With the Covid-19 virus impacting in-person travel and preventing events from taking place over the coming months, Virtual Tourism is booming! From interactive tours, to virtual exhibits, here is a selection of activities in our destinations that can be enjoyed from home. Read on to find out how to see the Grand Canyon from your living room or take part in a virtual brewery tour. For more information on any of these, our contact details are at the end of the release.
Discover New England
Maine
For the first time ever, the Maine Brew Bus Tour Company have created Virtual Brewery Tours. Offered daily at 3:00 pm, 4:00 pm, and 5:00 pm, these 30-minute tours will be hosted on Instagram Live and will feature owners from throughout Maine reporting directly from their breweries.
@mainebrewbus Instagram Live.
https://themainebrewbus.com/all-tours/virtual-brewery-tours/
The Maine Wildlife Park now has an audio tour of the park.
Maine Maritime Museum is the first museum in Maine to join Google Arts & Culture. Visit the online exhibit Maine and the Sea for an incredible, close-up look at some of the works in the collection.
Visit a national park with the virtual tour of Acadia on Google Earth.
Check the Northern Solstice Alpaca Farm YouTube channel for a chance to have a virtual tour of a Maine alpaca farm.
Hidden Roots Maple Farm in Limerick, Maine is offering free virtual tours of the sugar house.
Rhode Island
The state has created a section of their website to showcasing virtual tours:
https://www.visitrhodeisland.com/things-to-do/enjoy-rhode-island-from-afar/
@NewEnglandVisit #VisitNE
Maverick Helicopters
Whilst UK and Irish residents might not be able to experience a Maverick Helicopter flight right now to take in the Grand Canyon from the sky, they can still view one of the world’s most breathtaking locations online! The virtual tour includes over 75 interactive, 360 degree panoramic views of more than 400 miles of trails and the Colorado River corridor!
http://www.360parks.com/grand_canyon_virtual_tour.shtml
@MaverickHelicopters #FlyMaverick
Massachusetts
The New England Aquarium in Boston is offering regularly scheduled live presentations while currently it’s closed. There’s also an easily accessible archive of past performances.
Virtual tours of some of the Massachusetts most famous museums & cultural institutions: https://www.boston.com/travel/travel/2020/03/14/virtual-tour-massachusetts-museums
Discover MassArt from the comfort of your own home. View 360° images of the facilities and spaces: https://massart.edu/visit
Discover Norman Rockwell and illustration art in new and exciting ways: https://www.nrm.org/virtualmuseum/
Take a self-guided tour of Central Massachusetts: https://discovercentralma.visitwidget.com/
Children will enjoy taking a virtual tour of The Eric Carle Museum (author of The Hungry Caterpillar) – https://www.carlemuseum.org/virtual-tour
Harvard’s science and cultural museums have virtual exhibits and some video online. These include the Harvard Museum of Natural History, the Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology, the Harvard Semitic Museum, and the Collection of Historical Scientific Instruments.
USS Constitution have started daily virtual tours of Old Ironsides.
Museum of Fine ARTS (MFA) YouTube virtual tour collections: https://www.mfa.org/
Visit Salem Witch Museum via www.salemwitchmuseum.com for a 1692 virtual tour of towns and sites connected to the Salem Witch Trials.
You can discover Plymouth through their interactive website https://www.seeplymouth.com/ with lots of videos of the town.
Cape Cod
Explore Cape Cod through their growing list of virtual experiences on their website https://www.capecodchamber.org/things-to-do/virtual-experiences/.
@VisitMA #VisitMA
Louisiana
Lake Charles
The south-west corner of the state is showered with gifts from natural beauty to nature’s bounty. These virtual tours offer an opportunity to appreciate the incredible beauty and diversity of the state. https://www.visitlakecharles.org/plan/calcasieu-parish/virtual-tours/
@LouisianaTravel #FeedYourSoul
New Orleans have a virtual tour of the city that can be found on the official tourist board website https://www.neworleans.com/plan/virtual-experience/
Ride in a streetcar down the picturesque St. Charles Avenue. Visit Cafe du Monde and Commander’s Palace, and then enjoy a plantation or swamp tour.
