It’s not always possible to pack a bag and take a trip to a far-flung corner of the globe. With finances to watch and jobs to work, many of us have to settle for a single trip once every year or two.
But that doesn’t mean that you have to put your wanderlust to one side in between getaways. In this digital age, it’s more than possible to take a virtual journey to an iconic destination — and you can do it directly from the comfort of your own home. In this post, we’ll take a look at how globetrotters can recreate five legendary destinations with little more than their computers (and maybe some tasty ingredients).
A trip to Mexico is a feast for the senses. After all, this famous destination might just have the world’s best cuisine. Now, if you live virtually anywhere cosmopolitan, then you’ll surely have a wide range of Mexican eateries to choose from. However, to recreate the experience of visiting Mexico for real, you’ll need to get in the kitchen and cook up a storm yourself. Why? Because most Mexican restaurants only offer tacos and burritos, and Mexican cuisine is so much more than that. Why not try making pozole, chalupas, sopes, or chicken tortilla soupfor a more regional Mexican experience? Throw on some traditional music, and you’ll (almost) feel as if you’re there for real. Las Vegas is one of the world’s best destinations and with good reason. This has been a popular city break for travelers since the 1950s, and today offers an unparalleled traveling experience. It’s well worth visiting when you get the opportunity, but in the meantime, you can create your own Vegas-style experience at home. To start, play those timeless Rat Pack songs through your speaker. From there, would-be travelers can play roulette, the most iconic Vegas game, at a site that offers the American version(it’s different from what you’ll find in Europe). Round off the evening with a digital walk down the famous Las Vegas strip, and you’ll have had as close to the real experience as you can have without boarding a plane. Many of the world’s leading museums have made their collections available online, allowing you to see digital versions of the best artwork and artifacts that civilization has to offer.
If you’re looking for the best of the best, then look at taking a virtual trip to Paris, which has gone above and beyond to ensure that citizens from all over the world can enjoy their magnificent art galleries, museums, and cultural centers.
Start your trip by taking a virtual tour through the Palais Garnier, Opéra national de Paris, one of the most charming buildings in the city. It’ll set the tone for your trip, inviting you into the Paris experience. From there, it’ll be time to hit the classicsthat every visitor — real or digital — must see; the Louvre, Eiffel Tower, La Fondation Louis Vuitton, and the Château de Pierrefonds. The Great Wall of China is one of the wonders of the world, which, again, should absolutely be on your bucket list. While there’s nothing that can compare with exploring the wall in person, taking a virtual tour is the next big thing. Google has put together a pretty amazing experience that gives you a real sense of the magnificence of the wall, as well as providing valuable historical information that can put your experience in context. If there’s one thing that demonstrates the power of the internet, it’s the ability to explore a 2,000-year-old structure with little more than a few clicks of a button.
These are our top recommendations for virtually traveling the world but remember, you can explore most places with a little creativity. Pick your next spot, get thinking, and take a virtual journey. It’s better than scrolling through Instagram!