Nowadays, everything has gone virtual. People are working remotely, children are distance learning, businesses are performing services via online methods. But did you know there are even virtual vacations for families? That’s right! You and your family can see and experience places all over the world while staying safely at home! If you have school-aged children, you can even plan a virtual field trip around the things they are learning about in school! This is a fantastic way to enrich their learning experience and do something fun together as a family!
Think about taking a day or two off work to fully immerse yourself in the virtual family vacation experience. Since most of your ‘getaway’ will be online only, get comfy on the couch with blankets and maybe even some hot cocoa and popcorn! Make it an event that everyone will remember!
Here are five super fun examples of virtual vacations for families that you can participate in and hopefully by the end of this you will be inspired to create your own custom virtual family vacation.
1. Take a virtual vacation to Italy.
Whether you have a student at home learning about the Roman Empire or perhaps you are one of the many people that had to cancel their family trip to Italy this year, you can still take some exciting virtual vacations for families!
Italy is a very popular destination, and for good reason! With its amazing history, delicious food, and beautiful old-world architecture; Italy is at the top of a lot of people’s bucket lists. Take a tour of the Colosseum through google maps. Oftentimes people have to battle the heat and crowds to tour this beautiful ancient place, but you can do it through the comfort of your own home!
You can explore the Vatican Museum for free and see way more than you can imagine! Do you have a student learning about volcanoes? Uncover Pompeii with an Archaeologist! How cool is that?!
If you are really looking forward to some fine Italian cuisine (and who isn’t?), check out this cooking class through Airbnb Experiences! Travel across these Grandma’s kitchens around Italy to learn the authentic traditional recipes! So fun! This is surely one of the best virtual vacations for families that you don’t want to miss!
2. Buenos Aires at your fingertips!
Buenos Aires provides virtual vacations for families that are full of fabulous culture and is especially great for those with an interest in rich art. Start your virtual tour with the real life street views on Youvisit.com. This tour is fantastic because you can walk around El Centro, La Boca, Plaza De Mayo, Puerto Madero, Palermo, Recoleta, and Tigre!
For the art lover, check out this Airbnb Experience with a contemporary art curator! Discover Buenos Aires Street Art from the comfort of your home, and connect to your inner artist! She will guide you through the amazing street art as you sketch along the way!
Last but not least, Tango! The sensual tango was born on the streets of Buenos Aires more than a century ago, when largely male dock workers would gather after hours to drink and show off their fancy footwork. Grand theaters around town host dance shows, while local dance halls, called ‘milongas,’ offer an unstaged experience. Sign up for a virtual Tango lesson! They have group or private lessons available where you can learn this sensual dance.
Related articles:
- Tips for Long Term Travel with Kids
- 8 Best Small Town Getaway Destinations that are Great for Families
- 20 Coronavirus Travel Tips to Keep Your Family Safe
3. ‘Travel’ to Cape Town for one of the best virtual vacations for families.
Enjoy these virtual tours of Cape Town from your living room. Visit one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in Cape Town, Table Mountain! Or explore this local favorite, Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. See the cute African Penguins at Boulders Beach. Visit Two Oceans Aquarium and meet the team who keeps the aquarium running. Discover how they care for the special diets, demands, and needs of the hundreds of animals that they care for every day.
Do you have a daredevil in the family that loves adventure? You can Dive Under the Sea with a Shark Expert! This fun educational live online experience is suitable for all ages—adults, and children alike. Whether you have a baby that loves the Baby Shark song, or a student studying marine biology, this is surely a fun and educational experience for all!
4. Venture out in The Big Apple (New York City).
Visit New York City’s world’s best museums and iconic landmarks from the comfort of your home! The Metropolitan Museum of Art has some great videos through #metkids. Watch online and learn how the museum makes art, who protects it, tour the museum, and much much more!
The Empire State Building is one of the must-see attractions of NYC. Take in the sweeping views from the observatories on the 102nd floor with this 360 degrees tour. Walk all around and learn about the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Virtual Tour.
And you’ll absolutely want to check out the tour of Central Park from Youvisit.com. New York is a must see for virtual vacations for families!
5. Explore tourist attractions in Beijing, China.
Experience The Forbidden City in Virtual Reality with YouVisit! This tour includes incredible sights such as; The Meridian Gate, The Golden Water Bridges, The Gate of Supreme Harmony, Imperial Garden, and more!
The Great Wall of China is an essential stop for virtual vacations for families. Often considered a wonder of the world, the Great Wall has a history of over 2,000 years, stretching over 3,000 miles across northern China, thus making it one of the most impressive ancient structures in the world! You can book a virtual private tour with a guide that consists of high-quality panoramic scenes throughout the magnificent attraction. Your guide will walk you through the scenes, narrate and answer your questions via Zoom.
Lastly, join a local chef and make Beijing Style Noodles with Soy Bean Paste! You will enjoy the fun of making Beijing Soul Food Noodles with your family at home!
The possibilities are literally endless with the internet at your fingertips. Start with these entertaining virtual vacations for families as your launch pad. Take these ideas and add more of your own! Is your child learning about Early American History? Or maybe they’re studying Rocks and Minerals? What places can you go or things can you see to bring those things to life? Plan a virtual field trip and have so much fun as a family!
Have you taken a virtual family vacation? Tell us all about it in the comments below!
Juliana is a BabyQuip Quality Provider in Truckee, CA. and is excited to provide quality service to families visiting Lake Tahoe and surrounding areas! Pack light and rent all the baby’s necessities and more while you travel. She is a homeschooling mother of 3 and enjoys traveling, hiking, reading, and coffee!
Wow! What a cool concept! I had no idea!
Great way to learn about world history and other cultures during distance learning too!
I love the idea of the Great Wall. I’m too scared to venture too far out of my comfort zone but have always wanted to see it. This is a good alternative.
Great info here. Thanks for posting.
I’m fascinated by this idea. I’m inspired to do it but I can’t imagine it’s very realistic for most families.
Such great ideas! I love travel that accommodates nap time ;-)
Great ideas! My kids learning all about these cool places that we are unable to travel currently.
Wow! I told my kids (6, 7 & 9) about the great wall and guess what we are doing this weekend! I’m as excited as they are. Didn’t know this was a thing.
I knew you could do virtual Disney rides, which are a let down imo, but these suggestions are great. Can’t wait to plan this with my fam.
I did a virtual trip to Italy over the summer with my kids. We loved it. So great for quarantine!!!!!! <3
I appreciate that you are suggesting people do things safe at home. This virus has me so scared. I can’t believe people are traveling.
This is awesome! Great ideas for safe virtual escapes!