Here are tons of fun things to do at home for the entire family.
It’s safe to say things are understandably weird right now. As the world reacts to the COVID-19 pandemic, people across the planet are staying home, quarantining, and practicing social distancing as an effort to slow — and hopefully stop — the spread of coronavirus. Though staying home is totally necessary right now, it means many of us have found ourselves with a lot of time on our hands. If you’re struggling to figure out how to keep yourself occupied beyond your usual at-home hobbies of Netflix and chill, you’re not alone.
For us, we’ve taken this time to really lean into the leisure side of Travel + Leisure, and help our readers around the world realize that we’re all actually a lot closer than it feels right now. If you’re like us, the idea of not being able to get outside to explore is difficult, but we’ve found that virtual travel is not only fun and exciting, it’s helping us see and understand places we’ve only dreamed about going. From the comfort of your couch you can explore the depths of Carlsbad Caverns and other national parks before “jetting off” to a virtual tour of the Louvre in Paris. Afterwards join an online cooking demonstration from a world-famous chef before sitting down to a breathtaking performance from New York City’s Metropolitan Opera. The world’s the limit — really.
So whether you’re at home trying to find educational stimulation for your kids, in a tiny apartment with your best friend from college dreaming about restaurants, or alone with your dog or plant calling everyone you know on FaceTime, we’ve gathered up a massive list of fun things to do at home during this time. From livestreams of animals to games to play virtually, these activities will keep you entertained, informed, and hopefully put a smile on your face. And we all could use a smile right now.
Take a virtual trip at home
With travel basically at a standstill, it’s time to embrace a new way to see the world — virtual travel and virtual tours. Thanks to the World Wide Web we can go pretty much as far as desired — all without a passport. Below we’ve rounded up the very best ways to experience the world outside our homes from the comfort of our couches, all broken down by different activity types to make it easier to get going.
Go sightseeing around the world with these virtual destinations
- This Site Is a One-Stop Destination for World Tours, Classes, and Travel Experiences You Can Have from Home
- Discover the Mystery of Easter Island and the Beauty of Chile With This Interactive App
- Chicago Is One of the Coolest Cities in the Country — and You Can Take a Virtual Trip There Right Now
- How to Take a Virtual Trip to Montreal
- These Virtual Tours of Europe’s Famous Castles Will Make You Feel Like a Royal, Even in Your Pajamas
- Watch These Relaxing 360-videos for a Moment of Waterside Zen
- Relax for a Few Minutes With a Virtual Visit to Saint Lucia
- Hotels Around the World Are Livestreaming Their Views to Make You Feel Like You’re on Vacation
- Explore Bucket-list Attractions Like Machu Picchu and the Taj Mahal Without Leaving Home
- Grab a Guinness and Take These Virtual Tours of Ireland and the Guinness Storehouse
- Take a Virtual Trip to Some of the Most-visited Stops on NYC’s Fifth Avenue
- Take a Virtual Trip to Puerto Rico to Salsa Dance, Mix Cocktails, and Master Your Cooking Skills
- How to Visit Japan While You’re Stuck at Home
Explore museums, art, theater, and culture at home
- Stuck at Home? These 12 Famous Museums Offer Virtual Tours You Can Take on Your Couch
- Discover Some of Banksy’s Best Street Art Without Stepping Outside
- The Sydney Opera House Is Bringing Music, Education, and More to Your Living Room
- The Grammy Museum Is Now Offering Online Music and Video Production Classes
- This App Will Turn Your Phone Into an Interactive Museum You Can Play With for Hours
- The Neon Museum’s Virtual Tour Will Light Up Your Living Room Like It’s the Las Vegas Strip
- A Botanical Garden in Seattle Is Livestreaming Plants to Help You Relax
- Museums Around the World Are Sharing Their Most Zen Art on Social Media to Help People Relax
- The Metropolitan Opera Is Offering Free Virtual Shows
- BroadwayHD Is Letting You Watch Your Favorite Musicals For Free — for a Limited Time
- The Globe Theater Is Closed, but You Can Stream Shakespeare’s Plays
Read more here.