Staying home could be your biggest adventure yet!

A month of staying at home

​While traveling for most of us is out of the question right now, there are absolutely no restrictions on planning and dreaming about your next vacation! Plus, science shows planning a trip often brings you more happiness than actually taking it! Staying at home for one month is a small sacrifice to save lives, and it can prove to be your biggest adventure yet! Here are ten ways to enjoy staying home as much as any vacation:

1. Take a walk. When was the last time you took a relaxing stroll around your neighborhood or at a nearby park and really took the time to notice the little things like landscaping, architecture, and wildlife. You might begin to see your piece of the world in a whole new light.
2. Armchair travel. Explore the world, virtually, with us.
3. Make a vision board. Use Pinterest to create a board of places you want to visit and things you want to see and do.
4. Look through old photos & videos. Reminisce about your favorite past vacations. Are all your digital photos lumped into one big “camera upload” file? Take some time to organize them into folders. It’s fun to relive memories from the past.
5. Save the date! Pick a date this fall or next year and start planning your next vacation.
6. Watch YouTube travel vlogs and shows for inspiration.
7. Learn a language
8. Learn how to take great vacation photos using your iPhone
9. Enjoy some new hobbies to get you outdoors like bird-watching, stargazing, riding a bike or photography.
10. Host a destination of the day party and get the whole family involved. Get creative and decorate a room in your home in the theme of that destination, make recipes native to that land and watch a movie or listen to music that reminds you of that place. Encourage each member of the family to share something special about that destination.

​Not sure where to begin? We started a list for you using technology and media to visit the world virtually. So for your digital travel adventures over the next few weeks, let me suggest a few of the best opportunities I have encountered so far:

Smithsonian Channel Has Released 68 Free ‘Aerial America’ Episodes - Do some armchair traveling and see the breathtaking vistas of all 50 states while learning about their histories

​12 Virtual Disneyland Rides That You Can Enjoy At Home Without A FASTPASS - Thanks to the internet, a Disneyland day is closer than you might think.

​Google Arts and Culture - Google's fun and interactive app allows you to explore museums, play with Art Transfer, Pocket Galleries, Art Selfie and more!

​This Virtual Tour of the Carlsbad Caverns Will Entertain You (and Your Kids) for Hours. Explore Carlsbad Cavern in 360 digital reality (video).

Tour the Catacombs of Paris on a Virtual Visit. Learn the fascinating story of public health problems tied to the city’s cemeteries that led to a decision to transfer their contents underground. This virtual tour is full of history and not nearly as creepy as it seems. 

​Wondrous Museums You Can Visit From Your Couch Right Now
Your living room is the perfect place to see the world.

Disney, Kennedy Space Center offering free online activities for kids during school closures Featured are ​Kennedy Space Center science lessons on Facebook Live and Disney's imagineering in a box, where kids can learn how to build their own world, attractions and characters. 

Nikon School Online is offering 10 free photography classes in the month of April. Classes normally cost between $15 - $50 each but Nikon wants to help creators stay inspired, engaged and growing.

Virtual Field Trips:

• The Anne Frank House
  
• Buckingham Palace
  
• Great Wall of China
  
• Holy Land Tour
  
• The Louvre
  
• Mount Everest
  
• Mount Vernon
  
• The Statue of Liberty