Category: activities

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Streaming: Feel Good Movies

If you never saw Contagion, why start now? That’s like stopping to watch Jaws as your life raft springs a leak. Yet movies about viral pandemics — like the excellent but eerie Steven Soderbergh thriller as well as such lesser efforts as Outbreak and Pandemic — are topping digital movie charts, despite the reality, we’re living in. Our advice? Give your mind — and your stress level — some relief and seek out something upbeat and life-affirming. Any of these five films will do just fine in lifting your spirits.

Groundhog Day

Streaming on:  Amazon Prime, Hulu, YouTube

Bill Murray is a weatherman trapped reliving the same day, again and again. Sort of like being locked down at home. Murray’s predicament generates raucous laughs, but by the end, both the character and the equally sarcastic movie are channeling Frank Capra, elevated by the big-hearted notion that a man can improve, even if it’s one day at a time. FOR AGES: 12 and up

Ratatouille

Streaming on:  DisneyPlus

Remy is the best chef in Paris. Unfortunately, he’s also a rat. Enter Linguine, a garbage boy who is clueless at cooking. Working together — sort of Cyrano de Bergerac meets Anthony Bourdain — the new partners enjoy huge success until a food critic with his own issues turns up the heat. This undervalued Pixar movie is for anyone who’s ever been told they can’t realize their dreams just because of what they are or where they came from. FOR AGES: 6 and up

Singin’ in the Rain

Streaming on: Amazon Prime

The quintessential Hollywood musical, this 1952 classic stars Gene Kelly as a silent film star making the career move into “talkies.” Together with a chorus girl (Debbie Reynolds) and a vaudeville pal (Donald O’Connor), they plot to make a masterpiece. Once you surrender to its old-school, all-ages charm, it’s impossible not to be won over by the performances and the iconic musical numbers, which still endure almost 70 years later. FOR AGES: 6 and up

The Princess Bride

Streaming on: Amazon Prime

Don’t expect the effects, violence and grit of today’s action-fantasy genre in this 1987 Rob Reiner comedy. A sly, self-aware fairy tale that favors humor and romance over battles and bloodshed, what distinguishes The Princess Bride is its utterly unique tone: whimsical, silly and warm, without a trace of mean-spiritedness. It’s framed as a bedtime story told to a child, but really, it’s a bedtime story being told to us. FOR AGES: 8 and up

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

Streaming on: Netflix

Argue all you like about who the best movie Spider-Man is — Maguire? Garfield? Holland? — the best Spider-Man movie, period, is this 2018 animated Oscar-winner, in which a teenager named Miles Morales partners with Spider-heroes from alternate realities to save the multiverse and defeat the villain who killed his world’s Peter Parker. Bolstered by a sensational soundtrack, standout cast (including Nicolas Cage, Hailee Steinfeld and Mahershala Ali) and eye-popping animation, this thrilling, emotional adventure truly feels like a comic book sprung to life. FOR AGES: 9 and up 

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Virtually Out and About: L.A. Museums

Think of it as a virtual staycation. While museums like the Louvre and the Guggenheim welcome interactive, international visitors with tours of their exhibitions, self-isolating Angelinos have plenty of culture, history and science to explore right here – from behind the safety of their screen, of course. Take these five local institutions, for example. They may be shuttered, but thanks to online archives, activities and resources, they’re hardly off-limits to the public.

The Getty

If you were thinking of dropping by the Getty Center or Getty Villa before the lockdown, good news: some of its most popular exhibitions are open to virtual visitors. That includes Michelangelo: Mind of the Master, which examines rare drawings by the artist, ranging from sketches to detailed figure studies. Listen along to a free audio tour as you browse his work. For something fun, in addition to the online archive of art, videos and books, you can download a free coloring book filled with some of the museum’s most iconic artwork.

The Grammy Museum

The doors are closed, but the music plays on. On their website, you can enjoy archived performances by artists ranging from Common to the late Kenny Rogers. Join their album club, which is sort of an interactive book club for music fans, and follow along as founding executive director Bob Santelli discusses such classic albums as Bruce Springsteen’s Born in the U.S.A.

