2020 was a hard year for everyone. Everything was shut down, and not being able to go and visit new places or revisit old favorites was a huge let down for someone who likes to travel as I do. Traveling, even if you were following all the safety guidelines, could still put you, your family, and others at risk. The safest choice for us travelers now that 2021 is beginning is to stay at home, but don’t get upset too quickly because there’s a silver lining to every cloud. Many museums and travel sites are creating virtual tours so that you don’t have to go to these locations, but instead, these locations come to you. 

     Online touring can not only have an entertainment value but an educational one as well. For example, Mr. Mulcahy was able to have his students view two lectures at Elmhurst University. Before COVID, he would take his students on various field trips, all with the purpose of introducing students to different perspectives and religious practices. Mr. Mulcahy says that “This is an essential skill as we move further into the 21st century and confront challenges which will require global solutions.” He wasn’t going to let his students miss out on the opportunity to experience something new, so he did it virtually. Although doing trips virtually is a good alternative, Mr. Mulcahy says that he hopes to be doing his trips back in person sometime within the next six months.

     Aside from its educational use, if you’re ever in need of a serotonin boost or you’re just missing the days when everything was open, I highly recommend you visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium and their live cams—the otter cam is so adorable. Or, you could visit the Atlanta zoo’s site to see their panda cam. If you want to switch it up, you can see the Van Gogh Museum, the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, or even the Louvre. Just because we’re at home doesn’t mean we have to miss out on the fun and opportunities we had pre-COVID. So anytime you need a break or get tired of staring at your wall, visit one of these sites.