virtual field trip to mexico

Homeschooling Mexico: Virtual Tour of Mexico with Kids: Mexico Global Learning Guide

Are you looking forward to learning about mexico with kids but can’t travel there quite yet come join us as we travel on a virtual visit with our homeschooling mexico unit.

Come along with us as we take a virtual trip to Mexico and explore from home! Perhaps you’re planning a trip to Mexico for kids in the future, or maybe you just want to learn more about the country right from home. Either way, this is a guide to learn about history, culture, food, people, as we enjoy our homeschooling Mexico unit.

This guide is a great way to connect via heart and mind with those of diverse backgrounds from around the world. It’s perfect for preparing for future family travel, to help with homeschooling, or just for fun. We can’t wait to learn more about the beauty and diversity of Mexico with kids.

Our family likes to spend 1-2 weeks on a virtual field trip to each country. We typically spread out these activities and pick a couple each day. I hope you enjoy learning with us as we explore these Mexican activities for kids!

This post about learning about Mexico with kids contains affiliate links, but all opinions are 100% my own. That means I earn a small commission if you purchase through my link, but doesn’t change your price.

Table of Contents

MEXICO WITH KIDS:

Homeschooling mexico unit to explore from home, mexico virtual travel video.

If you’d like to see a video of some of the things our family did to virtually visit Mexico, you can head here!

Fun Facts for Mexico Homeschooling

• Millions of monarch butterflies migrate to Mexico every year from the U.S. and Canada.
• A Mexican tamale called the zacahuil is three feet long and weighs about 150 pounds.
• Popcorn was first made in pre-historic cities in Mexico. It was made in very hot clay pots and was called momochtli.
• Chocolate was invented in Mexico! The Aztecs used cocoa pasted in drinks for its health benefits.
• The Maya people were the first to invent chewing gum!
• The border between Mexico and the United States is the second largest border in the world (only the U.S.-Canadian border is longer).
• Mexico City has the highest elevation and is oldest city in North America. It is also one of the largest cities in the world.
• Red poinsettias come from Mexico. They were renamed after Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first United States ambassador to Mexico.
• Mexico has more Catholics than any other country in the world except Brazil.

Language Arts Mexico Homeschooling

Languages spoken in mexico.

• Spanish is the most common language spoken in Mexico. While it is officially the language used in government, it is not required by law.
• Indigenous languages are also common in Mexico. Those are languages that were used in what is now Mexico, but prior to the arrival of European settlers.
• Mexico has more Spanish speakers than any other country.
• Hola means “hello” in Spanish.

Mexico Literature & Mexican Folktales

Mexican folktales are often allegorical. They are used to teach principles such as honesty, hard work, endurance, and wisdom.

Here is a read aloud of a Mexican folk tale called Cuckoo .

Writing Prompts for elementary and middle school children

• Write a paragraph on what excites you about visiting Mexico.
• Look up a paleta recipe. Write your own with different fruits!

Day of the Dead Writing Assignment: Homeschooling Mexico Language Arts Activity

Read a book about Dia de los Muertos. Have children research an ancestor and write an essay talking about her or his life. Have kids consider for what they think the ancestor would most want to be remembered.

Reading: Books to Learn About Mexico for Kids

Culture & people: homeschooling mexico for kids.

Mexico has gone through many cultural transformations. It tends to follow the history of the country with major changes happening around the time of Spanish colonization, Mexican independence, and the Mexican Revolution.

While the overwhelming majority of Mexicans speak Spanish, many also speak indigenous languages. Did you know the word “chocolate” comes from the language Nahuatl?

Family is extremely important in Mexican society. Extended families tend to be large and close. Hosting family parties is very common in Mexican culture.

One major Mexican family event is the quinceañera, when a young woman turns 15. She usually has a large party with lots of family and friends, very fancy dress, and a church mass.

Mexican Poncho Craft

The Mexican  sarape , or poncho, is commonly worn. It’s often brightly colored and fringed at the end. You can make your own poncho at home!

Paper bag Colored paper Markers Scissors

History & Government: Homeschooling Mexico Facts

The official name of the country is Estados Unidos Mexicanos, or the United Mexican States. It is a federal republic.

The current President of Mexico is Andrés Manuel López Obrador. The president is also the commander of the Armed Forces. The government is divided into executive, legislative, and judicial branches. Mexico has 32 states.

• Stone tools have been found in Mexico that suggest humans lived there around 23000 years ago.
• The Olmec people were Mexico’s first complex society. They first emerged around 1200 B.C. Next came the Maya, the Toltec, and the Aztec people.
• The Spanish arrived around 1500. They brought several diseases with them, including smallpox, which made many of the Aztecs sick. The also destroyed the Aztec capital, Tenochtilán.
• Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a Catholic priest, started the Mexican war of independence on September 16, 1810. The war went on for over 11 years.
• Many Mexicans today have a mix of Native American and Spanish blood, and are called mestizos.

1 USD ~ 23 Mexican pesos 1 peso = 100 centavos

• Mexico has 7 Official Federal Holidays.There are many other civic holidays and festivities.
• Cinco de Mayo celebrates the Mexican army defeating a French army in the city of Puebla in 1862, but is not celebrated throughout the country.
• Here is a children’s book read aloud of Dia de los Muertos !
• Mexican children usually receive gifts on Three Kings Day (January 6) instead of Christmas Day.

Mexican History Activity Suggestions:

Mexican flag activity.

• Green = Hope
• White = Unity
• Red = Blood of the national heroes
• Coat of arms = An eagle on a prickly pear cactus eating a serpent. The leader of the Axtecs (also known as the Mexica : Meh-shee-ka), Tenoch had a dream that their nomadic tribe should settle wherever they saw this. They settled there and built the great city of Tenochtitlan.

Coloring sheet flag from HERE

Video About Homeschooling Mexico History for Kids:

Geography: Mexico for Kids

• Find Mexico on a map or globe
• Mexico City is the capital of Mexico (find the star on the map).
• Mexico has 32 states
• The land area of Mexico is about 1/5 the size of the USA.
• Mexico’s climate varies from arid (dry and hot) to tropical (wet and hot). Some places have both depending on the season.
• One of the biggest mountain ranges in Mexico is the Sierra Madre Occidental.
• The longest river in Mexico is the Rio Grande. It is shared with the USA.

Mexico Geography Activity Suggestions:

• Color in Mexico on the map. Older children may like coloring in the Mexican states map.
• Count how many countries Mexico borders (3: the United States of America, Guatemala, and Belize)

Mexico Geography Video (12 minutes)

(Map from HERE )

Food: Mexican Recipes for Kids: Mexican Food That Kids Will Enjoy

Food is a perfect way to “travel” to a country from home. Making these recipes was one of our favorite parts of our homeschooling Mexico unit! Mexican food often uses vibrant spices such as cumin, coriander, lime, and more. Corn is also very common in Mexican cooking.

Here are some common foods in Mexico:

• Tamales – a dough made of corn cooked in a corn husk
• Pozole – a soup made with broth, corn, spices, and toppings
• Chilaquiles – fried corn tortillas topped with eggs, salsa, cheese, and cream
• Tortillas – a flatbread
• Meat, especially beef and pork
• Taco – a folded tortilla with fillings
• Aguas frescas – fresh juices

Mexican Food Activity

If you don’t feel up to making a whole recipe, consider just smelling a few of the common Mexican spices you may have in your cupboard! You could also visit a local Mexican restaurant.

Mexican Recipes for Kids

Cooking is a perfect activity for a homeschooling Mexico unit. Here are some of our favorite kid friendly Mexican food recipes!

• Simple and kid-friendly Instant Pot black bean and rice burrito filling . My 9 year old can make this recipe on his own, so you definitely can, too! It’s not the most traditional filling, but is adapted to be vegetarian and very easy to make.
• Horchata (cinnamon rice drink)
• Creamy poblano pepper enchiladas

Famous Landmarks: Mexico with Kids

• Ancient Maya ruins, such as Chichen Itza , Tulum , Coba , and, my personal favorite, Uxmal (the best preserved Maya ruins in the Yucatan)
• Teotihuacán – an ancient civilization later used by the Aztecs
• San Ignacio Lagoon to see gray whales
• Isla Mujeres
• Cenote dos Ojos – an underwater cave popular for snorkeling and scuba diving
• Copper Canyon – a system of canyons larger than the Grand Canyon

Art History: Mexican Art History with Kids

Art in Mexico is very old! It dates back to before recorded history. There are different periods of Mexican art, including the prehispanic period, a colonial period, a time before and after independence, and more modern Mexican art after the Mexican Revolution.

• Historians believe the oldest rock art in the Americas is in a cave on the peninsula of Baja California.
• The first major Mesoamerican culture was the Olmecs. They created hieroglyphics, the 365 day calendar, and did art with jade, a beautiful greenish stone.
• Most Mesoamerican art was created for religious or political purposes, not just to be pretty. They often used ceramics, amate paper, and architecture.
• Feather work was popular in prehispanic times. The Spaniards later became very interested in it.
• The Mexican Revolution (1910-1920) greatly affected Mexican art. Murals became popular during this time, and it was art for all the people that was not in a museum and that could not be moved somewhere else.
• Murals were often political and supported the Revolution. They became most popular during the 1930s.
• Diego Rivera was a very popular muralist.
• Frida Kahlo was a very important Mexican artist. She painted on canvases instead of murals. She focused on Mexican folk themes, as well as themes that focused on women, such as motherhood or domestic violence. Frida was married to Diego Rivera.

Image from HERE

Art Activities: Homeschooling Mexico Art Activities with Kids

Frida kahlo activity for kids.

Frida Kahlo was born in Mexico and cared deeply about sharing Mexican folk culture. She did not want it to get lost from colonization. She often wore traditional Mexican clothes.

Frida painted in a way that shared Mexican culture with all who viewed it. She used strong lines and bright colors. She also painted to share the experience of a woman, which was not common during that time. Frida painted other women and situations specific to women (like motherhood), and even hard things like abuse towards women.

Frida painted several self-portraits in a distinct, colorful style. You, too, can paint a self portrait!

White paper Paint in bright colors Paint brushes A mirror An image of Self Portrait – The Frame , by Frida Kahlo

HERE are 9 other Frida Kahlo-inspired art projects for kids!

Draw a sugar skull.

Mexican Crafts for Kids: Mexican coloring pages

• Mexican coloring pages
• Chichen Itza coloring page
• Dahlia coloring page – national flower of Mexico

HERE are some other wonderful Mexico craft project ideas!

Religion & spirituality: homeschooling mexico for kids.

Mexico is over 80% Catholic Christian. Evangelical Protestantism and Mormonism are religions that have been growing in Mexico in recent decades.

Mexico allows freedom of religion. That means it allows people to choose and also change their religion.

Movies about Mexico for Kids and Grown Ups

• Coco (a beautifully animated celebration of family and Dia de los Muertos)
• The Book of Life (animated)
• Selena (a biographical drama about the musician)
• Catinflas (about the Mexican actor)

Math & Science in Mexico: Mexican Inventions

• The Olmecs of Central America originally created the 365 day calendar, and the Maya perfected it in about the 1st century AD.
• A Mexican engineer named Guillermo González Camarena figured out we could watch colors through the television!
• Alejandro Alagón developed a scorpion antivenom.
• José Antonio de Alzate developed a toilet float in 1970!
• Manuel González Flores developed earthquake-resistant foundations in 1948.

Animals in Mexico

Gray whales come from Alaska to Baja California each year in the winter to breed.

The rain forests and wet lands have lots of unusual animals such as jaguars and quetzal birds.

STEAM and Craft Activity Suggestions when Homeschooling Mexico with Kids

• Chichen Itza activity
• Make homemade maracas
• Make Mexican flag slime
• Mexican metal art

Learn About Chichen Itza with Kids

The ancient Maya city of Chichen Itza with was a very sacred place. The ruins today show pyramids, temples, and other stone buildings. The Temple of Kukulkan (El Castillo) is the most famous structure. It’s a pyramid with 365 steps – one for each day of the year.

When the sun hits the temple at just right time at the equinox, an image of a serpent appears!

The biggest Maya ball court (juego de pelota) is in Chichen Itza. It is nearly 600 feet long! Despite this, if you whisper at one end of the court, someone can hear it all the way at the other end due to the acoustics . Each side of the court has stone hoops.

Chichen Itza Activity for Kids

Old cardboard boxes Scissors Tape Markers

Discuss some of the key features of Chichen Itza and why it is important. Then build your own model of Chichen Itza. How many steps can you build?

You may also want to consider if you were an ancient Maya, what god you would revere. Would you pay homage to the rain god? The earth god? How would you design your own temple to that god?

Music: Homeschooling Mexico Music Unit

Dance & portraiture activity.

José Limón was a dancer and a choreographer. This activity discusses rhythm, his portrait, provides a children’s book and video, and has children dance and create a self portrait.

Forms of Mexican Music

There are many different styles of Mexican music. One popular style is  mariachi music. Mariachi developed in the Mexican countryside in the 1700s. Mariachi music usually has at least 2 violins, 2 trumpets, and a few different types of guitars. It can often have as many as 20 musicians!

Sports, Games, and Movement in Mexico

The most popular sport in Mexico is football (soccer).

Mexican rodeo is popular and can be dangerous.

Children’s Games in Mexico

If you’re looking for some other ideas for Mexican games and activities, here are a few simple and fun ones:

• Hopscotch (Avion)
• La Gallinita Ciega (The Blind Hen)
• El Balero (A Ball and Cup game)

Thanks for Taking a Virtual Field Trip to Mexico With Us!

We’ve loved putting together this resource to virtually visit Mexico. We’d love to hear if you do any of these activities for a homeschooling Mexico unit, or if you visit in person!

We hope to inspire curiosity and connection through exploring and learning, and we hope this guide helps you and your families. Please share any activities you do with us over on our Instagram . And we’d be delighted if you passed this Mexico with kids virtual tour and homeschooling resource along to others, as well!

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Actually, the Mexico-USA border is only the tenth longest border in the world, NOT the second! The second longest border is the one between Russia and Kazakhstan. It is more than twice as long as the Mexico-USA border!

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Free Virtual Tour of Mexico 2020

With the worldwide lockdown going on these days, most of us are trapped at our homes and can’t go out except to buy groceries or due to some emergency. Furthermore, travel has been severely restricted with the closing of international borders and changes in the availability of flights. Many tourist attractions like museums, theaters, and parks have been closed for weeks. 