 

Natural History Museum

For families wanting to hit pause on streaming movies and TV, the Natural History Museum offers the chance to link up with scientists and other students for virtual adventures and crowd-sourced science. It also boasts an impressive video selection. For example, after learning about the animals and plants we share Los Angeles with, you can watch a clip chronicling how scientists uncovered the skull of the prehistoric world’s smallest dinosaur preserved in amber.

California Science Center

For burgeoning young scientists, the California Science Center live streams “Stuck at Home Science” every weekday at 10 a.m. Considering topics include “gross science,” it’s fair to say the goal is to keep children engaged and interested as they learn. Don’t worry about having to leave the house for materials, either. All the projects use common household items.

Museum of Contemporary Art

MOCA offers an entire schedule of interactive activities throughout the week, designed to help the community stay connected. Available on the website as well as across MOCA’s social media channels, these include workshops, classroom curriculum discussions, an Instagram takeover series with a new artist every week, a book club and “Feel Good Friday,” which focuses on meditation and other exercises to relax the mind and reduce stress.

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Home Tips: DIY Grooming

Living in a lockdown can expose a lot – including your roots. So it’s no surprise that a month into the coronavirus pandemic, grooming gear is being snapped up with an urgency usually reserved for toilet paper and sanitizing wipes. According to Nielsen data, hair clipper sales have shot up 166 percent from this time last year while hair dye sales have increased 23 percent. With salons shuttered and Americans becoming do-it-yourself stylists faced with unkempt hair, chipped nails and scruffy stubble, here are a few tips to help you stay tidy while also avoiding jagged hairlines and accidental bald patches.

Cutting your hair 

If you can, you should wait until salons open again for your next haircut while also keeping your hair healthy and moisturized with leave-in creams and conditioners. As well, such products as gel, wax and pomade will let you experiment with your style without resorting to shears. Likewise, if you feel your bangs are out of control, try a slicked-back ponytail or headband to wrangle them away from your face. But if you absolutely feel like you need a cut, keep it simple and clean, snipping at dry – not wet – hair without switching up your style (again, leave that to the professionals). If you’re tackling the back of your hair, seek out someone to help you.

Doing your nails 

Try to make manicures a social activity in these self-isolating days. Invite the kids to participate. And if you have roommates, take turns doing each other’s nails. While there are manicure tool kits, all you really need are the essentials: a file, buffer and clippers. For a simple manicure, cut and file the nails into whatever shape you want, then buff the nail plate and wipe it with an acetone-based polish remover. A base coat will guard against chipping. If you want to remove Shellac or gel nails, there are plenty of online video tutorials to help guide you.

Coloring your hair

Because at-home and salon products are different, if you haven’t already been dyeing at home, you shouldn’t start now as it can wreak havoc on your appearance and your hair. So as you wait for your salon to re-open, take a few steps to maintain your hair: wash it less to keep the color from fading; use root touch-up products to conceal roots and vanishing colors; and for blondes and people with highlights, use purple shampoo to brighten your locks.

Caring for your skin

If you’re missing your regular facial and are looking to show your skin some love, but don’t have any face masks at home, you can make any number of your own alternatives, using such foods as bananas, cucumber, honey, milk, egg whites, squash and oatmeal.

Waxing

With salons closed, let it grow. That’s the advice from most experts, who suggest you don’t do anything more drastic than shaving at home while we’re all self-isolating. But if you’re a first-time self-waxer who is feeling particularly hirsute (and courageous), there are at-home solutions for you. The first, and most well-advised, are wax strips. For non-beginners, there are hot wax options, which are ready to go out of the microwave.

Growing a beard

So you’ve always wanted to grow a beard. Why not a pandemic beard? Being stuck at home is a perfect excuse to experiment. A few tips to unleash your inner lumberjack: let it grow for a month before you try to style it beyond snipping the edges; wash it at least twice daily while also using a beard oil to reduce the itchiness; and brush it in the direction you want it to grow.