@VisitNewOrleans #OneTimeInNOLA
North Carolina
Outer Banks
The towns and villages of the Outer Banks make up a key vacation destination for travellers from all across the country and all over the world. The new virtual reality experience from the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau and YouVisit, offers a unique and engaging way to showcase the Outer Banks’ beaches, historical sites, activities, and friendly residents. Download the app for iPhone or Android to access hidden features or use the link below. https://www.outerbanks.org/plan-your-trip/virtual-tour/
Wilmington
Wilmington’s SkyNav™ 3D tour consists of multiple aerial and ground 360° panoramas that encompass the entire coastline from Wilmington to its three island beaches (Carolina, Kure and Wrightsville). It uses the latest developments of interactivity with information beacons that are strategically placed throughout the tour. This 3D technology allows visitors to either “fly” or go “ground level” to explore an area, fully immersing themselves in the destination.
Explore Wilmington’s SkyNav™ 3D tour here.
@VisitNC #VisitNC
Tennessee
Nashville
The Music City is hosting a whole bunch of virtual attractions to entertain people from home, check them out here:
https://www.visitmusiccity.com/covid-19-information/virtual-attractions
The Grand Ole Opry is streaming virtual concerts every Saturday through Circle All Access. From 8pm ET, watch favourite country music artists and discover emerging talent home, as if in the historic building itself. The world’s longest running radio show will be broadcast without an audience but will continue it’s 94-year broadcast tradition.
https://www.opry.com/show/2020-03-21-saturday-night-opry-live-on-circle-at-7-pm/
Nashville Public Library is hosting online Puppet Shows to entertain the young and old alike. Visit https://tndeaflibrary.nashville.gov/learn/videos/interpreted-marionette-shows#slideshow-1
Chattanooga
The Songbird Guitar Museum is offering guitar lessons from scratch with Songbirds Foundation’s video series (24 videos); watch the Vault Sessions series on YouTube with over 80 episodes available with artists like Steve Earle, Eric Johnson, John 5, Drew & Ellie Holcomb, Kevin Bacon, Tommy Emmanuel, and more!
http://museum.songbirds.rocks/
Memphis
The Memphis Brooks Museums of Art are hosting a virtual chalk fest at the following link: http://www.brooksmuseum.org/default.aspx?p=133930&evtid=1678741:4/2/2020
@tnvacation #MadeInTN
Texas
For inspiration on a trip to the Lone Star State take one of the many virtual tours available or view some of the great videos that are sure to fuel wanderlust.
Amarillo
Many of Amarillo’s attractions have Threshold 360 Tours, which are linked to on the Visit Amarillo website.
https://www.visitamarillo.com/things-to-do/
Big Bend
Award-winning filmmaker Carl Walker Crum has created a documentary on the Lower Canyons of the Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River which serves as a great “tour” of Big Bend.
https://vimeo.com/333388010
Dallas
There are a whole host of virtual tours being published on the Visit Dallas website:
https://www.visitdallas.com/about/media-room/statements/covid-19/arts-updates.html
Fort Worth
Experience Fort Worth Virtually by visiting: https://www.fortworth.com/blog/post/virtual-fort-worth-experience/
Fort Worth are also committed to helping local musicians and artists. Find out more by visiting: https://www.fortworth.com/blog/post/ways-to-support-local-musicians-and-artists-covid-19/
Fort Worth Family Fun Done Virtually and Fort Worth Virtually. The Fort Worth Family blog includes links to many virtual experiences and tours (Fort Worth Zoo, Museums, Opera, Bass Hall, FW Library and more). The Virtual Fort Worth blog video content including recipe how-to’s and interviews with local people of interest.
