Explore Hidden Worlds of the National Parks from Home

Fascinated by National Parks? And other wonders of the natural world?

If you are unable to travel at this time, why not travel from home – on your computer, iPad, or even your phone?

You can explore the U.S. National Parks – specifically, some of the lesser-traveled destinations – through the use of your smartphone, tablet, or computer. Sure, it's not exactly the same thing as being there, but it might help during times you can't travel. 

It's called “The Hidden Worlds of the National Parks,” and it's framed as a Google Arts & Culture exhibit and interactive documentary.

In short, the exhibit allows users to take 360-degree tours of some of the most remote and beautiful U.S. National Parks – all from the safety and comfort of home. Start here and see what's available to view!

And if you're not familiar with how a 360-degree video works, just click to play the video and use your cursor to drag the view around 360 degrees! Give it a go. One of my favorites is the Manta Ray underwater video. If you make it full-screen and then drag the view around, you can watch the diver doing the video recording.

The exhibit focuses on a selection of parks you may not have traveled to yet (or may never see), such as the Kenai Fjords in Alaska, Hawaiian volcanoes, New Mexico’s Carlsbad Caverns, Utah’s Bryce Canyon, and Florida’s Dry Tortugas.

In the video experience, a local ranger guides you through each park, allowing you to do things like fly over the active volcanoes in Hawaii, snorkel the coral reefs in the Dry Tortugas, or kayak through Alaska’s fjords, among other things. 

Click on the Bryce Canyon, for example, and you can get great views of the park's hoodoos (the stunning rock formations). (By the way, Bryce Canyon made our list of Top 10 Favorite National Parks of the West. Click here to see where it finished.)

The virtual tours are available both online, in the Google Arts & Culture App on iOS and Android. (Be sure to plug in your headphones or earbuds so you don't miss the informational audio excerpts.)

Another similar option is the Google Expeditions app, though it is designed more for students.

Don't just explore the National Parks…

Be curious and click around! You'll find so many places all over the planet for you to explore. Maybe a few of these will end up on your travel list next year.

Inspired to get traveling? 

Our YouTube Channel is FULL of adventures all over the U.S. come along and see some amazing National Parks. If you have never had time to visit our National Parks you must find the time! They are some of the best places to boondock and enjoy the majestic wonders of nature. Take a look here at some of our recent travels to these national treasures. Or come hang out with us on our Weekly Award-Winning Podcast where we discuss the latest news for our National Parks.