Travel & Explore From Your House?!...no really
I promise this section will be filled with photos and details from amazing travel destinations. I will share top tourist spots, places the guides don’t tell you about, best dining, what to really wear, and so much more! However, I also want to share local spots and more now than ever…what to do when the world is closed! None of us…except doomsayers…ever imagined our planet finding itself in a pandemic that would have most non-essentials closed…and yes, that even includes in some cities, the outdoors! Depending on your geographic location, different options may or may not be available to you. Here in WI…yes, even some of the outdoors is temporarily on shut down. We can let this drive us crazy, complain the day away, ignore orders and risk others…or we can still find beauty and happiness with a little travel. Travel doesn’t have to be across the ocean, to a different state, or even another city. You can take a little exploration trip to your backyard (or state park if open). You can journey into space with your telescope, star maps, or even a Netflix documentary. How about traveling back in time with a fun detective whodunit game. Venture into a world of science with easy home pantry experiments or science kits. Heck you can even put real time into researching where you want to go once you can! There is so much to explore and little ‘travel’ destinations are as close as your kitchen and backyard. I have gathered some great sites to explore, kits you can purchase online, great documentaries you can watch to explore…and some super cute animal pictures from my own backyard! So pack a picnic basket instead of a suitcase and go enjoy some world, yard, science, space exploration.
(I do not receive any commission from the links below. They are all honest personal recommendations)
Mystery Box Subscriptions:
Hunt A Killer
True crime fan must! Every month receive a box of evidence, ciphers, codes & clues. Over a series of months you will be able to piece them together…becoming a detective to solve the case! Challenging, suspenseful and a top rated mystery box subscription!
Finders Seekers
Explore the globe with the Society of Seekers. Monthly you will receive a box of challenging codes & puzzles to decipher. Each box focuses on a different global location. Where you’ll explore local and underground cultures and traditions. Ages 10+
The Deadbolt Mystery Society
Puzzles, suspense & mystery! Stand alone mysteries that can be solved with one box. Unlike many other mystery box subscriptions, each month is it’s own mystery. No multi month packs needed to solve these. Bonus…they are designed by escape room creators.
Science Subscription Kits:
Little Passports
Monthly kits take children through solving scientific mysteries with fun do-it-yourself, hands on STEM activities. Separate science kits are also available through the site. Kits are geared for children ages 3-12.
MEL Science
These monthly Chemistry kits are designed for kids ages 10-14…but honestly even older kids & adults could have some fun with these (with the kids of course). You’ll receive a starter kit that will be used throughout your subscription…and then monthly kits that include 2-3 experiments. All safe for in home of course.
Kiwi Co
Crates for all ages and interests: Eureka Crate for Engineering & Design, Maker Crate for Art & Design, Tinker Crate for Science & Engineering, and several other crate subscriptions to make sure everyone in the family is covered!
Looking for some fun home science with purchasing a kit or subscription? Try some of these websites for great at home experiments!
How about a great book packed with experiments? Check these out…
The Everything Kids’ Science Experiments Book, by: Tom Robinson
Awesome Science Experiments for Kids, by: Crystal Chatterton
Awesome Kitchen Experiments for Kids, by: Megan Olivia Hall
*There are Awesome…Engineering, Physics, and Robotics books too!
This World & Out of This World Exploration:
Let’s start in the stars and then come back down to Earth. There are so many ways to venture into space right from your living room! Below are some great sites, shows, and kits that can make feel like you’re shuttling through the galaxy while having all the luxurious amenities of your home.
Websites for free space fun:
NASA Kids’ Club: This seem obvious, but many kids will never click onto this site in their lives! Packed with activities for kids, so much science & history, and NASA TV. This one is great for all ages.
Explore Deep Space: Follow daily news and missions on all things deep space.
