Take a Tour of These U.S. National Parks from the Comfort of Your Own Couch

Kelly Vaughan
·2 min read
Take a Tour of These U.S. National Parks from the Comfort of Your Own Couch

Many families across the country were forced to cancel spring vacations due to worldwide coronavirus concerns, but practicing social distancing doesn't mean you can't still explore our beautiful nation. You can cure your wanderlust from the comfort of your own home by taking virtual tours of the county's national parks. Although the national parks have not yet closed, Americans have been encouraged to stay home in order to avoid spreading germs or catching COVID-19. To help keep everyone busy, Google Arts & Culture has partnered with the National Parks Service to create an online experience that allows users to see Kenai Fjords in Alaska, Hawai'i volcanoes, the Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico, Utah's Bryce Canyon, and the Dry Tortugas in Florida. The tours invite users to "follow rangers on a journey to places most people never go."

Bryce Canyon National Park
Bryce Canyon National Park

Matt Champlin/Getty Image

Located in southern Utah, Bryce Canyon is known for its towering red rock formations. You'll be taken on a journey through day and night by park ranger Kevin Poe—"Defining this place isn't an easy task because there's no other place like it."

Related: Stuck at Home? These 12 Famous Museums Offer Virtual Tours You Can Take on Your Couch

Next, head to Dry Tortugas in Florida, which is one of the southernmost points in the United States home to a Civil War-era fort and one of the most biologically diverse ecosystems in the pristine waters. See the magnificent rainforests of Hawaii or the mountains, glaciers, and lagoons 1,000 miles off the coast of the continental United States in Alaska.

This isn't the first time Google has teamed up with a famous landmark or museum. They saw success earlier this month by offering virtual tours of some of the world's most visited museums including the Guggenheim in New York City, the British Museum in London, and the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam. And while plane tickets are priced extremely low, you can't beat the free cost of these awe-inspiring tours.