As we all do our part to stop the spread of COVID-19, most of us find ourselves cooped up at home, longing to enjoy the parts of the city (and country) we might have previously taken for granted: the museums, the live entertainment, the wildlife and natural beauty.
With any luck we’ll all be exploring again soon enough, and while we can’t make that time come any sooner, we can point you in the direction of the next best thing: virtual experiences that bring Canada’s museums, orchestras, parks and even its pandas into your home.
Countless attractions and institutions have opened their (virtual) doors to the masses in the form of live cams, online exhibits and virtual walk-throughs, making it easier than ever to view the best our country has to offer from wherever you are.
As confusing and uncomfortable as times may currently be, there are always silver linings to be found; just think of all the inspiration you’ll have for road trips, days out and weekend getaways to take when all of this is over!
✧✧✧✧✧
If you’re feeling especially artsy or intellectual, spend the afternoon ‘visiting’ a museum or art gallery, including Montreal’s own Museum of Fine Arts, which offers free virtual audio tours of its exhibitions on its app. You’ll even find a free tour of its current temporary exhibition, Egyptian Mummies: Exploring Ancient Lives.
Other Canadian museums have opted to invite the public on virtual tours using Google Arts & Culture's Museum
Views, which is basically Google Street Views for the inside of museums and heritage sites. Digitally explore the Vancouver Art Gallery, the Royal Ontario Museum and thousands of other sites around the globe.
If you’re content simply checking out some art without the virtual walk through, the Art Gallery of Ontario has an online collection of tens of thousands of pieces, as does the Royal Ontario Museum. For some musical entertainment, enjoy performances by the Montréal Symphony Orchestra, which will be broadcast online every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
Once you’ve gotten your fill of arts and culture, head out into the great ‘outdoors’ and take a peek at some critters big and small. Explore live cams of sea lions in British Columbia and giant pandas at the Calgary Zoo, or check out the Facebook page of Manitoba’s Assiniboine Zoo, which will be posting live videos of various creatures every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
And finally, if it’s an adrenaline rush you’re after, head over to the website for Toronto theme park Canada’s Wonderland, where you’ll find point-of-view videos of dozens of roller coasters and other thrill rides.