Luckily, with all the advancements of modern technology, we can now explore attractions that are located thousands of miles away just by clicking a few buttons and best of all for free! All we need is the Internet and a computer or mobile device. That’s why we came up with a list of cool options to travel to without leaving your home. Check it out and pick your favorite free virtual tour of Mexico. Let’s get started!

Chapultepec Castle (Mexico City)

The castle was built at the time of the Spanish Viceroyalty and was the official residence of Emperor Maximilian I and the succeeding presidents until 1939 when it was turned into a museum. 

It requires some good physical condition to get to the top of the hill where it’s located, but thanks to this tour, you can watch it all from the comfort of your home. Once there, you can watch Maximilian’s chamber as well as some other historical pieces.

This tour is guided and contains audio tracks with useful information. Unfortunately, the information is only in Spanish. Check it out .

Palacio de Bellas Artes (Mexico City)

The Palacio or simply Bellas Artes as it’s more commonly known was built in the early years of the last century and boasts an impressive Beaux-Arts style. It’s one of the most beautiful and easily recognizable buildings not only in Mexico City but the whole country as well.

On this virtual tour, you can admire its magnificent architecture from both the exterior and interior, its terraces, its murals, its dome, its spectacular theater, and its interesting museum . The photography quality is superb. You even get aerial views of the place! I highly recommend it.

Museo Nacional de Arte – MUNAL (Mexico City)

This museum hosts works of art spanning from the middle 16th century up to 1954. It’s considered one of the most important architectural buildings from the early 20th century. Its primary focus is to offer a global vision and synthesize the history of Mexican art of this period. 

Admire the beautiful architecture and the impressive works of art located inside. You can watch it all here .

Dolores Olmedo (Mexico City)

The museum was founded by María de los Dolores Olmedo in 1908 and hosts around 200 works of art by artists Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo. It also hosts around 900 pre-Hispanic pieces. 

The main artistic styles found here are Cubism, Post-Impressionism, Primitivism, Symbolism, Surrealism, Magic Realism, and Social Realism.

You can watch this tour here .

Antiguo Colegio de San Ildefonso (Mexico City)

This museum was once a Jesuit college, but after the expulsion of the Jesuits in 1767, it served different purposes: military barracks, the Law College, a high school, among others. It was later renovated and opened to the public in 1992. 

On this tour, you can admire the interior of the former college and more importantly, the impressive murals that decorate its walls. Artists include José Clemente Orozco and Diego Rivera. 

The tour is divided into All the college, Interiors, and Murals. Take your time and admire every detail. It’s a must-watch.

Museo de Arte Moderno (Mexico City)

If you want to look at modern art, this is the place to go. The museum hosts a permanent collection of works by renowned artists such as Frida Kahlo, David Alfaro Siqueiros, José Clemente Orozco, Diego Rivera, Rufino Tamayo, Leonora Carrington, and Remedios Varo, among others. The gardens and lobby are lined with sculptures from national and international artists. And guess what? You can watch it all for free !

Templo Mayor (Mexico City)

The museum was inaugurated in 1987 and recreates the duality between life and death, water and war, and the symbols of Tlaloc and Huitzilopochtli. 

It’s divided into 8 halls: Archaeological Antecedents, Rituals and Sacrifices, Tribute and Commerce, Huitzilopochtli, Tláloc, Flora and Fauna, Agriculture, and Colonial and Modern Periods.

A very cool feature of this tour is the inclusion of black floating signs as you move through the museum. It’s important to mention this tour only includes the museum, not the archaeological site.

Museo Nacional de San Carlos (Mexico City)

This museum hosts an ample collection of European paintings spanning from the 14th century up to the beginning of the 20th century. There are nine art styles you can admire: Gothic, Renaissance, Mannerism, Baroque, Rococo, Neoclassical, Romantic, Impressionist, and Academia en Mexico. It’s important to mention you get an excellent view of the paintings as compared to other virtual tours. You can access this free tour here . 

Museo de Arte Indígena Contemporáneo (Cuernavaca)

This museum hosts around 300 works that include pottery and wooden pieces, among others, by Indigenous cultures such as the Rarámuri, the Yoreme, the Zapotecs, the Tzeltal, the Tzotzil, the Mixtecs, the Yaqui, the Purépecha, the Mazahua, the Huichol, the Nahua, and the Otomí. You can access this tour here .

The quality of this tour is not as good as others, but it’s a great option if you’re interested in looking at some great art by the Indigenous people of Mexico.

Museo del Pueblo Maya (Yucatán)

The primary purpose of this museum is to show the development of the Maya culture in all aspects. Respect for nature was an important element to consider before starting construction. 

The museum is divided into 4 halls where you can watch sculptures and other artifacts coming from Yucatán, Campeche, Quintana Roo, and Chiapas.

You can check it out here . 

Museo Regional de Guanajuato (Guanajuato)

Also known as the Alhóndiga de Granaditas (Grain Warehouse), this is one of the most important museums in Mexico due to its significance in the Mexican War of Independence. Besides telling the story that happened there, the museum also hosts several pre-Hispanic pieces.

The tour offers an audio guide but it’s only in Spanish. Check it out .

Other notable museums include:

• Museo Regional de Michoacán
• Museo Regional de Querétaro
• Museo de las Culturas de Oaxaca
• Museo de Guadalupe
• Museo Regional de Aguascalientes
• El Obispado
• Museo Regional de Guadalajara
• Museo Regional Potosino

Archaeological Sites

Monte albán (oaxaca).

It was founded in 500 BC and reached a population of 35,000 inhabitants. They had connections with the people from Teotihuacán.

Compared to other pre-Hispanic sites, the structures in Monte Albán are smaller. The ruins were restored between 1931 and 1948. 

You can tour both the archaeological site and the on-site museum .

Teotihuacán (Estado de México)

Along with Chichén Itzá, this is one of the most visited archaeological sites in Mexico, especially around the date of the spring equinox. 

On this tour, you can watch the archaeological site as well as its two on-site museums: Museo de la Cultura Teotihuacana and the Museo de los Murales Teotihuacanos . The two most famous structures are the Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon. Check them out!

Chichén Itzá (Yucatán)

This is undoubtedly the most visited archaeological site in the country. It’s internationally known for the Pyramid of Kukulcán “the Feathered Serpent” and the Temple of the Warriors. You can check it out here .

Tulum (Quintana Roo)

Formerly known as Zama (meaning tomorrow), this is the only archaeological site located right next to the sea. The most famous structures are its wall, the Temple of the Frescoes, the Temple of the Descending God, and El Castillo. You can go on this tour here . 

Paquimé (Chihuahua)

Also known as Casas Grandes (Great Houses), this is one of the few archaeological sites in the north of Mexico. However, unlike other sites, Paquimé is known for its architecture composed of sun-dried blocks of mud and gravel, circular/semi-circular houses, and T-shaped doorways. There are similar ruins in New Mexico, Arizona, and Colorado in the U.S.

Bonampak (Chiapas)

Located in the heart of the Chiapas rainforest in southern Mexico, Bonampak is famous for its Temple of the Murals. The Bonampak murals helped debunk the myth that the Maya were peaceful people.

On this tour , you can admire the murals, as well as the steles, the Acrópolis, and other structures.

El Tajín (Veracruz)

Named after the Totonac rain god, this is the most important site in Veracruz. It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1992. Its most famous structure is the Pyramid of the Niches.

On this tour , you can admire the pyramids, temples, and ballcourts. You can also tour the on-site museum. 

Palenque (Chiapas)

Not as big as Chichén Itzá or other Maya sites, but still Palenque boasts fine architecture, sculptures, and carvings. Its most famous structures are the Temple of the Inscriptions, the Temples of the Cross, and the Palace.

You can check it out here .

Other notable sites include:

What Tools to Use

Most of the tours mentioned above come from the INAH (National Institute of Anthropology and History) website or the INBA (National Institute of Fine Arts) website . They offer many tours with 360 photos, and a few of them even include audio. 

However, did you know that Google also offers virtual tours? They partnered up with many museums around the world to offer online exhibitions through Google Arts & Culture . Mexico is no exception. What’s even better, compared to other tours, the ones on Google allow you to zoom in on the works of art to look at the smaller details and they also offer useful descriptions so you can better understand the works. On other tours, it can be hard if not impossible to read the description no matter how much you zoom in. That’s not the case with Google Arts & Culture.

Another interesting site you could try is Maps of Mexico . It has a sizable amount of interactive maps with 360 photos. Unfortunately, not all links work but you can try your luck. What I like about this website particularly is you can look at attractions other than museums or archaeological sites. Check it out!

For some tours, you will need Flash. If that’s the case, I recommend using a computer/laptop, but if you want to use a mobile device there are some workarounds you can take.

We can’t travel freely these days, but that’s no excuse to not explore the world. There are many virtual tours you can take. You can learn a lot of things about other cultures with just a computer and an Internet connection.

It’s not the same thing as going in person, you may think. I know and I agree with you. But this is the perfect opportunity to use our imagination and creativity. You can take virtual tours by yourself or with your family. If you have children, they can learn something new and have fun at the same time instead of just watching YouTube or playing video games. 

We will be able to travel again soon. But in the meantime, check out the myriad of virtual tours available.

What tours would you like to take? Have you taken any already? How did you like it? Let me know in the comments below. See you soon!

Book your trip now!

Book your flight

The first thing you have to do is find cheap flights. But where do you find those? There are many search engines, but the one I highly recommend is Skyscanner . Here you can compare fares from all over the world and pick the one that suits you best.

Book your accommodation

The next thing you have to do is secure your lodging. Whether you prefer a hostel, a guesthouse, a B&B, or a hotel, you can find them all on Booking . You can find lodging of all kinds ranging from cheap to expensive and somewhere in between. Many people have scored good deals using it.

Another popular option is Hostelworld . This website focuses on hostels as opposed to hotels.

Book a tour

In some places, you might want to hire a tour. Not all places are equally accessible to visit by oneself. It helps enormously when you visit with a local guide who can show you around and answer any questions you might have…all in your native language. My to-go place is Viator as they offer tours of all kinds and have a presence all over the world.

Public transportation is usually cheaper than renting a car, but it’s sometimes more complicated and time-consuming. That’s a reality. In some cases, it’s more convenient to rent a car. My recommendation is Rentalcars.com . Here you can compare rates and choose the one that fits you best.

Book your bus tickets

You can save money by booking bus tickets online. My favorite site to do this is Busbud .

Get travel insurance

Never travel without a travel insurance policy, especially during these days! Travel insurance can save your life. My recommendations are World Nomads and Insured Nomads . Both companies cover COVID-19 related incidents, which is crucial these days.

More resources

Just click on the “Plan your trip” tab at the top of this page, and you will find more resources like getting Mexican insurance for your foreign car, buying travel accessories, and learning Spanish. And, of course, don’t forget to check back often to read about more tips on Mexico travel.

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10 Replies to “Free Virtual Tour of Mexico 2020”

Reading this article had some happy moments for me in that this is one of the places I would love to visit. Your article brought Mexico and the wonderful places you’ve highlighted to life. Can’t wait to visit there when this COVID madness is over. Thank you for the virtual tour to Mexico.

You’re welcome. Hope you visit someday.

I was surfing online dreaming of travelling when I found your site! I took the virtual tour of Mexico. I would however preferred to go there and see all the places like Yucatan and all the Maya sites. I have never been to Mexico so it is definitely on my travel list. Who knows when we will be able to travel normally again? Meanwhile I am glad I found a place to travel virtually. I think this will be the way of travelling in 2020 for most people. 

Yeah, I agree virtual travel is not the same thing, but it’s a good alternative these days. This will be the way of traveling for quite some time, but sooner or later, everything will go back to normal.

Thank you for your virtual tour of Mexico to us! It’s an opportunity to tourist and to travel lovers from around the world to discover and explore the attractions from MEXIQUE, from the confort of their homes.

You’ve invoqued the lockdown period due to Covid-19: this is maybe the reason for those who used to travel and who have the means to. But there is another category of target: those who live very far from Latin America, and who want to discover best and great places as you’ve presented. I’m among those in the last category, because I’m from Rwanda, a country of 1000 Hills, located in the heart of Africa, in its Eastern part, not far from Kenya, Ouganda and Tanzania. You can imagine with what interest I read your post. I liked all the places as presented and the way you did it.

I can tell you that I bookmarked your website to comeback to it to discover other awedome places you’ll be presenting to virtual tourists next time.

Thank you for your post.

You’re most welcome. I’m glad to be of assistance to all those interested in visiting my country.

Many countries are talking about tentative dates to lift the lockdown, but they will assess the situation and could extend it instead. In the meantime, we can explore the world from our computers. We will be able to travel again soon.

I hope you visit Mexico someday. I’m sure you’d love it.

I haven’t considered going on any virtual tours of Mexico. Since we are housebound due to the Coronavirus it is nice to have entertaining but educational options like this to do. I am interested in the Bonampak archaeological sites Temple of the Murals. I thought the Mayans were peaceful. Were they warriors instead? Is this tour offered in English?

With this lockdown in place, we have to make the most out of it. Although virtual travel is not the same thing as real travel, it’s a great alternative to beat the lockdown.

Answering your question, the Maya were not peaceful people like we thought. The murals helped debunk this myth.

Unfortunately, the tour is only in Spanish. English would be a great addition. Hopefully, they’ll include it, too.

Thanks for commenting.

It is really frustrating and painful that this present pandemic – Covid-19 has brought us all to this level where we can’t even go out on a tour any more. Anyways  I so much love tourism it’s actually one of my hobby and I am so glad that even in this present time one can still do a virtual tour even though the feelings and experience wouldn’t be as the original (lol) just as you’ve mentioned but I think it’s still ok. I love art so much so I would like to take a virtual tour on museo de arto modeno so as to see some modern art works. I am so happy it’s free, no fee attached. Thanks for this informative article.

Yes, it’s a shame, but hey, nothing lasts forever. We will be able to travel again soon.

You will find lots of cool options to look at. Take your time and use your creativity.

I hope you visit someday. Thanks for commenting.

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• Grades 6-12
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This Teacher Took Her Students on a Pretend Field Trip to Mexico and We’re Emotional About It

Plus, ideas for creating your own!

If you’ve spent any time on Teacher TikTok, you know what it’s like to come across a post and think, “I wish I’d been in her class!” Dallas-area elementary teacher @sonjawhite_teach is one of those teachers. Recently, she posted a TikTok about taking her students on a pretend field trip to Mexico, and the cuteness—and education value—is almost too much for us to handle.

