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5 Ways to Leave Home Without Actually Leaving the Couch

Jessica Evans

For Jessica Evans, real estate is more than a job — it’s a way of life...

For Jessica Evans, real estate is more than a job — it’s a way of life...

Mar 23 3 minutes read

Normally, our goal is to bring you the most exciting events and happenings around DC every weekend. In these extraordinary times, this guide is going to look a little different. The global pandemic means stringent restrictions on gatherings and a region-wide directive to self-isolate at home and practice social distancing when it’s necessary to be in public. 

In short, we’re "physically" not going anywhere, and for good reason. But even as we hunker down and try to be responsible citizens to help #flattenthecurve, there are still places we can travel to and see through our screens. Here's how to enjoy an afternoon at the museum, the zoo, or theme park all without leaving your couch.

1. Take a Guided Virtual Walking Tour Through One of Five National Parks

Google's online Arts & Culture activation includes a program called "The Hidden Worlds of the National Parks" in partnership with the National Parks Services, and it quite literally brings the outdoors inside. The digital exhibit features five national parks, including Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, Carlsbad Caverns National Park in New Mexico, Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah, Kenai Fjords National Park in Alaska, and Dry Tortugas National Park in Florida.

2. Be delighted by the antics of the sea otters or mellow out to the hypnotic drifting of jellies at The Monterey Bay Aquarium in California

The Monterey, California, aquarium is giving visitors a virtual look at its colorful sea creatures via free live camera streaming. Animal lovers can zen out to jellyfish or watch penguins waddling in their habitat. With ten live cams to choose from, you can experience the wonder of the ocean no matter where you are.

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What an ottertunity! For the first time ever, our Sea Otter Cam is featuring rescued wild sea otters!! Link in profile, more info below! This week, you’ll see four young rescued female otters with flipper tags (the tags will help our sea otter tracking team identify them in the future.) They’re practicing their diving and foraging skills before returning home! Usually our guests can’t see the wild sea otters in our care because we don’t want the otters to get comfortable around humans. For the next couple of weeks with the Aquarium closed, these otters will be able to dive, explore under rocks and in tunnels and generally act otter-ly like themselves. They’re also practicing the skills they learned from their surrogate mothers — our resident sea otters! Most of the young animals were rescued by our Sea Otter Program team after they stranded. They’re part of our unique sea otter surrogacy program that pairs our resident animals with orphaned pups to provide maternal care and teach the pups skills needed to survive in the wild. We also rescue injured or sick adult otters and rehabilitate them for a healthy return to the wild. Tune in next week as well, when you’ll get to see our resident otters and super surrogate mothers Kit and Ivy with two of the pups under their capable care! Thanks to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service for granting us this special exception to our Marine Mammal Enhancement permit, # MA-032027 that governs our work with wild sea otters, so we can stream our Sea Otter Cam while these young animals are housed in the exhibit! Also, we will be doing a narrated show at 2:30pm PST with the otter cam on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Twitch! Hope to sea you then! #montereybayaquarium #seaottercam #nowwithwildseaotters #sopawesome

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3. Transport yourself to a world landmark, like the Taj Mahal

Google's Arts & Culture section has crystal-clear views of the Taj Mahal in New Delhi, India, as well as several other renowned spots around the world. For example, you can look down from the top of the Eiffel Tower or relax with a view of the Sydney Opera House, all while not actually traveling.

4. Relax during golden hour by viewing the sunset off the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland.

Take a virtual tour of one of Ireland’s most famous sights, the Cliffs of MoherOn a clear day the views are tremendous, with the Aran Islands etched on the waters of Galway Bay.

5. Virtually roam the magical Disney World and Disneyland theme parks.

Disney previously launched Google Street View imagery of Disney World in Orlando, Florida, and Disneyland in Anaheim, California. So fans dreaming of a day spent in the lovable theme parks can virtually enjoy Magic KingdomHollywood Studios, and even Disney World's global Epcot "countries."



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