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Streaming: 6 Documentaries to Binge after Tiger King

Tiger King’s roar is inescapable. The breakout Netflix docuseries about illegal big cat breeders and other eccentric characters has been the streamer’s top title since it debuted last month, inspiring mullet-themed memes and Twitter talk about who should play Joe Exotic in a forthcoming limited series. (If you don’t know who Joe Exotic is, he’s the owner of a private zoo who is currently in prison for trying to hire a hitman to kill the activist who wanted to shut him down.) Whether you’ve already binged Tiger King or have zero interest in its garish world, what can’t be denied is the popularity of documentary filmmaking across platforms. From true crime to family mystery to adorable guide dogs in training, there is a subject for everyone.

Fyre: The Greatest Party that Never Happened and Fyre Fraud

Streaming on: Netflix (Fyre) and Hulu (Fyre Fraud)

The Fyre Festival was such a debacle it produced not one, but two, documentaries exploring how the influencer-touted music festival on the Bahamian island of Great Exuma descended into what has been described as a “millennial Lord of the Flies.” Which one should you watch? The Netflix doc offers a more vivid account of what transpired, but Hulu’s version, which presents the fiasco through a cultural lens, boasts an interview with co-founder Billy McFarland, who went to prison for six years. In other words, why not just watch both? For Ages: 15 and up

The Jinx        

Streaming on: Hulu, Amazon Prime and HBO Now

This masterful six-part series chronicles the bizarre existence of Robert Durst, the disquieting, possibly homicidal heir to the Durst empire in New York City. Just consider how many people close to him either disappeared or wound up brutally murdered: his wife, Kathie, who vanished in 1982; his friend, Susan Berman, who was killed in 2000; or his neighbor Morris Black, who was murdered and dismembered in 2001. Durst is currently on trial for Berman’s murder in Los Angeles thanks to new evidence uncovered by the filmmakers. For Ages: 15 and up

Pick of the Litter

Streaming on: DisneyPlus

This heart-tugging, six-part series follows six pups – Paco, Pacino, Raffi, Amara, Tulane and Tartan – as they endeavor to become guide dogs for the blind. Not surprisingly, their journey is no bag of chew toys as they and their trainers face an intensive process marked by both triumph and disappointment. You’ll find yourself cheering on the dogs – as well as fully appreciating the work done by the Guide Dogs for the Blind organization. For Ages: 6 and up

Cheer

Streaming on: Netflix

Forget the big guys on the field – this six-part docuseries finds as much ferocity and anxiety on the sidelines. Another pop culture mega-hit for Netflix, the filmmakers follow five members of Navarro College’s cheer squad as they journey from Corsicana, Texas, to Daytona, Florida, to compete against other athletes in the National Cheerleading Championship. If you’re expecting something light (a la Bring It On), expect to be surprised – and enthralled. For Ages: 13 and up

Three Identical Strangers

Streaming on: Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime

What begins as a wildly-entertaining true story – identical triplets, separated at birth, are reunited by chance as adults only to become talk-show-circuit celebrities – turns into a much more provocative, emotional exploration of fate and self-determination as they and the filmmakers untangle the twisting mystery of why they were separated as newborns. For Ages: 13 and up 

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Home Tips: Making Your Own Mask

As the world tries to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, both the City of Los Angeles and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are urging residents to cover their nose and mouth when leaving home. Specifically, the CDC says people should don cloth home-made masks while in such public spaces as grocery stores. So how do you make a mask? What material should you use? How do you wear it properly? And why are masks necessary now, anyway? Here are some answers.

Why are masks being recommended now?

At the outset of the pandemic, officials told the public they didn’t need to wear masks unless they were exhibiting symptoms or caring for someone who did. There were multiple reasons for this. They didn’t want the public stockpiling medical-grade masks needed by health-care professionals, for one. For another, masks are simply not as effective a method of protection as social distancing combined with hand washing. But officials also hadn’t realized people who have the virus but are asymptomatic are just as contagious as those who are visibly ill. By urging everyone to wear a mask, they hope to stop people from unwittingly spreading it. In other words, they want you to wear a mask, not to protect you, but to protect everyone else from you.

