stay home, take a virtual vacation. It’s the way to travel this year.

The variety of vacations you can take from the confines of your home are practically limitless. In fact, older adults might be able to travel more than ever this year because you can go from beaches and mountains to art museums and historical sites virtually.

Here are a multitude of vacation ideas to enjoy from home:

National points of interest

You can take a virtual vacation to visit national monuments, historical points of interest and national parks.

• Washington D.C. – Browse an exhibit a day at the Library of Congress and the National Archives Museum. Get an overview look of all the historic buildings around the Capitol. Take virtual tours of the Air and Space Museum.
• National Parks – Pick a National Park for every day of the week. The National Park Service has a handy guide and links to make virtual visits possible.

International sensations

• Seven Wonders of the World – You can travel around the globe and back in a matter of day when you virtually visit the Seven Wonders of the World in this piece Skyscanner put together.
• Northern Lights – See a magical display of Greenland’s Northern Lights.
• Australian Outback – You can experience a variety of Australian Outback sights and sounds in this guided tour of the Kimberly Region.
• Sicily – Take a 360-degree view of the beautiful Italian island. You can skip around to the places you’d like to visit – or soak in every corner of the vacation destination.
• Israel – Get a drone’s eye view of the Caesarea National Park, which is one of Israel’s most popular and beautiful historical sites on the Mediterranean Sea Coast.
• Sweden – Choose any or all points of interest throughout Sweden to virtually visit on this well designed and narrated website. You can see wildlife, nature, and people enjoying it all.

Culture

Check out museums and other cultural events or destinations during your virtual vacations:

• The National Gallery of Art – The National Gallery answered the need for virtual culture with its NGA Online Editions. It offers in-depth information on the gallery’s collections by art historians plus ways to explore the information even deeper.
• Smithsonian Institute – The keeper of our national treasures offers virtual experiences across the board. Check out Smithsonian Virtual Journeys throughout the world. Visit the Smithsonian Gardens for a refreshing time. Sit back, relax and listen to narrated virtual tours of the National Museum of Natural History.
• Worldwide Museums – You can view some of the most famous artwork in the world with virtual tours of major, worldwide art museums such as Guggenheim Museum in New York, Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, British Museum in London, and Musée d’Orsay in Paris.
• San Diego Zoo – Although the iconic zoo touts its live stream as a feature for kids, it’s a great getaway for the young at heart!

Beaches

You don’t have to don a bathing suit or get sand stuck between your toes because you can relax and take these beach virtual vacations.

• British Virgin Islands – Check webcams placed throughout islands, tropical drink and sunglasses optional!
• Hawaii – Take a relaxing virtual stroll or just enjoy the Hawaiian beach views and sounds along Wailea Beach.
• Mexico – For a different take on beaches, try a scuba experience off the Baja Coast in the Sea of Cortez.

Mountains and beyond

How about a hike or ride through mountains and beyond?

• Alberta, Canada – Trek along the Moraine Lake Shoreline trail with a group of hikers who had the foresight to record it in 2019.
• South Africa – This interactive experience will take you through Kruger National Park where you can watch for giraffes, hippos, cheetahs, elephants, black rhinos, leopards and lions.
• Grand Canyon – Even if you’ve been to the Grand Canyon or flown over it, you can see and hear it like never before through virtual hikes and rafting.
• Alaska – You can stay warm while visiting our most northern state on this fast trek through Kodiak Island.