35 Free Virtual Field Trips to take with your kids!

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Parents are now spending much more time with their kids at home – many unable or unwilling to venture out. But those kids will be coming down with cabin fever in a little bit! Let’s grab a device which will allow you to navigate to the world wide web, take a seat anywhere within your home and go for a fun journey a few times a week!

Below is a list of 35 different places you can explore online with your kids. There should be something of interest for everyone!

Note: this was post was previously published on LuxConnections.com who has graciously allowed us to republish it here. Be sure to check ’em out.

Free Virtual Field Trips for Kids

AQUARIUMS – VIRTUAL FIELD TRIPS

Georgia Aquarium: De-stress while taking a relaxing look under the sea at this aquarium with live cams of whale sharks, beluga whales, California sea lions, bottlenose dolphins, African penguins, jellyfish, manta rays and more. This aquarium is the largest one in the United States and the Western Hemisphere.

Monterey Bay Aquarium: This virtual tour at the aquarium allows students to go on a deep-sea adventure through exhibit webcams that allow students to watch sea creatures in real time, including a shark! Once your kiddies have finished studying all the animals up close, the aquarium also provides this classroom resource page with activities, fact sheets, and games to play with your kids.

National Aquarium: Explore winding, sea life-filled floors when you take this virtual tour of the Baltimore-based aquarium. It is the largest tourism attraction in the State of Maryland and will enchant you.

ZOOS – VIRTUAL FIELD TRIPS

Atlanta Zoo: The panda cam at Zoo Atlanta is a must see for any kid or adult in the family!

Houston Zoo: Tune in to this zoo’s webcams and enjoy a live look at animals that call it their home! See the herd of Asian elephants wander through their enormous habitat. Watch as giraffes nibble lettuce fed to them by guests at the feeding platform. See the rhinos roll in their mud puddle or the flamingos float next to a waterfall. See the chimpanzees interact with guests at their window or snooze in a hammock.

San Diego Zoo: Visit the baboons at this zoo with their live camera feeds! Alas, the pandas they had were returned to China. However, they have archived footage of their antics on this site as well. Once your kids have finished viewing the antics of the animals, the zoo’s kid page has lots of activities, videos and information about the its animals to share with them as well.

INTERNATIONAL LANDMARKS – VIRTUAL FIELD TRIPS

Australia – Great Barrier Reef: Swim through Australia’s Great Barrier Reef with the help of several David Attenborough-narrated videos and an educational, interactive map.

Bahamas – Coral Reef:  Go for a swim and explore a coral reef in the Bahamas, if this of interest to you.

Buckingham Palace: Stroll through the home of the Royal Family with this tour of Buckingham Palace. An iconic building and official residence of The Queen, Buckingham Palace has been the focus of many moments of national celebration, from Jubilees and weddings to VE Day and the annual Trooping the Colour which marks The Queen’s official birthday. It is also a busy working building welcoming tens of thousands of people through its gates each year for Investitures, Garden Parties, Audiences and other events.

Ellis Island Interactive Tour: This interactive tour includes first-hand immigrant stories, historical photos and films, and fascinating facts highlighting the central role this station played in the story of American immigration.

Empire State Building: Enjoy the spectacular view from the top deck of the Empire State Building without having to pay the admission fee.

Galapagos Islands: Go on an expedition to the Galapagos Islands on the ship Endeavor II with National Geographic.These islands are a part of Ecuador and located about 1000 km outside of South America. Darwin made the Galapagos famous when he stepped foot onto its shores and developed his theory of natural selection, changing the way we understand evolution. Some of the things you’ll see: Marine iguanas that blend in with the rocks, sea lion pups that are just as playful as dogs, mockingbirds that steal whatever they can get, etc.

George Washington’s Mount Vernon: Visit the historic home of America’s first president, George Washington, just a short drive from Washington, DC in northern Virginia. In 1960 Mount Vernon was designated a National Historic Landmark and it is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is owned and maintained in trust by the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association and is open every day of the year, including holidays.

Grand Canyon: Get a great view of the Grand Canyon from above and see just how big it really is! This canyon is one of the deepest ones in the world. It has been in the making for 10 million years!

Great Wall of China: Taking this virtual tour makes you feel like you are standing on the Great Wall from your computer screen. As China’s most famous attraction, the “Great Wall” is an essential stop on any trip to China. Commonly considered a wonder of the world, it boasts a history of over 2,000 years and stretches more than 3,000 miles across several provinces of northern China, making it one of the most impressive ancient structures on the planet.

Leaning Tower of Pisa: This wonder is 185 feet of historical lessons while defying gravity. Tour this Tower with a 360-degree panoramic view of the it and many other historically-rich Italian buildings. It is known worldwide for its nearly four-degree lean, the result of an unstable foundation.

Mount Rushmore: As we can’t head out that door on a road trip anytime soon, take the kids on a 360-degree panoramic tour of Mount Rushmore. This famous U.S. landmark is one every student should learn about and see for themselves from a historical perspective and a geographical one as well. Mount Rushmore is located in the Black Hills of Keystone, South Dakota. The sculpture features the 60-foot heads of Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln.

Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello: This virtual tour of the estate of our third president who was a philosopher, scientist, historian, and author of the Declaration of Independence will give you an idea of the place and the person who used to own it. In 1987, Monticello was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Fun fact: The current nickel, a United States coin, features a depiction of it on its reverse side.

Looking for more things to do at home to avoid the boredom? We’ve got you covered! Be sure to check out 31 Things to Do When you are Stuck at Home!

