Six Virtual Experiences to Help You Connect With Nature
After being cooped up during coronavirus lockdowns for such a long time, people are starting to forget what being in nature even feels like. Although several countries across the globe have the pandemic under control and are relatively safe to visit, health authorities recommend that we all avoid non-essential travel. Virtual travel is the closest many of us nature lovers are going to get to the great outdoors during the pandemic.
Virtual travel experiences have seen a dramatic surge in popularity since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. Using only a digital screen and an internet connection, you can explore many of the world’s most stunning natural places from the comfort of your own home.
Visit China’s Zhāngjiājiè National Forest Park
Famous for its sandstone landforms, grotesque peaks, lucid brooks, and dense forest, Zhāngjiājiè Forest is one of the most popular attractions in China. The floating peaks of the Hallelujah Mountains in the film Avatar were m after the gorgeous quartz-sandstone pillars of Zhāngjiājiè. This stunning natural attraction has been described as majestic, tranquil, eccentric, and delicate, and you can explore all its beauty from the comfort of your own home. You can do that with the help of interactive video tours and HD images shot from the sky.
Explore Yosemite National Park, California
The Yosemite National Park in California, United States, is famed for its awe-inspiring cliffs, such as El Capitan and Half Dome, giant sequoias, dramatic waterfalls, and an abundance of flora and fauna. This majestic natural beauty welcomes millions of visitors each year. But like many other popular tourist destinations across the world, Yosemite National Park is not welcoming visitors due to Covid-19. Fortunately, you can still explore this natural beauty and its majestic attractions from afar. Thanks to virtual experiences, you can hike, backpack, or simply immerse yourself in the tranquillity of nature in Yosemite.
Experience Machu Picchu
The Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu is one of the most remarkable artistic architectural structures in the world. Machu Picchu is set in a dramatic landscape between the Peruvian Andes and the Amazon Basin. The property is surrounded by more than 32,000 hectares of breathtaking peaks, valleys, and slopes. This spectacular site was abandoned in the 1500s when the Spaniards conquered the Inca Empire. Machu Picchu is one of the most visited places in the world, and you can explore it virtually as you get ready for your future getaways when it’s finally safe to travel again.
Visit Doñana National Park
Located in the south of Spain, Doñana National Park is famous for its shifting coastal dunes, wetlands, pine forests, and migratory birds. With its unspoiled white beaches, moving dunes, lagoons, and other natural attractions, Doñana offers a natural spectacle that changes every season. Doñana is also home to more than 230 bird species and is one of the most critical ecosystems in Europe. You can experience the moving coastal dunes, beautiful beaches, lagoons, and everything else Doñana National Park has to offer from the comfort of home.
Visit the Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, United States, is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. Thanks to virtual reality and other digital technologies, you don’t have to leave your home to explore the beauty of this world wonder. Get aerial views of the stunning natural landmark on AirPano. Use Google Street View Trek to hike through Bright Angel Trail in the Grand Canyon. The 360° videos and panoramic images allow you to immerse yourself into one of the most beautiful places in the world.
Explore Via Nature Documentaries and Movies
The fact that we can’t or shouldn’t travel much during the pandemic doesn’t mean we can’t explore the world. We can still explore vicariously through characters, settings, and plots of film and television. Nature movies, TV shows, and documentaries can transport you to faraway destinations and help you quench your wanderlust without leaving the comfort of your home. There are hundreds of nature documentaries, films, and other video content to watch online when you need an escape.
Streaming platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Hulu boast vast nature and travel programming catalogs. These services use your IP address to track your location and only show you content available in your country. If you want to watch nature documentaries from other countries, you can access them with a VPN. A Virtual Private Network (VPN) allows you to tweak your actual IP address and select an IP address in any country of your choice to unlock more travel/nature content.
Virtual reality experiences allow us to get lost in the great outdoors during this difficult time. Each of these destinations is abounded with different types of natural beauty to explore and admire, albeit virtually. These virtual experiences of famous natural attractions from all over the world might help you rediscover your love for nature and get you excited about being outside again.
