How to Travel When You’re Stuck at Home
Images by the Library Lady and Pixabay Photos.
For one strange moment in time, we are all required to stay home. This means no work, no socializing, and especially no travel. For those who yearn for adventure in exotic locales, this can be a bit of a problem. It was for me anyway, until I discovered Google’s Art and Culture website (not being paid to say this, I just love the site). Now I’m traveling again without even leaving my home.
Admittedly, virtual travel is not quite like the real thing, but it can be pretty amazing. With this site, I can sit on the couch in my pajamas and visit India or tour Amsterdam’s Van Gogh Museum. I can stroll through Queen Victoria’s Durbar Room, or learn about the art of making a Kimono. I can even watch the bones of a Sea Dragon – or Rhomelosaures – come to life and swim away from its display in the Natural history Museum of London. (More links at the end of this post.) All this from the comfort – and hopefully virus-free setting of my own front room.
Viking Museum – Oslo Norway
How is This Possible?
Simply go to Google’s Art and Culture website where you’ll find an astounding collection of artwork, museum tours, rare collectibles, and cultural experiences. I was amazed by all the options. You could literally spend weeks clicking through this information.
My favorites are the videos. Shot in 360-degree mode, you can scroll around the screen to get the big picture of backgrounds and surroundings. You can even pause the narrative and search a particular scene in more detail before resuming the video.
How to Play
Start with the home page – if you land here and never leave you’ll find lots of ways to while away the hours, but there’s so much more! Go to the guide – the three black bars on the top left of the screen. When you click on this you’ll find a drop-down list that helps locate the kind of experience you’re looking for.
Popular Favorites
George Peabody Library
The first heading is “Explore”. Here you’ll find the best of the best – the topics which have proved most popular with visitors. From 360 degree videos and street views of famous cultural sites and landmarks, to photo tours (also 360 ) of things like Great Libraries of the World (Library Lady Favorite). Did you know the five-tier George Peabody Library in Baltimore is so beautiful that weddings are held in its Neo Greco Atrium?
Maybe you’d rather visit one of Kenya’s national parks? Did you know the Ol Pejeta conservancy is home to the world’s last two surviving White Rhinos?
Almost Extinct – White Rhinos
Fun Technical Stuff
Have you ever been to the Louvre Museum only to find it was too crowded to see the Mona Lisa? For those who are a little more tech-savvy than I am, you can project a famous work of art onto the wall of your room. If you download the app there are all kinds of special effects available.
Kids Stuff
There are even activities to do at home with the kiddos, i.e. Which Kenyan Superhero are You? This is an interactive quiz where kids answer questions that match them to the painting of a Kenyan hero most like them. Then there’s the ever-popular video – How to go to the bathroom in Space. This site is a gold mine for home school parents.
St. Chapelle’s Cathedral
Visitors can search by artists, collections, themes, etc. or look for a museum near their own home. Once you get the hang of all this you can create a profile with a gallery of personal favorites.
All in all, I can’t say enough about this unique website. I’ve just dipped my toe into the ocean of possibilities here and look forward to spending many happy lock-down hours traveling from home.
If you go let me know! And I’d love to hear about other great boredom-busting sites you’ve been to, be they travel or otherwise.
Hang in there everybody!
Links to Google’s Art and Culture sites:
The Art of Making and Wearing a Kimono
10 Incredible Libraries of the World
Which Kenyan Super – Hero are You?
How to go to the bathroom in Space (Scroll Down)
The Library Lady Travels 
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Thanks for sharing that Google link, sounds like a great way to virtually travel!
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It’s lots of fun. Thanks for reading!.
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What a fun post. Love your photo at the end too – made me smile! I haven’t used the internet links for traveling yet (other than reading blogs from around the world), I agree, it is a great idea to check out museums and travel places virtually. Great for kids too – are your grandkids enjoying what you’ve found? Take care and stay safe and well!
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So far a no on the grand kids, I only have 2 and they’ re 3 and a half and 3 months old So not really into travel and museums. Can’t wait until they are!
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They’ll describe you as a really cool grandma!! 😉
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I love reading about your adventures. And this google link is wonderful.
With all the time you have now, are you researching your next adventure? Or, perhaps sorting from your last trip. I hope you are staying well and enjoying your enforced alone time…
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Both, but unfortunately I don’t have a lot of free time. I’m working from home which is kind of a challenge . . . Library Lady working from home? It’s a long story, but I’m just glad to still have my job. Anyway, thanks for stopping by.
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Hi Library Lady. this really is a fun site. I’ve enjoyed surfing around in it. Kind of addictive though, luckily I have time to spare right now.
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Glad you liked it. I wish I had more time to spare. I’ve been working from home and while I’m glad to be employed, I’m kind of burned out on computer time. I always thought it would be so great to work from home, but come to find out I’d rather be in my home away from home library. Thanks for reading.
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Hi Library Lady, this is a great idea. I went to the google site and now I’m hooked. There is so much to do here. My kids like it too which is a great help for HOMESCHOOLING!!! Ahhh! I need all the help I can get.
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Lol! I know many mothers who feel the same way. This is tough. I have two grands with me two days a week and it’s a challenge to channel all that energy. Glad you liked it.
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BTW, that St Chapelle’s chapel is really wonderful. If any on you get to Paris make sure to check it out. Try to get to an evening concert there.
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Thanks Bestadman. I agree. St Chapelles is one of my all-time favorite travel experiences. I keep mentioning it in hopes that others will discover it too.
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Great site. What a sad thing about the white rhinos. I knew they were in trouble, but only 2 of them are left? Otherwise this is a great way to travel without having to wear a facemask.
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I know, it’s a terrible thing. Thank goodness for refuge sites like this who are trying save the species. Yes, this google site is a great mask free environment.
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Wow, what a cool site! Thank you. I’m hanging in there but not quite like that!
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Thanks Nico, we all need a little distraction right now, even if it results in hanging upside down.
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Lol! 🙂
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