San Antonio
Virtually tour the famous Alamo by visiting: https://www.youvisit.com/tour/thealamo
Explore the collection at the San Antonio Museum of Art at: https://sanantonio.emuseum.com/collections
Witte Museum have recently announced the Witte Where You Are initiative. This will provide online content from the Witte Museum curators and educators featuring the Witte’s award-winning camp, demonstration and school program curriculum, as well as behind-the-scenes tours. The majority is video content, but almost every video will have additional activities and other educational resources that people can do at home. Available on social media and at http://www.wittemuseum.org/witte-where-you-are/
@traveltexas #TexasToDo #Texplorer
West Virginia
Tour the Art Museum of West Virginia University
Peruse featured exhibits that are organised from the collection of the Art Museum of WVU, which includes paintings, prints and works on paper, sculpture, ceramics and folk art.
Click around this 360-degree tour of the museum.
Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum
The Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum served as a sanctuary for the mentally ill in the mid-1800’s. The history of the building holds fascinating stories of Civil War raids, a gold robbery, the “curative” effects of architecture, and the efforts of determined individuals to help better the lives of patients.
Experience the Asylum on a video tour from the Travel Channel
West Virginia State Museum
Take a journey through time as you trek from a pre-historic coal forest into early western settlement and present-day wonders. The West Virginia State Museum is a must see for everyone who visits the great state of West Virginia. Take a video tour guided by Charles Morris, Director of West Virginia Division of Culture and History as part of C-SPAN’s Cities Tour series.
Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
Harpers Ferry is one of the most history-rich places in the country. Get fresh air and a fresh perspective on its past along the trails of the National Historical Park.
See the beauty of this park on a virtual photo tour.
Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine
Take a trip through what once was an operating coal mine. Let Veteran Miners guide you through the past and into the future of mining in West Virginia. In addition to the Coal Mine Tour, enjoy the Coal Camp, which includes a restored coal camp house, miner’s shanty, church, school and more.
Get a preview on this video tour of the experience.
Green Bank and the National Quiet Zone
Visit the town of Green Bank in the National Radio Quiet Zone where radio, television, cellular and even Wi-Fi transmissions can interfere with military intelligence transmission and scientific research, so they’re practically non-existent. The massive Green Bank Telescope is the largest fully steerable radio telescope in the world.
Experience the Quiet Zone in this video from National Geographic.
West Virginia Pepperoni Roll
Originally from the town of Fairmont, the pepperoni roll has a cult-like following in West Virginia. The pepperoni roll is a soft dinner roll style dough wrapped around savoury pepperoni. These amazing snacks were first created as an easy lunch or snack for the coal miners to eat.
Take a Pepperoni Roll video tour with the Marion County CVB and The Local Palate.
Blenko Glass
Blenko Glass was boosted to prominence when it adorned the St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York. Their intricate sheet glasswork is found at the Washington National Cathedral in D.C. and other notable landmarks. Blenko has designed the Country Music Awards trophies and one of their collections is a regular feature of the White House.
See how the glass is designed and crafted in these series of videos from Blenko.
Hawk Knob Hard Cider and Mead
Experience Hawk Knob’s Appalachian hard cider and mead in the rolling hills just outside of historic Lewisburg. Offering several styles of locally grown artisanal hard cider and featuring several fine meads. All hand crafted by growers and producers that believe in quality, tradition, and the time it takes to make truly craft beverages.
Learn the story of Hawk Knob Hard Cider and Mead with a video interview and tour with owner, Josh Bennett.
@wvtourism #AlmostHeaven
ENDS
For media enquiries and further information, please visit www.ttmworld.co.uk, or contact the following:
Kirsty Dillury: PR and Communications Director – kirsty@ttmworld.co.uk
Anna Watt: PR Manager for Travel Texas – anna@ttmworld.co.uk
Sadia Begum: Communications Manager for Discover New England, Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism- sadia@ttmworld.co.uk
Alex Keelan – Communications Executive for Louisiana Office of Tourism, Maverick Helicopters, New Orleans and Company, Visit North Carolina – alex@ttmworld.co.uk
David Venables – Communications Executive for Tennessee Tourism, West Virginia Tourism Office – david@ttmworld.co.uk
For any other enquiries, please contact ttmoffice@ttmworld.co.uk or call +44 (0)208 313 1717