What kind of materials do I need?

Medical-grade masks, including surgical and N95 masks, need to be set aside for healthcare professionals already confronting devastating shortages of protective gear. Instead, the CDC recommends “cloth face coverings fashioned from household items or made at home from common materials at low cost can be used as an additional, voluntary public health measure.” Although there are no guidelines for what material you should use, in general, thicker is better, so try to find something that is 100 percent cotton such as old clothing.

Where can I learn how to make my mask?

Not surprisingly, the Internet has exploded with tutorials showing how you can make a DIY mask. On the official Twitter site for the U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Jerome Adams demonstrates how to construct one by easily folding a piece of cloth such as a scarf or hand towel and tying an elastic band on either side. This method is similar to one shown by an online Japanese arts and crafts educator, in which a no-sew mask is assembled with a handkerchief and hair ties. For a more elaborate design, John Hopkins Medicine offers these instructions, suggesting to avoid using solid white or blue material so it doesn’t look like you are wearing a medical-grade mask. Likewise, Kaiser Permanente has this how-to-guide for people who prefer to sew one together. Kaiser also suggests you wash your fabric several times before cutting it, so it doesn’t later shrink. The tighter the fit, the more effective the mask.

Is there a right way to remove it?

If you’ve gone to the effort of making a mask, wear it correctly – and just as importantly, remove it correctly, by taking the straps off from behind your ears without touching the front of the mask. Remember, it is now contaminated. After each use, it should be either thrown out and replaced or disinfected with soap and water.

Does a mask mean I can stop social distancing or washing my hands?

Absolutely not. In fact, you should not be leaving your home at all, except to make essential trips to the grocery store or pharmacy. And even then, although your face covering may give you a false sense of security, maintain a space of six feet or more between you and others. This physical distancing, in addition to frequent hand washing, is the most effective way to both protect yourself and stop the spread of COVID-19.

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Streaming: Five Children’s Shows Parents Will Enjoy Too

Television has always been a babysitter. But with schools shuttered and adults working remotely, it’s now more like a co-parent. Good news: in this era of Peak TV, the quality of children’s television programming has never been higher. So much so that there is an abundance of shows all members of the families can enjoy beyond such timeless fare as Sesame Street and Winnie the Pooh. Here are five of them:

Forky Asks a Question 

Streaming on: DisneyPlus

The handmade toy from Toy Story 4, Forky stars in this 10-episode series (each installment runs three or four minutes) in which he asks his toy friends for the answers to life’s simple questions. Like, what is money? And, what is time? Okay, maybe not so simple – yet the series manages to break it all down with humor and heart for Forky’s young fans. FOR AGES: 4 and up

Ask the Storybots 

Streaming on: Netflix

Have you ever wondered why you need to brush your teeth? The StoryBots – Beep, Bing, Bang, Boop and Bo – answer this and many more questions children always ask. In addition to the charming characters, the high-energy, award-winning series illuminates with music, videos and celebrities like Whoopi Goldberg, Jay Leno and Snoop Dogg. FOR AGES: 3 and up

Pinky and the Brain

Streaming on: Hulu

A rarity aimed at both grade-school-age children and their skeptical parents, this 1990s-era cartoon fuses lightning-speed slapstick with clear-eyed cultural satire. Brain, if you didn’t know, is the arrogant, scheming lab mouse out to conquer the world. Too bad he’s always being (unintentionally) foiled by his less-than-brilliant sidekick, Pinky. The result probably isn’t as ingenious as Brain would think it is, but for families, it will do just fine. FOR AGES: 6 and up

Beat Bugs

Streaming on: Netflix

Songs by the Beatles – performed by such present-day artists as Pink – embellish the adventures of five young bugs as they forge ahead through life’s problems. Adults will appreciate how Beatles’ lyrics are smartly stitched into the dialogue while their children will relate to themes of friendship, loyalty, and resilience. FOR AGES: 3 and up 