What’s a pretend field trip?

In what appears to be a lesson plan combining financial literacy, Hispanic Heritage Month, social studies, real-world knowledge, and pure imagination, Ms. White organized a pretend field trip to Mexico—including flights, souvenirs, meals, and more.

In this lesson, her students worked on skills in the following areas:

• Life skills (packing, passports, boarding, customs, and other practical travel processes)
• Financial literacy
• Cultural literacy
• World geography

Ms. White’s pretend field trip in action

A lesson like this requires a lot of creativity and planning on the teacher end. However, you can see how it paid off with student engagement. Check out her TikTok below:

@sonjawhite_teach Come along to Mexico with us for Hispanic Heritage Month!! 🇲🇽🇲🇽 @Southwest Airlines @Doritos #firstgrade #firsties #teachertok #teacherlife ♬ original sound – Sonja White💙🖤

How awesome is this? The little travel pillows, beverage cart, and class lunch are unbelievably sweet details. We applaud her creativity and commitment to a project that clearly made her students feel seen.

Pretend field trip ideas for every subject

If you’re looking at Ms. White’s field trip thinking, “I want to do that, but I teach big kids,” or “I want to do that, but I teach ELA,” don’t worry! A pretend field trip has tons of applications to other ages and subjects.

Core subjects

• ELA: Have students pretend to be travel journalists working on an article about a specific destination. You can also create a field trip around the setting in a book they’ve read recently (or that you’ll read soon). Older students can create their own pretend field trip video based on the setting in a book they’re reading independently, citing the descriptions from the book they pulled.
• Social Studies: “Travel” to different countries and report on their current events in first-person, incorporating elements from their studies. Or have students create brochures based on what they learned there. You can really mix things up and have them travel to different time periods!
• Math: If you don’t want to have students practice financial literacy, you could have students visit a famous landmarks like the Taj Mahal or Stonehenge and practice skills like geometry, measurement, probability, and estimation. Check out this resource from NZ Maths for more info.
• Science: “Travel” to a place based on whatever scientific concept you might be teaching. Old Faithful in Yellowstone, a rainforest, the bottom of an ocean, another planet—the options are limitless! Just channel your inner Ms. Frizzle.

Fine arts, PE, and foreign languages

• Art: So many art landmarks to visit, so little time! You could do a single trip to the Louvre (they have a great virtual field trip !) or take a whole week to hop around the globe. Additionally, you could check out artistic practices in other countries like Tibetan sand paintings , Ukrainian Easter eggs (pysanky) , or Huichol beading from Mexico .
• PE: Travel to different countries to learn a regional dance, game, or athletic activity. Curling in Canada, Kho Kho in India … just maybe not fierljeppen in the Netherlands (pole vaulting across a canal of water!).
• Music: Create a DIY tour, either by city (New Orleans, Nashville, Detroit), style (K-pop, Berlin techno, cumbia), or venue (Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Nippon Budokan, Sydney Opera House).
• Foreign languages: You know what to do! 🙂

We love so many things about Ms. White’s pretend field trip to Mexico. But near the top of the list is how her decision to share this special lesson plan might ripple outward. We hope other teachers are inspired to bring the magic of travel to their students.

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The 100+ Best Virtual Tours and Field Trips for Kids and Students [2024]

Chris Hassan

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1. Busch Gardens (Tampa, Florida)

2. cedar point (sandusky, ohio), 3. disneyland (anaheim, california), 4. hersheypark (hershey, pennsylvania), 5. knott’s berry farm (buena park, california), 6. legoland florida (orlando, florida), 7. peppa pig world (hampshire, england), 8. seaworld orlando (orlando, florida), 9. shanghai disneyland (shanghai, china), 10. six flags great adventure (jackson township, new jersey), 11. ski dubai (dubai, united arab emirates), 12. tivoli gardens (copenhagen, denmark), 13. universal orlando resort (orlando, florida), 14. walt disney world (orlando, florida), 15. warner bros. world (abu dhabi, united arab emirates), 16. wet’n’wild gold coast (queensland, australia), 1. georgia aquarium (atlanta, georgia), 2. monterey bay aquarium (monterey, california), 3. national aquarium (baltimore, maryland), 4. new england aquarium (boston, massachusetts), 5. oceanogràfic de valencia (valencia, spain), 6. s.e.a. aquarium (sentosa island, singapore), 1. the alamo (san antonio, texas), 2. amazon rainforest (brazil), 3. boston public garden (boston, massachusetts), 4. buckingham palace (london, england), 5. burj khalifa (dubai, united arab emirates), 6. christ the redeemer statue (rio de janeiro, brazil), 7. cliffs of moher (county clare, ireland), 8. colosseum (rome, italy), 9. eiffel tower (paris, france), 10. empire state building (new york, new york), 11. forbidden city (beijing, china), 12. grand central terminal (new york, new york), 13. the grand palace (bangkok, thailand), 14. great barrier reef (coral sea, queensland, australia), 15. the great wall of china (huairou district, china), 16. hoover dam (arizona, nevada), 17. international space station (low earth orbit, space), 18. jerusalem ( israel), 19. kruger national park (south africa), 20. leaning tower of pisa (pisa, italy), 21. the liberty bell (philadelphia, pennsylvania), 22. mars (fourth planet from the sun, solar system), 23. mount everest (nepal and china), 24. mount rushmore (keystone, south dakota), 25. mount fuji (honshu, japan), 26. nasa glenn research center (cleveland, ohio), 27. niagara falls (ontario, canada), 28. statue of liberty, ellis island (new york, new york), 29. venice ( italy), 30. the white house (washington, d.c.), 1. american museum of natural history (new york, new york), 2. boston children’s museum (boston, massachusetts), 3. the british museum (london, england), 4. children’s museum houston (houston, texas), 5. children’s museum of south dakota (brookings, south dakota), 6. the doseum (san antonio, texas), 7. glazer children’s museum (tampa, florida), 8. the metropolitan museum of art (new york, new york), 9. musée du louvre (paris, france), 10. museo frida kahlo (mexico city, mexico), 11. museu de arte de são paulo (são paulo, brazil), 12. the museum of flight (seattle, washington), 13. museum of science, boston (boston, massachusetts), 14. national air and space museum (washington, d.c.), 15. national museum of natural history (washington, d.c.), 16. national women’s history museum (alexandria, virginia), 17. picasso museum (barcelona, spain), 18. pretend city children’s museum (irvine, california), 19. the roald dahl museum and story centre (great missenden, england), 20. san francisco museum of modern arts (san francisco, california), 21. the strong national museum of play (rochester, new york), 22. van gogh museum (amsterdam, netherlands), 23. vatican (vatican city, italy), 1. black canyon of the gunnison national park (colorado), 2. crater lake national park (oregon), 3. death valley national park (california, nevada), 4. denali national park (alaska), 5. everglades national park (florida), 6. grand canyon national park (arizona), 7. hawai’i volcanoes national park (hawaii), 8. redwood national park (california), 9. virgin islands national park (u.s. virgin islands), 10. yellowstone national park (wyoming, montana, idaho), 11. yosemite national park (california), 1. camp nou, fc barcelona (barcelona, spain), 2. emirates stadium, arsenal fc (london, england), 3. hard rock stadium during miami open (miami gardens, florida), 4. maracanã stadium, flamengo fc (rio de janeiro, brazil), 5. oracle park, san francisco giants (san francisco, california), 6. yankee stadium, new york yankees (bronx, new york), 1. angkor wat (siem reap, cambodia), 2. the great pyramid (giza, egypt), 3. machu picchu (peru), 4. nijo castle (kyoto, japan), 5. the palace of versailles (versailles, france), 6. petra ( jordan), 7. pompeii (italy), 8. stonehenge (wiltshire, england), 9. taj mahal (agra, india), 10. templo expiatorio de la sagrada familia (barcelona, spain), 1. cincinnati zoo & botanical garden (cincinnati, ohio), 2. houston zoo (houston, texas), 3. san diego zoo (san diego, california), 4. smithsonian national zoo (washington, d.c.), 5. zoo atlanta (atlanta, georgia), final thoughts.

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When the world came to a stop and kids were getting restless at home, parents dreamt of the days when field trips were still something to look forward to. That’s when virtual tours became a relatively attractive alternative.

Now that the coronavirus (COVID-19) is somewhat under control and in-person visits are a reality, virtually visiting museums, parks, and aquariums can still be a great way to scout out your next vacation.

Many incredible places offer virtual tours, which are perfect for some pre-trip planning. We’ve compiled the ultimate list of virtual tours for everything from amusement parks to zoos so that you and your little ones can tour them from the comfort of your own home!

16 Amusement Parks With Virtual Tours

It may be hard to get the full experience of an amusement park from home, but thanks to some incredible videography, you can almost feel the butterflies in your stomach!

Here are some of our favorites!

Busch Gardens in Tampa, Florida is known for its thrilling roller coasters. Now you can experience them from home.

Thanks to some awesome 4K footage uploaded to YouTube, the SheiKra , Kumba , and Cheetah coasters are waiting for you.

Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio is home to 71 rides, including the award-winning Steel Vengeance hyper-hybrid coaster. The second-oldest amusement park in North America, Cedar Point is known as “The Roller Coaster Capital of the World.”

Want to see why? Check out its official YouTube channel full of POV videos of the rides.

Disneyland in Southern California needs no introduction. It’s the only theme park designed and built to completion under the direct supervision of Walt Disney and has a classic feel to it despite the constant improvements. One of those improvements is Star Wars : Galaxy’s Edge .

Experience this intergalactic world and go on a video ride on the Millennium Falcon : Smuggler’s Run attraction.

Hersheypark is a family theme park about 100 miles outside of Philadelphia, and is, you guessed it, owned by The Hershey Company, one of the largest global chocolate manufacturers.

While you might not be able to go on a factory tour and tasting from home, you can grab a Hershey milk chocolate bar, sit on the couch, and take a virtual tour on 15 of the park’s roller coasters .

Knott’s Berry Farm is not what the name suggests, although it once was. What started as a small berry farm is now a very popular theme park full of attractions and entertainment for all ages in southern California.

If you want to check out the 10 fastest rides and roller coasters at the park , check out this YouTube video .

LEGOLAND gets overshadowed by a couple of other theme parks in the Orlando area, but this park is no joke. With some great roller coasters, including a virtual reality option , there is something for everyone.

If you are interested in VR, you’ll want to check out this video of The Great LEGO Race .

Hop across the pond and visit the fun little world of Peppa Pig and her family! Go for a ride on Grandpa Pig’s Little Train, Miss Rabbit’s Helicopter, and of course, jump in some muddy puddles!

Check out the official virtual tour video .

SeaWorld has made some serious investments when it comes to its roller-coaster game. Mako, Kraken, and Manta are a few of the top rides in the area .

Enjoy this 4K POV video onboard Mako from the safety of your own home.

Shanghai Disneyland is home to the world’s only TRON Lightcycle Power Run ride, though another is still scheduled to open at Walt Disney World in Orlando. It’s one of the best rides in the world, and many Disney fans admit that it is better than most other Disney roller coasters.

Fortunately, you don’t need to fly to China to experience this futuristic ride. You can ride along in HD thanks to this YouTube video .

Situated between New York and Philadelphia, Six Flags Great Adventure is a popular theme park thanks to its fast and high-tech roller coasters, family and kids rides, and wildlife exhibits.

If you are in the area, you can visit the drive-thru safari, but if not, there’s still plenty to check out including the world’s tallest VR drop ride free fall POV of Zumanjaro: Drop of Doom .

Dubai truly is impressive. Who would think that you could go skiing in the middle of the Arabian Desert? And not sand skiing — on real snow!

Thanks to some impressive engineering (and a hefty electric bill) visitors can take their shot at the world’s first indoor black diamond run .

Think we’re joking? Strap on your VR goggles and check out these 360-degree videos .

At more than 150 years old, Tivoli Gardens is the oldest amusement park in Europe . Besides the gorgeous decorations and history, the park offers dozens of rides for all ages.

Go for a virtual ride on The Demon roller coaster thanks to this fun video.

Universal Studios and Universal Islands of Adventure in Orlando have long been known for their excellent and thrilling rides. With near-constant updates and new additions being made, thrill-seekers are always in for a treat.

Be sure to check out these great videos of the rides including Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit  and Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Universal also has some excellent videos on its YouTube channel with more rides and the very interesting “ The Science of Universal Orlando Resort .”

When it comes to theme parks, the gold standard is Walt Disney World. With that special Disney magic paired with some of the most sought-after rides in the world, you may find yourself taking frequent virtual tours.

While many rides generate hours-long wait times, you can skip the line and take a virtual tour any time that you want. Some of our current favorites are Star Wars : Rise of the Resistance and Slinky Dog Dash at Hollywood Studios.

For the real Disney fans out there, it will be hard to run out of fun content. Be sure to check out this Disney On Stage educational content that is full of fun theatrical activities to do at home, broken down by age groups.

If you are feeling crafty, these DIY projects from Disney Family are sure to be a hit.

And, lastly, #DisneyMagicMoments is full of magical activities with everything from learning how to cook Disneyland’s Big Thunder Ribs to learning how to draw your favorite Disney and Pixar characters.

Hot Tip: Are you planning a trip to Orlando? Be sure to check out our article on the best places to stay in Orlando for your Disney vacation before you book.

When you think of the United Arab Emirates, the phrase “world’s largest” gets used a lot… and its theme parks are no exception. This time, the title of “World’s Largest Indoor Theme Park” goes to Warner Bros. World in Abu Dhabi.

Get comfortable and explore all of the park’s rides with this 18-minute long 4K video .

Who doesn’t love a good waterpark? You’ll find one of the best in Queensland, Australia at Wet’n’Wild Gold Coast.

With some massive slides for thrill-seekers to more family-friendly options, this park will give you one more reason to want to visit Australia.

If you don’t want to wait, you can go for a ride via this POV GoPro video .

6 Aquariums With Virtual Tours

With more than 10 million gallons of fresh and saltwater tanks, the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta holds the record as the third-largest aquarium in the world (formerly the largest from 2005 to 2012).

With creatures from whale sharks and beluga whales to lizards and seahorses, this aquarium has much to explore.

You can check in on your favorite animals from home thanks to these awesome live webcams . The At-home Learning page offers lesson plans and resources and also provides updates and details for the animals in the facility.

