Being confined at home due to recent events, many children are longing for their next adventure. Luckily, you don’t have to travel too far to satisfy their wanderlust! Thanks to the internet, you can bring bucket list destinations straight into your home. Keep reading for a list of virtual vacations you can take with your children right now for free.
A Virtual Adventure at the Grand Canyon
With stunning views and captivating trails, the Grand Canyon National Park is one of the oldest national parks in the United States. Children can take advantage of the National Park System’s virtual tours to check out the beautiful canyon vistas. Google Earth also provides a virtual tour that allows people to experience all the park’s top sites and trails. Education.com also offers resources that help bring the Grand Canyon to life. Try out this coloring sheet or this worksheet that’ll help improve your child’s knowledge of U.S. geography and the national park.
Visit the Ancient Ruins of Machu Picchu
Head to Peru to visit Machu Picchu—a 15th century Incan citadel set high in the Andes Mountains. The archaeological site draws scores of visitors to Peru every year to see jaw-dropping mountains and the lasting legacy of the Inca civilization. Thanks to Google Arts & Culture, children can experience this ancient religious, ceremonial, astronomical, and agricultural center from the comfort of home. For more resources to explore Machu Picchu, have your learner check out this cool coloring page or dive into one of Education.com’s social studies worksheets about the historical site.
Brush Up on U.S. History at Ellis Island
Sitting on the Hudson River between New York and New Jersey, Ellis Island stands out as one of the most notable historical symbols of the American immigrant experience. The island once served as the United States’ largest immigration center, with more than 12 million immigrants arriving by ship from around the world for processing. In fact, it’s estimated that 40 percent of all U.S. citizens can trace at least one of their ancestors to Ellis Island. Following its closure in 1954, Ellis Island reopened to the public in 1990 as a museum. Take a look at the National Park Service’s virtual tour of this historic gem. Then, work on a few worksheets where students can learn more about the history of this major immigration center.
Art History in Paris
The Louvre, home to famous works including Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, is the world’s largest art museum and a historical monument in Paris. The museum offers several virtual tours where children can visit the museum’s exhibition rooms and galleries. See Egyptican antiquities, the remains of the Louvre’s moat, the Mona Lisa, and much more! After touring the museum, color in one of its most noteworthy paintings or learn more about da Vinci’s backstory.
Scale the Great Wall of China
Once known as the world’s largest military structure, the Great Wall of China stretches thousands of miles across several provinces of northern China and southern Mongolia. The history of the wall dates back to the fifth century B.C. and was built upon by Chinese dynasties over the following centuries. Have students explore sections of this breathtaking UNESCO World Heritage site through a virtual tour offered by YouVisit, followed up by completing this worksheet which challenges students to think critically about the history of the Great Wall.