Tower Bridge: This famous London bridge won’t be taken down anytime soon. In 2016, it was closed to all road traffic from October 1^st to December 30^th to allow for structural maintenance work to take place on the timber decking, lifting mechanism and waterproofing the brick arches on the bridge’s approaches. During this time, the bridge was still open to water-borne traffic. You can explore it virtually here by boat!

Vietnam – Largest Cave: Take a 360-degree adventure through the world’s largest cave with National Geographic, Hang Son Doong, in Vietnam. At one point, you’ll be encountering a jungle!

White House: Google Arts & Culture offers a Virtual White House tour. It is available on the website as well as its app for both iOS and Android devices.

The main feature of this tour is the interactive museum views of the White House, its grounds, and the Eisenhower Executive Building, which houses many staff offices next door. This tour allows you to freely roam thru the rooms in the White House as if you were there in-person.

The high-quality images allow you to zoom in or out as you wish when you are exploring the building. You can check out the paintings on the wall and wander thru the halls while taking in the elaborate furnishings, high ceilings, and stately decor.

CAPITOLS & COUNTRIES – VIRTUAL FIELD TRIPS

Barcelona: It has a rich cultural heritage and is today an important cultural center and a major tourist destination known for its exceptional food, architecture, scenery, and energetic atmosphere. Why is this? Within this virtual tour, let’s find out, shall we!

Canada: Join us as we travel across this diverse country from the Maritime provinces on the Eastern coast, visiting Quebec and Ontario, then making our way across the Western provinces and the Pacific coast of British Columbia, winding up in the Arctic North in this virtual tour.

Canada – Farm Tour: This virtual farm tour found here will let kids visit minks and learn how milk and cheese are processed. Fur farming provides important employment for rural communities across Canada, employing hundreds of families and thousands of people, directly and indirectly.

Canada – Tundra: Observe polar bears in the tundra of Canada on this Discovery Education virtual field trip. Since 2010, Discovery Education has teamed up with Polar Bears International to host a series of shared learning experiences to engage students and inspire their interest in studying the science of polar bears and their Arctic habitat.

London: It is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom. We explore it in this virtual tour. It can be an exciting adventure and a valuable experience to anyone who hasn’t been there as of yet. Together, let’s enhance our knowledge of its historical treasures (Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, etc.) while taking an escape into a different time where Kings and Queens once ruled over vast empires.

Paris – City of Light: Paris is the capital and most populous city of France. It has long been considered one of the world’s most historically important cities and is also packed with a multitude of iconic images of which some are rather romantic. In this virtual tour, we explore the unforgettable buildings that took centuries to build, such as Notre Dame, the Eiffel Tower, and the Arc de Triomphe. Students of all levels will gain insights into the many reasons why Paris’ significance is so timeless.

Rome – The Eternal City: It has continuously been one of the most important cities in the Western World. First as the capital of the Roman Empire and now as the center of the Catholic Church. It embodies some of the greatest attributes of the Renaissance era. Come along with us on this virtual tour as we explore the many highlights of the most popular tourist destination in Italy in 2019.

Tokyo: This virtual tour allows you to become immersed within Tokyo, the capital of Japan. The blend of the old and the new will leave you enthralled with the beauty of it all. Tradition permeates it and yet it is known currently as a major cultural hub and an international trendsetter in the arts, entertainment, gastronomy, and media. The Michelin Guide has awarded Tokyo by far the most Michelin stars of any city in the world. The city has hosted multiple international events including the Summer Olympics in 1964, the G7 Summit (1979, 1986, and 1993), and will host the 2020 Summer Olympics unless it is postponed or cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Washington, DC: Students of all levels will appreciate the treasures, history, and beauty that the United States’ capital has to offer. In this virtual tour we will explore the architecture and artifacts which make DC fascinating. From the Washington Monument to the White House and the Smithsonian Museum, there is something for everyone.

Sports Stadiums: Have sports fans at home? Let’s take a look around Yankees Stadium, then go see where the Dallas Cowboys play.

Yankee Stadium: It is the home field for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB). The $1.5 billion price tag makes the new Yankee Stadium one of the most expensive stadiums ever built.

AT&T Stadium: This stadium, formerly Cowboys Stadium, is a retractable roof stadium in Arlington, Texas within the United States. It serves as the home of the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL).

MISCELLANEOUS – VIRTUAL TOURS

African Safari: Enjoy a trip through an African Safari park to see an incredible variety of wildlife. Take a first-row seat at the waterholes where the action is. You’ll see elephants, giraffes, warthogs, rhinos, zebras, lions, and so much more in this virtual tour.

Amazon Rain Forest: Learn more about the Amazon Rain Forest with an educational tour that shows all the sites and sounds, including the animals who consider it their home stomping grounds.

Mars: You don’t need a spaceship to visit Mars virtually, thanks to this awe-inspiring website where you can walk alongside a rover on the surface of the planet.

Years from now, when we reminisce about this time in our lives, we will remember how we kept our families from going stir crazy. Taking virtual tours is not only a fun learning activity but will keep you and your kids enthralled with what the world has to offer! All this, without having to leave the safety of your home during this tumultuous time in our lives. If you are interested museums, you can go here. A list of national parks can be found here as well.

Thanks for stopping by!

Note: this was post was previously published on LuxConnections.com who has graciously allowed us to republish it here. Be sure to check ’em out including a fun post about ways to keep your kids exercising at home!

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