The Monterey Bay Aquarium is a gorgeous aquarium on the edge of the central California coast. While you should certainly add a visit to this aquarium to your list (because who doesn’t need an excuse to drive the California coast?), until then, we’ve got you covered.

The aquarium has 10 live webcams that you can tune into and watch some of the most beautiful creatures swimming around.

Whether you want to check in on the penguins, sharks, sea otters, or watch the Open Sea Exhibit, all you need to do is click here !

The National Aquarium in Baltimore has over 2 million gallons of water and more than 750 species for visitors to learn about.

Out of all of the aquarium virtual tours, this is one of the best. as you can “walk” through all of the exhibits at your own pace and enjoy 360-degree views along the way. Start exploring now !

The New England Aquarium has everything for your virtual field trip. From live videos and demonstrations to activities to complete at home, you and your kids will be entertained for hours.

For more information, visit its website.

Visit Europe’s finest and most futuristic marine complex from home! Comprised of 9 elegant underwater towers designed by the famous Spanish architect Félix Candela, you may be just as impressed with the avant-garde architecture as you are with 500+ different species swimming around.

Take your own virtual tour .

The S.E.A. Aquarium is the world’s second-largest aquarium and is home to the world’s largest collection of manta rays in captivity , including the unique giant oceanic manta ray. With 49 different habitats to explore, you could spend all day here.

Instead, you can enjoy a virtual tour and visit the S.E.A. Aquarium Fun Academy, featuring arts and craft projects and brainteasers.

30 Famous Landmarks With Virtual Tours

The Alamo Mission in San Antonio is a historic Spanish mission and fortress compound founded back in the 18th century. In 1836, It was the site of the Battle of the Alamo. Today, it’s a museum in the Alamo Plaza Historic District.

Experience The Alamo in this high-quality virtual tour .

The Amazon Rainforest is one of Earth’s most precious resources and makes up more than half of the world’s rainforests, covering 2,700,000 square miles.

Home to an estimated 390 billion individual trees and millions of unique species from insects to dolphins, visiting the Amazon rainforest is an incredible experience. But an Amazonian trip can be quite expensive.

Fortunately, there is an incredibly in-depth educational VR experience available courtesy of Conservation International.

You can either strap on your VR headset or visit the beautifully done website .

The first public botanical garden in America , established in 1837, the Boston Public Garden is full of unusual plants, a lagoon, and the famous Swan Boats, which have operated for more than 100 years. A true gem in the heart of one of America’s oldest cities.

You can go on an interactive 360-degree tour of the park .

Buckingham Palace in London, England is the official residence of the Queen, as well as the administrative headquarters of the monarchy of the United Kingdom.

While this iconic building is open to the public for tours for only a few months per year, known as the “Annual Summer Opening,” you can visit year-round thanks to this virtual tour .

Measuring in at 2,722 feet tall, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai has held the record of the world’s tallest building since it was completed in 2009.

Design and architecture teams from all around the world worked together to create this massive structure built to withstand the strong desert heat and winds.

If you want to take a closer look, you can explore this amazing building via Google Street View, which allows you to check out different floors and even a view from a window washer’s platform up on the 80th floor.

Emerging out of the mountains, the Christ the Redeemer statue can be seen from almost anywhere in the stunning city of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.

The 98-foot tall soapstone statue is one of the “New7Wonders of the World” and is a symbol of Christianity worldwide.

You can now head down to Rio and explore this sanctuary via Google Arts & Culture .

Running along the ocean’s edge in County Clare, Ireland, the Cliffs of Moher make up 9 miles of stunning terrain.

With 1.5 million visits a year, the cliffs are one of Ireland’s most visited tourist sites.

If you haven’t been, you can start by taking a Google Earth virtual tour . Start at the visitor’s center, then walk your way down by the sea.

Located in the center of Rome , the Colosseum was the largest amphitheater ever built at the time (A.D. 72) — holding between 50,000 and 80,000 spectators.

The Colosseum was used for many things, including gladiatorial contests, dramas based on Classical mythology, and other events, such as mock sea battles, animal hunts, executions, and reenactments of famous battles.

You can take your own Google Arts & Culture virtual tour around the arena’s underground, learn more about its history, and more.

The Eiffel Tower in Paris is easily one of the most recognizable landmarks in the world. The 1,063-foot tower has 3 levels for visitors, with restaurants on the first and second levels and an observation deck on the top level.

Visited by almost 7 million people last year alone, it can get a bit crowded. Fortunately, there is a great virtual tour that you can take from home!

Enjoy 360-degree views, a sunrise, and an ascent to the top of the Eiffel Tower in the official virtual tour .

The Empire State Building is of the most recognizable buildings in New York City . The 102-story skyscraper in Midtown Manhattan is home to many corporate offices and 2 observation decks.

You can enjoy a 360-degree view from the 102nd floor thanks to this interactive experience .

China’s best-preserved imperial palace, the Forbidden City is a complex located in central Beijing. Dating back to the Ming Dynasty, this historic palace complex was home to the former Chinese imperial palace and state residence of the emperor of China until 1924.

We have found an excellent virtual tour that allows you to explore the main areas of the complex, including:

• Hall of Supreme Harmony
• Imperial Gardens
• Meridian Gate
• Pavilion of Ten Thousand Springs

Although it is only the third-busiest train station in North America (behind New York Penn Station and Toronto Union Station), Grand Central Station in New York City has earned multiple landmark designations thanks to its incorporated works of art.

Not including train and subway passengers, Grand Central is one of the world’s 10 most visited tourist attractions according to Travel + Leisure, with more than 21 million visitors in 2018.

Take a stroll through this famous landmark via this virtual tour .

Located in the heart of Bangkok, Thailand, the Grand Palace has been the official residence of the Kings of Siam (now Thailand) since 1782.

The stunning complex of buildings welcomes visitors from around the world to see its famous temples, chapels, and more.

Take your own virtual tour from home.

As the world’s largest coral reef system, the Great Barrier Reef stretches over 1,400 miles off the coast of Queensland, Australia. The reef structure is composed of and built by billions of tiny organisms, and is the biggest single structure made by living organisms on Earth.

Fans of nature documentaries will love to hear the voice of David Attenborough as he guides an interactive, underwater tour of the Great Barrier Reef .

Experience interactive time-lapses, videos, and weather maps of Earth’s most bio-diverse ecosystem.

With sections dating back to the 7th century B.C., the Great Wall of China is recognized as one of the most impressive architectural feats in history. Combing all of the sections of the wall, trenches, and natural barriers, the Great Wall measures 13,171 miles.

Originally built for defense, then later, trade control, today it is best known as a tourist attraction.

If you aren’t planning on visiting China any time soon, you can take a virtual tour .

With more than 1 million annual visitors, the Hoover Dam on the border of Arizona and Nevada is one of the most visited dams in the world.

Spanning 2 time zones, this architectural marvel controls floods, provides irrigation water, and produces hydroelectric power.

Experience the Hoover Dam virtual tour .

A partnership of the U.S., Russia, Japan, Europe, and Canada, the International Space Station is a microgravity and space environment research laboratory focusing on a wide range of fields.

Although it is technically possible to visit the ISS as a “space tourist,” you may need to settle for this virtual tour instead unless you have $40 million to spend.

As a consolation prize, enjoy this video of astronauts playing with slime in zero gravity!

Located in the Judaean Mountains between the Mediterranean and the Dead Sea, Jerusalem is one of the oldest cities in the world and is considered holy land to 3 major religions — Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

You can almost feel the energy of this special city when you immerse yourself in the 360-degree footage of this virtual tour of Jerusalem .

Kruger National Park in South Africa is one of the largest game reserves on the African continent with an area of 7,523 square miles.

Home to the “Big Five,” safari-goers will be excited to see lions, elephants, rhinoceroses, leopards, buffaloes, and dozens of other wild animals.

If you’re interested in checking out a safari, be sure to tune in to the WildEarth YouTube channel daily for sunrise and sunset tours.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is a belltower famous for its lean due to an unstable foundation. Over the years, the foundation has been stabilized and the structure currently leans at 3.97 degrees. Visitors can climb the almost 300 step staircase to reach the top and view the city below.

If you don’t plan on visiting Pisa any time soon, you can take this 360-degree VR video tour from inside the tower or take a virtual tour of the grounds.

Famous for being rung to mark the reading of the United States Declaration of Independence, the Liberty Bell is an iconic symbol of American independence.

Built in London and now residing in Philadelphia, the mostly copper bell has been cracked and repaired multiple times during its usage and traveling tours between the years of 1776 and 1915.

Get an up-close look at this iconic monument .

Mars, also known as the “Red Planet” due to the color of its surface, is the second smallest planet in our solar system. With days and seasons similar to those on Earth, scientists have always wanted to learn more about potential life there.

Currently, Mars is being explored by a NASA rover named Curiosity. Curiosity is about the size of a car and has been on the Red Planet since 2012.

If you want to explore alongside the rover, check out this interactive tour .

At 29,029 feet, Mount Everest is the tallest and one of the most dangerous mountains in the world. This massive climbing destination located on the border of Nepal and China attracts adventurers from around the globe, despite its risks.

As of last year, more than 300 climbers have died trying to reach the summit due to altitude sickness, weather, and avalanches. Y ou can experience some of what it’s like to climb Mt. Everest without the ever-present danger thanks to some virtual tours that we found.

You can experience the climb with your VR equipment, but if you prefer to watch a video instead, check out this YouTube summit climb .

The Mount Rushmore National Memorial is a sculpture featuring 60-foot heads of Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln in the Black Hills of Keystone, South Dakota.

These 4 presidents were chosen to represent the nation’s birth, growth, development, and preservation, respectively.

If you’re interested in getting up close, you can actually “climb” the faces or take a virtual tour .

Mount Fuji is one of Japan’s “Three Holy Mountains” and is the tallest mountain (and active volcano) in the country at 12,389 feet tall.

Often depicted in artwork and photographs, this snowcapped symmetrical cone is easily one of Japan’s most recognizable landmarks. If you want to see what it’s like to visit the top of this majestic mountain, you’ll love the Google Street View virtual tour .

NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Ohio was created to develop science and technology for use in aeronautics and space. Needless to say, it has some pretty interesting stuff to check out.

If you want to see some testing in action, view one of 10 virtual tours .

Straddling the U.S. and Canada border, Niagara Falls is a group of 3 waterfalls that attract visitors from all over the world.

One of the most popular attractions is “Journey Behind the Falls,” located on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls. Now you can experience it in virtual reality.

Ditch the rain poncho and visit Niagara Falls virtually .

A gift from the people of France to the people of the United States commemorating the national abolition of slavery, the Statue of Liberty has come to commemorate ideals of freedom, democracy, and opportunity.

The Statue of Liberty was the first thing that most of the 12 million immigrants saw when they arrived at the Ellis Island processing site and is one of the most recognizable monuments in the world .

Get a close-up tour of Lady Liberty and learn more about Ellis Island .

Venice is perhaps one of the most recognizable cities in the world thanks to its canals being as common as roads are in other cities. This special city is made up of 118 small islands that are linked by more than 400 bridges.

While it may not be the easiest city to get around for some, thanks to the Google Street View tour of Venice , you can travel the canals, walk the streets, and cross the famous bridges from the comfort of home.

The official residence and workplace of the president of the United States, The White House has been the residence of every U.S. president since 1800.

The White House is the only private residence of a head of state that is open to the public free of charge.

Check out this excellent virtual tour of The White House by Google Arts & Culture .

Hot Tip: The White House is an incredibly popular attraction and tickets are in high demand. If you want to visit in-person, learn how to best arrange your tour and maximize your visit with our helpful guide .

23 Museums With Virtual Tours

“Ology” means “the study of,” and OLogy: The Science Website for Kids from the American Museum of Natural History focuses on the study of many topics geared towards kids, with games, stories, videos, and hands-on crafts.

The museum also offers 360-degree virtual tours of exhibits from the past, present, and permanent collections, as well as research stations.

The Boston Children’s Museum is an incredible option for parents looking to entertain and educate their children.

The second-oldest children’s museum in the U.S. is full of unique exhibits meant to teach our younger generation everything from racial diversity to science, arts, and more.

Take your little one on a virtual tour today! The museum also offers a Play and Learning Resources page featuring activities, teaching guides, curriculum, and more.

The first public national museum in the world, the British Museum is dedicated to human history, art, and culture, with more than 8 million pieces of work in its collection.

Highlighting over 2 million years of history, it is no surprise this is one of the most popular museums in the world.

Don’t wait — take your Google Arts & Culture virtual tour of more than 60 galleries today. The museum itself also offers 2 virtual galleries .

The Children’s Museum Houston is famous for its awesome exhibits and events, and they have gotten creative when it comes to going virtual. With options for learning at home , 3D Virtual Field Trips , and All-Time Access , you and your kids can stay connected and entertained from home.

The Children’s Museum of South Dakota is an incredible asset for parents and kids, and now families from around the world can take part in the creativity from home. 

The museum has created a Play Along at Home page full of resources and recipes for play! Even better, it offers a page just for parents to help with ideas for activities and more.

The DoSeum is well-known for its award-winning exhibits for kids and brings the same high quality to virtual content.

The museum has created an entire page dedicated to parents and kids to “ DO It At Home ,” which is full of DIY activities, storytimes, and more.

Glazer Children’s Museum has always had a mission of creating a learning laboratory where children play, discover, and connect. The museum has continued to innovate online.

The museum offers GCM at Home , a source of learning at fun for kids of all ages with experiments, recipes, games, and more.

While the largest art museum in the U.S. may not sound too exciting for many kids, the Met has put together a nice section on its website dedicated to getting the little ones engaged.

Check out interactive maps, a time machine, and videos on the MetKids page .

The Louvre in Paris is the world’s largest art museum at over 782,910 square feet and is also the most visited with 9.6 million visitors in 2019.

With around 38,000 pieces of work — including the famous Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, and Hammurabi’s Code — the Louvre is easily one of the world’s most well-known museums. Fortunately for art lovers, the Louvre has multiple virtual galleries on display to enjoy, without the queues.

View the Louvre’s virtual tour page .

Take a virtual tour of “the Blue House,” the former residence where renowned artist Frida Kahlo lived and created masterpieces.

Google Arts & Culture has created a Street View tour of Museo Frida Kahlo so you can walk through La Casa Azúl from home.

Head to Brazil, courtesy of Google Arts & Culture, and explore the Museu de Arte de São Paulo (Museum of Art of São Paulo). With more than 8,000 pieces of art, including paintings, sculptures, objects, photographs, and costumes, there is plenty to explore.

