Virtual Tours—19 Ways to Travel from Home – FamilySearch March 27, 2020

I noticed this on FamilySearch – Virtual Tours—19 Ways to Travel from Home – FamilySearch March 27, 2020: https://www.familysearch.org/blog/en/virtual-tours-travel-from-home/. Over 800 words.

March 27, 2020  – by  Alison Ensign

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.

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1. Vatican Museums

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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

View Live Cams

18. Metropolitan Opera

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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

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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.

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