It didn’t matter your age or grade level, field trips at school were always a fun time. Spending a day away from the classroom and exploring an exciting place, whether it be a zoo, museum, or historic site. Sometimes field trips ventured into other cities and states. School may now look a little different, as well as taking a field trip, but the feeling of going someplace new has stayed the same. Lucky for us, with the increase in technology, new doors have been opened for taking field trips from the comfort of our own homes or classrooms. Through websites and online interactives, virtual field trips have become a popular way to travel the world within the past several months. After all, who wouldn’t want to take a trip to the Palace of Versailles in France on a Tuesday afternoon and be back by dinner? Browse and research the list of sites through the world to get your family’s virtual field started.

• The Georgia Aquarium:
  • Visit with the jellyfish, sharks, sea otters, penguins, other sea creatures and mammals through the aquarium’s webcam features.
  • https://www.georgiaaquarium.org/webcam/ocean-voyager/
• Canadian Farm and Food Tours:
  • Learn about life on a farm in Canada. Through multiple tours, you’ll be able to experience life on a dairy farm, sheep farm, and pig farm, as well as learn about apple orchards and oat processing.
  • https://www.farmfood360.ca/
• Stellarium Web Planetarium:
  • Explore over 60,000 stars, find the different planets, and learn about sunrises and solar eclipses in one of the last frontiers—space! Fun fact: you can enter your location to find specific constellations to your area. An app version is also available.
  • https://stellarium-web.org/
• Boston Children’s Museum:
  • A children’s museum can bring out the child in any of us. Three floors, packed full of goodies, are available for you to journey though at the Boston Children’s Museum. Popular attractions include a Japanese House and the Explore-a-Saurus.
  • https://www.bostonchildrensmuseum.org/museum-virtual-tour
• The Great Wall of China:
  • With over 2,000 years of history and 3,000 miles in length, the Great Wall of China is a timeless landmark. Experience the historic site through a 360-degree view that saves you all the walking.
  • https://www.thechinaguide.com/destination/great-wall-of-china

• Colonial Williamsburg:
  • Take a step back in time to colonial America through the multiple webcams at Colonial Williamsburg. Known as a living history museum, Colonial Williamsburg depicts what life would have been like in early America by showing sites, such as the tavern, the Market House, and more.
  • https://www.colonialwilliamsburg.org/webcams/
• The Louvre Museum:
  • Home to the Mona Lisa painting, the Louvre Museum in Paris, France is a place to visit on many people’s bucket list. Now, you can visit sections of the museum online. Currently, four virtual tours are being offered, including exhibits on the connection between art and politics, using art to represent movement, and inspiration from myths to creating art.
  • https://www.louvre.fr/en/online-tours#tabs
• M&Ms Factory Tour:
  • Learn how one of America’s favorite candies is created through a M&Ms Factory Tour. As you tour the facility, be sure to use the 360-degree feature to see all of the different parts. And, it may also be a good idea to have a pack of M&Ms to snack on during your visit.
  • https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/GtfkemNzG_I?controls=0
• The Houston Zoo:
  • Gorillas, elephants, and rhinos—oh, my! Drop in on several animals and their habits at the Houston Zoo. Whether it is eating, sleeping, or playing, you never know what the animals will be doing when you stop by.
  • https://www.houstonzoo.org/explore/webcams/

As I conducted research for this article, the list of places you can virtually visit is endless. Other sites that may attract visitors are Buckingham Palace, Mount Rushmore, and Ancient Egypt. A quick online search for virtual field trips, along with the sites above, will open the door to the world and many new adventures for children of all ages. Happy field tripping!