Start your virtual tour of 6 unique online galleries .

The Museum of Flight, located just outside of Seattle , is the largest private air and space museum in the world. With more than 150 aircraft on-site, the museum attracts over 500,000 annual visitors.

In addition to being a museum, the Museum of Flight also hosts the largest K-12 educational programs in the world, welcoming more than 140,000 students yearly through its onsite programs.

If you can’t visit anytime soon, you might enjoy the 360-degree virtual tour .

Hot Tip: Check out our guide to virtual tours of aerospace museums , covering aviation, military, and space!

The Museum of Science, Boston, dates back to 1830 when it opened as the Boston Society of Natural History. Now receiving over 1.5 million visitors annually, this museum (and indoor zoo) is one of the region’s most popular destinations for children and adults.

With more than 700 interactive exhibits and over 100 rescued and rehabilitated animals, visitors always leave wanting more. Conveniently, the museum offers an excellent virtual tour full of digital exhibits, videos, and audio presentations.

The National Air and Space Museum, which is part of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., is a center for the history and science of aviation, as well as spaceflight, planetary science, terrestrial geology, and geophysics.

With over 6 million visitors last year, it was the fifth most-visited museum in the world, with tourists coming to see the Apollo 11 Command Module Columbia, the Wright brothers’ Wright Flyer airplane, and much more.

You can take your own 360-degree virtual tour of the entire museum.

The 325,000 square foot National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. has the largest natural history collection in the world. With over 145 million specimens of plants, animals, fossils, minerals, rocks, meteorites, human remains, and cultural artifacts, visitors come from all over the world to explore this special collection.

Open 364 days per year (closed on Christmas) with free admission, this collection can get quite busy with crowds. To avoid the rush, you can enjoy dozens of online exhibits that can all be accessed via the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History virtual tour .

Learn more about the brave women who educated, inspired, empowered, and shaped the future for new generations. With everything from the Civil Rights Movement to women in the Olympics, the National Women’s History Museum is full of well-curated material.

Explore the National Women’s History Museum’s 29 online exhibits.

If you are one of the millions who stroll through Barcelona’s Latin Quarter, you are sure to know about the Picasso Museum. Art lovers can take in some 4,000+ pieces of the famous painter’s work and medieval architecture in this impressive museum.

Fans of Picasso can enjoy the Picasso Museum virtual tour, which offers a large selection of his finest works as well as tours of the museum’s beautiful courtyards.

Pretend City is a great experience designed for kids to expand their imagination. With 17 exhibits including a cafe, farm, gas station, post office, grocery store, and more, your little one can explore a miniature version of a grown-up’s world.

Take an interactive tour of the Pretend City Children’s Museum .

Winner of the “Best Small Visitor Attraction,” the Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre is the home of the late children’s and short story writer, Roald Dahl.

Take a step inside and see where he wrote manuscripts, business and personal correspondence, and his “Ideas Books.”

The San Francisco Museum of Modern Arts lets artists take over its website and create special broadcasts on its YouTube channel.

Check out multimedia features on the art and artists featured in the museum on its Stories page.

Known as “the ultimate play destination,” t he Strong National Museum of Play is built around research, exhibits, and other interpretive and educational activities that serve a diverse audience of adults, families, children, students, teachers, scholars, collectors, and others around the globe.

Thanks to a  Google Arts & Culture virtual tour , you can experience this incredible museum from home.

Housing the largest collection of artworks by Vincent van Gogh, this Amsterdam museum welcomes over 2 million visitors per year looking to see the artist’s paintings, drawings, and letters.

Stroll through the museum at your own pace via this excellent Google Arts & Culture virtual tour . The museum’s website also offers a variety of tools for young children, including school lessons and coloring pages.

With multiple museums, the Vatican is home to some 70,000 works of art, including several of the most renowned Roman sculptures and most important masterpieces of Renaissance art in the world.

Founded by Pope Julius II in the early 16th century, the museums have been a stunning attraction for hundreds of years. Prior to the pandemic, the museums welcomed nearly 7 million visitors annually.

Take your own 360-degree virtual tour .

11 U.S. National Parks With Virtual Tours

The Black Canyon of the Gunnison is a national park in western Colorado famous for its steep cliffs and craggy spires throughout.

The Gunnison River has flowed for over 2 million years, carving its way through the rugged terrain, leaving behind a breathtaking combination of water, rock, and sky.

You can start your own exploration today, thanks to this Google Earth virtual tour !

This south-central Oregon gem is breathtaking. Crater Lake was formed from a volcanic eruption 7,500 years ago and has no connections to any rivers or streams — all of its water supply comes from rain and melted snow.

Not only it is the deepest lake in the U.S. , but it is also one of the clearest and cleanest in the entire world. Unsurprisingly, the lake and surrounding areas are very popular for outdoor enthusiasts year-round.

Country music singer/songwriter Dierks Bentley is ready to lead you on a 360-degree virtual video tour of the area.

Death Valley has perhaps one of the most recognizable names of all of the national parks. It is also the hottest, driest, and lowest national park in the U.S., so the name is fitting.

Despite the morbid name, this park has a great diversity of life, especially when rainstorms bring sprawling fields of wildflowers and oases for small fish and other wildlife.

At 3.4 million acres, stretching across the California-Nevada border, it is the largest U.S. national park outside of Alaska .

You can explore this massive park courtesy of this Google Earth virtual tour . Some of the highlights include the Devil’s Golf Course, Rhyolite Ghost Town, and some incredible canyons and dunes.

Home to the highest mountain in North America , Denali National Park in Alaska is a stunning combination of low elevation forests and snowy glaciers at the higher elevations.

This massive 6 million-acre preserve only has 1 road through it, so you will be sure to see wild animals roaming free and adventurists exploring the countless outdoor activities.

If you aren’t planning on visiting Alaska soon, be sure to check out the Google Earth virtual tour of the glaciers and the stunning Denali vistas.

Spread across the southern tip of Florida, Everglades National Park is the largest subtropical wilderness in the U.S. In addition to being a national park, the Everglades are also listed as a Wetlands of International Importance and a World Heritage Site.

The unique network of wetlands and forests makes an ideal home for many species, including rare and endangered ones such as the manatee, American crocodile, and Florida panther.

In addition to being home to dozens of species of mammals and reptiles, the wetlands are an essential habitat to over 350 species of birds and 300 species of fresh and saltwater fish.

Start your own adventure in the Everglades on this virtual tour via Google Earth .

Hot Tip: The Everglades are featured on our list of the best road trips in the U.S. The Overseas Highway starts in Miami and finishes over 150 miles later in Key West.

One of (if not the) most well-known of all the national parks is the Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona. This park is a stunning 277-mile steep-sided canyon carved out by the Colorado River.

Just a quick (and popular) helicopter ride from Las Vegas, visitors can enjoy rafting, hiking, running, and camping along the North and South Rims of the canyon.

If you want to start exploring this incredible national park, check out this awesome virtual tour by Google Earth .

Located on the main island of Hawaii, the Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park rests on top of 2 active volcanoes : Kīlauea, one of the world’s most active volcanoes, and Mauna Loa, the world’s most massive shield volcano.

The volcanoes are home to some of the most unique biological, geological, and cultural landscapes in the world. Visitors come to learn about the volcanoes, their history, the local culture, and the incredible biodiversity on the island.

You can immerse yourself in one of the most comprehensive tours on the internet thanks to this Google Arts & Culture virtual tour .

The 39,000-acre Redwood National Park is located on the picturesque, rugged coast of northern California.

Home to the famous Redwood trees — the tallest trees on earth  — this national park is also home to wild riverways, vast prairies, and oak woodlands.

You can start your own tour from home — including a scenic drive through the Klamath Tour Thru Tree — courtesy of this Google Earth Street View virtual tour .

Famous for its white-sand beaches and excellent snorkeling, the Virgin Islands National Park protects about 60% of the island of St. John , about 5,000 acres of ocean, and almost all of Hassel Island.

“America’s Paradise” also attracts visitors for its sugar plantation history and ancient petroglyphs carved by the Taino Indians.

Thanks to Google Earth tour of Virgin Islands National Park , you can explore the park’s luscious forests, Danish sugar plantation ruins, and gorgeous beaches.

Stretching across 3 states (Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho), Yellowstone National Park was the very first national park in the U.S.  The park is centered over the Yellowstone Caldera lake, which is the largest supervolcano on the continent .

One of the more famous (and less threatening) attractions is Old Faithful Geyser , which is known for its regular eruptions.

Every year, visitors from around the world come to explore the thousands of other hot springs, geysers, and mud pots that dot the wild landscape.

You can now take your own Google Earth virtual tour of Yellowstone — complete with geysers, waterfalls, springs, and more — from the comfort of your own home.

Internationally recognized for many of its natural features, including its waterfalls, clear streams, granite cliffs, giant sequoia groves, and incredible biological diversity, Yosemite National Park has a lot to offer.

More than 4 million visitors travel to the Sierra Nevada of central California to explore the 748,000-acre park each year.

You can explore this park from home, including the iconic Half Dome and El Capitan monoliths, thanks to Google Earth’s virtual tour of Yosemite .

Bottom Line: You can enjoy the incredible natural beauty of our national parks without leaving home thanks to our detailed list of virtual tours of iconic national parks around the U.S. ! 

6 Sports Stadiums With Virtual Tours

The home stadium of FC Barcelona since its completion in 1957, Camp Nou is the largest stadium in Europe with over 99,000 seats.

Having hosted some of the most high-profile matches ever, including the European Cup/Champions League finals, the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup finals, the opening game of the 1982 FIFA World Cup, and the football competition final at the 1992 Summer Olympics, it is easily one of the most famous stadiums in the world.

Experience what it’s like to walk around the stadium from the bleachers to the pitch thanks to this virtual tour .

Get a view of this gorgeous stadium from one of the 60,000+ seats in this 360-degree tour to get a feel for how big it is.

The club also has Arsenal Home Learning player packs available to download on its Junior Gunners site .

Changing names 8 times since opening in 1987, Hard Rock Stadium is best known as the home of the Miami Dolphins NFL team and Miami Hurricanes NCAA team.

The stadium can hold up to 80,000 fans depending on its configuration, which is quite flexible as it has been host to multiple NFL Super Bowls, MLB World Series, BCS National Championship Games, and is now also the home to the Miami Open tennis tournament.

Take a walk through the stadium during the Miami Open via this virtual tour of Hard Rock Stadium .

Step inside this massive 70,000+ seat stadium, home of the most famous football (soccer) club in Brazil, Flamengo.

A centerpiece for both the 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2016 Summer Olympics, this gem in the heart of Rio de Janeiro is on the bucket list for many sports fans.

Go along on a virtual tour of Maracanã Stadium .

For over 20 years, Oracle Park (formerly Pacific Bell Park, SBC Park, and AT&T Park) has been home to the San Francisco Giants MLB team.

The 42,000-seat park sits right on the edge of San Francisco Bay, making for some gorgeous backdrops.

If you are interested in what it would be like to attend a baseball game at Oracle Park, check out this fun 360-degree virtual tour .

The Giants have also created Junior Giants at Home , featuring learning resources and training from the Giants’ manager and coaching staff!

Yankee Stadium is one of the most famous baseball stadiums around. If you haven’t been, you can now visit the “Virtual Venue,” which has views from all around the park.

Start your own virtual tour of Yankee Stadium .

The Yankees also have a Yankees Kids page with at-home activities, games, activities, and more!

10 UNESCO World Heritage Sites With Virtual Tours

The largest religious monument in the world, Angkor Wat is a temple complex in Cambodia measuring over 402 acres.

What started as a relatively small tourist destination with only 7,000 visitors in 1993, the site received 2.6 million foreign visitors in 2018.

You don’t need to fight the crowds to see the temples, but this Google Earth tour of Angkor Wat may inspire some wanderlust!

The oldest of the 7 Wonders of the World, as well as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Great Pyramid was the tallest man-made structure in the world for more than 3,800 years.

The Great Pyramid was built as tombs for Pharaoh Khufu and his wife, and construction was estimated to take 20 years due to the 2.3 million blocks of limestone and granite, some weighing as much as 80 tonnes.

Walk alongside The Great Pyramid and its neighboring massive pyramids from home via Google Street View Treks .

Just outside of Cuzco, Peru, this 15th-century Incan citadel is located almost 8,000 feet up a mountain above the Sacred Valley.

The site was virtually unknown to the outside world until 1911 when an American historian brought it to international attention. It is believed that the Incas built the estate around 1450 but abandoned it a century later at the time of the Spanish conquest.

Experience Machu Picchu without the climb via this virtual tour .

Nijo Castle in Kyoto, Japan was designated a UNESCO world heritage site in 1994 to help preserve this historic residence.

Built in 1603, it was the residence of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun of the Edo Period until Tokugawa Shogunate fell in 1867. For a period of time in the 1800s, it was used as an imperial palace before being donated to the city and opened up to the public as a historic site.

“Walk” these special grounds via this Google Earth Virtual Tour .

The Palace of Versailles started as a simple hunting lodge, but when expanded later, became the principal royal residence of France. Eventually, the entire royal court and the French government relocated to Versailles as well.

Many notable historical events have occurred on the property, including World War I ending in the palace with the Treaty of Versailles. The popular tourist destination received nearly 8 million visitors in 2017 — more than the Eiffel Tower.

Take your own virtual tour today via Google Arts & Culture .

An ancient city established as a capital for the Nabataean kingdom as early as the fourth century B.C., Petra is famous for its sandstone walls and stunning carved structures.

On your Google Street View Trek , travel through the Siq and discover nearly 20 sights from the Treasury to the Monastery while learning about Petra’s inhabitants.

Pompeii is an ancient city in Italy that was buried in 20 feet of volcanic ash after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius back in A.D. 79. Excavators found a snapshot of Roman life as they dug out the city that was frozen in time.

With 2.5 million visitors annually, Pompeii is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Italy.

Take your own walking tour of this unique, formerly thriving town via Google Earth .

Stonehenge is one of the world’s most puzzling prehistoric monuments. While certainly beautiful, the more you learn about this structure, the more intriguing it becomes.

Now, widely agreed that it was once a burial ground, historians still don’t know how 100 massive stones were placed upright in a circle back in 3000 B.C. to 2000 B.C. — before the invention of the wheel or other helpful tools.

Take a stroll around this curious masterpiece on your own virtual tour .

