d day virtual field trip

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Virtual Tour

Use the interactive virtual tour experience below to visit select vantage points at the National D-Day Memorial.

NORMANDY BATTLEFIELD TOURS – BATTLE SITE MAP

Most of the black and white pictures that will appear when you click on a battle site below were photographed by Major J.C. Hatlem in the late 40s. They were referenced by General Dwight D. Eisenhower and Carlton Joyce when they authored their books: “Crusade in Europe” and “Stand Where They Fought” respectively. Notations on some of the photos were made by General Eisenhower. For additional photo/battle details, read the chapter in “Stand Where They Fought.”

La Roche Guyon – Looking East Today

Forty miles north of Paris on the Seine River’s eastern bank. La Roche’s 67 citizens were occupied by 937 Germans as this was Field Marshal Erwin Rommel’s Army Group B Headquarters. His office was behind the three windows above the lamp post to the right. The chateau entrance is to the right of the photo. The lower buildings to the left are the horse stalls and carriage house. Rommel rushed back on June 6 from his wife’s birthday party arriving late that evening. He was returning from the battlefield south of Caen July 17 when his Horsch car was strafed and he was wounded.

Cherbourg – Looking North August 13, 1947

Napoleon designed the port and its defenses to be the Gibraltar of the English Channel. It was captured by Major General Erwin Rommel June 19. 1940. In anticipation of the 1944 invasion and to deny the port’s use by the Allies, Rommel had the defenses expanded around the circumference. Fort Roule, mid-photo, is a dominating honeycombed mountain with little accessibility. Although the city and port were captured June 26 (D-day + 19) German demolition of the port facilities denied its use for several months thereafter.

Maupertus Airfield- Looking North August 3, 1947

The airfield, five miles east of Cherbourg, was an integral part of Cherbourg’s land-side defenses. Cherbourg’s outer port breakwater can be seen in the top left. The airport, Strongpoints Osteck and Seadler and the Hamburg Battery are in the center. The three battalions of the 22nd Regiment started their attack from the south and east D-day + 19. It fell the following day. The airfield, designated ALG (Advanced Landing Ground) A-15 became operational D-day +21 although beside the runway stood a pile of bombs, shells, duds and 600 mines lifted from the airfield. Prime Minister Churchill landed here July 20 as did General Charles de Gaulle August 20.

Quineville sur Mer – Looking West July 6, 1948

Strong beach defenses (strongpoint on beach shoreline mid-photo and along top of seawall). The chateau, bottom left, the 88mm casemate, mid-photo, near the ascending road and the church further up the hill witnessed strong German resistance on D-day +6 when attacked by the 3rd Battalion of the 22nd Regiment. The attackers came across the fields from the top left in the photo, descending upon the church and chateau 300 yards south. After subduing the Germans, K Company descended the road, battled the cement casemate gun crew but were stopped at the farm at the sharp corner. The capture of the seaside town was hard fought.

Utah Beach Looking West D-Day Morning June 6, 1944

The aircraft engine nacelle and propeller are top right. Dark patches are cloud shadows. German flooding of the low pasturelands immediately west of the beach was planned to limit American accessibility to the higher ground. Further west along the top of the photo can be seen the flooded Merderet River valley, also a defensive tactic that caused grievous losses to the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions. On the beach, landing craft are bringing in General Barton’s 4th Infantry Division. Two causeways carry vehicles and men westbound to relieve the paratroopers holding the causeways western exits. Over the following months ships off loaded supplies and men across the beach in volumes comparable to the port of Philadelphia.

Ste Mere Eglise – Looking Southeast Today

American paratroopers of the 82nd Airborne Division erroneously parachuted into the town square in the early hours of D-day. M. Hairon’s burning barn, top mid-photo, illuminated the scene making it easy for the Germans in the square to shoot the descending troopers. Private John Steele’s parachute caught on the steeple. He survived by feigning death until the town was occupied in the daylight hours. His parachute effigy still hangs on the steeple. The airborne museum stands on the site of Hairon’s barn. The town has been a gathering point for returning veterans of all divisions.

la Fiere Causeway – Looking West August 13, 1947

The low land over which the causeway passes was flooded in 1944. Many American paratroopers drowned here. Others were shot by snipers as they waded across the marsh. The road was important as the Utah invasion forces pushed west across the Cotentin Peninsula Peninsula. Captured intact without losses on D-day it was left unguarded to be occupied later that day by Germans recognizing its strategic value. The defenses occupying the farm buildings to the east end, foxholes along the causeway, and the western bank took a very heavy toll on the 82nd Airborne over a three day period. General “Jumping Jim” Gavin’s wartime foxhole is preserved along the road in the foreground. The “Iron Mike” airborne memorial is in the field across from the Leroux Manoir [foreground] overlooking the Merderd River valley.

Chef du Pont Causeway – Looking North August 13, 1947

This is one of two most southerly causeways crossing the flooded marshlands of the Merderet River. The other, la Fiere Causeway, is two miles north towards the top right in the photo. The elevated roads crossing the marsh were flanked by German manned foxholes. Attempts by the 75 paratroopers of the 505th Regiment were stopped at the bridge as the men left the town of Chef du Pont. American snipers took up positions around the smoke stacked factory picking off Germans lining the road. Other paratroopers who had landed in the fields west of the marsh (top of photo) attacked the Couffey farm (center left) successfully. The causeway was cleared by D-day +3 allowing the Utah landed troops and tanks to move west to cut off the Cotentin Peninsula.

Vierville Road – Looking East June 14, 1948

The road connects a major north-south highway to Utah Beach four miles east. Germans held the hedgerows and farm buildings adjacent to this tactically valuable roadway. This winding, narrow two miles is one of the most bloodied roads in the annals of the 101st Airborne Division’s Normandy history. Paratroopers of Colonel Robert Sink’s 506th Regiment landed outside the top of the photo. The subsequent battles to seize the road and open it up to traffic from Utah fills many pages. The converging roads at the bottom meet at the Liberte’ Expressway. A 2001 TV mini series, “Band of Brothers” will depict the Vierville Road battle in an early episode.

Deadman’s Corner – Looking North June 14, 1948

The road entering from the right is from Utah Beach, 4 miles northeast. On D-day, resistance along the road and adjacent fields were costly to Colonel Robert Sinks’s 506th Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division. German Colonel van der Heydte, commander of the 6th Parachute Regiment was headquartered in Ste Come du Mont half a mile north of the intersection. Fighting around the important corner lasted several days until the Germans were forced to withdraw westward, their only line of retreat. From here the Americans pushed south to Carentan and north to Ste Mere d’Englise opening up the advance from the Utah beachhead.

Carentan Causeway- Looking North August 13, 1947

To link the Omaha and Utah forces the capture of Carentan was essential. It’s northern side buildings are seen to the bottom. The low land was under three feet of water in June 1944. Colonel Robert Cole’s 3rd Battalion of the 502nd Regiment moved south from Deadman’s Corner, seen at the top right, on D-day+ 4. The German 6th Parachute Regiment had withdrawn along the elevated railroad line, seen on the left side, and deployed at the farm and along the road connecting the highway and the railroad. Snipers hidden in the marshes flanking the highway picked off Cole’s men moving south. By dawn the following day Cole and 265 men were at the south end of the causeway. They launched a bayonet attack westward along the connecting road axis clearing out the farm and orchards and then moved to the railroad overpass. The few remaining German paratroopers withdrew into Carentan.

la Barquette Lock- Looking North August 13, 1947

German control of back flooding the lowlands behind Utah Beach and the Douve and Merderet River valleys was accomplished by opening and closing the lock gates at the appropriate times over a two year period. Colonel “Skeets” Johnson, commander of the 501st Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division, attacked from the north early D-day morning with 150 men. The Germans withdrew south several hundred feet to prepared positions. US Navy counter fire against two German 88s in Carentan silenced the Germans. On D-day +1 German paratroopers of the 1st Battalion, 6th Parachute Regiment attacked from the top right towards the T-junction. Although out-manned the Americans bluffed the Germans into surrendering. In error German artillery killed many of their comrades as the POWs were being marched into captivity. Today, the Liberte’ Expressway across these lowlands near Carentan passes very close to the lock.

Gefosse Fontenay – Looking North – June 14, 1948 A hamlet southwest of Grandcamp-les-Bains

On D-day +2 German troops boarded a bullet riddled American landing craft that drifted onto this beach. Aboard were six dead naval officers, one slumped across his water soaked briefcase containing the invasion plans and the follow-up ninety-day timetable. Copies were sent to German headquarters however, skepticism treated the information cautiously. Although this information confirmed there were no other invasion planned in the Calais area no German divisions were shifted into this area to strengthen the German positions.

Pointe du Hoc – Looking South Today

The guns housed in cement casements were a major threat to the invasion forces off Omaha and Utah Beaches. Bombing had not destroyed the positions. Companies D, E and F of Colonel James Rudder’s 2nd Ranger Battalion landed at the base of the cliffs at 7:00 AM. Hand grenades and machine gun bullets thwarted the Rangers climbing ropes to the top. Of the 225 in the assault only 120 made it to the plateau. The casements were empty with only camouflaged telephone poles as decoys. The Rangers moved south to the coast road intersection discovering a six howitzer field battery. Sergeants Leonard Lomell and Jack Kuhn using thermite grenades demolished the firing and sighting mechanisms. German counterattacks compressed the Rangers back to within 50 feet of the cliff face which they held until relieved by Omaha landed forces on D-day +2.

Omaha Beach- Vierville Looking East June 14, 1948

The valley road “the Vierville Draw” or code named D1 is at the top. Six German strongpoints defended the beach in this area. The movies “The Longest Day” and “Saving Private Ryan” depict the battle on these sands. C Company of the 2nd Ranger Battalion landed under the cliff immediately west of the draw. Their battle along the bluff greatly reduced the firepower on A Company, 116th Regiment assaulting the beach. Further west to the right is Pointe Percee from where a German officer observing the battle erroneously misjudged the American successes and redirected German reinforcements to another area. The German defenses around Vierville draw are visible and accessible.

Omaha Beach and Bluffs – Looking West February 22, 1949

The plateau is 150 feet above sea level. It is several hundred yards from the high tide line to the foot of the sloping bluffs. The beach obstructions were removed shortly after D-day. Five valleys (identified as D1, D3, E1, E3 and F1 not shown) run through the plateau down to the beach. German concrete pillboxes still abound along the bluffs and along the valley walls. The heaviest fighting with the highest casualties occurred when our troops landed at the mouth of these fortified valleys. The development of the US Normandy Cemetery can be seen in the center.

Longues Battery – Looking South Today

Four 155mm guns in thick concrete casements were positioned along the bluffs between Arromanches and Omaha Beach. A hard fought duel was fought between the guns and the battleship HMS Warspite. One of the 16-inch naval shells entered the gun embrasure exploding among the ammunition. The explosion vaporized the German crew blowing the casement apart like giant toy blocks. British troops captured the position late D-day. The site had changed little and is readily accessible by automobile including the observation and fire control bunker built into the cliff face.

