30+ Cool Virtual Field Trips for Kids

Marianne Wright Last updated: January 14, 2021 1 Comment

If you are like many of us and have found yourself homeschooling or distance learning with your kids once again, we’re pretty sure you’re going a little stir crazy. Are your kids?

If you said no, then please email me asap and share all your secrets with me. But if you’re on the same page as me and cabin fever/stir crazy/I-gotta-get-outta-heres are hitting you and your kids, then why not take them on a field trip? A virtual field trip, of course!

Get out and into the world without, well you know, actually getting out and into the world with these amazing virtual field trips.

Parks & Outdoor Adventures

Yellowstone Park

While the park may be closed, that doesn’t mean you can’t explore the best of what nature has to offer. Head to Yellowstone Park and experience the Mud Volcano, Mammoth Hot Springs, the Norris Geyser Basin, and so much more.

Visit Mars

While Mars might not be closed, per se, it’s definitely not something you and the kids will be visiting in person anytime soon. With Access Mars, you can explore the surface of Mars on the Curiosity Rover.

The Great Wall of China

Bring history to life with this interactive exploration of the Great Wall of China. At over 2,000 years old, you can explore more than 3,000 miles that stretch across Northern China, all from the comfort of your home.

Mount Everest

This interactive 3D map of Mount Everest has so much detail, you’ll really feel like you’re climbing to Base Camp and beyond.

Disney World

And you thought Disney+ was going to be your saving grace! Your kids can explore Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and more.

Sơn Đoòng

Get ready to explore the world’s largest cave, located in Quảng Bình Province, Vietnam. national Geographic’s site let’s you take a 360-degree tour of Sơn Đoòng—you can even experience the sounds of the cave.

The Burgess Shale

This virtual experience is brought to you by the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) and Parks Canada, so you know it’s a good one! The Burgess Shale in Yoho National Park preserves one of the world’s first complex marine ecosystems.

Canada’s Wonderland

Get a real thrill with a virtual POV (point-of-view) ride on more than 30 theme park rides including family rides and the park’s biggest and baddest roller coasters from your living room. It includes the Yukon Striker, the world’s tallest, fastest, and longest dive coaster.

Iqaluit, Nunavut — The Canadian Arctic

Who wouldn’t want to visit the Arctic from the warmth and comfort of their home? This area of Canada isn’t accessible with a vehicle, so this interactive website is a wonderful way to experience this part of the world!

Museums & Monuments

National Children’s Museum

Currently running two virtual field trips—Climate Action Heroes and Head in the Clouds—The National Children’s Museum in Washington, DC is giving kids a chance to explore the museum, meet the educators that work there, and learn through STEAM activities.

The ROM

Thanks to their on-demand at home program, ROMKids Show, The Royal Ontario Museum has really stepped up their virtual programming. Each episode is like a short virtual field trip, where kids can explore an area of the museum AND following along with a fun, related activity.

The Van Gogh Museum

Located in Amsterdam, The Van Gogh Museum houses the largest collection of artworks by Vincent van Gogh in the world. And now you can get up close and (kinda) personal with the artworks from home.

The AGO

Offering programs in both French and English, The Art Gallery of Ontario has created free online content for kids ages JK to Grade 12. Every day, Monday to Friday, you can sit in as an AGO Art Educator shares a new perspective on their world-renowned collection. There are three different discussions each day tailored to various grade levels—JK to Grade 3, Grade 4 to 8, and Grade 9 to 12.

The Museum of Science

Boston’s Museum of Science has a robust online offering. #MOSatHome offers daily live stream presentations, virtual exhibits, family STEM activities, and Sparks of Science—short informative videos that cover some of their educator’s favourite science topics.

The Statue of Liberty

Head to Ellis Island and learn all about the Statue of Liberty through videos and photographs in this virtual tour.

Johnson Space Center

Take a trip to the Texas space facility and explore the history of aerospace innovation and see what lies ahead for the future!

The Museu de Arte de São Paulo

MASP is Brazil’s first modern museum. MASP’s collection contains more than 8.000 works, including paintings, sculptures, objects, photographs, and costumes from a wide range of periods, encompassing art from Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas.

The Louvre

Take a trip to Paris and explore one of the world’s most amazing collection of art through The Louvre’s virtual tour.

Frida Kahlo Museum

While visiting Mexico City is off the table at the moment, you can still visit the Frida Kahlo Museum through this virtual tour. Explore her works and get a look into what her life was like inside the “Casa Azul” (Blue House).

Canada’s Parliament

Take a (somewhat) local trip to Canada’s Parliament buildings in Ottawa. Not only do you get to see each room in Parliament, but you’ll be giving helpful descriptions of each room as you go.

Baseball Hall of Fame

Located in Cooperstown, NY, the Baseball Hall of Fame’s virtual site let’s you browse through their collection of memorabilia, photographs, and more. They offer a variety of scheduled virtual field trips, so be sure to check out their events calendar.

Musée d’Orsay

The Musée d’Orsay is found in the centre of Paris on the banks of the Seine in the former Orsay railway station. The building itself is a work of art and this virtual exhibit lets you take in its full history.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Made for, with, and by kids, The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s kids’ website features an amazing interactive map, fun behind-the-scenes videos, and even an art time machine.

National Ballet of Canada

The National Ballet of Canada has an amazing online gallery that features items held within the National Ballet Archives. From The Nutcracker and Romeo and Juliet to Swan Lake and Cinderella, each exhibit includes programmes, set and costume sketches, photographs, videos, press items, correspondence, footwear, costumes, artifacts and more.

The British Museum

This interactive site let’s kids explore the British Museum through time, geography and even topic. The site is visually impressive and the interactive nature is sure to keep kids interested.

Canadian Museum of History

With 95 online exhibits to explore, the Canadian Museum of History gives kids the chance to explore unique perspectives on Canadian—and world—history.

Smithsonian

Take a self-guided, room-by-room tour of select exhibits in the Smithsonian, National Museum of Natural History. You can also take a look through select current exhibits, permanent exhibits, and past exhibits.

Zoos & Aquariums

Monterey Bay Aquarium

If you’re looking to get aquatic, Monterey Bay Aquarium is here to help. Penguins, jellyfish, otters, sharks, turtles, tunas, and more are all swimming past the webcams, so take peek!

San Diego Zoo

The San Diego Zoo has a website full of videos, activities, and games, plus they have live cameras running on 11 different animals. Check in on the elephants and giraffes or take a peek and see what the koalas and penguins are up to.

Georgia Aquarium

Beluga whales, alligators, piranhas, and puffins are just a few of the animals you can see on the Georgia Aquarium webcams.

Houston Zoo

Almost as good as being there in person, you can tune in to the Houston Zoo webcams and see the animals that call the zoo home. Visit with the rhinos as they roll in mud puddles, or with flamingos floating next to a waterfall. Giraffes, elephants, chimpanzees, gorillas, and even ants are on display.