The Taj Mahal is an immense mausoleum of white marble built in 1631 and 1648 by order of the Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan, in memory of his favorite wife.

The Taj Mahal was designated as a  UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 for being “the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world’s heritage.”

Walk along the gardens in this stunning complex from home thanks to Google Earth .

The Basílica de la Sagrada Família, also known as the Sagrada Família, is a large Roman Catholic minor basilica in Barcelona.

Construction began in 1882 and has been slow, to say the least. When it was interrupted by the Spanish Civil War in 1936, it was only about 30% complete. As of 2015, it was estimated that the construction was only about 70% complete with a likely completion around 2032.

The inside, however, is complete and stunning. Take a Google Earth virtual tour or visit the official website’s virtual tour of 10 locations within the cathedral, including audio.

5 Zoos With Virtual Tours

Tune in to the Cincinnati Zoo’s Home Safaris , when zookeepers showcase specific animals.

The zoo also has a Home Safari Resources page featuring games, crafts, quizzes, and more!

Each Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. CST, the Houston Zoo hosts a Facebook Live event with the zookeepers and animals. Tune in to see what your favorite furred, flippered, and feathered friends are up to.

You can watch all videos, including past ones here .

The San Diego Zoo has put together a special page on its website just for kids . You can watch videos, read stories about animals, play games, and more.

One of the oldest zoos in the U.S., the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington, D.C. is split into 2 campuses that are home to about 2,700 animals of 390 different species — about 20% of these animals are either endangered or threatened.

If you’re curious about what some of your favorite animals are up to, including cheetah cubs, check out these webcams . The zoo also offers a variety of educational at-home activities .

Are you a fan of pandas? Then you don’t want to miss Zoo Atlanta’s live Panda Cam . Check in on your favorite bamboo-chewing bear any time.

The zoo also offers at-home lessons that feature stories, crafts, virtual events, games, and a virtual petting zoo tour.

Even though travel has started to rebound, it’s always a good idea to do some research before your next trip.

As attractions start to open up again, you may have the opportunity to check out some of these virtual field trips in real life. So there is no better way to make the most of your trip than to build up some wanderlust and start planning which of these awesome locations you’re going to visit first!

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the white house offer virtual tours.

Yes! You can “visit” the White House from the comfort of your own home for free. This famous presidential residence is normally open to the public as well, but why wait? Just click the link and start touring today!

What is a virtual field trip?

A virtual field trip is a guided virtual tour through some of the world’s most unique and interesting locations. We’ve put together a comprehensive list of everything from amusement parks to zoos, showcasing the best tours we could find on the internet. Enjoy!

What museums have free virtual tours?

Almost all of the top museums in the world offer some sort of free virtual tour. Sometimes that can be some nice photos, videos, or even a 360-degree photo tour. We’ve compiled some of the best virtual tour and field trip options for kids and students all in one place so that you can start exploring from home.

Do UNESCO World Heritage Sites have virtual tours?

Yes, many UNESCO World Heritage Sites have some version of a virtual tour. Many sites offer a Google Earth walking tour, while some others have more in-depth photography and videography. But you don’t need to go searching any longer: we’ve found the best options and put them all in an itinerary for you!

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About Chris Hassan

Chris holds a B.S. in Hospitality and Tourism Management and managed social media for all Marriott properties in South America, making him a perfect fit for UP and its social media channels. He has a passion for making content catered toward family travelers.

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Take a Virtual Tour of Mexico City’s National Museum of Anthropology

In Architecture & Design , Culture by Suzanne Koch March 17, 2020

Stuck at home? Hop onto your computer for a virtual experience through Mexico City’s National Museum of Anthropology . The museum is dedicated to archaeology and history of Mexico’s pre-Hispanic civilizations and was designed by the Mexican architect Pedro Ramírez Vázquez.

It contains the world’s largest collection of ancient Mexican art and ethnographic exhibits about Mexico’s indigenous groups. With 23 permanent exhibit halls, the museum has plenty to explore, even from the comfort of your couch.

Virtual visitors can browse through an Aztec exhibit, cultural areas, Oaxaca and Maya rooms, recreations of archaeological scenes and more. Some highlights to check out include the Aztec Calender, recreation of Pakal’s tomb in the Maya exhibit room and the Jade mask of the Zapotec Bat God in the Oaxaca exhibit room.

Click here to be start the tour.

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Bring your curriculum to life with Virtual Field Trips.

Take your K-8 students on a learning experience they’ll never forget, without even leaving the classroom.

Every teacher wants to be the one their students remember forever.

But things like budget cuts and bigger classrooms stand between teachers and the education they want to give their students.

Virtual Field Trips bridges the gap between your curriculum requirements and your resources so every teacher can give every student the memorable education they deserve.

Students' favorite teachers are using Virtual Field Trips.

Here’s why:.

“I teach socioeconomically disadvantaged 9th graders who are 2 to 3 years behind in their reading and writing. Virtual Field Trips are the best way to give my students something to write about.

We do one each Monday and they love them! They always ask me, “Where are we going today?””

“My 6th grade students are always excited to learn through Virtual Field Trips. The videos are so engaging and informative.

I don’t have time to learn new technology, so I love how easy it is to use Virtual Field Trips!!!”

“Virtual Field Trips has been such a blessing to my students and me. The theme in my classroom is ‘travel.’ Thanks to VFT, the pandemic couldn’t stop us from having weekly field trips.

Our virtual field trips are the highlight of each student’s week. This was by far one of the best purchases I made this year.”

Teach your students something they'll never forget

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Some students need a little extra help to learn well. Our interactive videos and activities help you overcome physical, cultural, and economic challenges, so no student is left behind.

Cover your social studies curriculum in less time.

We design each video and activity to help you meet social studies, geography, life science, and ancient civilization curriculum requirements in each U.S. state.

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Take your students on unlimited educational field trips throughout North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa.

“There are so many topics included in their library that we study in the Primary School that it is well worth buying into and the children were mesmerized from the moment they began watching. The images were bright and colourful while the commentaries very informative and clear, leading to a lot of discussion afterwards. I definitely recommend it.”

Catherine S, 4th Grade Teacher, Spain.

Created by educators, for educators.

Hey, I’m Dale! I’m a traveler, educator, and parent of a special needs child. These three passions are why I founded Virtual Field Trips and created these videos for you to use in your classroom.

Visiting 40+ countries on six continents taught me the educational value of exposure to other places, cultures, people, wildlife, and landscapes. As an M.Ed. in Instructional Technology , I’m also passionate about serving other educators. And as a proud mom to a son with special needs , I understand the power of visual learning.

Virtual Field Trips and all its videos, quizzes, and activities are my way of helping you introduce your students to the marvels of the world around them, in a visual form that will engage and educate all your young learners.

It’s easy, it’s affordable, and, most importantly – it’ll help you teach your curriculum in the most fun & memorable way.

Become a member today! Your students will love you for it.

Virtual Field Trips videos are...

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Just $45/yr for unlimited access to our entire video and resource library! We promise it’ll be the best $45 you invest in your students.

Built for your curriculum.

We pack each video and worksheet with teaching that helps you meet your specific curriculum goals.

Overflowing with activities.

Each video includes printable worksheets and quizzes to help your students remember what they learned.

In English & Spanish.

We’ve translated our entire video and exercise library into Spanish. No student left behind!

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Help your students follow along and understand every word with closed captions.

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For the whole school.

Access for all teachers and all students

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“My students love these virtual field trips and honestly can’t get enough of them. They ignite awesome writing.”

Mari, 1st Grade Teacher and Librarian in Toronto

Here's how it works:

Choose your membership.

Whether you need one video, a year’s worth of teaching, or a membership for your whole school, you can choose the membership that’s right for you.

Select your video.

Browse by grade, topic, or location and select the trip that fits your curriculum-specific needs.

Take your trip.

Show the video to your classroom, or send them a link to watch on their own time. Then, follow up with the video’s accompanying worksheets and quiz.

Here are more reasons why:

“ Thank you so much for providing such high-quality, informative, kid-level videos!  I am currently teaching government to my third graders and your video on how our government helps our communities is PERFECT! “

“ I just wanted to thank you for your beautifully filmed field trips and now the worksheets too! I take my students on a “remote” virtual field trip every Thursday and they absolutely love it. Its finally my chance to be Miss Frizzle from the Magic School Bus! The information is presented so clearly, and everything is so bright and eye catching. It has been a challenge finding appropriate field trips, without commercials, that will keep my students interested. You have provided exactly what I was looking for! !!!”

“ Yours is the FIRST website I have found since I started teaching 6th grade that is pitched perfectly to my kiddos! I GOTTA HAVE IT. “

You may be wondering…

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Can't I just use free YouTube videos?

What if i'm not good with technology, do your videos work with my curriculum.

We provide K-9 teachers with student-centered videos for social studies, geography, life science, and ancient civilization curricula. Click here to see how which videos align with the curriculum for your state and grade.

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When you become a member, you’ll get a unique video link to send your students. All they have to do is click that link and watch – no logins!

Can I download the videos?

Do i need any special software or tech, what do i get with my subscription, are subscriptions for a school year or a calendar year, where are the quizzes.

Scroll down to the bottom of the page to the Learning Resources section and you’ll see the quiz file(s).

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At Virtual Field Trips, we care a lot about teachers. That’s why we made a free-to-join Facebook group just for you! Join now to get:

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Whether you’re teaching virtually, face-to-face, or both, we’re here to support you!

“You have a great site with videos that are outstanding. I like how easy your site is to use.”

Patti, 4th Grade Teacher , New Mexico

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Virtual Field Trip: National Museum of Anthropology

• Connecting Families

Ready to travel? To virtually explore the world? Join us on a virtual field trip to the National Museum of Anthropology!

Located in Mexico City, Mexico, the museum has 23 permanent exhibits and houses the world’s largest collection of ancient Mexican art. A few highlights in the museum include the Sun Stone or Aztec Calendar, a recreation of Pakal’s tomb in the Mayan exhibit room, and a jade mask of the Zapotec Bat God in the Oaxaca exhibit room.

See our video tutorial on using Google to explore the National Museum of Anthropology. Below is the process step-by-step, with additional activities and library resources.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Google National Museum of Anthropology.  Click on the Map view.

2. Zoom in close to the Museum and pick up the street view tool and select a location to drop.

3. Explore by clicking on the arrows and x’s to virtually explore the Museum. Use the back arrow at top left to go back to the map and drop street view tool again in another part of the Museum.

Guided Activities

1. What is the history and meaning behind the Stone of the Sun? Use the library’s databases , including Credo , to learn more about ancient Aztec, Olmec, and Mayan civilizations. Where did they live? What did they believe? Write out a “who, what, when, and where” report about these three civilizations.

2. Create a picture dictionary like the Aztecs, and use it to tell a story. For each letter of the alphabet, draw a simple nature picture – perhaps a crescent moon can represent the letter A and a star can stand for the letter B. Once you have your alphabet in place, write a brief story. Then, give it to a family member to decipher.

3. Frida Kahlo was a famous Mexican artist from the 1900s. She is best known for her self-portraits. A self-portrait is a drawing, painting, or sculpture of oneself. Using the template below and a mirror, create your own self-portrait. Then, share with your friends and family.

Continue Learning

Your library has a plethora of books and databases for you to use to learn more about ancient Mexican culture and history. You will  need a Plano Public Library card  to use these resources:

Quest for Aztec Gold by Elizabeth Singer Hunt

Mystery in Mayan Mexico by Marcia Wells

Jaguar Stones series by J&P Voelkel

Princess and the Warrior by Duncan Tonatiuh

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Virtual Day of the Dead: Traditions & Virtual Field Trip

The Dia de los Muertos festival is celebrated throughout Mexico and by people of Mexican heritage in the United States. Learn about Mexico’s Dia de los Muertos traditions with these resources for a virtual Day of the Dead field trip for kids and adults!

Day of the Dead is one of Mexico’s most popular and ancient holidays, celebrated each year at the end of October and beginning of November. During this time, it’s believed that the spirits of deceased family and loved ones are able to return temporarily to visit the world of the living.

Since 2003, Dia de los Muertos been officially recognized by UNESCO as a living expression of culture as an “ Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity .” Traditions vary by region and village, and preparations can begin days or weeks ahead of time. At every celebration, an altar filled with offerings is one of the most important components of the Day of the Dead festivities: it welcomes the dead back from their journey.

A few years ago I was lucky to get to experience the Dia de Muertos celebrations in Oaxaca . The last two years, unfortunately, many celebrations in Mexico and the U.S. have been cancelled. So I’ve compiled online resources for a virtual Dia de los Muertos field trip: videos and resources about traditions and history, how it’s celebrated in different regions of Mexico and the United States, and links for virtual Day of the Dead celebrations!

Quick Guide to 2020 Virtual Day of the Dead Celebrations:

Check out these virtual Day of the Dead celebrations with livestreams or online events scheduled in 2020: (I’ll be updating this list soon for 2021)

• November 1 at 12 noon PST: Hollywood Forever Cemeter y (Los Angeles)
• Various dates: Self Help Graphics and Arts | November 1, 4PM PST: Live celebrations on YouTube (Los Angeles)
• November 1: Virtual Day of the Dead Xicago (Chicago)
• November 1: Virtual Dia de los Muertos from History Nebraska
• October 30 – November 1: Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian | Events will stream on their Facebook page
• November 2 at 6PM PST: Social and Public Art Resource Center (SPARC)
• Through December: National Museum of Mexican Art virtual tours (Chicago)
• Various dates: Tucson All Souls Procession . Join virtual events on their Facebook page here
• Various Dates: San Rafael, California | Past events on their Facebook page
• November 1: Harvard Peabody Museum
• November 1 & 2: Mexican American Cultural Center (Austin)
• October 26 – November 22: San Francisco
• The Nelson Atkins Museum Kansas City, Missouri
• Longmont, Colorado
• October 30: Atlanta History Center
• October 30: San Antonio Riverwalk Virtual Parade
• October 25: The Oakland Museum of California Annual El Dia de los Muertos Celebration
• October 24: Mesa Arts Center (Arizona)

Mexico City Virtual Dia de los Muertos celebrations:

• Mexico City: Ofrenda Infinita
• Megaofrenda Virtual UNAM (National Autonomous University of Mexico)
• Mexicráneos urban art project: 2020 Exhibit online

Pin this virtual Dia de los Muertos guide for later or share with a friend!

This article contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I might earn a commission, at no additional cost to you. Thanks for your support in this way! Learn more in my Disclosure Policy .