Bayeux – Looking North July 2, 1948

The city was not bombed, shelled or fought in. The magnificent cathedral and site of the Bayeux Tapestry Museum were spared war’s destructive force. It was liberated by the British on D-day +1. Bayeux’s narrow, ancient streets prohibited the rapid flow of military traffic so the British engineers built bypass roads to the north and south. In the photo (lower left) is the British wartime cemetery containing 4018 British, 181 Canadian, 25 Polish and 466 German gravesites. All casualties of the battles to the south. The British do not permit exhumations and transfers of remains to other national cemeteries.

Port en Bessin- Looking North June 14, 1948

Captured by the 47th Royal Marine Commandos the morning of D-day +1 entering from the south along the main road. By D-day +6 the port was reopened with off loading of about 8,000 tons per day. In early July floating pipelines connected fuel and oil tankers to the large petrol dump immediately west of the town. The German pill boxes on the west and east headlands overlooking the harbor and its approaches are still present. The commandos cleared the town quickly and continued westward to link up with the American forces moving eastward from Omaha Beach. The four storied building on the east side of the port entrance was demolished in the making of the movie “The Longest Day”, 1963.

Creully – Looking South Today

Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery’s headquarters for two weeks in June 1944. His sleeping caravan was kept under the trees to the right. The front lines were two miles to the left. Winston Churchill spent a day here. A week later King George visited but upon his return to London the British press described the chateau’s location so completely that the Germans started shelling the area forcing Montgomery to abandon the site and move to Blay near Bayeux.

Chateau Adrieu – Today

The chateau was occupied by a regiment of the 12th SS Panzer Division D-day +1. The area saw much fighting with British and Canadian troops. POWs were brought here and twenty were shot by their guards along this wall. The officer responsible was later killed along with the perpetrators of the murders. The chateau has been rebuilt and is now a five star hotel with shrapnel in the ceiling of the higher rooms as evidence of the battle.

Le Hamel – Looking East June 14, 1948

The British Hampshire Battalion of the 50th Infantry Division assaulted Gold-Jig-Red-West Beach at 7:30 AM D-day at the sandy beach top left. Beach obstacles, minefields and enemy resistance took 200 casualties in the first hours. Only five of their sixteen tanks made it beyond the minefields. Moving west accompanied by one tank the Hampshires attacked a 75mm strongpoint codenamed “Dart”. C Company bypassed Dart to attack a 50mm strongpoint on the town’s west side. German resistance was completely overcome by 4:30 that afternoon. The battalion continued to Arromanches where the following day British engineers commenced building Port Churchill assembled with components floated across the English Channel.

Asnelles sure Mer – Looking North June 14, 1948

This is the British 30th Corp Gold-Jig Beach D-day assault area. Asnelles is the village in the center of the photo. Close support by the air force and navy subdued the beach defenses quickly causing relatively light casualties to the attacking British 50th Division. The 231 Brigade moving west however met stiffened resistance as they moved along the coast road towards le Hamel and Arromanches. The 56th and 151st Brigades supported by the 7th Armored Division moved rapidly south reaching the Bayeux outskirts D-day evening.

Courseulles sur Mer – Looking West June 14, 1948

The western end of the Canadian 3rd Infantry Division D-day assault beach east of the breakwater was codenamed “Nan-Green beach”, attacked by the Regina Rifles Regiment. Note the concrete blockhouse on the shoulder of the coast road is still present as are several more in the dunes west of the breakwater. West of the river mouth Mike Green and Mike Red Beaches were assaulted by the Royal Winnipeg Rifles. Coordination of tans and infantry landing together overcame the German resistance quickly without heavy losses to the two Canadian regiments.

Pegasus Bridge – Looking East June 12, 1944

The lift bridge spanning the Orne Canal was captured by British 6th Airborne Division glider troops in the first few minutes of D-day. The three Horsa gliders, visible in the top right brought Major John Howard and his troopers in on time, accurately placing them in position to seize the bridge by rapid surprise. Lt. Den Brotheridge, the first allied death on D-day was killed where the Jeep is standing as he and his men rushed across the bridge from the eastern side. A Bedford 4×4 engineer’s truck is returning from the airborne headquarters area to secure supplies from Sword Beach. The drivers, although in Europe, are still driving on the left side as in England.

Abbey Ardennes – Today

The old Abbey of the 13th century was a farming commune in 1944. The German 12th SS Panzer Division occupied it D-day afternoon. Its tall turreted chapel afforded excellent observation of the southerly advancing Canadians. The following afternoon the SS men attacked the exposed Canadian flank at Authie. Canadian POWs were shot on site. Eighteen were brought singly into this garden, shot in the back of the head and buried in shallow graves. Colonel Kurt Meyer, the officer in charge, was held accountable, tried and condemned to be shot. The authorities diminished his sentence. He was released and after a beer salesman career selling to the allied army clubs, died of a heart attack at age 63.

Hedgerow Country Today

The battles for St. Lo were fought in the bocage area of Normandy. In the area of a football field there are 100 small farmed fields surrounded by impenetrable 1000-year-old hedges growing on thick foundations of stone, rock, earth and roots. Tree limbs meet covering the dirt farm track. German covered foxholes were established during the occupation. Burrowing through the hedgerow foundations the defenders could fire down the road and scurry back through their tunnel to the safety of their foxhole in the field. Mortar air burst shells impacting in the overhanging branches scattered deadly shrapnel onto the advancing Americans.

Marigny – Looking North July 3, 1948

On July 25 (D-day + 49) General Omar Bradley launched Operation Cobra with 15 divisions and 750 tanks from their positions a few miles north of Marigny (top center). The 2nd SS Panzer Division rushed north to the town. The American forces counterattacked from the fields to the right and left of the road being used by the panzers. The enemies’ resistance was strong. Two days later the American 3rd Armored Division reached the intersection sending half its strength west to Coustances while the remainder continued south at full speed. This north-south road was the principle thrust line for the famous Patton Breakout.

Mortain – Looking North July 3, 1948

Patton’s Breakout and Breakthrough brought the American 30th Division and a few tank squadrons of the 3rd Armored Division into Mortain August 3 (D-day + 58). The Germans launched a major counterattack westward five days later by passing Mortain to the north and south. Roadblocks at the towns’ entrances slowed the attack. On the rocky prominence (top right) called Hill 317 the 2nd Battalion of he 120th Regiment held out for five days. Ammo, food and medical supplies were shot onto the hill unsuccessfully. French citizens using little known paths kept the Americans supplied. This is one of the most historically outstanding unit achievements in the Western Europe Campaign.

Pontaubault – Looking North July 3, 1948

Patton’s Third Army rushed across these two bridges July 31. The Selune River bridges had not been destroyed. Pivoting west, Patton led his forces into Brittany and its large port at Brest. Those forces pivoting east rushed to Paris and the Seine River bridges. Patton defended these two lifelines coming from the north with hundreds of antiaircraft guns and an ever-present air umbrella over the corridor. German Colonel Rudolf Bacherer with a thousand men of the 77th Division attempted a brief but unsuccessful counterattack in the hours before the main American force entered the scene.

Mont St. Michel

The thousand year old church and village are located on an island half a mile off the coast connected by an elevated causeway. On the mainland a short distance away is the German Mont de Huisenes Cemetery, an ossuary of 11,956 remains from the battle casualties in Brittany.

St. Lambert sur Dives – Looking East July 1948

On August 19, a German Tiger tank occupied the town intersection facing north holding open one of three escape routes for the defeated and surrounded German army in Normandy. As the Germans fled eastward along the road and neighboring fields and orchards the Allied air force incessantly bombed and strafed. Canadian artillery added to the inferno. With the road from the north as its axis of advance B Company of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Canadian infantry) and C Squadron of the South Albert regiment (armored) took six hours to fight their way to the intersection and knocked out the Tiger tank. Canadian Commander Major David Currie (awarded the Victoria Cross) renewed the artillery fire to further help close the escape route successfully. The town was pulverized, the roadways were littered with hundreds of abandoned and destroyed vehicles and equipment. Hundreds of horses and thousands of German soldiers lay dead within the limits of this photograph.

Chambois – Looking Northwest July 6, 1948

The road running from bottom left to top right was one of three German escape roads from the “Cauldron” in mid-August. American units of the 90th Infantry Division moved towards the town intersection from the bottom of the photo. Elements of the Polish 10th Armored Rifle Regiment moved towards the intersection from the top of the photo. American Captain L. E. Waters and Polish Major Zgorzelski met and shook hands at the intersection at 7:20 PM August 19. Although closing this route the retreating Germans continued to flee eastwards across the fields and orchards. The allied linkup was tenuous.

The Escape Corridor – Looking East Today

This August 4, 1944 photo (top right) shows this road, one of three used for German retreat from the Falaise Pocket, littered with destroyed tanks, vehicles, wagons, slaughtered horses and slain soldiers. Two Polish Sherman tanks are seen standing on the grassy slope to the left, their guns aimed towards the road. The Polish Armored Division moving from the north fought up to this hilltop overlooking the German eastbound retreat route between Chambois and Vimoutiers. The Polish firepower combined with artillery support and fighter bombers decimated the trapped Germans. Attacks to dislodge the Poles from their positions were costly to both sides.

The Vimoutiers Tiger Today

This Tiger tank monument facing west is on the eastern exit road at Vimoutiers. Panzers were used to keep open the German escape corridor from the Falaise Pocket (the “cauldron”) in late August. The tank facing west is symbolic of its action. There are many Tigers in museums but only one or two are outdoor monuments in France.

Rommel Strafed – Looking North Today

Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, returning from the Bourguebus Ridge battlefield on July 17 at 6:30 PM, was strafed by a British Spitfire here. Racing quickly, Rommel’s driver came over the hill attempting to turn into the factory driveway by the gatehouse. Under machine gun fire the car careened into the ditch in the right-hand foreground. Rommel lay in the middle of the road at the 6th white line with head injuries. He was rushed to the Bernay hospital.

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Laughter, celebrities, and frivolity are the sounds and images most closely associated with the USO. These professional-quality variety shows featured popular comedians, vocalists, and actors in some of World War II’s most uncertain battlefields. The shows brought a brief respite from the uncertainty and stress associated with wartime service. Learn how the Army values of selfless service and duty were channeled by civilians to support and uplift Soldiers during one of the darkest times in American history. Learn More

The Accomplishment of the ENIAC and the Women Computing Pioneers

Winning World War II required an all-out effort. Thousands of women on the home front answered their country’s call to join the military, industry, and the civil service. In 1943, the U.S. Army recruited seven women mathematicians to set up and operate the Army’s newest top secret weapon: the Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer (ENIAC). These unsung heroes wired the electrical connections that enabled the world’s first electronic, digital computer to complete 300 calculations per second. In doing so, they built a framework for the field of computer programming. Discover how female “computers” solved complex problems, contributing to Army innovation during World War II. Learn More

The Question of “What if?”: The U.S. Army During the Cold War

During World War II, the Soviet Union and the United States worked together to fight a common enemy; and after the war that relationship fell apart. Trust between the former allies broke down and fear took hold in its place. This mutual mistrust lead the two countries to confront the looming question of “what if?” That question would color the relationship between the two for the next 50 years. As a result, the Army developed new technology, equipment, and training to better protect Americans from the possibilities and threats posed by the “what if?” In this virtual field trip, you will learn how Soldiers worked together to keep the “what if?” from becoming a reality during the Cold War. Learn More

Honor and Fidelity: Puerto Rico’s Borinqueneers

In 2016, the 65th Infantry Regiment, nicknamed the “Borinqueneers,” received the Congressional Gold Medal for the contributions “made by hundreds of thousands of brave and patriotic United States citizens from Puerto Rico” who served the U.S. Army “from World War I to the most recent conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq.” Explore the commitment, challenges, and bravery of the Borinqueneers from their early roots through the Korean War. Learn how their actions, along with the thousands of other Puerto Rican veterans, contributed to the Army’s mission. Examine the legacy of their service and impact on the Army.

