Virtual Activities & Adventures for the Whole Family
It’s Day ? of Quarantine, and if you’re like us, you might be looking for some more fun activities to keep the family occupied during this time. Check out our cool list of Virtual Activities that everyone can enjoy!
Hang Out with the Animals!
Many aquariums and zoos are offering live videos where you can watch the handlers feed the big cats or see penguins roam the enclosures to see other animals they didn’t know existed! Out of Africa Wildlife Park hosts daily live “Keeper Takeover” videos where the zookeepers visit various animals to share about their daily upkeep or feed them their next big meal! P.S. When things open up again, you can take a trip to Out of Africa Wildlife Park in Arizona to feed and kiss the giraffes, like I did!
The San Diego Zoo offers several live cam options so you can visit multiple animals, including the elephants, hippos, apes, condors, and koalas. I love this option because you have the choice between different types of animals to see and what their daily life is like without humans around!
Lots of aquariums around the world are also virtually opening their doors to show you the behind-the-scenes work of cleaning tanks, feeding fish, and the birth of new animals! Check out Baltimore’s National Aquarium which is offering tours of every floor and animal enclosure. The map allows you to move from section to section as if you were actually walking around the aquarium.
The Shedd Aquarium in Chicago offers a live cam experience of being in the water with the fish and other marine life. I know many of us missed out on fun tropical vacations due to the shelter-in-place orders, but you can make up for them by watching the animals as if you were snorkeling right there with them in paradise!
Visit your Favorite Theme Parks
Are you missing the magic of Disney? Is “Let it Go” officially stuck in your head? Take a break and stroll through Disney World and Disneyland Resort. You can also check out many videos on YouTube that will take you through some of the rides and attractions that are currently unavailable to us Southern Californian Disneyland lovers, like the Frozen Ever After Ride (maybe hearing the full song will help get it out of your head?). Make your adventure extra fun by dressing up in a costume from the theme park you choose!
More of an adrenaline-rushing, fast-paced roller coaster fan? Head on over to Six Flags to virtually ride many of their most famous attractions. You can find rides from their locations all over the nation. I can never get enough of Goliath. See if you can survive the coaster’s 255-foot drop!
Explore Museums Around the Globe.
Looking to learn about history, art, and culture? You can find tons of free educational content by taking tours of many museums in various countries.
You don’t have to book a trip to France to visit the amazing exhibits at The Louvre! Explore five of their most popular exhibits, including Founding Myths: From Hercules to Darth Vader. I love a good story, especially a plot-twisting Greek myth. Founding Myths and The Louvre itself explore so many stories that we know and love today.
L.A.’s Getty Museum offers two virtual tours among the grounds as well as close up pictures of the paintings and sculptures in each collection. I love seeing various pieces from different artistic movements, and the Getty’s website allows you to sort through each era and examine masterpieces from every period.
The National Women’s History Museum is providing virtual tours as well as oral histories on the background of many famous pictures and lives of women in history. Ever wondered what an artist was thinking when they were making a painting or when an idea was conceived? Now you can learn all about it with oral histories!
The Metropolitan Museum of Art or, The Met, is showing 26 exhibits as well as close-ups of many of the collections within each tour. You can even dress up as if you were attending the Met Gala since this year’s event was canceled!
Art Classes
If you’re looking for some fun art projects, check out some step-by-step art tutorials by Mo Willems. You can also find free painting tutorials on YouTube from local Newport artist, Timree. These artists offer amazing step-by-step drawing and painting tutorials that any child or adult ;) can follow along with. I know my creative juices would definitely benefit from some art time.
Physical Activity & Meditation
Be sure to stay active at home even if you can’t head to the gyms. Physical activity is so important for your health and really keeps our body in tip-top shape.
Apps like RunKeeper use GPS to track your location and distance, keep your calorie count, and play your favorite music. Whenever my puppy Tally and I are getting antsy in the house, RunKeeper is there to help us both get in the mood for an awesome run and workout.
Also, make sure to check out CORE’s fun at-home sports drills and exercises. We provide exciting games and activities that will keep your athletes entertained while also working on their favorite sports! Although many games can be made more challenging and exciting by adding players, every activity can also be played alone. It’s the perfect recipe for homes with one child, multiple siblings, or houses rounded out with big children who love sports games (I’m looking at you, moms and dads!). You can access all of our videos on CORE’s YouTube channel.
Stay Safe and Have Fun!
Hopefully you’ve found some fun activities and maybe learned about some new options to check out and explore! Whatever your passion, we hope that you are all doing well and finding new and creative ways to keep busy. Stay strong, CORE Family. We hope to see you all very soon!
By Rachel Hoeft, M.A., Director of Program Development, CORE Athletic Training
Rachel is the Director of Program Development at CORE Athletic Training. Rachel has completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Sport Psychology & Leadership and Master’s Degree in Sport & Exercise Psychology. Rachel is currently completing her Doctorate in Sport & Performance Psychology. Her education in sport psychology and many years of competitive athletics help her work with athletes to identify and resolve many common issues that impact athletic performance and everyday life. Learn more and follow Rachel on Instagram @rhoeftspc.