Muppet Babies

Streaming on: DisneyPlus

A reboot of the 1980s animated series, which starred young versions of such classic Muppets like Kermit, Miss Piggy and Gonzo the Great, this series follows the exploits of the titular toddlers. Granted, their misadventures may occur from the safety of their playroom, but when their wild imaginations get the best of them (and they usually do), the gang needs to rely on their problem-solving skills to save the day. FOR AGES: 3 and up 

 

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Virtually Out and About: From Mars to the Great Wall

Just because you’re self-isolating doesn’t mean you can’t leave home. With the travel industry grinding to a once-unthinkable halt, virtual tourism is booming as an alternative, promising to transport travelers around the globe from the safety of their sofas. Aside from the many museums and art galleries online, for those seeking mystery or adventure with their interactive exploration – or simply some spectacular outdoor views – here are a few virtual tours to consider.

Winchester Mystery House

Built in 1884 in San Jose, this Victorian mansion was owned by Sarah Winchester, the widow of firearm tycoon William Wirt Winchester. Having long inspired ghost stories (Harry Houdini himself is said to have believed something was wrong about the place), the house features such spine-tingling oddities as a staircase that leads nowhere. Not surprisingly, the mansion has been a fixture in popular culture for years, including the 2018 horror film, Winchester, and the 100th episode of American Horror Story. Currently closed to the public due to COVID-19, you can still creep around its strange corridors, thanks to this virtual tour and guide.

Mars

If you want to practice social distancing, how about a trip to Mars? Google and NASA have teamed up to create a 3D tour of the surface of the red planet, using footage shot by the Curiosity rover, which landed there in 2012 and continues to operate to this day – almost 2,800 days later. You can start exploring the Martian scenery here. It won’t take you nearly that long.

Stonehenge

Few landmarks have inspired as much mystery as this ancient stone monument in Wiltshire, England. Dating back to 3000 BC, the origins of the stones remain a subject of speculation. Are they supernatural? Or the remnants of an ancient alien close encounter? (Disappointingly, the area was most likely a simple burial ground.) But now you can have a look and judge for yourself, magnifying the giant relics while also learning about them via educational videos.

The Great Wall of China

Visible from space, this 2,000-year-old structure spans more than 3,000 miles across multiple provinces in northern China, making it a must-see whenever you visit the Middle Kingdom. However, since that’s impossible these days, you might want to try embarking on a virtual tour from your living room or bed. You’ll be awed no matter how small your screen is.

Yosemite National Park

It doesn’t compare to hiking the trails and paths found in the L.A. area, but if you’re languishing indoors, why not at least explore Yosemite National Park online? For one thing, you can wander around such breathtaking sights as the Half Dome. And for another, you can get lost without worrying about whether you’re going to run out of sunscreen or water.

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At Home Entertainment: Public Library Edition

What’s Online at the Public Library? Free Movies, Music and Books! 

Don’t close the book on Los Angeles area public libraries. Their doors may be shut due to the coronavirus, but online, their resources remain open. And that includes movies, audiobooks, ebooks, and music – all available for free when you sign up online. Just go to the website and click through for an ecard (at the L.A. Public Library) or 90-day digital library card (at the L.A. County Public Library). Here’s a rundown of some of the materials and apps you’ll discover:

MOVIES

With your card, you’re a member of Kanopy, an on-demand streaming video platform for public libraries and universities, boasting a catalog of more than 30,000 films. As you might expect, the selection should delight documentary-lovers, but they also have plenty of popular Hollywood fare on tap, ranging from Lady Bird and Moonlight to Memento and Donnie Darko. Members can also access Kanopy Kids, which features children’s programming. Hoopla is another service included with your card that allows you to stream entertainment content. Two things set Hoopla apart: you can temporarily download what you want and view it offline, and there are no waitlists as all their content is available 24/7. While their selection includes educational materials and documentaries, they also curate blockbusters like E.T. and Liar Liar.