This post is part of my virtual travel collection: guides I created to help curious minds and world travelers keep learning and exploring from home in 2020! Check out all my virtual field trips and travel for kids and adults.

History of Dia de los Muertos

Learn about the how 3,000-year-old indigenous practices of the Aztecs and Toltecs became the Dia de los Muertos celebrations of today.

• For teachers and others: This “Beyond Sugar Skulls” guide from PBS is a good history and culture resource with tips for starting conversations about cultural appropriation concerns surrounding Day of the Dead.

The Festival of Death in Mexico

This overview of the traditions and history of Day of the Dead is part of Google Arts & Culture. In this project, Google has partnered with more than 2,000 museums to bring their collections online.

• The Festival of Death in Mexico (Museo Nacional de Culturas Populares)

National Geographic: What is Day of the Dead?

This short video from National Geographic gives a simple overview of the origins and traditions of Day of the Dead.

More from Nat Geo:

• Day of the Dead history and slideshow from National Geographic Kids
• The top 10 things to know about Day of the Dead
• Want to visit yourself next year? Check out the Oaxaca Dia de los Muertos 2021 tour from Nat Geo and G Adventures

Day of the Dead: A Celebration of Life from Google Arts & Culture

Google has partnered with more than 2,000 museums to bring their collections online to people around the world through their Arts & Culture initiative. Check out this video from Google Mexico that explores the meaning of Dia de los Muertos through individual stories. (In Spanish with English captions.)

PBS Artbound: Dia de Los Muertos

This 1-hour episode of the PBS series Artbound explores the origins of Dia de los Muertos celebrations in the U.S. Inspired by Oaxacan traditions, it was brought to Los Angeles in the 1970’s as a way to enrich the Chicano community by Self Help Graphics and Art, a local community arts center. (In English and Spanish with English captions.)

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2020 Virtual Dia de los Muertos from Self Help Graphics and Art in Los Angeles

This year, Self Help Graphics and Art will be presenting its annual Day of the Dead celebrations online. Find out more here including virtual Dia de los Muertos community art workshops, online art exhibition, and virtual celebrations throughout the month.

Origins of La Catrina

We all recognize La Calavera Catrina, even if we don’t know her name! But what are her origins, and how did she become a symbol of Dia de los Muertos?

• La Catrina: Lady of the Dead. Learn about La Catrina’s origins with this online presentation from the Smithsonian Latino Center and Google Arts & Culture.
• La Catrina: The character not to be missed. Don’t miss this Google Arts & Culture Feature from MUMEDI (Museo Mexicano del Diseño) in Mexico City and the Museum of Fine Arts Houston.
• Funny Bones . Learn more about José Guadalupe Posada, the creator of La Catrina, and literary calaveras – short satirical poems meant to highlight the shortcomings of a living person.

The True Origins of La Catrina

This video is a good introduction to Day of the Dead for younger kids and an overview of the origins of La Calavera Catrina.

• Death in the History of Mexico

This experience from the Museo Nacional de la Muerte and Google Arts & Culture explores death through the art, history and culture of Mexico through the museum’s collection.

Aztec Origins of Day of the Dead

This video from Step Back History is a quick explainer of how and why the rituals of the Aztecs got combined with Spanish holidays of All Souls Day and All Saints Day.

Online Day of the Dead Experience

Airbnb Experiences is now offering online virtual tours. Learn about the traditions of Dia de los Muertos from home with this (paid) virtual field trip via Zoom!

Altars History & Info: Virtual Dia de los Muertos

Altars with offerings (ofrendas) are at the center of every Dia de los Muertos celebration! Learn more about the origin of this tradition with these multimedia features from Google Arts & Culture and their museum partners.

• The Ofrenda of the Day of the Dead from the Museo de Arte Popular in Mexico City
• The Meaning of the Altar from the Smithsonian Latino Virtual Museum

Information

Most of the videos and resources in this guide are in English, but some videos are in Spanish. To turn on captions for those videos, hover your mouse over the player when it starts. Click the “CC” button to enable auto-generated Spanish captions, and click the “settings” wheel and “subtitles.” You can then scroll to switch the auto-translation to another language.

The ABC’s of the Dia de los Muertos Ofrenda

Learn the basics that each altar should have with this video for kids.

How to Make a Dia de los Muertos Altar

Get an overview of Dia de los Muertos and learn how to make a home altar from vlogger Karla Xochi.

Ofelia Esparza on building altars for Día de los Muertos

Master altar-maker Ofelia Esparza describes making altars and information on the Dia de los Muertos celebrations in Los Angeles.

Pan de Muerto: De Mi Rancho a Tu Cocina

Learn to make pan de muerto or “bread of the dead” with Doña Ángela of De Mi Rancho a Tu Cocina (From My Ranch to Your Kitchen). ( In Spanish with English captions)

More about altars and “how-to” videos for creating an altar at home:

• In the village of Mitla near Oaxaca, a local resident named Lucia explains what her traditional altar will include and shares a tale about how the dead arrive (in Spanish with English captions)
• Easy altar set-up and traditions from Spanglish Girl (with English captions)
• How to make sugar skulls from ChiquitaLatinaFun (in English)
• How to make a mini altar from Ricardo Abrego (in Spanish but you can turn on English captions)
• Pan de Muerto / Day of the Dead bread recipe from El Diario de mi Casa (in English)
• Easy how to make paper flowers video from Happythought

Virtual Dia de los Muertos: Community Celebrations

Ready for a virtual Day of the Dead celebration? See how different communities observe Dia de los Muertos with these amazing videos from travelers, event organizers, and community members!

Dia de los Muertos in Mexico City

Learn about the Day of the Dead in Mexico City – from history to celebrations to street art – with this Google Arts & Culture feature from Consejo Ciudadano de la Ciudad de México .

It’s hard to believe that the Day of the Dead Parade in Mexico City only began in 2016. It started with an art exhibition ( more info below ) that inspired the opening scene of the James Bond movie Spectre, which in turn became an annual real-life Dia de los Muertos parade tradition.

See more Day of the Dead traditions in Mexico City from Google Arts & Culture and Consejo Ciudadano de la Ciudad de México.

• Day of the Dead in Mexico City

Dia de los Muertos in Oaxaca

Celebrate the Day of the Dead in Oaxaca with Rubi and Jose from Sin Postal as they experience the sights, eats, and celebrations of the city and surrounding villages. (In Spanish with captions)

Dia de los Muertos in San Agustín Etla, Oaxaca

Near Oaxaca, the town of San Agustín Etla might be the site of the wildest Dia de los Muertos celebrations! Known as a muerteada , groups from different neighborhoods and towns parade through the streets in amazing costumes with full marching bands. They eventually converge for a battle of the bands – check out a video here . While it’s not a Day of the Dead tradition for kids and might seem a little scary, I got to experience it and the carnival atmosphere and energy is infectious!

Also check out my guide for planning a visit to Oaxaca during Dia de los Muertos !

Day of the Dead in Michoacan

This video follows May and Jim from Spanish and Go to the Mexican state of Michoacan to experience Dia de Muertos in Morelia, Janitzio and Tzintzuntzan. The nighttime cemetery celebrations on the island of Janitzio are some of the most spectacular in Mexico. (In English with English or Spanish captions)

Dia de los Muertos in Guanajuato

In Guanajuato, the Day of the Dead celebrations include exhibitions of dancing, posters, and tapetes de muerte – colorful decorative “carpets” made from flower petals, colored sawdust and salt, rice, seeds and more.

One of the most iconic symbols of the festivities in Guanajuato is the “Ofrenda Monumental” on the steps of the University of Guanajuato. I love this gorgeous video by the university featuring its Day of the Dead traditions.

This video by Gastro Tour explores Guanajuato’s Day of the Dead traditions in more depth including performances, artistic exhibitions, and food. (In Spanish with captions)

Day of the Dead in San Miguel de Allende

Follow vlogger Paulettee as she learns about Dia de los Muertos and explores the festivities and meaningful traditions in San Miguel de Allende. (In Spanish with captions)

Dia de los Muertos in Mixquic

This video by Viajefest begins with the Dia de los Muertos celebrations in Mixquic and then takes you to see the parade in Mexico City and a family Halloween celebration. The aerial shots of the cemeteries and parade are especially wonderful! (In Spanish with captions)

See more of the Mixquic cemetery with this Google streetview virtual tour .

Day of the Dead Celebrations at Hollywood Forever in Los Angeles

Listen as event organizers, performers, and members of the Los Angeles community talk about the Day of the Dead at the Hollywood Forever cemetery and what the celebrations mean to them.

Virtual Day of the Dead Art & Artifacts

Virtually explore more Day of the Dead culture and traditions through museum artifacts and popular art.

Google Arts & Culture Collections

• Monumental Skeletons. Find out about the inspiration for the parade in the opening scene of the Specter James Bond film, the giant skeletons of Colectivo Última Hora in the Museo de Arte Popular (Museum of Folk Art).
• Death: From Our Ancestors to the Artifacts. Learn about death through the collections of Pre-Hispanic and Popular art from the Museo Dolores Olmedo in Mexico City.
• Death in Popular Art from the Museo del Arte Popular in Mexico City.
• Nuestrias Historias: Day of the Dead . This virtual Day of the Dead experience from Google Arts & Culture explores Mexican identity through altars in the museum collection of the National Museum of Mexican Art in Chicago.

MUMEDI (Museo Mexicano del Diseño) in Mexico City

The Mexican Museum of Design MUMEDI in Mexico City hosts a worldwide graphic design competition every year with the theme “La Sonrisa de la Muerte” (To Death With A Smile).

• Death in the Eyes of the World . This virtual experience shows a selection of entries from around the world.
• Humor and Death : Exploring humor and death in Mexico with illustrations from MUMEDI’s annual design competition.
• Take a virtual tour of MUMEDI and see posters from the last 10 years of their design competition.

MUMEDI is also a hotel ( I stayed there when I visited Mexico City ) and you can order prints online here of the posters from their competition.

Day of the Dead by Charles and Ray Eames

This 1957 short film by Charles and Ray Eames was an early inspiration for the organizers of the first Day of the Dead celebrations in Los Angeles. Charles and Ray Eames were a husband and wife team of American industrial designers who are most famous for their modern chairs and furniture. They were also graphic and textile designers, architects, and filmmakers.

Tilt Brush by Google Day of the Dead Art

Tilt Brush from Google is technology that lets you paint in 3D space with virtual reality. Check out this cool video from the design studio Metzican where they get to try it out!

Google Arts & Culture Day of the Dead Collection

Explore more virtual Day of the Dead history, traditions and art with Google’s online museum feature.

For more of my Day of the Dead travel stories, check out my guide to visiting Oaxaca, Mexico for Dia de Muertos ! I also have a Day of the Dead nativity scene in my collection of souvenir nativities.

Pin this Virtual Day of the Dead guide for later or share with a friend!

The Haphazard Traveler is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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I was a travel hot mess, but I got better! I kept the name and now blog my best tips for culture + adventure travel from around the globe. Follow along for travel advice, destination guides, and photography from faraway lands and at home in Washington, DC.

Travel Writer | Photographer | Licensed Drone Pilot Member, Society of American Travel Writers (SATW)

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Virtual Field Trip: Native American Stories

Three storytellers shared unique insights from their experiences as Native Americans in the  National Geographic Virtual Field Trip : Native American Stories . We traveled to New Mexico where a dedicated conservationist reinvents maps through the Zuni Map Art Project. Then, we visited the Flathead Reservation in Montana where a photographer challenges stereotypes through journalism. And finally, we took a quick trip to Ontario where a 20-year-old artist examines what it means to be Indigenous in a colonialist world.

The program is now available on our YouTube channel and features:

• Jim Enote : Jim is a National Geographic Explorer, artist, farmer, and member of the Zuni tribe in New Mexico. For over 20 years, he has tackled land and water conservation issues around the world, and he is committed to conserving and protecting native cultures. He is the director of the Colorado Plateau Foundation and the former director of the A:shiwi A:wan museum in Zuni, New Mexico. He is also the creator of the Zuni Map Art Project, which displays connections between stories, places, and identity in the Zuni culture.
• Tailyr Irvine : Tailyr is a National Geographic Explorer and member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation in Montana. As a photographer, Tailyr covers stories about Indigenous peoples in North America. Her current project, “Reservation Mathematics: Navigating Love in Native America,” examines “blood quantum,” a controversial practice that determines eligibility for tribal membership based on their percentage of tribal blood.
• Tehatsistahawi “Tsista” Kennedy : Tsista is a National Geographic Photo Camp alumnus and member of the #GenGeo community. He belongs to the Anishinaabe and Onyota’a:ká nations. He is an artist who calls attention to issues facing Indigenous people.

To learn more about Native American heritage visit  NatGeoEd.org/NAHM .

Subjects:  Geography, Social Studies, History

Content recommended for grades 4-8 

This Virtual Field Trip is hosted by Krista Strahan, and is presented in partnership with the DC Arts and Humanities Education Collaborative .

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13 thoughts on “ Virtual Field Trip: Native American Stories ”

I think it would be nice if every year you do a different demographic of certain Native American tribes. There are so many throughout this country that each tribe deserves to be spotlighted and shared!

Thank you for sharing this virtual field trip! It is so important to honor and study the experiences of Native Americans, while recognizing how diverse these experiences are. This field trip offers unique views into three different cultures and how contemporary indigenous artists are sharing their peoples’ stories through art. Jim Enote’s reminder that “north doesn’t always need to be up” is particularly powerful.

These “virtual field trips” are very cool. When school districts don’t have the time or money to go on in-person field trips, or places are simply out of reach and inaccessible to most people, this is an excellent alternative. I firmly believe that visuals are one of the most powerful educational tools around, and something like this really allows one to immerse oneself in another place surrounded by another culture, really experiencing what that is like in a way most people otherwise wouldn’t be able to. Very interesting concept.

Thank You so much for this. It is wonderful to recognize and appreciate Native American culture and their stories!

I, too, would like a virtual field trip for first graders. It would also be great to have the Lakota/Nakota/Dakota highlighted in a virtual field trip. Thank you for all your great programming.

I am looking for this on the youtube channel- Has it posted?

I enjoy learning about Native Americans, their philosophy and their struggles. Can you tell me how many tribes were warrior tribes against other tribes? Were any of the tribes content within their own region or area, or was there always conflict between tribes?

I hope one time you would be able to have one suitable for my first graders. Thanks!!