The Art of Soldiering: Soldier Art and Culture in Vietnam

The U.S. Army has its own culture based on the Army values, esprit de corps and the mission. While each Soldier’s experience is unique to their service, culture binds them together. During the Vietnam War, Soldier culture was formed by the clothing Soldiers wore, the food they ate, the entertainment they consumed and their shared experiences.

Through an examination of artifacts, film, and primary sources, gain additional insight into the commitments and sacrifices of Vietnam-era Soldiers and explore how these items contributed to a Soldier culture unique to this conflict.

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Washington, D.C. Virtual Field Trip for Kids

Let’s go to our nation’s capital on this Washington, D.C. Virtual Field Trip for Kids! Get prepared to fully immerse yourself in U.S. History as you explore Washington, D.C.

Which popular Washington, D.C. destination will you explore first?

TIP: Use this Table of Content to help you navigate which locations you want to take a virtual tour of.

Facts About Washington, D.C. for Kids

The national mall, the u.s. capitol building, the white house, supreme court of the united states, the washington monument, lincoln memorial, thomas jefferson memorial, martin luther king jr. memorial, franklin delano roosevelt memorial, world war ii memorial, vietnam veterans memorial, korean war memorial, arlington cemetary, u.s. air force memorial, marine corps war memorial (iwo jima memorial), library of congress, national archives museum, national gallery of art, national 9/11 pentagon memorial.

• United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

Mount Vernon

• Washington National Cathedral
• National Museum of Natural History
• National Air and Space Museum

National Air and Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center

U.s. botanic garden.

• National Museum of African American History and Culture
• National Museum of American History

National Zoological Park

The smithsonian, international spy museum, the national law enforcement officers memorial, dwight d. eisenhower memorial, tips for how to discuss monuments and memorials with kids.

• Printable Activities for Kids

Children’s Books about Washington, D.C.

Explore 30+ Virtual Field Trips for Kids

Washington DC Virtual Field Trip for Kids

Are you planning a trip to Washington, D.C. with your child? You might be wondering what are the best things to do in DC?

Here’s the honest truth, kids of all ages will love visiting here but only if you keep it at a pace that’s set for them and their age group.

The first tip is to start with a Virtual Field Trip to Washington, D.C.

There’s something quite magical about a child discovering a real-life building or statue after seeing it in a short video online. Somehow all the details are enhanced for them and they search to find the interesting elements of each historic building. It almost becomes like a real-life I-Spy game!

I’ve put together a collection of Virtual Tours within Washington, D.C. to prepare your child for their visit to our nation’s capital.

This collection of Washington, D.C. Virtual Field Trips will include locations that…

• Honor Past Presidents
• Honor Those That Have Served
• The Seat of Power in the United States
• National Treasures
• Must-See Sites in Washington, D.C.

Grab our virtual field trip log to track your virtual field trips.

Washington, DC, the United States capital, is a compact city on the Potomac River, bordering the states of Maryland and Virginia. It’s defined by historical monuments and buildings – including the iconic ones that house the federal government’s 3 branches: the Capitol, White House, and Supreme Court.

It’s also home to iconic museums and performing-arts venues. Many of the most popular destinations are located on the National Mall.

Let’s get exploring our Washington, D.C. Virtual Field Trip starting here at the National Mall, the center of the capital.

The National Mall is basically a long, rectangular public park stretching from the U.S. Capitol Building on its east end to the Lincoln Memorial on its west end. It is 1.8 miles long by .3 miles wide. It consists of iconic monuments and memorials on 1,000 acres of green space in Washington, D.C.

National Mall and Memorial Parks is responsible for more than 1,000 acres of parkland, including 14 individual units of the National Park System. Here’s a map to take a closer look.

National Mall and Memorial Parks monuments and memorials honor the bravery, sacrifices, and beliefs of those who have served their nation, its people, and all humanity. The National Park Service

Discovery Education and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden welcome students to a behind-the-scenes Virtual Field Trip to experience the history and beauty of our nation’s capital.

• National Mall 360* Guided Virtual Tour

You can track your virtual tours with our  Printable Virtual Field Trip Log !

The U.S. Capitol is home to the U.S. Congress and its two legislative bodies, the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. It’s considered to be a monument to the American people. It is where the issues facing the nation are considered, debated, and written into law.

The U.S. Capitol also houses an important collection of American art and is an architectural achievement in its own right.

Did you know that the Capitol campus is made up of more than 18.4 million square feet of facilities, and 570 acres of grounds?

As you plan a visit to the U.S. Capitol, students can learn more from these guides.

• State Statue Guide in U.S. Capitol
• Virtual Resources for the Capital Campus
• Virtual U.S. Capitol Tour
• The Tiny Doors in the U.S. Capitol
• Capitol Video Tour for Middle School Students
• Capitol Hill & Library of Congress Walking Tour

Here are some resources for parents and kids to learn about advocacy and our U.S. voting system .

The White House is the official residence and workplace of the president of the United States. It is located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., and has been the residence of every U.S. president since John Adams in 1800.

• Google Maps Virtual Tour of White House
• The People’s House – Inside the White House with the Obama’s
• What’s Inside the White House
• The White House for Kids
• White House Facts and History – Fun Facts for Kids

“The White House is where the President and First Family of the United States live and work — but it’s also the People’s House, where we hope all Americans feel a sense of inclusion and belonging.” The White House

Although located off the National Mall, we want to include all three branches of our US Government with the Supreme Court Building. The construction, begun in 1932, was completed in 1935 when the Court was finally able to occupy its own building. Here are the current members of the Supreme Court .

• Capitol Hill Tour (& Library of Congress + Supreme Court)
• Activity Booklet and Coloring Booklet for Kids
• Explore the Online Exhibits at the Supreme Court

The Washington Monument is one of the nation’s most recognizable structures in Washington, D.C.

Built to honor George Washington, the commander-in-chief of the Continental Army and the first president of the United States, the Washington Monument was once the tallest building in the world at just over 555 feet. The monument to America’s first president still holds the title of the world’s tallest stone structure and obelisk. At its base are 50 American flags, one for each state.

• Photo Gallery of The Washington Monument
• Inside the Washington Monument
• Washington Monument Visitor Tips
• What’s inside the Washington Monument?

The iconic Lincoln memorial was built to honor the 16th U.S. president and is a must-see for every visitor to the nation’s capital. There are 36 columns, each one representing one state in the U.S. at the date of President Lincoln’s death. The memorial itself is 190 feet long and 119 feet wide and reaches a height of almost 100 feet. The statue of Lincoln stands 19 feet tall.

The walls have carved inscriptions of Lincoln’s quotes including the Gettysburg Address, one of the most famous speeches in U.S. history.

• Photo Gallery of the Lincoln Monument
• The Lincoln Memorial for Kids
• Lincoln Memorial, Washington [HD]

The Thomas Jefferson Memorial honors America’s founding father and primary author of the Declaration of Independence. The location and architecture of the Thomas Jefferson Memorial make it stand out among DC’s amazing array of monuments and memorials.

This memorial is our family’s personal favorite in DC.

• Park Ranger Jeff Jones briefly describes the significance of the Thomas Jefferson Memorial
• Thomas Jefferson Memorial Visitors Guide

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial honors Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the movement he led, and his message of freedom and equality. A wall of quotes from Dr. King’s long civil rights career presents his ideals of peace, democracy, justice, and love. 

The memorial is the first to honor an African American individual on the National Mall, as well as the first on the National Mall to honor a citizen activist, rather than a United States President or war hero. 

• Martin Luther King Memorial ~ Washington DC
• Martin Luther King, Jr Memorial

The FDR Memorial uses elements of stone, water, and landscaping to tell the story of FDR’s presidency in a more approachable way. Quotes are at eye level and the statues are at or close to ground level and were meant to be touched.

• Tidal Basin Tour of FDR, MLK & Jefferson
• National Parks Expedition Challenge: FDR Memorial

“Memorials play a part in both remembering and forgetting major events and historical figures. The meaning of memorials—such as the Statue of Liberty, the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail, and the USS Arizona in Pearl Harbor—may change significantly over time and across generations.” Susan Crane, a UA historian

56 pillars surround a central fountain, commemorating the efforts and sacrifices of those who served, supported, and died in World War II. Each gold star represents 100 Americans who died in the war. Just over 4,000 of these stars clearly reflect the loss of 405,399 Americans in this struggle. In the center of the memorial visitors find themselves surrounded by statements from  President Franklin D. Roosevelt, President Harry S Truman, author Walter Lord and commanding officers of the U.S. military.

• Photo Gallery of World War II Memorial
• Virtual Tour: World War II Memorial narrated by Tom Hanks
• World War II Memorial, Washington

Honoring the men and women who served in the controversial Vietnam War, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial chronologically lists the names of 58,318 Americans who gave their lives in service to their country.

• Listen to Park Ranger Jeff Jones describing the significance of this monument
• The History of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial
• How to Visit the Vietnam Wall

Be sure to stop by the Vietnam Women’s Memorial while you’re there.

The memorial commemorates the sacrifices of the 5.8 million Americans who served in the U.S. armed services during the three-year period of the Korean War.

The triangular monument consists of Walls and a Pool of Remembrance, and 19 stainless steel statues that are approximately 7-feet tall and represent an ethnic cross-section of America.

• Korean War Veterans Memorial  

“ Our nation honors her sons and daughters who answered the call to defend a country they never knew and a people they never met “ Dedication Stone at Korean War Memorial

The Arlington National Cemetery is the country’s largest military cemetery and serves as the final resting place for more than 400,000 military veterans and their immediate family from the fronts of Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as World Wars I and II, the Korean conflict, Vietnam, the Cold War, and America’s Civil War. This cemetery consists of 639 acres.

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is Arlington National Cemetery’s most iconic memorial. Here is where you will witness the Changing of the Guard ritual—an elaborate, somber ceremony.

• Interactive Arlington Cemetary Map
• Arlington National Cemetery Education Program

Three stainless steel spires reach a height of 402 feet above sea-level. It is adjacent to the Arlington National Cemetery and overlooks the Pentagon.

• Air Force Memorial
• US Air Force Memorial, Washington  

The United States Marine Corps War Memorial represents this nation’s gratitude to Marines and those who have fought beside them. While the statue depicts one of the most famous incidents of World War II, the memorial is dedicated to all Marines who have given their lives in defense of the United States since 1775.

