Passport to the USA: How to keep exploring virtually

Welcome to our new Passport to the World series!
 
While we may not be able to physically travel right now, we can still be dreaming of our next trips, exploring from our living rooms and using technology to interact and share with our loved ones.  
 
So, we’ve rounded up some digital inspiration for you to explore the best of the USA in between your home workouts, laundry and Netflix. 
 

 
Virtual Tours of National Parks
 
If you’re like us, you may have already binge watched (and then rewatched) your favorite tv shows, played all the games you own and deep cleaned your home until it sparkled. So if you’re getting desperate for more ways to keep entertained, enter Google Earth to the rescue! You can now take 360 degree virtual tours of the US’ national parks right from home, and we promise it’s a great way to utilize a whole bunch of time in a fun and enriching way.
 

 
The interactive display includes Classic Journeys favorites like Glacier National Park and Grand Canyon, Bryce and Zion National Parks, as well as many others well worth exploring virtually, including Channel Islands National Park in California, Everglades National Park in Florida, and Wind Cave National Park in South Dakota. 
 

 
Highlights of the tours include the Mars-like rocky desert landscape and cacti of Joshua Tree National Park and the magnificent erupting Old Faithful geysers of Yellowstone National Park.
 
You’ll find yourself watching the incredible waterfalls of Yosemite National Park as they rush over the mountainsides from heights of upwards of 2,425 feet – even if you’re only standing in your kitchen in your socks. 
 
Or, take a virtual morning walk through the towering old growth redwoods of Sequoia National Park – before you even get out of bed. Consider it your daily dose of nature while under quarantine.
 
Happy exploring!
 
#SubParParks Posters
 
Once you’ve digitally explored Google Earth for yourself, you may be surprised to learn that anyone would leave a one star Yelp review of national parks. Yet, here we are.
 
Luckily, artist Amber Shares has taken those one star reviews and created #SubParParks.
 
Inspired by the iconic Depression-era posters commissioned by the WPA to promote the USA’s national parks, Shares overlays the hilarious comments in the recognizable style for a fun spin on a classic. 
 
We’ve shared a few here for your amusement.
 

National Parks Zoom Travel Backgrounds
 
Zoom, Facetime and other video conferencing tools have been a lifeline for many companies that have had to adjust to working remotely. (the Classic Journeys team included.)
 
Beyond working from home, many are using video as a way to simply hang out – whether a virtual happy hour with friends, a Mother’s Day video brunch with the family or an online face-to-face chat with your relatives near or far.
 
So, to make your video chats a bit more fun and continue your armchair travels, we’ve developed some Zoom travel backgrounds of US national parks for you!
 

 
Here’s how to change your background in Zoom:
 

And suddenly find yourself against the stunning backdrop of the Grand Canyon, before the granite monoliths of Half Dome in Yosemite National Park or amongst the pine forests of Rocky Mountain National Park.

More in our Passport To The World series: Morocco, New Zealand, Canada