Space X: Space X is known by many because of it’s owner, Elon Musk. His company is all encompassing; as they design, manufacture, and launch spacecrafts and advanced rockets. This site shows you the design of rockets and also contains links to some pretty cool videos. I also get some cool Elon Musk bragging on behalf of my husband. My hubs, Craig, is so sought after in his field (tunneling)…that Elon Musk requested meeting with him, multiple times, over a project in CO! I mean seriously!?!…we all know who Elon Musk is…and he knew who my husband was! Okay…proud wife moment over…back to space.
Space Documentaries:
Disney+ National Geographic:
Expedition Mars, Mars Inside SpaceX, Apollo Missions to the Moon, Mission to the Sun. Each of these completely bring to life…right in your family room…space! Explore where space travel has allowed us to go, what we are learning from it, and where we are reaching for next. Educational, fun, and fascinating for the whole family.
Netflix:
Planet Earth (2006), The Farthest: Voyager in Space (2017), The Mars Generation (2017), The Last Man on the Moon (2014), Cosmodrome (2008). Dive deep into space travel with selections that show the space race from Russia’s perspective, take you on the last trip to the moon, and encourage younger viewers with the newest generation reaching for Mars.
With Amazon Prime and Vudu; there are endless space movie selections at your fingertips. Some, base on true story ones, I highly recommend are Apollo 11 (2019), Apollo 13 (1995), October Sky (1999), Hidden Figures (2016)(seriously my favorite, could watch 24/7 movie), and First man (2018)
….and some not true, but still ahhh…mazing ones. The Martian (2015), Gravity (2013), Alien (1979)(I mean….come on…a classic), Interstellar (2014), Ad Astra (2019)…and of course Star Wars-A New Hope (1977)
Would you like to check out those planets and stars a little bit closer….but don’t want to drop $100-$800 to do it? Here are some telescopes that pack some power, but won’t power down your bank account:
Orion Observer
Get the best bang for your buck with a full kit. Full telescope with added bonuses like star maps, a planisphere chart and astronomy book.
Orion 10033 Funscope
Priced even better than the last…this telescope also offers portability. Weighing only 4lbs yet still packed with power.
Celestron 70mm Travel Scope
Tripod, lenses, software and carrying bag all included in this versatile scope option. As a bonus this one comes with a 2 year warranty.
Okay….back down to earth and then I’ll wrap all this up for you. If you want to take a little trip, to go somewhere you can soak in some new sights…look no further than you backyard. Wait…what? You heard me…your back yard (park or nature reserve). We are surrounded by so much natural beauty in the trees, waterways and animals. Easily we overlook this or spend merely minutes a day truly appreciating it. Take some time to really look at it and look into it. It’s Spring! the perfect time to watch the outdoors become Science. Plant flowers and vegetables learning each stage of growth. Build a bird feeder and watch the animals flock! Even easier…grab your camera and snap some candid wildlife photos. I took all of these in our yard!
If all those cute animals now have you wanting more cuteness, but you don’t have access to much wildlife…don’t fear…Disney+ is here!…and so many other streaming options for wildlife and world travel adventures! Here are some of my favorites:
Disney+ National Geographic:
Unlikely Animal Friends, America’s National Parks, One Strange Rock, Running Wild with Bear Grylls, Dolphin Reef, Diving with Dolphins, Penguins, and Elephant
Netflix:
Growing Up Wild, Ghost of the Mountains, Oceans, Our Planet, 72 Cutest Animals….and….um Tiger King…kinda right lol
Do some travel with: The Kindness Diaries, Breakfast Lunch & Dinner, Tales by Light, National Parks Adventure, Pedal the World, and Jack Whitehall: Travels with My Father.
Hopefully these sites, shows, hands on activities and little outdoor explorations can fill some of your travel void for the moment. You just might quite possibly find yourself learning something new, finding interest in things you hadn’t previously explored, or…and this might be a long shot…you could have a lot of fun?!!! Crossing my fingers you do all three and that your next vacation will be even sweeter!