Watch a video about The story of what the US Marine Corps War Memorial symbolizes

• Iwo Jima Memorial, Washington  

The Library of Congress is the largest library in the world, with  millions of books, recordings, photographs, newspapers, maps, and manuscripts The Library of Congress serves as the main research arm to committees and staff of the U.S. Congress, other government agencies, libraries throughout the country and the world, and the scholars, researchers, artists, and scientists who use its resources.

It is the home of the U.S. Copyright Office.

• Virtual Views of Library of Congress
• The Library of Congress Is Your Library
• Visiting the Library of Congress

The National Archives Museum in Washington, DC, is home to the Declaration of Independence , Constitution , and Bill of Rights .

• How to Visit the National Archives in DC
• National Archives
• We the People: The National Archives

The National Gallery of Art, founded as a gift to the nation, serves as a center of visual art, education, and culture. Our collection of more than 150,000 paintings, sculptures, decorative arts, photographs, prints, and drawings spans the history of Western art and showcases some of the triumphs of human creativity.

For your young artist, take advantage of their Learning Resources for Art .

• Take a 360 Degree Virtual Tour
• Five Must-See Masterpieces at the National Gallery of Art

The National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial is a national memorial dedicated to the tragic events that occurred on Sept. 11, 2001. The memorial has an emotive power that few other memorials have, even to the youngest of visitors.

• Interactive Map

The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum is a living memorial that encourages visitors to remember, reflect, and act to confront hate and promote human dignity.

This is one that you’ll want to discuss with your child prior to visiting and decide what’s appropriate for their age group.

• The museum has created a Virtual Field Trip for students about the Holocaust
• Holocaust Museum Washington DC

Mount Vernon is an American landmark and former plantation of George Washington, the first president of the United States, and his wife, Martha. The estate is on the banks of the Potomac River in Fairfax County, Virginia.

• Virtual Tour of Mount Vernon with video and clickable 360 views
• Explore Mount Vernon Online Learning Resources
• George Washington’s Historic Mount Vernon
• The Home & Estate of George Washington  

Washington National Cathedral:

Stonemasons and builders erected the cathedral beginning in 1907, completing it 83 years later in 1990. Carved from Indiana limestone, the structure boasts a 30-story-tall central tower, an interior nine-bay nave and 215 stained glass windows, including one embedded with a moon rock.

• Explore the timeline of the National Cathedral in U.S. History
• Fly Through Washington National Cathedral
• Tour Washington National Cathedral & Bell Tower

The National Museum of Natural History is organized into seven departments: anthropology, botany, entomology, mineral sciences, invertebrate zoology, paleobiology, and vertebrate zoology. The museum holds more than 146 million objects and specimens, making it the largest natural history collection in the world.

• National Museum of Natural History – Student Orientation Video
• Highlights of the Smithsonian Natural History Museum
• A Day at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

The Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum maintains the world’s largest and most significant collection of aviation and space artifacts, encompassing all aspects of human flight, as well as related works of art and archival materials. It operates two landmark facilities that, together, welcome more than eight million visitors a year, making it the most visited museum in the country.

The National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC is temporarily closed through fall 2022.

• Take a Virtual Tour
• National Air and Space Museum – Student Orientation Video
• National Air and Space Museum – Washington DC – What to Expect

The Udvar-Hazy Center displays thousands of aviation and space artifacts, including the Space Shuttle Discovery and a Concorde, in two large hangars

Take a look at their Programs and Activities for Kids

• National Air and Space Museum – Udvar-Hazy Center – Student Orientation Video
• Visit the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
• Virtual Tour of the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum

Established by the U.S. Congress in 1820, the U.S. Botanic Garden is the oldest continuously operating botanic garden in the United States. Since 1934.

• 360 Degree Virtual Tour of U.S. Botanic Garden
• Explore their educational resources for kids in the garden
• United States Botanical Garden Virtual Tour in Washington, D.C.

The National Museum of African American History and Culture is a place where all Americans can learn about the richness and diversity of the African American experience, what it means to their lives, and how it helped us shape this nation.

The museum’s collection of artifacts is astounding: 3,500 are on view, with another 35,000 or so in the collection.

• Explore their Digital Learning Library
• Inside the National Museum of African American History and Culture
• Inside the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of African American History and Culture
• Walk Through Smithsonian Museum of African American History
• National Museum of American History – Student Orientation Video
• Welcome to the National Museum of American History
• Smithsonian National Museum of American History

Lions, tigers, elephants, giraffes, and the zoo’s beloved giant pandas are just some of the 1,500-plus animals that call the 163-acre park home. The zoo’s habitats feature animals from 300 different species and about 25 percent of the zoo’s residents are endangered.

All of the animals at the National Zoo – which is also a global research center and conservation center – are cared for by world-class zoologists and veterinarians.

• Explore their At Home Zoo Activities
• Take a look at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo Youtube channel
• Smithsonian’s National Zoo Tour & Review with The Legend

We listed out several of these locations individually on this Virtual Field Trip guide but thought it would be good to see how many options are available in Washington, D.C. through the Smithsonian.

When you visit the Smithsonian, you’re entering the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex, with approximately 155 million artifacts and specimens in its trust for the American people. The Smithsonian Institution includes 19 museums and the National Zoological Park.

• Anacostia Community Museum
• Arthur M. Sackler Gallery
• Arts and Industries Building
• Freer Gallery of Art
• Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden
• National Air and Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center (Chantilly, Virginia)
• National Museum of African Art
• National Museum of the American Indian
• National Portrait Gallery
• National Postal Museum
• Renwick Gallery
• Smithsonian American Art Museum
• Smithsonian Institution Building (“Castle”)

Explore their Fun Stuff for Kids section on their site for cool things to do.

The Smithsonian has its own Education channel on youtube, take a look!

The International Spy Museum is a private non-profit museum that documents the tradecraft, history, and contemporary role of espionage. It holds the largest collection of international espionage artifacts on public display.

• The museum has interactive virtual field trips available at cost.
• International Spy Museum | Things to Do In Washington, DC

Sadly the Newseum has closed (2019), which was quite interesting to experience. Luckily they are maintaining an active online news curriculum packed full of resources to explore with your child.

They also have a National Law Enforcement Officers Museum which offers online workshops for kids .

• National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial

The Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial tells the story of one of America’s greatest leaders of the 20th century.

• Take a look at the photo gallery
• Eisenhower Memorial unveiled after 20 years
• Eisenhower Memorial Virtual Tour

Disclosure: This post contains Amazon affiliate links.

Children may experience an overwhelming feeling at DC, that many of the monuments and memorials are dedicated to significant citizens in U.S. History that we’ve lost. You’ll want to talk about it before and after you visit virtually or in person.

We don’t often discuss death in our typical daily life, which can impact your experience at these memorials and monuments.

The topic of death and the topic of war look different at various ages. A few times over the years as a mom and teacher, I’ve observed visiting a large number of locations in a short period of time focused on famous and heroic people in U.S. History, which may weigh heavy on their hearts.

One positive way for many who visit Washington, D.C. is that they feel motivated to get involved.

Here are some tips and resources for parents and kids to learn about advocacy and our U.S. voting system . Plus a few ways to support and honor military members.

Virtual Tours of Washington, D.C.

• Virtual Field Trip – Washington, D.C. by VirtualFieldTripsnet
• Washington D.C. Vacation Travel Guide | Expedia
• Rock the Park – Washington DC Tour (For more mature viewers)
• Washington DC – US Capitol for Children (For younger viewers)
• Visitors Guide to Washington DC’s National Mall – How To Do It, What To See, Fun Facts
• Washington DC Night Tours  

Washington, D.C. Printable Lessons for Kids

• Washington, D.C. Unit for Kids
• If I Were President Printable
• Virtual Field Trip Log
• A Virtual Field Trip to Washington, D.C. Afterschool Companion Guide
• Helping Your Child Learn History
• This is Washington, D.C. : A Children’s Classic by Miroslav Sasek
• Capital!: Washington D.C. from A to Z by Laura Krauss Melmed
• Mr. Boddington’s Studio: Washington, DC ABCs by Mr. Boddington’s Studio
• Exploring the White House: Inside America’s Most Famous Home by Kate Andersen Brower
• N Is for Our Nation’s Capital: A Washington DC Alphabet by Marie Smith
• 1,000 Facts About the White House by Sarah Flynn
• My Little Golden Book about Washington, DC by Rich Volin
• Larry Gets Lost in Washington, DC by John Skewes
• My Little Golden Book About The White House Jen Arena

Ready to Go in Person? How to Get Around Washington, D.C.

In this virtual field trip guide to Washington, D.C. I shared my tips for how to go site-seeing in our country’s capital with your child, even if it’s just virtually for now.

Pick a few of each family member’s favorite locations from this virtual field trip and plan a visit there. The good thing is most of the museums in DC are free.

Be sure in person to balance out indoor and outdoor times to keep them entertained. Parents may want to read all the signs, but kids will give you about 20 minutes in one spot at most.

Washington, D.C. Mall area is a very compact space. If you’re ready to walk, this whole area is walkable. You’ll need to plan your adventure and give yourself at least 3 days to be able to see your top picks, especially when traveling with kids.

Washington, D.C. has so many famous sites that it’s difficult to keep track of all there is to see and do. One of the best ways to explore this city is on an Old Town Trolley Tours or the classic Big Bus Hop-on Hop-off Tour , seeing the sites from an open-top red bus and getting on and off wherever you choose.

Washington, D.C. has so many locations to visit, which one will you visit first? Which virtual field trip location was your favorite?

Did I miss your favorite? Leave a comment below and let me know your favorite location to site see in the nation’s capital.

Looking for more virtual field trips for kids? Try these…

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About Kim Vij

Early childhood teacher, author, speaker and mom of 3. Kim shares ways to make learning fun and parenting an adventure by sharing developmentally appropriate activities.

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Wild Biomes: America’s Rainforests & Deserts

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6 Authentic (and Free!) Day of the Dead Virtual Field Trips

With Día de los Muertos coming up and more socially-distanced time still on our plate, Day of the Dead virtual field trips are a great way to celebrate Mexican culture and see authentic traditions in action. 

While I won’t say no to rewatching Coco , there are plenty of ways we can teach and share the day. The following Day of the Dead virtual field trips are just the tip of the iceberg. 

Celebrated on November 1st and 2nd, Día de los Muertos is Mexico’s colorful and vibrant celebration of the dead. It’s a way to honor and respect dead ancestors.

Families typically make an altar (or ofrenda ) with their loved ones’ favorite things so their ancestors’ spirits can find their way back to the living for the day.

You can have students take part in the celebration by going on the following Day of the Dead virtual field trips. 

Day of the Dead Virtual Field Trips

#1 Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center

Located in Austin, Texas, the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center celebrates Mexican-American and Latin-American art and culture. Since the pandemic their facilities have been closed, which means everything is now available digitally. Head to their Day of the Dead website for a list of digital programming on November 1st and 2nd. You can also check out their YouTube channel and learn how to make sugar skulls and paper flowers. (If you’re in the Austin area you can pick up a free sugar skull making kit). To keep the fun going they also have contests running for best altar and best calavera. 

#2 National Museum of Mexican Art

Next up, is Chicago’s National Museum of Mexican Art. Their exhibition Sólo un poco aquí: Day of the Dead is taking place virtually this year from September 18th to December 13th. The online guided public tours are free, but you need to register in advance. Students can get a look at authentic Day of the Dead art. For more information and other related programs read their digital brochure . 

 #3 Google Arts & Culture

For a huge selection of videos, art, museum tours, and history about Día de los Muertos check out Google Arts & Culture’s Day of the Dead exhibit . 

#4 Carolina Storyteller: Dia de Los Muertos

Carolina Storyteller is a bilingual performer with a selection of Latin American myths and folktales from October 9th to November 1st. You can add her to your Day of the Dead virtual field trips by watching her perform here . 

#5 Calaverandia

Did you know there is a Día de los Muertos theme park (the first in the world) in Guadalajara, Mexico? Calaverandia looks insanely fun. Kids can check out their website or be mesmerized by Calaverandia videos on YouTube. 

#6 Smithsonian Latino Center

Finally, join the Smithsonian Latino Center and the National Museum of the American Indian as they celebrate the Day of the Dead with online events on October 30th , October 31st , and November 1st . They have Día de los Muertos reading lists, mask templates, and plenty of online programming to keep little ones learning and honoring their loved ones. 

No matter where you are in the world, participating in Día de los Muertos is just a click away with these Day of the Dead virtual field trips. Enjoy!

Need some more virtual field trips ideas? Take a trip to every Spanish-speaking country, here !

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When you can't get away, your kids still can by taking a virtual field trip to a museum, farm, zoo, or another fun location. We compiled our list of favorites to help you keep your kids engaged and entertained. Some of these are virtual tours (you can actively decide where to go on the tour) and others are video walkthroughs (just watch and learn), but all give you a great experience of the location.

Best Art-Centric Virtual Tour: The Met

A glimpse at some of the greatest works of art created.

Online exhibits on various topics.

There's only one view of the museum currently available.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art is home to over 5,000 years of art from around the world. You can see some of it from the comfort of your home. Take a virtual stroll through part of the museum using Google Street View. There are also numerous online exhibits on topics like Coco Chanel, Vermeer, Catholic allegory in art, and more.

Best Tour of Space: NASA

The volume of space videos.

The approachable aspect of the videos.

So much more to see on the site.

It's not easily searchable unless you know what you're looking for.

This might be cheating a bit because it's really a collection of videos, but, oh boy, what a collection to tour! The Galleries open up an array of videos covering space topics from testing a parachute for Mars to moving water in space. Each video is a mini virtual tour that will awe kids and encourage interest in science and space.

Best Tour of the White House: Google Arts & Culture's The White House

Stunning 360-degree images.

See inside and outside the White House.

Offers views of 140 paintings.

Once inside a tour, it's hard to know what you're looking at.

No search functions.

Every President since John Adams has occupied the White House and now your children can visit it, too. Google Arts & Culture offers four museum views (three tours of The White House and one of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building) plus a look at more than 140 paintings that grace (or have graced) the walls of the country's most famous abode. The 360-degree images let kids explore to their heart's desire.

Best Cave Virtual Tour: Son Doong Cave

Son Doong is beautiful.

The virtual tour includes lots of information.

Zoom into areas for a more detailed look.

No supplemental online activities.

Son Doong is the world's largest natural cave. Located in Vietnam, it features a subterranean river and the largest cross-section of any cave worldwide. National Geographic's virtual tour lets you explore the cave with full 360-degree views and immersive sounds. You can even zoom in one area to check out the campers in their tents. Son Doong is beautiful and worth a virtual visit.

Best National Park Virtual Tour: Yellowstone

Offers multiple tours.

Lots of historical information.

Amazing images.

No video tours.

Lots of written information that can turn off some kids.

Yellowstone offers seven virtual tours appropriate for older elementary and middle school ages. There's a lot of written information along with the images, and the tours aren't in video. However, the information is fascinating, and the photos are stunning.

From learning about old Fort Yellowstone to discovering park anomalies like Mud Volcano, these tours are a great way for kids to discover unique facts about America.

Best Natural History Tour: Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

So many exhibits to see!

Easy, clickable maps.

Quick and easy to navigate.

It's not always easy to read the signs in the exhibits.

This iconic museum is dedicated to understanding the natural world and humanity's place in it. There's so much to see it can't possibly be listed here. However, the museum offers an online tour of most of its exhibits. Split this tour up into multiple lessons, so kids don't get overwhelmed.

Skip the ground floor and go straight to the first or second floors.

Best Aquarium Virtual Tour: National Aquarium

Easy to find exhibits.

Fun to explore using the 360-degree options.

Some scenes spin quickly, which can frustrate young learners.

Baltimore's National Aquarium features more than 20,000 aquatic animals. Kids can click and drag images to navigate their way around and use arrows, the map, or a scene list to explore various exhibits. Explore eight areas, such as the Amazon River, a tropical rain forest, and jellyfish.

Best Tours of the World: AirPano

Bright, well-produced videos and images.

Offers tours of numerous countries.

Includes video and still frame-images.

What's not to like?

AirPano has a variety of tours in China, Portugal, Switzerland, and more countries. Children can visit the Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge in China, an underwater cave in Indonesia, ski resorts in France, and more destinations around the globe.

What makes this site so good is that it offers narrations of several tours, provides closeups through interactive actions, and includes short chunks of written information that's easy for kids of most ages to read. The tours are also fairly short, which makes these tours great for younger kids, but older kids will still enjoy the trip.

Best Virtual Tour for Car Lovers: Lane Motor Museum

Totally unique tour.

An inside look that allows for deep diving into collections.

There's no way to tell what a specific vehicle is unless you know cars.

Scroll to the bottom of the link to watch a fun virtual tour of one of the most unique car museums in the world. Lane Motor Museum is home to an oddball collection of vehicles dating from the 1920s up to modern times.

Your child will love seeing amphibious vehicles, microcars, prototypes, and more. The tour is easy to click through and offers six angles to entertain viewers.

Best Tours of Nature: Nature Works Everywhere

Tours are narrated and easy to follow.

Provides student handouts, vocabulary, and discussion questions.

We wish there was a larger library of tours!

Explore nature around the world with Nature Works Everywhere's virtual tours. Visit the coral reefs of Palau, the deserts and grasslands of Africa, a rainforest (from a canoe's viewpoint), a renewable energy plant, and more.

The tours are narrated and give great, quick facts to help kids learn in simple, straightforward ways. All tours are appropriate for grades 3 through 12 but are marked with notes about the grades most likely to enjoy the tour.

Best Historical Tour: Ellis Island

A clear explanation of Ellis Island, how it worked, and why it was needed.

Includes children asking questions of tour guides.

The images in much of the tour are small in order to focus on the tour guides.

Ellis Island is a key piece of American history. This virtual tour offers lots of anecdotes and features actual guides from Ellis Island telling stories. Plus, it includes lots of pictures and views of the island.

It's more appropriate for fourth grade and up, mainly due to the litany of facts and complexity of the information provided.

Best Slime-Based Virtual Tour: Slime in Space

Nickelodeon

It's playful and educational.

Good production values.

Fun experiments.

It's a video, not an interactive virtual tour.

What happens to Nickelodeon's iconic slime when it's in space? That's the concept behind the Slime in Space virtual field trip. Featuring real astronauts and Nickelodeon celebrities, the 15-minute video shows kids how slime and water react in a microgravity environment 250 miles above the Earth. Along the way, it answers burning questions like, "Is slime a solid or a liquid?" and "Can you slime a person in space?" (The answer is: yes, very slowly.)

Best Virtual Zoo Tour: San Diego Zoo

Live cams of the animals.

A variety of educational videos.

Fun games and activities.

Fixed camera angles mean you're not always guaranteed to see the animals.

The San Diego Zoo is home to more than 3,500 animals of more than 650 species and subspecies. It's widely considered one of the best zoos in the world. But, if you can't make it to California, it has a robust virtual experience online.

You can peek in on the animals through live cams. There's also a variety of videos that teach kids about vultures or show them how to draw a tiger, for example. There are also zoo-related games and activities kids can do at home.

Best General Farm Tour: FarmFood 360

360-degree views of the farm.

Offers a free app for Android and iOS.

It can be hard to see things on a mobile device.

FarmFood 360 gives an inside look at the activities of a Canadian farm. Kids see 360-degree views of the farm as they learn about milk and cheese production, sheep farming, egg processing, and more.

There's an app available for Android and iOS devices, and it's compatible with some virtual reality headsets.

Best Virtual Planetarium: Stellarium

Realistic night sky simulation.

Mobile apps are available.

Includes a telescope control module for experienced astronomers.

Can be difficult to navigate.

The mobile apps aren't free, but the money supports the project.

Stellarium Web is an online planetarium created by two brothers. Offering an accurate and realistic view of the night sky, it lets you pan around and spot stars, satellites, and other celestial bodies.

It offers mobile apps for Android and iOS that aren't free. The money goes toward paying server and development costs for the two-person project.

Best Living-History Virtual Tour: Colonial Williamsburg

Next best thing to being there.

The virtual scavenger hunt.

The virtual tours are highly interactive.

Virtual tour models can load slowly.

Condensation or inclement weather can obstruct the webcam views.

Colonial Williamsburg is a living-history museum in Virginia that offers a glimpse at what life was like in the 18th century. Its virtual tour is highly interactive and includes videos, informational signs, and 3D models you can rotate.

With its various webcams, you can see the armory, courthouse, merchants square, and more. Colonial Williamsburg's website also offers a virtual scavenger hunt your kids can participate in as they tour the area.

Best European Museum Virtual Tour: The Louvre

It's the Louvre.

The website offers a list of online family-friendly activities.

The virtual tours include a map and an information button.

The website offers limited language options.

Sure, we'd love to jet off to France and tour its fabulous museums personally. But if that's not an option, the Louvre has several virtual tours available on its website. The offerings include exhibitions on the body in movement, founding myths, Egyptian antiquities, and more.

The Louvre also has a handy list of family-friendly online resources everyone can enjoy, including a Mona Lisa VR experience.

Best Factory Virtual Tour: M&M Factory Tour

Zoonar RF / Getty Images

Who doesn't love chocolate?

360-degree views of the factory.

It's short.

The Food Network teamed up with candy maker Mars to give M&M fans a virtual tour of one of its factories. During the short YouTube video, viewers can pan around as a tour guide explains how unrefined chocolate is turned into the little candies we know and love.

Best General Virtual Tour Resource: Discovery Education

An eclectic variety of virtual field trips.

Watch live or on demand.

Trips come with a companion guide packed with activities.

A schedule of when field trips go live would be nice.

Discovery Education offers a variety of virtual field trips for kids learning from home. The offerings change often but currently include an NFL experience, a doodling experience meant to encourage creativity, and a virtual field trip through the internet of things. You can watch the field trips live or catch the videos later on-demand.

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Bring the spirit of exploration to your classroom.

Next Virtual Field Trip Stop: The Deep Blue

The ocean is our planet’s life support system. It covers over 70 percent of Earth’s surface, supplies over half its oxygen, and shelters an incredible diversity of life. To gear up to celebrate Earth Day, the National Geographic Society hosted a virtual field trip on April 21 at 1 p.m. ET. The program is now available to watch on-demand on YouTube !

In this virtual field trip, dive into learning about what whale history and culture can teach us, how remotely operated vehicles give us an unprecedented view of seamounts in the Galápagos Islands, and how eco-journalism inspires change.

You’ll meet National Geographic Explorers who illuminate, celebrate, and protect the beating blue heart of our planet, including: 

• Brian Skerry | Brian is a photojournalist who specializes in marine wildlife and underwater environments. He has spent more than 10,000 hours underwater exploring the world’s oceans. His most recent project has taken him diving all over the world to document the cultures of various whale species. 
• Salomé Buglass | Salomé is a marine ecologist with a deep passion for exploration and ocean conservation. Working with the Charles Darwin Foundation in the  Galápagos Marine Reserve, Salomé uses remotely operated vehicles to survey and sample seamounts—large geologic landforms that rise from the ocean floor.
• Sruthi Gurudev | Young Explorer Sruthi Gurudev is an eco-journalist with two clear missions: providing ocean solutions and building a network of empowered youth through writing and editing her online magazine, An Hour in the Deep .

“If you look at a picture of Earth from space, you instantly see two things: We live on this very beautiful blue jewel floating out in the darkness of space, but you can also instantly see that we live on a water planet.” – Brian Skerry

For more opportunities to celebrate Earth Day and our blue planet follow @NatGeoEducation on Twitter and Facebook !

This Virtual Field Trip is in partnership with the DC Collaborative. For more Washington, DC arts and humanities educational programs, check out the DC Collaborative .

Feature image by Brian Skerry

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40 Amazing Educational Virtual Field Trips

No permission slips needed.

Virtual field trips are a game changer. Not only do they fill in for real field trips when budgets and other roadblocks prevent in-person options, but virtual field trips also open doors to educational experiences all over the country and the world, both past and present. No fundraising or permission slips required!

(Note: For anyone who needs it, YouTube offers a closed-captioning option. Just click the CC button in the bottom right-hand corner.)

1. Amazon Career Tours

Amazon Career Tours are free virtual field trips that inspire students to pursue careers of the future. Tour whenever, wherever on Kahoot! Each tour comes with a Teacher Toolkit that includes a facilitation guide and student worksheets.

• (New!) Amazon Music: Careers Behind the Beats : From studio to streaming, check out how computer science and amazing professionals make listening to your favorite songs possible.
• Amazon Fulfillment Center Tour : Explore how packages get delivered at lightning speed and how computer science, engineering, and real people work together to make the magic happen. 
• Data Center Tour 1: Uncovering Cloud Computing : Do students know what “the cloud” actually is? Find out how we went from renting movies at the store to streaming them from anywhere at any time.
• Data Center Tour 2: Keeping Data Safe and Sustainable : Discover the infrastructure that keeps your information safe and sustainable while diving into data careers of the future.
• Space Innovation Tour : Students will learn about the amazing technology on board the Orion spacecraft in NASA’s Artemis I flight test and hear from the engineers who made it all possible.

There are so many amazing online options when it comes to zoos that we couldn’t narrow it down to just one. Most zoos have live webcams in some of their most popular exhibits, such as the KC Zoo Polar Bear Cam and the Giant Panda Cam at Smithsonian’s National Zoo . However, some zoos offer a more in-depth look. You’ll definitely want to check out the San Diego Zoo as their site for kids includes behind-the-scenes videos and stories, as well as a variety of printable activities and online games. Check out our full list of virtual zoo goodness.

3. The Aquarium

It’s a similar story with aquariums. You have your pick of live webcams, but our favorites are the Georgia Aquarium’s Ocean Voyager webcam (wait for the whale shark!) and the “Jelly Cam” at Monterey Bay Aquarium (so soothing). The Seattle Aquarium even has a 30-minute video tour . Want more under-the-sea fun? Here’s our ultimate list of virtual aquarium field trips.

4. The Farm

The classic preschool field trip goes online! You can have your pick of dairy farm field trips, but we like this one from the Dairy Alliance  and this one from Stonyfield Organic . Farm Food 360 gives students the opportunity to immerse themselves in Canadian farm and food tours—from raising pigs to making milk and cheese. We’re also loving these virtual egg farm field trips from the American Egg Board.

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5. An Art Museum

We found 20 art museums with virtual tours , including the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s # MetKids and its awesome Where’s Waldo? setup. And you can’t miss the world-famous Louvre in Paris (no passport needed!). Check out the current virtual tours: Traveling Materials and Objects, the Advent of the Artist, the Body in Movement, and Founding Myths: From Hercules to Darth Vader!

6. A National Park

From webcams at Hawaii volcanoes to a virtual run along the rim of the Grand Canyon , you have tons of options here. Our top pick would have to be Yellowstone. The interactive maps are a great way to see the Mammoth Hot Springs and Mud Volcano, but we think kids will be psyched about the Old Faithful Geyser livestream and the opportunity to make their own predictions for its next eruption . Check out everything the National Park Service has to offer virtually.

7. A Planetarium

Through Stellarium Web , kids can explore over 60,000 stars, locate planets, and watch sunrises and solar eclipses. If you enter your location, you can see all the constellations that are visible in the night sky in your corner of the world.

8. A Recycling Center

Take your students on a virtual field trip of a recycling center and a modern landfill . Plus, there’s a full-on curriculum that includes lesson plans, take-home handouts, and more.

9. Slime in Space

Nickelodeon teamed up with two astronauts on the International Space Station to demonstrate how slime reacts to microgravity and had kids reproduce those same demonstrations back here on Earth. It makes for an amazing 15-minute virtual field trip .

10. Nature Lab

The Nature Conservancy has a brand-new virtual field trip entitled “You’re the Scientist! Citizen Science, Frogs & Cicadas.” Check out their full library of videos on topics like climate change and water security.

11. Discovery Education

Discovery Education hosts a variety of virtual events —each with a companion guide with hands-on learning activities. Current offerings include “Making a New Life: The Courage of a Refugee” and “The Future Is Now” (architectural and engineering innovations). Stay tuned for their upcoming civics virtual field trip, “The American Ideal.”

12. The Great Lakes

This virtual field trip from Great Lakes Now has three components: coastal wetlands, algae, and lake sturgeon. Each video is a quick five minutes long.

13. The Strong National Museum of Play

Explore online exhibits and discover the history and evolution of play. Check out board games that changed play, sports video games that shaped digital play, and the making of Monopoly to name a few.

14. U.S. Census Bureau

Kids can learn about the most recent Census and how census data is collected and used. This virtual field trip also features interviews with subject matter experts and an interactive challenge.

15. National Constitution Center

The “Museum of We the People,” the Constitution Center serves as a “headquarters for civic education.” Check out the Interactive Constitution section , and be sure to watch the virtual tour .

16. The Johnson Space Center

Houston, we have a virtual field trip. Three, actually. All with companion educator guides. The star of the show is the behind-the-scenes tour of the Johnson Space Center .

17. Birthplace of Music

Boise State put together this fully interactive virtual field trip with text, photos, audio, and video about the history of music. The four featured music locations are: Vienna, Austria; New Orleans, Louisiana; Cleveland, Ohio; and Bristol, Tennessee-Virginia.

18. Colonial Williamsburg

This living-history museum provides a look into life in an early American community. The website offers five different webcams featuring areas such as the tavern and the armory.

19. Mount Vernon

This virtual experience of George Washington’s home is incredibly well done. Enter the different buildings—from the opulent mansion to the chilling slave quarters—and click on different items for video and text explanations.

20. Mount Rushmore

This virtual tour comes with a real tour guide! Blaine Kortemeyer is the Assistant Chief of Interpretation and Education, who lends his expertise on the building of this national monument. The 3D Explorer is also an excellent tool.

21. The Manhattan Project

Take a visit to the National WWII Museum for “a cross-country virtual expedition to discover the science, sites, and stories of the creation of the atomic bomb.” Don’t forget to download the classroom guide!

22. The White House

For a look inside the iconic building, check out the 360° tour of some of the most historic rooms of the People’s House, from the Situation Room to the Oval Office. Examine each room and check out the contents up close.

23. The Smithsonian

The National Museum of Natural History’s virtual experiences are self-guided, room-by-room tours of permanent, current, and past exhibits. Be sure to send kids to the second floor Bone Hall so they can take a look at all different kinds of skeletons.

24. Google Arts & Culture

A collaboration with over 1,200 leading museums and archives, Google Arts & Culture is an incredible storehouse of monumental works of art. We recommend the Street View and Play sections.

25. 360 Cities

Boasting the world’s largest collection of 360° image videos, 360 Cities provides kids with the opportunity to see stunning panoramas across the globe, including their video of the ice floe on the Vistula River in Poland.

26. Buckingham Palace

It’s the official residence of the Queen of England, and boy, is it opulent! Get a peek inside the gorgeous Grand Staircase, White Drawing Room, Throne Room, and Blue Drawing Room.

27. The Great Wall of China

See one of the wonders of the world with this amazing, thousands-year-old fortification system known the world over. This virtual tour has four scenes available (you have to pay to get access to all 14). The bird’s-eye view of Mutianyu pass is a highlight.

28. Easter Island

Most of us recognize the giant stone statues of Easter Island, but what’s the story behind them? Nova’s online adventure “Secrets of Easter Island” delves into the mystery with a virtual tour.

29. Son Doong Cave

National Geographic lets you explore the world’s largest cave, located in Vietnam. Use the interactive map to enjoy the fully immersive experience (sound on!).

30. Ancient Egypt

You don’t need a time machine! Discovering Ancient Egypt has a ton of free resources, but it’s the interactive pyramid map and 3D temple reconstructions that really give it a field trip feel.

31. Back Through Time

Virtually visit Turn Back the Clock , a museum exhibit that ran for two years at the Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago. Through compelling personal stories, innovative interactive media, and pop culture artifacts, the exhibit takes guests through seven decades of history—from the dawn of the nuclear age to significant policy questions our leaders face today.

No, really! You can absolutely “go” to the red planet. With Access Mars , you can see the actual surface of Mars, recorded by NASA’s Curiosity rover. Trust us—don’t skip the intro. And if your kids liked that, check out this 4K tour of the moon . These may go down in history as some of the best virtual field trips your students get to experience.

33. The Battleship New Jersey

Take a virtual tour of this historical battleship located on the Camden waterfront. This battleship has traveled more miles than any other!

34. The Vatican

No need to travel to Rome! Take in the amazing art and architecture located in the Vatican Museums with these 360-degree views.

35. Space Center Houston

Download the app and climb aboard the virtual tram line! Take a virtual walk through the Space Center Houston with informational stops along the way.

36. The Louvre

Virtually visit museum rooms in the famous Louvre located in Paris. Even check out The Louvre kids’ site for student-friendly galleries and stories. You can’t visit The Louvre without seeing the Mona Lisa , so check out their immersive Mona Lisa experience available in the app store.

37. Ellis Island

This interactive tour of Ellis Island lets students explore places like the Baggage Room and the Stairs of Separation through short stories, historical photographs, videos, and audio clips. Students can also hear the stories of real kids who recently immigrated to the United States, explore colorful charts and graphs with immigration data, and watch a 30-minute movie that includes a Q&A with National Park Service Rangers who explain what coming to America was like for many immigrants.

38. Plimoth Patuxet Museums

Travel back to the 17th century with options for free, on-demand, digital resources or a live, 1-hour virtual school program led by a Plimoth Patuxet Contemporary Indigenous Museum Educator. Students explore Wampanoag daily life and history; discover the real history of Thanksgiving and the legend behind it; meet a 17th-century Pilgrim; get an interactive sneak peak into 17th-century wardrobes; and learn about simple machines and water power at the Plimoth Grist Mill. There are also options for virtual hands-on history workshops, including Wampanoag Pottery and Write Like a Pilgrim.

39. Children’s Museum Houston

When you can’t visit the museum in person, 3D virtual field trips to the Children’s Museum Houston are the next best thing. All videos are produced and curated by museum educators and feature hands-on activities that can be done in the classroom. Topics include nutrition, math, states of matter, forces and properties of water, and more.

40. Museum of the American Revolution

Beyond the Battle Field is a virtual field trip for grades 2-8 hosted by Lauren Tarshis, author of the I Survived historical-fiction series for kids. Students will meet a museum educator as well as the museum curator, and explore artifacts and documents from the American Revolution. Plus they’ll hear the stories of teens who served during the war. There’s also a Classroom Kit available with a vocabulary list and discussion questions by grade level.

If you liked this roundup of the best virtual field trips and want more resources like this, be sure to  subscribe to our newsletters.

Plus, check out the best field trip ideas for every age and interest (virtual options too) ..

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The City of U.S.

A virtual field trip to washington, d.c., join us for a monumental trip to washington, d.c..

Designed for students in grades 4-8, this action-packed tour features remarkable special guests and give viewers an inside look at six landmark locations:

• The White House
• The U.S. Capitol Building
• The Supreme Court
• The Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial
• Arlington National Cemetery and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
• The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum

Featuring Inspiring Special Guests

Dr. jill biden.

First Lady of the United States of America

The Honorable Jane L. Campbell

Luke mccloud, secretary deb haaland, yolanda king, dr. allison finkelstein, staff sergeant evan mcintosh.

Relief Commander Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Dr. Jennifer Lavasseur

The City of U.S. Virtual Field Trip

Having trouble viewing? You can also view this video on YouTube .

Resources for Educators, Students, & Families

We’ve curated a variety of resources and content to help engage your students, including:

• The City of U.S. Educator Companion Guide
• The City of U.S. Afterschool Guide
• The City of U.S. Family Guide

If you have Discovery Education, you can also find these additional new resources in service:

• Portrait of Washington, D.C. Channel
• Washington, D.C. (Grades 3-5) Student Activity Board
• Washington D.C. (Grades 6-8) Student Activity Board

Share On Social Media

Use these fun postcards to tell others about your Virtual Field Trip to Washington, D.C.! Simply click on the button below to download the images, then click the tweet button below and add an image to the pre-populated social post.

I virtually visited Washington, D.C. today with @DiscoveryEd ! Watch the City of U.S. Virtual Field Trip, supported by @Comcast Community Impact: bit.ly/3w90Pdq #CelebrateWithDE

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Virtual Field Trips: Ideas & Examples With Links

By: Angela Robinson | Updated: August 01, 2022

You found our list of the best virtual field trips .

Virtual field trips are class outings that take place online, via platforms like Zoom, Google Street View or websites. While some of these activities consist of pre-recorded tours and videos, the best options tend to involve live video feed and student interaction with guides. Examples activities include digital walks along The Great Wall of China and a scrollable deep sea dive. These activities are also known as “online field trips” and “digital field trips”.

These adventures are an example of online classroom activities and often include virtual tours .

This articles includes:

• interactive virtual field trips
• virtual field trips for students
• the best virtual field trip ideas
• free virtual field trips for kids
• live virtual field trips

Here is the list!

List of virtual field trip ideas

From virtual cockpit tours to online historical sites to do-it-yourself options, here is a list of ideas for virtual field trips to captivate and educate students.

1. Online Zoo (Behind the Scenes)

A digital zoo tour is one of the best virtual field trips for kids. While virtual trips may not let students see otters float, elephants play, and lions strut up close, a digital tour allows for more intimate behind-the-scenes access.

Your class can get close with the animals and walk paths usually reserved for zookeepers. While you may not be able to fit 30 squirming first graders into a baby animal nursery or an operating room, the guide can easily broadcast from these venues. Also, since the visit takes place entirely online, you can visit a zoo that is otherwise far from you.

Here is a starter list:

• San Antonio Zoo
• San Diego Zoo
• Cincinnati Zoo (self-guided tours, livestream safari and feeding times)

Many other zoos stream live animal webcams that you and your class can watch. You can also contact your local zoo directly to inquire about facilitated virtual tours and school group discounts.

During the online visit, your students can ask questions using the hand raising or chat features in the video conferencing platform. Once your tour concludes, your students can enjoy thematic snacks such as zebra cakes, goldfish, and of course, animal crackers.

Check our more virtual zoo tours .

2. Virtual Safari

When you do a virtual safari, your students can observe lions, elephants and other animals in their natural habitat. Wild Earth offers twice daily live safaris. Since the broadcast occurs on African time, your best bet is to tune in for the sunset safari, which live streams from 9:00am to 12:30pm Eastern Standard Time. The safari broadcasts from several nature reserves and features animals such as lions, leopards, cheetahs, and hyenas. During the tour, viewers can ask park rangers questions. The unscripted nature of the broadcast lends an element of excitement, since animal sightings are always a surprise.

Learn more at Wild Earth .

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3. Under the Sea Visit

Unless you are secretly Miss Frizzle from The Magic Schoolbus, you cannot whisk your class to the bottom of the ocean in a submarine. However, you can lead your students on an online field trip of the ocean.

The Deep Sea by Neal Agarwal shows all sorts of marine life in the ocean. Viewers can scroll deeper into the ocean, discovering the animals that dwell at each depth. For a fun pre-tour exercise, distribute a handout with the names of various species and challenge students to guess at which depth the creature lives. Then, check answers as you plunge further down into the ocean.

Journey to The Deep Sea .

4. Aquarium Webcam Livestream

The Monterey Bay Aquarium hosts live cams for animals, including sea otters, penguins, jellyfish, and sharks. Aquarium employees narrate during feeding time, so for maximum engagement consider tuning in during mealtimes. The aquarium website also offers free online classes for ages ranging from kindergarten to high school, resources for teachers, and crafts and printables.

Dive into the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s live webcams .

5. Virtual Tour of the Great Wall of China

Your students can trek the Great Wall of China from the comfort of home. For $15, The China Guide offers a guided tour through high resolution images of the Great Wall of China via Zoom. Your students can also take part in question and answer sessions with an expert and have an interactive experience.

Stroll the Great Wall of China .

6. NASA Commercial Crew Program

Until recently, space wasn’t on the list of field trip destinations. NASA decided to teleport students directly to space camp by curating a virtual field trip that highlights its commercial crew program. Teachers can transmit a series of educational videos onto virtual reality sets to create an immersive experience. The tour guide leads virtual visitors through spaceship crew pits and launching pads while explaining the process of becoming an astronaut. The tour puts a heavy emphasis on STEM education and directs teachers to resources useful for supplementary science and math lessons.

Learn more about NASA’s at-home STEM activities .

7. Disney Parks Digital Tour

Most children dream of the day the teacher announces a field trip to Disney World. While students may not be able to ride teacups or roller coasters during a digital tour of Disney, they can still experience the excitement of the happiest place on earth by touring a high resolution Google Street view of the parks.

Students who have not yet visited Disney can see what the park is like, and those that have visited can point out sites and share stories. You can also include Disney history and lessons on the inspirations behind the attractions to make the tour more educational. Consider serving Disney themed snacks during breaks, and perhaps initiating a singalong during a music lesson. With the money you save on transportation and admission, you could even hire a beloved Disney character to pay the class a visit.

Learn more about Disney Parks Digital Tour .

8. Streaming Broadway Shows

Instead of escorting your students to a Broadway show, summon a Broadway stage to your classroom. Broadway HD has a library of hundreds of productions, including rare and obscure shows. While not in real time, most filmed productions on the site are of live shows. Your students can uncover hard to find productions and learn about American theatre history too. Broadway HD offers a one week free trial, as well as monthly and yearly subscription options.

Watch a Broadway show .

9. Virtual Reality Rainforest Tour

Even if you had the budget to fly your class to the Amazon, a real-life tour would be too risky for a field trip. A virtual tour lets students experience panoramic views of lush rain forests while learning about indigenous communities and conservation efforts. The tour is viewable as an immersive experience via virtual reality devices, or as a 360 degree video on regular devices. By participating in the Under the Canopy tour, students come to understand the importance of the rain forest and its connection to human life as a whole.

Embark on a virtual reality rain forest tour .

10. Computerized Cockpit Tours

Livestream cockpit tours make thrilling virtual field trips for high school students. While airline regulations call for restricted cockpit access, you may be able to find a private pilot willing to give your students a Skype tour of the craft. The pilot might even broadcast a quick flight.

If you cannot find a live guide, then the following organizations provide self-guided tours with pilot-perspective views of various aircraft:

• The Naval Aviation Museum
• Experimental Aircraft Association
• National Museum of the USAF
• Museum of Flight

Or, you could download and run a flight simulator that gives students the chance to navigate and land a virtual plane.

11. Living Rooms Around the World

A living room might seem like an odd choice for a virtual field trip, but a living room located across the globe is as fascinating as any other destination. You can plan a tour of foreign homes so that your students can learn how everyday life differs around the world.

If you know individuals in other countries willing to Zoom with your students, then you can reach out to these acquaintances and coordinate your experience directly. If not, then you can contact a foreign exchange program or local university for help. You can also watch the Life Where I’m From channel on YouTube, though live tours with question and answer sessions are more personal and immersive.

You and your students can also check out Dollar Street for a strong visual map of how people live around the world.

12. Virtual Tour of the Louvre

The Louvre is one of the most famous museums in the world, but many people will never visit in person. By taking your class on a virtual tour of the Louvre, you save airfare and time spent waiting in line.

The Louvre offers high resolution, 360 degree tours of various exhibitions on its website. Your class can explore Egyptian antiquities, classic Italian paintings, and the remains of an underground moat, all without leaving the classroom.

The Louvre site also directs visitors towards a downloadable “VR Mona Lisa” app that provides an up close peek at the famous painting, and other video and at-home experiences.

Visit the Louvre .

13. Online Tour of the British Museum

The British Museum’s online Museum of the World exhibit lets visitors view and sort artifacts based on time period, area of origin, and themes such as religion or trade. Each point on the timeline contains pictures, descriptions, an audio file, and links to related objects.

This format lends itself well to a virtual scavenger hunt . Solving an activity helps students focus and remain more engaged, which results in students learning more from the experience.

Explore the British Museum .

14. Digital Tour of the Van Gogh Museum

While the digital tour of the Van Gogh Museum fails to capture the paintings’ texture, it does offer contextual information on the artist’s most famous images such as Almond Blossom and Self-portrait With Grey Felt Hat . This tour also provides background information about Van Gogh’s life, with several narrative timelines.

Check out the Van Gogh Museum .

15. Google Meets Visit to the Guggenheim

The Guggenheim offers an interactive virtual museum experience. Booking a tour gives your class access to a guide for one hour, and your class will view three to five famous works and participate in an ongoing Q&A session. The museum educator facilitates activities that encourage students to engage with the art. All tours take place via Zoom or Google Meet.

Though the museum gears most tours towards grade school, they also hold separate online tours for university students and adults as well.

Book a Virtual Group Visit to the Guggenheim .

16. Computerized Career Days

Career day is a staple of the school experience. Typically, parents and community professionals visit classrooms to talk to students about various jobs. Online, these professionals can actually take students along on the job. Students can go to work with firefighters, underwater welders, cake decorators, farmers, or any other interesting vocations that do not mind taking the kids along.

Career days can be an ongoing series, with a five to 15-minute tour of a different workplace every session. This approach spreads the fun across a larger span of time by hosting a mini field trip every day, instead of condensing all the excitement into a single afternoon.

You can do online career tests too, or plan a virtual take your child to work day .

17. Remote City Tours

Tour guides in many cities offer a verbal history and visual slideshow via software like Zoom and WebEx. Remote city tours are one of the easiest-to-execute virtual field trip ideas. The guides already mapped the path and prepared the presentation; you only need to book the tour and show up with your class.

The crew here at TeamBuilding recently embarked on a virtual tour of Black Broadway in Washington DC and an online Harry Potter tour of Edinburgh, Scotland. Our team thoroughly enjoyed both tours and learned a lot.

18. Online Historical Sites

Many online field trips focus on learning about history. You and your class can visit significant sites all around the world and learn how these locations shaped modern history.

Here is a short list of historical sites with online experiences:

• The Sistine Chapel
• The Taj Mahal
• Ellis Island
• Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
• Gettysburg Battlefield

There are many other historically significant locations you can visit online.

19. DIY Virtual Field Trips

Some schools give students options to vote on the yearly field trip. Since online field trips use minimal time and resources, every student can design a dream trip. Instead of organizing a virtual trip yourself, you can assign the planning to your students. Every participant can design an itinerary by using Google Tour Creator .

Students may choose to explore areas such as the tombs of pharaohs, or the birth cities of American jazz. Your students will become the tour guides and teach peers about the chosen topic.

Most of these virtual field trips are available to anyone, and are free to access, meaning your students can visit or revisit the sites anytime. To make your activity extra special, seek out guide-led, live, interactive experiences so that your students can hold conversations with an expert. You can also supplement the trip with assignments and fun games.

Next, check out our list of games to play on Zoom, this list of Google Meet games , and this one with online art classes .

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FAQ: Virtual field trips

Here are some of the most common questions and answers about virtual field trips.

What are virtual field trips?

Virtual field trips are learning excursions that happen online through video conferencing software, livestream video, or digital map and photograph platforms. For example, a virtual zoo tour or an online visit to the Great Wall of China.

What are good online field trip ideas?

The best online field trips often revolve around experiences that are off-limits or logistically impossible for in-person visits. To keep students interested, these activities should involve interactive elements such as question and answer sessions, games, and special requests.

How do you do a virtual field trip?

The first step in planning virtual field trips is to decide on your venue and activity. You can choose between self-guided tours or live-guided experiences. Typically, live video and interaction makes for a more compelling visit. Once you choose your trip, pick a day and time for your visit and inform the students. You can plan additional activities like research assignments and presentations to enhance your student’s learning. You can also make the day special by providing themed snacks.

Author: Angela Robinson

Marketing Coordinator at teambuilding.com. Angela has a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and worked as a community manager with Yelp to plan events for businesses.

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Marketing Coordinator at teambuilding.com.

Angela has a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and worked as a community manager with Yelp to plan events for businesses.

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National Museum of Natural History Virtual Tours

Access the tours.

The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History virtual tours allow visitors to take self-guided, room-by-room tours of select exhibits and areas within the museum from their desktop or mobile device. Visitors can also access select collections and research areas at our satellite support and research stations as well as past exhibits no longer on display.

Virtual Tour Tips

• To navigate between adjoining rooms in the tours, click on the blue arrow links on the floor or use the navigation map in the upper right of the presentation screen.
• Look for the camera icon which gives you a close-up view of a particular object or exhibit panel.
• Try zooming in as some of the images are stitched together from individual pictures in order to create very high resolution gigapixel images.

Please note: This tour and these presentations have been tested and should work on all common devices, browsers, and operating systems (using a desktop computer with Windows, Mac, Linux or a mobile device such as an iPhone, iPad, or Android). Functionality and appearance may vary as it will adjust automatically to accommodate the most visitors. While the virtual tour has no advertising, ad blocking software or browser settings that block JavaScript and/or XML may interfere with the functionality of the virtual tour. Please let us know what you think of the tour and how the experience can be improved. Send your feedback to the NMNH Web Team .

Site Credit: Imagery and coding by Loren Ybarrondo

Equipment Used: Professional Nikon digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) camera bodies and lenses. The photography is typically done using rectilinear lenses with minimized distortion and shooting equirectangular panoramas at 22K pixels on the long side.

Software Used: No authoring software is used. The tours are hand-coded in HTML5 and JavaScript using the krpano graphics library.

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45 Virtual Field Trips for Homeschoolers

V irtual field trips for homeschoolers open up a world of educational opportunities without leaving home. These digital excursions are perfect for integrating diverse, immersive experiences into your homeschool curriculum. Virtual museum tours are cost-effective and logistically simple and provide access to global destinations and subjects that might otherwise be out of reach. From exploring natural...

The post 45 Virtual Field Trips for Homeschoolers appeared first on Homeschool of 1 .

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What Our Customers Have To Say

5th Grade Teacher , Hawaii

“ I took my students on a Virtual Trip to the Amazon today!  They told me this field trip was much better than the one we went on from Discovery Education!!! “

3rd Grade Teacher , Maryland

“I just want to let you know how much of a blessing this site has been to me and to my students during this pandemic.  The theme in my classroom is “travel.” We have been able to continue with this theme by having weekly field trips. It is the highlight of everyone’s week. This was by far one of the best purchases I made this year.”

3rd Grade Teacher , North Carolina

“My 6th grade students are always excited to learn through reading and the Virtual Field Trips site. The videos are incredibly engaging and informative. The ease of use is very appreciated as a teacher pressed for time.”

6th Grade Teacher , Arizona

“I use the Virtual Field Trips site and the students LOVE it. Learning by virtually experiencing has been highly successful for my students. A few of our favorites are the Amazon, Coral Reefs, African Safari, and Rome.”

Thank you very, very much for including your site for free during distance learning. You made the virtual field trips easy for both teachers and children to use. All I had to do was copy the link into my Seesaw activity and my kiddos just tapped on the link and learned about places, people, and things. The DC Tour fit in nicely with their weekly reading selection on U.S. symbols. 

2nd Grade Teacher , Virginia

“You have brightened my day, as I have looked extensively for high quality virtual trips, and your site is clearly one of the best I’ve found!”

5th Grade Teacher , Minnesota

“I teach 9th graders who are 2 to 3 years behind in their reading and writing.  They are also socioeconomically disadvantaged with not many experiences to write about.  I thought this would give them something to write about as well as be educational and enjoyable.  We do one each Monday and they love them!  They ask, “Where are we going today?”

9th Grade Teacher , Texas

“Your videos and accompanying lesson ideas are very helpful and high quality.”

8th Grade Teacher , New Mexico

“I teach grades K-3 Science, Social Studies, Government, Geography, and Economics.  I have found Virtual Field Trips videos a valuable piece in many areas.  I use an interactive white board on a daily basis and have been able to link the videos into the flip charts making access to them very easy during the lesson.  I look forward to more of these quality videos.”

Exploration Teacher , Minnesota

“I really appreciate the value of this site.  My students are very much enjoying it.  Thank you!”

3rd Grade Teacher , Montana

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

1st Grade Teacher, Teacher Librarian , Toronto

El Limonar International School in Murcia, Spain absolutely loved Virtual Field Trips when we were given the opportunity to use it in June. 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.

4th Grade Teacher , Spain

I really want to thank Virtual Field Trips for allowing full access during the hardest time of education when we had to switch to remote so suddenly. It was super exciting for the students to tour around the world with just a click! They loved all the videos and naturally the assignments that followed. I really appreciate the support! Thank you thank you thank you!

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

4th Grade Teacher , New Mexico

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Research Says:

Research shows that virtual field trips can:[su_list icon=”icon: check” icon_color=”#e02b20″]

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• Provide the benefits of field trips without the expense.
• So much more –  check it out!

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• Time-pressed teachers.
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• Visual learners.
• Disadvantaged students.
• ESL students.
• Students with dyslexia.
• Reluctant readers/writers.
• Literacy programs.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Where are the quizzes, quizzes are at the bottom of the full video page..

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

CAN I SHARE VIDEO LINKS WITH MY STUDENTS?

Yes. As a subscriber, you will find all of your video links on your Account page. You won’t be able to successfully share the URL’s from the video pages on the website. Those URL’s will end up showing an error message because they are behind the login wall.

WHAT MAKES OUR VIDEOS DIFFERENT?

Our videos are researched, written, and produced by educators for educators.  Teachers and instructional professionals are responsible for the production of each video and quiz.

Our videos are also different because they are closely aligned with the curriculum.  In particular the social studies, geography, life science, and ancient civilization curriculums.

Each video is professionally narrated by voice actors.  We hope you’ll agree that not many other “educational” videos can say the same.

ARE SUBSCRIPTIONS FOR A SCHOOL YEAR OR A CALENDAR YEAR?

Subscriptions run for a calendar year.  So, if someone subscribes on November 1st then the subscription runs until October 31st of the next year. They are not related to the school year.

WHAT DO I GET WITH MY SUBSCRIPTION?

Each subscription allows for unlimited video viewing and use of the quizzes.  In the case of an individual video subscription, that means unlimited viewing of the single video. A Teacher + Classroom subscription allows unlimited access to all videos on the website, as does a Schoolwide site license.

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What does teacher + classroom mean.

A Teacher + Classroom subscription means that the videos and video links can be shared by a teacher with all her/his students.

DO I NEED ANY SPECIAL SOFTWARE OR TECHNOLOGY TO WATCH YOUR VIDEOS?

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HOW CAN MY STUDENTS ACCESS THE VIDEOS?

Teachers share their video links with their students.  They can be copied into other platforms like Google Classroom. Video links can be found on your Account page (see link in Footer). Page URLs can’t be copied and pasted because they are behind the login wall.

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At this moment they are not closed-captioned. We do offer to provide transcripts of a video if that can be of help.  It is our intention to have all of our videos closed-captioned as soon as we can, since we appreciate how important this is.

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