AUDIOBOOKS AND EBOOKS

With the Overdrive app, you can download everything from bestsellers to graphic novels to YA fiction. One caveat: because copies are limited, you may have to place a hold on what you want and wait for your turn. But in the meantime, the app offers available alternatives to occupy you.

MUSIC

With a collection of more than 15 million songs, Freegal Music lets you download or stream music on any compatible device. They also have curated playlists to suit whatever mood you’re in. And once you download a song, it’s yours to keep and enjoy offline as you please.

HOMEWORK AND ONLINE LEARNING

Online research and homework tools for readers of all ages include searchable databases, live tutors, instructor-led courses and Lynda.com, which provides more than 3,000 courses as well as 150,000 video tutorials.

THE NEW YORK TIMES

A basic digital subscription to the Times costs about $10 a month, but with an L.A.-area library card, it’s free. Just go to the website and follow the instructions. But remember, the number of daily NYT access redemptions are limited, so it may take a little work to snag one. If the Times doesn’t appeal to you, there are dozens of other magazines and newspapers to sample as well.

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Home Tips: Safer at Home

Just because you’re home doesn’t mean the coronavirus can’t follow you inside. By now, we all know the basic steps the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) are urging people to follow in their daily lives:

    • Wash your hands frequently for at least 20 seconds – or about the time it takes to sing “Happy Birthday” twice.
    • Keep your distance from people in general (a radius of six feet is suggested), but especially from those who are sick.
    • Cough or sneeze into a tissue and then dispose of it in the trash.
    • If you are sick, stay home.
    • If you have symptoms such as a dry cough or fever, seek medical advice.

Which, while providing necessary guidance, still leaves unanswered questions for people now sheltering in place. Among them:

WITH SCHOOLS CLOSED, IS IT SAFE TO HAVE GRANDPARENTS BABYSIT THE KIDS? 

In a word, no. Although recent data suggests younger adults and teenagers are not as immune to the effects of COVID-19 as first thought, the virus nevertheless presents the greatest risk to older adults and people already suffering from such chronic medical conditions as lung disease. For example, as of mid-March, when there were about 2,500 cases in the U.S., adults over the age of 65 accounted for roughly 80 percent of the reported deaths.

HOW CAN I HELP OLDER LOVED ONES FEEL LESS ISOLATED?

During this crisis, don’t overlook the mental wellness of your loved ones, particularly the elderly. If grandma and grandpa cannot see their grandchildren in person, arm them with digital devices, even if they aren’t terribly tech-savvy. The Apple iPad Pro 9.7, for example, is both high-end and user-friendly, bolstered by a brilliant display. For a device, even more, stripped down in its simplicity, there is the GrandPad for video chatting and photo swapping.  

HOW DO I STAY FIT AND HEALTHY IF I CAN’T EXERCISE?

With gyms shuttered and outdoor activities dramatically curtailed, fitness pros are turning online, offering live-streaming classes and free trial apps for anyone who wants to stay in shape. For a more challenging routine, Orangetheory offers a variety of at-home workouts daily. Boxing studio Rumble is hosting workouts on Instagram Live while CorePower Yoga is streaming free classes. Indoor cycling titan Peloton is also offering a free 90-day trial of their classes, which range from cycling and running to yoga and meditation. Lastly, for seniors, the AARP has several fitness videos posted on YouTube. But whatever you choose, don’t stress. Studies suggest a five-minute workout once a day is all you need to maintain your status quo.

I HAVE SANITIZING WIPES AND TOILET PAPER, WHAT AM I MISSING?

The coronavirus isn’t a cyber-attack, but what would happen if your phone or laptop broke and stores weren’t open to selling you a replacement and online delivery became so overwhelmed, it would take days or weeks to courier a new device to you? If you are now working remotely – or need to stay in contact with a family member digitally – you should consider spending on a back-up phone, batteries and any spare parts for the electronics you rely on.

