National parks are one of our country’s greatest treasures, but not everyone can get out to appreciate them in person. Thanks to Google and new advances in technology, you can now take a virtual tour of national parks right on your computer screen!
There are currently five park tours available: Kenai Fjords (Alaska), Carlsbad Caverns (New Mexico), Bryce Canyon (Utah), Hawai’i Volcanoes (Hawaii), and Dry Tortugas (Florida). Real life park rangers narrate and lead the way through these 360-degree interactive experiences. Each exploration begins with a narrated introduction where viewers will meet their guide and hear a brief history of the park.
While the visual aspects of your virtual tour of national parks are stunning, the sounds are just as engaging. Hear tiny drops of water in the caverns deep underground, the rustle of bat wings as clouds of these nocturnal creatures explode from Carlsbad Caverns, or the gentle birdsong that counters pounding waves on the shores of Hawaii.
There are tons of interactive features that will enrapture kids and adults alike. You can fly over an active volcano, climb into an icy crevasse, take a horseback ride through a canyon, stroll through a Civil War era fort, or scan the star-filled night sky. You control your experience, allowing you to see something different each time you go back.
These virtual tours of national parks have many benefits. They could be used as a way to plan a family vacation, or as a teaching tool in classrooms. They can also be used to bring a smile to the face of someone who doesn’t have the chance to see these natural wonders in person.
A family member who is ill or who can’t travel can still experience all the sights and sounds of these wonderful parks, right from their own home.
So, while you’re fantasizing of that dream trip to Hawaii or Alaska, you can use this virtual tour of national parks to get a taste of the real thing. What are you waiting for?