Thank you for your feedback! We’ve passed it along to our colleagues.

I am Bhuvana from India and would like to register for my daughter who is 11 years old. Don’t think it allows registration ms from any other country apart from the US. Kindly clarify and help me with registration from India. Thanks.

We welcome international participation. If the time difference is a barrier, you are also welcome to view the event in the following days on our NatGeoEducation YouTube channel.

This sounds awesome for my class but they are at lunch and recess from 12:50-1:45. Is there a way to register for it and watch it after the fact? Or is it only live?

Great question, Liz! All of our Virtual Field Trips are available to view at any time after the event. We will post a link to our YouTube Channel on the following day. We invite you and your students to join us at a time that works best for you!

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Virtual Field Trips: Exploring Holiday Traditions Around the World

The holiday season is a time of joy, togetherness, and cultural celebrations that span the globe. As educators, we have a unique opportunity to open our students’ minds to the rich diversity of holiday traditions around the world. Thanks to the power of technology, we can embark on virtual field trips that transport our classrooms to different countries, immersing students in the beauty of global festivities. In this blog post, we’ll dive into the world of virtual field trips and explore how they can help us understand and appreciate holiday traditions from various cultures.

The Magic of Virtual Travel

Imagine taking your students on a journey across continents without leaving the classroom. Virtual field trips have made this a reality, allowing students to explore different cultures, customs, and celebrations with a few clicks. These virtual experiences offer accessibility, cost-effectiveness, and a wealth of educational opportunities. By embracing virtual travel, we can broaden our students’ horizons and nurture their global awareness.

Exploring Christmas Around the World

The enchanting season of Christmas is celebrated with unique customs in every corner of the globe. From Germany’s Christkindlmarkt to Mexico’s Las Posadas, each country has its own special way of commemorating the holiday. Through virtual field trips, students can virtually stroll through bustling holiday markets, witness traditional ceremonies, and learn about the significance of diverse customs. Interactive websites and online exhibits provide a window into the world’s Christmas traditions, offering students a chance to absorb the magic of global celebrations.

Here are a couple of examples you can use!

• whychristmas.com : Learn about Christmas in a variety of countries
• World Holiday Traditions: Learn about holiday traditions all over the world.

Hanukkah Celebrations Across Continents

Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, is observed by Jewish communities around the world. From lighting menorahs to enjoying traditional foods, Hanukkah is a time of joy and remembrance. Virtual field trips offer students an opportunity to virtually attend menorah lightings, explore historical aspects of the holiday, and gain insights into how different communities celebrate Hanukkah. By experiencing the global diversity of Hanukkah traditions, students develop a deeper appreciation for cultural practices.

Here is an example you can use!

• Tour of the Jewish Museum

Diwali: Festival of Lights

The vibrant festival of Diwali, celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, and Buddhists, illuminates the significance of light overcoming darkness. Virtual field trips allow students to virtually partake in the creation of intricate rangoli art, witness the lighting of diyas (oil lamps), and learn about the spiritual and cultural aspect

s of Diwali. Through these immersive experiences, students not only gain knowledge about the festival but also a newfound respect for the traditions that unite communities.

• National Geographic
• Globe Trotting Kids

Kwanzaa: A Celebration of Unity

Kwanzaa, a celebration of African-American culture, emphasizes seven principles that promote unity, creativity, and purpose. By virtually exploring the rituals and principles of Kwanzaa, students gain a deeper understanding of the holiday’s significance. Online exhibits and multimedia presentations help students connect with the cultural roots of Kwanzaa and grasp the importance of unity and heritage.

Classroom Activities and Reflections

After each virtual field trip, educators can guide students through activities that reinforce their learning. Encourage students to reflect on what they’ve discovered, discuss the similarities and differences among traditions, and even create their own projects inspired by the experiences. By connecting the virtual journey to meaningful classroom activities, students retain the knowledge gained and develop a deeper understanding of cultural diversity.

Planning Your Own Virtual Field Trip

The journey doesn’t end with the virtual field trips available online. Educators can curate their own virtual field trips by leveraging online resources. Research websites, videos, and interactive platforms that provide authentic insights into cultural celebrations. To enhance the experience, craft pre- and post-field trip activities that tie into your curriculum, ensuring that students glean the maximum educational benefit from their virtual travels.

Virtual field trips offer an incredible opportunity to explore holiday traditions around the world. By taking students on a journey that spans continents and cultures, educators can foster global awareness, empathy, and an appreciation for diversity. In the spirit of the holiday season, let us embrace the power of technology to enrich our classrooms with the beauty of global celebrations. Through virtual field trips, we can inspire students to become curious, compassionate citizens of the world.

As educators, we have the privilege of guiding our students on journeys of discovery. By using virtual field trips to explore holiday traditions, we create lasting memories and deepen our understanding of the world’s rich cultural tapestry. This holiday season, let us celebrate the unity that comes from learning about one another and embracing the beauty of our shared humanity. Happy exploring! 🌍🌟

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Virtual Field Trip Day of the Dead – Google Slides & Seesaw Format

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Virtual Field Trip: Day of the Dead

• Field Trip Map
• Mexico City
• Day of the Dead
• The Legend of the Cempasuchil Flower
• Sugar Skulls
• Craft: Paper Picado
• Day of the Dead Makeup
• Compare & Contrast Day of the Dead and Halloween
• Spanish/ English Dictionary
• Extra Links

*Answer key included

Take a closer look at what this resource looks like in this  video preview .

This resource is suitable for the following grade levels:

• 2nd & 3rd Grade:  With teacher modeling, whole class, or small groups.
• 4th & 5th Grade:  Independent for on-level students.

Time to Complete:

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Take your students on a virtual tour of the Gulf of Mexico. Using a combination of Google Earth™ 360-degree views, informational text, video, and visuals, your students will learn about the geography, history, and significance of the Gulf of Mexico from various perspectives.

This virtual field trip covers:

:: Geographic location of the Gulf of Mexico

:: Bordering countries (drag & drop map skills)

:: U.S. Gulf Coast states (drag & drop map skills)

:: Mexico Gulf Coast states (drag & drop map skills)

:: What is the Gulf of Mexico

:: Gulf Stream

:: Climate & hurricanes

:: First Inhabitants

:: Land Possession

:: San Juan de Ulúa (Veracruz fortress)

:: Economic Activities (shipping, fishing, oil drilling)

:: Shipwrecks (underwater shipwreck tour)

:: Galveston Shipwreck (SS Selma)

:: Environmental Concerns

:: Deepwater Horizon oil spill

:: Hypoxic Zone

:: Resiliency Efforts

This Virtual Field Trip Includes:

:: Informational Text (build background knowledge)

:: Response Questions (EDITABLE)

:: Map Skills (Drag & Drop)

:: Google Earth™ Links to 360-degree views

:: Video Links

:: Grading Rubric

:: Everything is set up in Google Slides & ready to go!

SEE PREVIEW FOR MORE DETAILS

How it Works:

This virtual field trip can be conducted teacher-led or shared with students through Google Classroom as an independent assignment. Everything is set up for you. This resource is LOW PREP and would even make great sub plans. Student directions are found within the lesson, and direct links are included to specific Google Earth™ locations and videos. All work is completed digitally. No printing necessary.

This virtual field trip is structured. This means that the informational text and links are meaningful and are meant to lead students to think critically as they respond to the questions throughout the virtual field trip. This is also a great way to keep students accountable as they learn and explore. All response questions are EDITABLE, so you can tailor to your class needs. Students complete this activity in edit mode of Google Slides.

Standards Alignment:

:: Common Core Standards for Reading Informational Text

:: Georgia 7th Grade State Social Studies Standards ( SS6G1)

:: Colorado 6th Grade Social Studies Standards

Grading Rubric:

A grading rubric is included which assesses: accuracy, thoroughness, validity, and writing conventions. Answers will vary throughout, as students are recording their observations and findings. Drag & Drop map skills answer keys are provided.

Technology:

Please note that students will need to access Google Earth™ to complete this assignment. Google Earth™ can be accessed on a desktop using Chrome as the browser. If using a tablet or smartphone, simply download the Google Earth App before starting the virtual field trip. Your students will also need access to YouTube to view the video clips. Video clips are editable.

If you have questions, feel free to reach out prior to purchasing. Looking for another virtual field trip that you don’t see? Let me know! I can be reached directly by email at: [email protected]

Michelle McDonald, B.A.E.

Social Studies Education, K-12

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Gulf of Mexico Virtual Field Trip (Google Earth Exploration)

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Virtual Field Trip: Carlsbad Caverns National Park

• Bryan Avery
• April 10, 2020

There are so many National Parks on my “to visit” list that sometimes I’m not sure how I will ever manage to see them all! Luckily for all of us, the National Parks Service has put together a virtual tour of Carlsbad Caverns National Park in New Mexico! You will get to explore the caverns with Park Ranger Pam Cox, going up to 750 feet underground through this interactive virtual tour.

During this virtual field trip you will learn about how Brazilian Free-tailed Bats ( Tadarida brasiliensis) use echolocation, explore the largest single cave chamber in North America, and gaze on some of the most beautiful geologic textures in the world.

Why aren’t caves everywhere?

Only limestone can be carved to make a cave. Large bodies of limestone are found only in particular places where extremely large coral reefs were once located. 

What causes a cave to form?

When this cave formed, the limestone bedrock was a part of the groundwater system that contains water within rock and soil. When this water combined with hydrogen sulfide (which has a rotten egg smell) from hydrocarbon deposits below, the sulfuric acid that formed began rapidly dissolving the calcium carbonate of the limestone. When the land began to rise during the formation of the Rocky Mountains, the groundwater drained from the hollowed out cavern. The formations you see are due to groundwater draining through the limestone, dissolving limestone away in some places, depositing it in others. If this cave-forming process has made you curious, check out the National Parks Service website for more information!

What makes Carlsbad so special? 

Carlsbad Caverns has a magical mixture of grand size and scale, wonderfully detailed formations, and environmental importance as bat habitat in an arid landscape. Next time you’re looking for a unique, beautiful work of nature to explore, consider heading to New Mexico’s Carlsbad Caverns National Park!

Bryan Avery has been working as a STEM Educator at the Connecticut Science Center for 3 years. He develops and facilitates student programming in our labs as well as traveling programs. He holds degrees in Geology and Parks and Natural Resource Management from Hartwick College and Slippery Rock University. Creating exciting new ways for students to interact and engage with STEM is his professional passion. He has a flare for delivering shows to crowds as well as working one-on-one where he pushes students to think deeper and make connections between STEM, their lives, and their community. On his time off, he enjoys playing disc golf, guitar, and being outdoors.

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Making connections on a field trip to the U.S./Mexico border

*Editor’s Note: The “Views from NAU” blog series highlights the thoughts of different people affiliated with NAU, including faculty members sharing opinions or research in their areas of expertise. The views expressed reflect the authors’ own personal perspectives.  

By Eileen Magaña

As part of the anthropology course Global Migration and Human Rights, taught by associate teaching professor Leah Mundell, 17 students took a field trip to the United States/Mexico border. Four students from the class—Eileen Magaña, Erik Martinez, Owen Stark and Calvin Humphrey—reflected on their experience in this essay. 

How do you learn? It took the experience of a lifetime, our class trip to the U.S./Mexico border, to make us realize that you can only learn so much without seeing.  

Throughout the course of the trip, we met with law enforcement, legal advocates, shelter residents and humanitarian aid workers in Tucson, Ajo, Nogales and Sonora.   

The bulk of our time in Nogales was spent within the welcoming walls of the “Casa de la Misericordia,” or “La Casa,” as we started to call it. Converted from a local community center to a haven for those crossing the border, the only way to describe La Casa was beautifully loving. Even the flagpole flew not just the flag of Mexico but also the pride flag just below. La Casa was a hodgepodge of different buildings with a densely packed interior. From the basketball court and play structures to the community garden, La Casa felt so lived in. It became immediately clear that La Casa was more than a shelter—it was a home.  

We made individual connections while visiting La Casa. Hearing stories from the very people it affected had a serious lasting effect on all of us. Despite language barriers and age gaps, we all made connections that emphasized our shared humanity. The ride back to the crossing had a different feeling than when we came down; it was more somber, quieter and as we made our way through the winding rickety streets of Nogales, we thought of those we met and what their futures might look like. Would they make it? What happens if they do? Will we ever get to talk to them again?  

Following the visit to Nogales, our class spoke to Mike Wilson, a human rights activist and pastor from the Tohono O’odham Nation. He gave us a powerful lesson on moral obligation and the struggles of providing support for migrants on their journey. Mike made many connections between religious beliefs and his humanitarian beliefs. He also expressed his feelings about Border Patrol to the class: “When we take humanity out of either side, we lose the ability to solve such complex problems.”  

A presentation by Border Patrol had been the very first stop on our trip. Some of the students had grown up along the border, others had been made aware due to living in the state of Arizona and some knew about it because of the work that they do for a living. For the rest, Border Patrol was a place that directly conflicted with individuals’ ideas about migration and the policies and attitudes surrounding it. For one of the students, a very impactful part of this trip was discovering and realizing how much surveillance from the State there truly is. For some of the students who did not grow up around the border, the hyper-militarization of it had been an incredible shock. Further, watching a presentation and touring the Border Patrol Facility revealed a lot about how the government as a whole has the means to watch our everyday lives.  

Our trip to the border concluded with two full days in Ajo, Arizona, where we learned about and participated in humanitarian aid work in the Sonoran Desert. The class learned firsthand how civilian organizations aid migrants in their often life-threatening journeys to cross the border. One of the most impactful and powerful explanations that the facilitator shared with us was, “It’s more than civil disobedience where we are purposefully breaking the law to disrupt the systems in place. Instead, we practice direct action. Instead of prioritizing the law and systems, we choose to help other people for the sake of humanity and their dignity. The only way we can continue this work is if we play within the lines in the sand.”  

Participating in water drops with the Ajo Samaritans was an experience that left a lot of the students yearning to do more fulfilling aid work. Although the trip and many organizations that combat the humanitarian crisis at the southern border are located extremely close to the border, it does not mean students and community members cannot help from northern Arizona. NAU has its own No Más Muertes chapter that focuses on political education and organization around not only the problems faced at the border but also local issues within the Flagstaff community. NAU No Más Muertes is not only a community-action-based club on campus, run entirely by NAU students, but it is also incredibly welcoming to members of the larger Flagstaff community who want to get involved.