This is not the ‘staycation’ you imagined! The current lockdown has been hard on everyone. And travel enthusiasts have been left disappointed too. Had to cancel the trip you had been looking forward to for months? We feel your pain.
So, we decided to shortlist some virtual travel options and fun activities to satisfy the travel bug, while you’re stuck at home.
Virtual reality tours – The next best thing after actual travel?
VR has made traveling from your couch possible, offering surreal virtual travel experiences that allow you to truly immerse yourself. You can go on a virtual expedition at the Everest and enjoy a birds-eye view of the Himalayas, thanks to VR. Check it out here. Want to explore the deep blue sea? You can enjoy underwater exploration with the award-winning VR title – ‘theBlu’ by Wevr.
And probably the most comprehensive of all is Google Earth VR. Get access to some of the world’s most incredible sights such as Switzerland’s Matterhorn, Seattle’s Space Needle, or the grand cathedral in Florence with this VR experience. You can walk about famous streets, or even fly around mountain peaks with it!
Are you an arts & culture buff? You’ll love this…
Did you know that some of the world’s most famous museums and art galleries offer virtual tours of their galleries and exhibition rooms? Hop on over to the websites of The Louvre (Paris), The Guggenheim (New York), The Smithsonian (National Museum of Natural History), The Vatican museums (including the Sistine Chapel), The Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York), among many others.
If that’s too much work, you can simply head over to the Google Arts & Culture online platform (app or website). Here, you’ll find a treasure trove of 360 degree videos from museums and landmarks, high-res images of famous artwork, virtual tours and lots more to immerse yourself in the experience. You can view the Taj Mahal, Colosseum, Great Pyramid of Giza, Machu Picchu and lots more through this amazing app!
Get creative with ‘The Great Indoors’
When you’re done couch-surfing, how about turning lockdown into a fun experience for the whole family? We’ve come up with some cool stay-at-home travel ideas, and your kids are going to love these…
Camping under the stars
There’s nothing like the idea of camping to get kids (and even adults) super excited. The thrill of sleeping outdoors in a cozy tent, roasting marshmallows on a campfire, and listening to stories under a torchlight makes for such a fun experience. But now that the outside world is off limits, you can recreate the magic of camping right at home.
If you’ve got a backyard or balcony, you’ve got your spot ready. Next, set up a comfy tent. You can use proper camping equipment or a tipi tent if you have one. Otherwise, just do it the old school way, draping bedsheets and blankets over chairs and couches. Then, get some oven-toasted marshmallows, a flashlight and some storybooks to read aloud. And you’re done.
Live in an apartment with no balcony? No problem. You can turn your lounge or living room into a campsite at too. Just turn the lights off and let your imagination flow. Bonus – This activity will also give you and your kids a much-needed break from screen-time!
Turn your backyard into a waterpark
As temperatures begin to rise in the coming few weeks, we can all do with a bit of cooling off. However, community swimming pools and local water parks are closed under further notice. So you’ve got to get creative. One option is to simply order an inflatable splash pool online. They come in all sizes and some even have slides and shades to make water play more fun and comfortable.
But who said you have to splurge to splash around? Here’s a unique DIY idea – Build a water slide at home with the materials you already have lying around the house. First step, get your slide base ready – You’ll need some heavy-duty plastic sheets or camping tarp for this. You can also use a glue gun to stick heavy duty garbage bags together. Second step, get a water hose and spray lots of water on your slide. Third step, drizzle some cheap shampoo all over the slide. And final step, push the kids from end to another, and watch them squeal in excitement. And don’t forget to take your turn too!