HOW OFTEN SHOULD I CLEAN THE HOUSE – AND WHAT ARE THE HOTSPOTS?

Experts suggest you clean your home every few days – but pay special attention to the areas and objects that receive the most human contact: doorknobs, light switches, countertops, even TV remotes. As for dish and bath towels, wash them every day after you use them.

SHOULD I MAKE MY OWN HAND SANITIZER?

For all the talk about making your own hand sanitizer – and a lot of what is discussed online wouldn’t be effective, anyway – soap and water should always be your go-to. (Just like people have been doing to battle viruses for most of history; the first soap was manufactured by the Babylonians in 2800 B.C.) Only if the soap isn’t available should you consider a substitute. If you do have to do it yourself, it needs to be at least 60 percent alcohol. (Most online formulas combine rubbing alcohol, which is 99 percent alcohol, with aloe vera gel and lemon juice.)

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Out and About: Virtual Tourism

There’s never been a better time to explore the world. From the Louvre to the Smithsonian to the Guggenheim, the largest museums around the globe are now as close as your screen, thanks to the arrival of virtual tours designed to carry you through their corridors and exhibits. For a population increasingly isolated as current events unfold, this online arena offers a welcome reprieve from confinement and the chance to glimpse cultures, civilizations and works of art that might have otherwise gone ignored. From Manhattan and Paris to London and Sao Paulo, here are 10 museums to seek out – without ever having to step foot in an airport. 

British Museum: London

And now for something truly epic, this legendary museum’s interactive virtual tour of the world’s history spans roughly two million years. Along the way, you can explore the religions, conflicts, and triumphs of a multitude of civilizations that have dotted our planet through the ages. Additionally, the museum, which is closed due to the pandemic, allows virtual tourists to wander its halls and discover artifacts including the Rosetta Stone. If that still leaves you unsatisfied, supplement the virtual tours by listening to A History of the World in 100 Objects, a podcast narrated by the museum’s director Neil MacGregor.

Smithsonian Museum of Natural History: Washington, D.C.

Especially for kids, you can’t go wrong with dinosaurs, fossils and mysterious creatures from the depths. So take them along for this virtual tour and embrace the adventure.

The Louvre

The world’s largest art museum, this Paris landmark, located on the Right Bank of the Seine, measures more than 782,000 square feet and displays more than 38,000 artifacts and works from prehistory to the present – all of which can be appreciated from your home now.

African American History and Culture: Washington, D.C.

This museum and its 35,000 artifacts set out to do nothing less than telling the story of America. Although the virtual tour offers only a glimpse of all that the museum has to provide visitors, it’s impressive nonetheless.

Russia’s State Hermitage Museum: St. Petersburg, Russia

This stunning video – remarkably filmed in 4K in one continuous take on an iPhone 11 Pro – spans more than five hours as it carries you through this museum in St. Petersburg, Russia. All told, the tour covers 45 galleries and 588 artistic masterpieces.

Uffizi Gallery, Florence 

One of the most prestigious art museums in Italy and the world, the Uffizi Gallery sits adjacent to the Piazza Della Signoria in the Historic Centre of Florence in Tuscany, Italy. Built-in 1560, its treasures include works from the Italian Renaissance, all of which can be explored here.  

MASP, Sao Paulo 

Considered Brazil’s first modern museum, the Museu de Arte de São Paulo is a non-profit boasting a collection of more than 8,000 works, including sculptures, paintings, and photographs from across continents. 

Guggenheim Museum, New York 

As renowned for the skylight and spiral staircase at its center as its vast collection of art, now you can explore both, thanks to Google’s Street View feature. 

Musée d’Orsay, Paris

Located on the left bank of the Seine, this museum is housed in a former railway station and features mostly French works dating from 1848 to 1914. Take their virtual tour and browse masterpieces from the likes of Monet, Renoir, Seurat and Van Gogh.

National Museum of Anthropology, Mexico City

Focused on Mexico’s pre-Hispanic civilizations and culture, this museum features more than 20 exhibit rooms, complete with Mayan artifacts. 

  

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