20 Virtual Field Trips to Take with Your Kids

Looking for fun, educational activities to do with your kids at home (or during travel downtime)?
This list of 20 virtual field trips gives you easy, no-planning-required ideas to explore museums, animals, famous landmarks, and more — all from your couch.

Whether you’re homeschooling, looking for screen-time with purpose, or just want something new to try, each option includes what it is, where to find it, and ideas to make it more fun for kids of all ages.

The idea for this list came from the pandemic lockdown, but it remains popular because you can’t always be traveling. Virtual field trips are a fun and educational way to visit places virtually and “travel” without leaving home or school.

I’ve rounded up 20 virtual field trips that you can take with your kids. There are also lesson ideas, activities and book suggestions to extend the learning for each type of destination.

Quick Start Guide

Appropriate for any age
Time needed: 15–60 minutes
Great for: Homeschooling, rainy days, sick days, travel downtime
Tip: Pick just one trip and explore together — no need to do them all!

Art Museums

Visit some of the best art galleries in the world virtually. From Paris to New York to Amsterdam, kids can see priceless works of art from the world’s most famous artists.

Louvre Museum, Paris https://www.louvre.fr/en/visites-en-ligne
National Gallery of Art, Washington DC https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/national-gallery-of-art-washington-dc?hl=en
Metropolitan Museum of Art https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/the-metropolitan-museum-of-art
Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/van-gogh-museum?hl=en
Uffizi Gallery, Florence Italy https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/uffizi-gallery?hl=en

Activities and Resources

Choose a favorite painting or sculpture and create a copycat piece of art.
Research an artist. This is a great book about some amazing artists kids should know about (affiliate link).
Choose a piece of art to focus on. Describe it, tell why you chose it and how it makes you feel.
Choose 2 works of art to compare.

Zoos

Zoo webcams have allowed visitors to drop in on the habitats of some of the zoo’s favorite animal exhibits. Here are some highlights. Want more? Here is our complete list of virtual zoo field trips.

San Diego Zoo https://kids.sandiegozoo.org/videos
Zoo Atlanta Panda Cam https://youtu.be/_6wbfVWVk8Q
Smithsonian’s National Zoo https://nationalzoo.si.edu/webcams
Reid Park Zoo Lion Cam in Tuscon, AZ http://reidparkzoo.org/cameras/lion-cam/
Ouwehand Park Polar Bear Cubs Rhenen, Netherland https://explore.org/livecams/polar-bears/polar-bear-ouwehand-twin-cubs-cam-2

Activities and Resources

Take a Virtual Field Trip Lesson Plan
Zoo Field Trip Worksheet Freebie
Do more research on your favorite animal and make a guide.
Research the habitat of your favorite animal. Use at home materials to create a miniature habitat.

Aquariums

Just like with zoos, aquariums have used webcams to let you visit their exhibits virtually. In addition, some aquariums have set up virtual tours led by their staff to give visitors a more in depth look at their facility.

Monterey Bay Aquarium https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/animals-and-exhibits/live-web-cams
Georgia Aquarium https://www.georgiaaquarium.org/webcam/ocean-voyager/
National Aquarium Virtual Tour http://samuraivirtualtours.com/example/nadc/index.html
Virtual Tour of the Seattle Aquarium

Activities and Resources

Take a Virtual Field Trip Lesson Plan
Aquarium Field Trip Worksheet Freebie
Research your favorite sea animal and make a presentation.
Watch Finding Nemo or Finding Dory. Identify the types of sea creatures in the movie.
Watch Disneynature’s Oceans

Travel the World

In this day and age, it is easier than ever to travel the world without leaving home.

Google Maps street view will allow you to visit almost any destination around the world. Check out this view from Pompei.
Visit the Great Wall of China https://www.thechinaguide.com/destination/great-wall-of-china
Virtually discover Yellowstone National Park. https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/photosmultimedia/virtualtours.htm
Tour England through this 360 video.
Take a live look at Colonial Williamsburg.
Go on a virtual field trip to Ellis Island.

Activities and Resources

Plan a trip to a new destination. What would you do, see, eat?
Make a travel brochure for the destination you visited.
Write a postcard from that destination. Include details about the place and what you can see there.