COVID-19 has skulked in like a slick Trojan Horse with a boot to kick ass and a list to take names, and here we sit. Like ducks. Are you waiting and wondering what’s next? How long this’ll take? I’m convinced that no one knows anything, really – experts and politicians and talking heads dribbling and shooting like freshmen on the varsity team. (Y’all know it’s bad if I’m using sports metaphors.) Are you planning future travel? Because I sure am. This is a blip. It’s a reckoning and an awakening and a reset, but what it’s NOT is an everlasting predicament for all time. It’s the boss of us now but it’s not going to kill our travel dreams. So help me God.
If you have an internet connection then you, my friends, own round trip tickets on the magic carpet. We’re limited only by our imaginations, so where do you want to go? Now is the time to be an armchair traveler, because we’re available, because we have access, and because this too, shall pass. Consider it research.
Live Cams (mostly animals and landmarks because people aren’t doing much at the mo.) Travel to:
- Farm Sanctuary (Watkins Glen, New York, USA) Absolutely unbothered sheep. We could really take some lessons from them.
- Bourbon Street, and all of the glasses are empty (New Orleans, Louisiana, USA)
- The Bellagio Casino (Las Vegas, Nevada, USA) The last time casinos closed in Vegas was when JFK was shot and killed – and that was for one day.
- Get inside a beehive (Waal, Bavaria, Germany) Bzzz Bzzz Busy, indeed.
- Pipeline surfing (Ehukai Beach, Oahu, Hawaii, USA) Banzai!
- Panda antics (Gengda, Sichuan, China) Cute and lazy; like sloths in bear clothes.
- Bondi Beach (Sydney, Australia) We got some worries, mate.
- Puppies!!! East Coast Assistance Dogs (Torrington, Connecticut, USA) See Allie and her babies, all named after National Parks.
Photo: ECAD 
Photo: Anne Frank Museum
- The Gorilla Forest Corridor (Kasugho, the Democratic Republic of the Congo) Poaching remains problematic, gosh these animals are incredible.
- Skyline by the Yarra River (Melbourne, Australia)
- Viva la Africa Think reality TV – it’s the good, the bad, and the ugly. From Greater Krueger National Park in South Africa.
- The San Diego Zoo (California, USA) Penguins, Polar bears, Baboons and Koalas.
- Shibuya Crossing The epicenter of Tokyo’s Times Square – still bustling.
- The Roman Colosseum (Italy) All quiet for now.
- The Western Wall (Jerusalem, Israel) Listen to the chirps of the birds!
Via Social Media Channels
- Twitter: Tim at the National Cowboy Museum will make you feel like you’re right in Oklahoma City (And he’s adorably, ineptly, accidentally hilarious) @ncwhm Yehaw!! *Am I the only one who finds him a dead ringer for Blake Shelton?
- Twitter: The UK is off the table, so Patrick Stewart is reading Shakespeare on the daily @SirPatStew
- Facebook: Since you can’t get to Broadway right now, Here Arts Center hosts Wednesday Watch Parties
- YouTube’s National Geographic channel Sooooo much to see here
- The Anne Frank House in Amsterdam (requires an app)
- YouTube offers a 5-hour walk through Russia’s Iconic Hermitage Museum along with ‘interpretive dance.’ (And the music is meditative, too.)
Virtual Tours and websites
- Who says you’ll never make it to Monaco?
- You’ll have the whole place to yourself … well, just you and God. See the Vatican City’s Sistine Chapel
- Jump on to Trover for the most comprehensive set of travel lure you’ll ever see. It’s like Pinterest for travelers without the distractions of kittens and crochet. Geotagged photos document ‘discoveries’ and include tips, so you get both the inspo AND the info.
- Yosemite National Park
- The Great Wall of China has been in existence for 2,000 years and it’s China’s oldest landmark.
How has coronavirus affected your travel plans? Did you have insurance; were you able to get your money returned? What are you doing to stay sane?
We have a Southern Caribbean cruise booked for the last week in May. We will probably have to cancel.
This is a great list! Going to check out some of those live cams 😀