Travel is a form of escapism. Though we all travel for very different reasons, escaping to the sights and sounds of destinations other than where we call home, is a reason we all have in common.
But some of us just can’t travel as much as we’d like. Or at all for that matter. Folks afraid of flying or those who can’t afford travel really shouldn’t miss out on all the fun.
For those people, I’m sharing some of the most addictive and delicious ways that I like to travel when I am not traveling – right from the comfort of my own home.
Disclaimer : I will not be held responsible for all the time you’ll spend getting sucked into playing with these tools in an attempt to escape your daily routine.
1. On-line Travel Guides. Sites like Ruba, Trazzler and Iwannagothere are on-line travel guides made by real travelers. They are loaded with lots of photos which draw you in and make you feel like you’re there. There are hundreds of these on-line guides, each with it’s own niche, and new ones seem to pop up all the time. But I’m fickle, I get bored of one and move on, replacing it with a new favorite. Explore and find one that keeps you coming back.
2. Live-streaming Webcams. When I am jonesing to see what is going on in my favorite areas, or I’m just looking for a little inspiration, I look for a live webcam. I can watch the action in real-time without ever leaving my comfy chair. Just search your destination along with the words ‘live’ and ‘webcam’ ..and see where it takes you. Quality of cameras vary greatly, but EarthTV offers some of the best. From experience, I know I can watch what’s happening in places like Antibes, Paris, Venice or Honolulu.
3. Flickr. Not only do I use Flickr to store my own photos or for browsing other traveler’s photos, but did you know you can search and view all of the best for any particular area? I explore destinations by searching tags like Hawaii, Tuscany or Prague. Or narrow it down by city. I also like to search broader topics like beach, church, mountain, cemetery…whatever I’m in the mood for. Perhaps you’ll find inspiration here for a new must-see location. The best part – after you search, set the view to ‘slideshow’ – and watch those full-screen pictures come alive.
4. You Tube. Sure, it’s crammed with millions of wacky video clips of teenagers emulating stunts like those in the movie ‘Jackass’, but don’t discount it for great travel videos, anywhere in the world. Just browsing the enormous clip collection lets me tour a Murano glass factory or a market in Provence. When I can’t find what I’m looking for on YouTube – I also like Vimeo.
5. Google Street View. Google maps has many of the features the others offer, but it also has one special thing the others don’t – Street View. Though not available for all areas, it’s one of my favorite ways to get lost in a first class virtual visit, by walking the streets of the places I crave. Ever want to stroll the banks of the Seine or the I’sle Saint-Louis and wonder what the view of Notre Dame is like from that angle? Well, thanks to Street View you can. They have even added ski slopes! I love to take pegman (the little gold man) for a walk up and down, change direction, turn corners, move left and right or grab a panoramic view. Hours worth of quality fun, for free.
Here is a an example of a Screenshot:
And for those of you out there without a computer or who fancy good old-fashioned book reading, my other favorite pastime involves a library or bookstore.
I highly recommend setting aside a few hours on a rainy day {I dare you not to spend the entire day!}, grabbing a cup of joe and perusing travel and photography books to your heart’s content while imagining yourself walking through the pages of your favorite destination(s).
I’ve shared my secrets, now it’s your turn. What are your favorite ways to immerse yourself in travel when not actually traveling?