Your travel goals may seem further away than ever, but they’re actually closer than they’ve ever been, since the entire world is staying indoors, bringing the travel industry inside as well. While the best thing you can do for yourself and others right now is to stay put, check out how you can access the world outside of your door and "travel the globe" from home.
Slow TV
Travel photography
Travel photography is all about thrusting you into the wilds of nature, showing you the depths of the sea and magnifying everything in-between. While well-known publications, such as National Geographic, are still known for their unbelievable shots of the edges of the Earth, Instagram provides a platform where you can browse perspectives of an array of talented travel photographers. Whether you decide to search the archives of the late Ansel Adams, or join the nearly half-million followers of Australian photographer Lauren Bath on IG, you’re sure to be transported to unimagined lands.
Travel TV
Wander to lands far away without leaving the comfort of your sofa or bed. Escape the small world you’re currently confined to by bingeing on travel shows that encapsulate the best parts of being abroad. Series such as Restaurants on the Edge bond you to a destination by spotlighting real residents, exploring regional food culture, all while displaying stunning nearby natural backdrops. Netflix’s Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner includes intimate conversations with big-name celebrities, such as Chrissy Teigen, who chats with chef-host David Chang over Teigan's favorite Moroccan dishes, adding another appetizing element to your virtual vacation.
International radio stations
Sonically connect with other regions of the world by tuning into international radio stations. Browse stations with apps like TuneIn Radio or Radio Garden, using them to help you navigate a world of music and other programming that you’ve never heard before. Check out J-pop in Tokyo, Japan, or hear what’s popular in Accra, Ghana. Play a game of radio roulette by spinning the virtual globe of stations and letting your ears take you to new places, simply by listening.
Audiobooks and e-books
There’s nothing like the written word to take you to unknown places, whether it's following a character on a fictional journey through real regions or flipping through the pages of a guidebook to find the best-of list from a specific locale. What’s better is, now, there’s no need to risk leaving the house to purchase books or waiting days (or weeks) to receive packages when you can download an e-book instead. Take advantage of the endless catalog of virtual materials, including e-books and audiobooks, that will inform and engage you about the extensive universe outside your door without you having to touch your doorknob.
YouTube
It’s as simple as typing a desired destination into the search box of YouTube, and a flurry of results will return with amazing visuals, including drone shots, ride-throughs, hikes, and walks around town. Follow travel-tubers as they tour the globe, or connect with users who reside in locations you’ve imagined living in. With stimulating visual information combined with the ability to interact with other users and creators, YouTube provides a place where you can be wherever you want to be while staying in the same place you already are.
Learn a new language
You’ve been promising to add another language to your repertoire for years, but with the demands of everyday life, it’s been a challenge. With free language-learning apps, like DuoLingo and instructional podcasts, including Coffee Break Spanish, there’s no excuse for you to put off learning another language while you’re at home. In learning a new language, you’ll also be opening up worlds of culture, including picking up etiquette, food knowledge, and social norms of other areas of the world. You'll be mastering responsible travel while lingering at home.
