The worldwide Coronavirus pandemic has left buildings closed, many working from home and students on hiatus from school. While the opportunity does present many challenges to working parents and those unable to leave their homes, it also open new doors and opportunities into virtual activities and new technology.
These online resources can help you make the most out of the current situation. This list is by no means meant to be inclusive of all opportunities – but we hope a great starting point to your exploration.
Take a virtual tour!
Many museums and historical sites are offering free online virtual tours to explore from your living room.
- Anne Frank House
- British Museum London – Discover the ancient Rosetta Stone and Egyptian mummies on the virtual tour
- Ellis Island Interactive Tour
- 360 Interactive tour of the Great Wall of China
- Louvre – Visit the museum’s exhibition rooms and galleries (pictured)
- All Smithsonian Institutions are closed – but offering online exhibits including the Air & Space Museum, Museum of Natural History , and the National Gallery of Art
- The J. Paul Getty Museum – European artworks from as far back as the 8th Century can be found in this California art museum
Visit the Animals!
Many zoos are offering free access to their live animal webcams.
- Atlanta Zoo Panda Cam
- Cincinnati Zoo – offers virtual safaris at 3pm EST daily
- Georgia Aquarium – offering webcams of the Beluga Whale, Southern Sea Otter, African Penguin and more!
- Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington D.C. offers live feeds of some of their favorite residents: the lion, panda, elephant and, yes, even the naked mole-rat.
Listen to a Concert or See a Show!
- Berlin Philharmonic: Digital Concert Hall
- Metropolitan Opera – The Met will stream a title from its Live in HD series each night through the duration of the closure. The performances, originally captured as live broadcasts in movie theatres worldwide, will begin at 7:30 PM from the company’s homepage
- Many musicians, including Miley Cyrus, John Legend and Keith Urban are offering free concerts via social media. Be sure to check out social media for the latest and find an updated list here.
Venture to a National Park!
The website, Totally the Bomb, has listed 33 National Parks you can tour virtually, including the following: