5 Ideas for A Virtual
Family Adventure
(Family Features) A dream vacation
is the perfect antidote to stress and the
monotony of daily life. When a getaway
isn't in the cards, you can still escape
and explore new places virtually.
A virtual trip can be a great way
to explore destinations you might
consider for a future vacation, or it may
be a chance to see remarkable sights
around the world that you wouldn't
get to experience otherwise. Virtual
travel can also engage kids in learning
when you pair the experience with
lessons on culture, geography or even a
homemade take on local culinary treats.
Add authenticity to the experience
with special touches that mimic the
ambiance. If you're visiting the beach,
kick up the heat and turn on a fan
for some breeze. Light a coconut-
scented candle and enjoy a bowl of ice
cream while you take in the sights.
Get your virtual adventures
underway with these selections
from the travel experts at Vrbo:
Look around the Louvre in Paris
Explore the Egyptian Antiquities,
remains of the Louvre's Moat
and Galerie d'Apollon by virtual
museum tour as you head inside
this iconic art lover's institution.
Sneak inside the
San Diego Zoo.
Get up close and personal with
the resident apes, penguins, pandas,
giraffes, elephants and tigers in
real time via one of the many live
cams positioned to spot wildlife
from the comfort of your couch.
32 LAKE WEDOWEE LIFE
Walk the Great Wall of China.
Make your Great Wall goals a
reality. Get a glimpse of this 300-
mile wonder of the world with a
cyber stroll before dreaming up
your own future family trip.
Watch big wave
surfing in Maui.
Transport yourself to the beach as
you watch white-knuckle surfing at its
most surreal. Whether you're a super
fan or first-time spectator of the sport,
it's a compelling beach-cam watch and
a welcome escape from the everyday.
Travel 352 million
miles to Mars.
Feel a world away as you explore
Mars from aboard NASA's Curiosity
Rover. Learn as you roam between
its different mission sites for a
virtual, yet realistic, view of the Red
Planet's remarkable landscape.
For families who miss traveling
together, you can share the joys
of your virtual journey through
videoconferencing and adding some
extra ambiance and a change of scenery
by downloading a travel wallpaper
for your meeting background. If the
virtual destinations inspire you to
visit in person someday, use resources
like Vrbo's Trip Boards to create a
list of places to stay as soon as you
can get away, and keep the dream
going by sending the link to family
members and asking them to vote
and comment on their favorites.
Find more travel-inspired ideas to
pass your time at home at vrbo.com.