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Virtual Tours—19 Ways to Travel from Home

Virtual tours can open
up amazing and awe-inspiring locations around the world that may otherwise be
inaccessible to you. You can experience the majesty of the Sistine Chapel, the
wonder of the Great Wall of China, or the beauty of Hawaii from the comfort of
your own home. 

Picking the Right Virtual Tour for You

As you consider which virtual tour
you want to take, try finding one that not only helps you explore a new place,
but consider a place tied to your heritage. Learning more about your cultural
heritage can help you become more resilient as
you develop a deeper understanding of your story.

You can discover more about your
heritage using the Where Am I From?
experience, which maps where your ancestors came from.

The following virtual
tours allow you to see some of the most spectacular sites in the world and gain
a greater appreciation for world cultures. By immersing yourself in world
heritage, you will better understand your own heritage.

1. Vatican Museums

Vatican Museums

This collection of
virtual tours lets you see some of the masterpieces of the Renaissance,
including the Sistine Chapel, Niccoline Chapel, Raphael’s Room, and more.

Start the Tour

2. Great Wall of China

Great Wall of China virtual tour

The Great Wall is often
regarded as a wonder of the world, making it a prime tourist attraction. By taking
the tour online, you can skip the crowds and still experience the incredible
view and Chinese history.

Start the Tour

3. Louvre

Travel to the Louvre from home

The Louvre, located in
Paris, is the largest art museum in the world. Three of the museum’s top
exhibits are available online.

Start the Tour

4. Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal virtual tour

This ivory marble
mausoleum in India is one of the most famous buildings in the world. Emperor
Shah Jahan had it built in 1632 for his wife Mumtaz Mahal.

Start the Tour

5. Ellis Island

Ellis Island

The virtual tour of Ellis Island is a great choice if you have ancestors who immigrated to the United States. The immigration station processed over 12 million
immigrants as they entered the country.

Start the Tour

6. British Museum

British Museum virtual tour

With online exhibits
from the British Museum in London, dive into the fascinating history of famous
world artifacts such as Egyptian mummies and the Rosetta Stone.

Start the Tour

7. Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza

Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza painting

Home to the
second-largest private collection of art in the world, this Spanish museum
holds some of the greatest pieces and names of almost every artistic period.

Start the Tour

8. Carlsbad Caverns

Travel to Carlsbad Caverns from home

Dive into an exploration
of Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico, in the United States. You’ll get the chance
to see deep caverns filled with unique and awe-inspiring rock formations that
were formed when the limestone was dissolved by sulfuric acid. 

Start the Tour

9. National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City

National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City

As the largest museum in
Mexico, the National Museum of Anthropology is home to significant artifacts
from pre-Columbian Mexican heritage. If you have ancestors from Mexico, this tour will help you understand the history
of Mexico and the Aztec and Mayan people.

Start the Tour

10. African Safari

African Safari - Visit the safari from home using a virtual tour

African safaris are some
of the best ways to appreciate African wildlife and heritage. These 360-degree
video tours bring that experience into your home.

Start the Tour

11. Great Barrier Reef

Great Barrier Reef

The world’s largest and
most famous coral reef covers an area of over 344,000 square kilometers (133,000
square miles) off the coast of Australia. Take the interactive journey online
to dive in.

Start the Tour

12. National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Korea

National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Korea

The contemporary art
museum in Seoul also contains international art from different periods, and it
is worth looking in to see the impressive collection.

Start the Tour

13. Hang Son Doong

Hang Son Doong

The world’s biggest cave
is located in Vietnam. Don’t fret—National Geographic has a 360-degree virtual
tour available for free online.

Start the Tour

14. Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

If you are unable to make it to Washington, D.C., to see the Smithsonian, it has a complete virtual tour that allows you to click through and see the entirety of the museum. 

Start the Tour

15. Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace

Tour the iconic British palace with all its ornate details, including the grand staircase, throne room, white drawing room, and more. It is a significant site for anyone with British ancestors.

Start the Tour

16. Gardens of Versailles

Gardens of Versailles

The magnificent gardens
outside the Palace of Versailles in France have been meticulously kept since
1661, when they were renovated by André le Nôtre by order of King Louis XIV. Walk
through online to enjoy the impressive feat.

Start the Tour

17. Acropolis

Acropolis

The ancient citadel in
Athens is famous for its significant historical remains, particularly the
Parthenon.

View Live Cams

18. Metropolitan Opera

Metropolitan Opera

While this one isn’t a
tour, it’s still a way to experience world travel from home. The Metropolitan
Opera in New York City is streaming some of their best shows nightly at 7:30 p.m.
(eastern time).

Visit the Website

19. Create Your Own Virtual Tour

With the help of Google
Maps
or Google
Earth
, you can explore almost
any location in the world. If you need ideas of places to visit, use the
opportunity to virtually explore the places of your heritage. Traveling to understand the past and
particularly your ancestors will help you gain a connection to your heritage and
a sense of your roots.

First, choose a
destination and create a list of significant sites you would like to see. Once
you have a list of places, use Google Earth or Google Maps to search for the places you chose and see real images of them.
Using these tools, you can wander through places as if you were actually there
and walking through them.

As long as you have
access to the internet, you have access to the world. No matter what is keeping
you at home, there is a wealth of information, images, and virtual tours
available online that makes it possible for you to travel from home. 

Source: Family Search

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