Gaining a global perspective gives us exposure to other people and places, different cultures and ideas, the sweep of history and heritage. With this Daily Dozen, we focus on a little geography, some history, a bit of world culture, and a whole lot of cool places to visit someday… in the U.S. and around the world!
At Home…
1. Get Your Kicks on Route 66. Called “The Mother Road” of America, Route 66 covers more than 2,400 miles across eight states— from Chicago to the Santa Monica Pier in California, with the stark landscape of tiny Adrain, Texas, as the midpoint. Historic U.S. 66 has an enduring place in American culture through books, music, and movies. Enjoy your travels to 10 historic sites with this Google Earth tour.
2. Vizcaya Museum and Gardens. Explore this Gilded Age estate, a cultural gem in Miami, Fla., surrounded by 10 acres of formal gardens, a mangrove shoreline, and rockland hammock. Online, find Vizcaya playlists on Spotify, a symposium on Gilded Age architecture, coloring pages, a little Zen with the estate’s famous Lily Pools, and more.
3. Ponce Inlet Lighthouse and Museum. Just up the coastline, near Daytona, you can climb 203 steps to the top of Florida’s tallest lighthouse with this virtual tour. Discover the history of this fully restored site that opened in the 1880s. Learn some lighthouse vocabulary and duties of a lighthouse keeper. You can even build your own lighthouse and a homemade quadrant!
4. Aerial America. The Smithsonian Channel is offering 68 free episodes of this series that offers rare glimpses of our nation's most treasured landmarks, all seen from breathtaking heights.
And Abroad
5. Visit the Royal Family. Explore Buckingham Palace, the official residence of Queen Elizabeth II. Learn about the royal family and its role, history, and heritage; explore Commonwealth countries and the 15 Commonwealth Realms (in addition to the United Kingdom) of which the queen is monarch, and discover the art and history of the family’s palaces, castles, and houses across the UK. You also can take a guided tour of the city. (Use your cursor to get a 360-view.)
6. On Safari. Check out daily WILDWatch video feeds featuring live game drives in Ngala Private Game Preserve and Djuma Private Game Reserve, both in South Africa. You can even ask the field guides questions! (The first 45 minutes of the afternoon safari are set aside for younger kids.) Note: With the time difference, the afternoon safari is live in Gwinnett County between 9 a.m. and noon. On Mondays, you can take a #SofaSafari on Instagram with Ulusaba Private Game Reserve in South Africa. (If you miss the live safari, check out their YouTube channel.)
7. History and Culture of Italy. Explore more than 150 cultural institutions that hold this country’s unique heritage. Travel to iconic locations like the canals of Venice and the leaning tower of Pisa. Explore some of the world’s great museums, including— the Uffizi in Florence and the Museo Galileo. Walk the heritage sites of Rome, the Temple of Heracles, and the Catacombs of San Gennaro. Learn about Italy’s food, fashion, invention, music, and more! On YouTube, take VR 360-view tours of Rome, Venice, and Milan.
8. Take the Train. Hop aboard for virtual train rides to 13 destinations, including the dizzying heights of the Bernina Pass between Switzerland and Italy and a fast-motion ride on North America’s highest train… the Cog Railway to the top of Pike’s Peak in Colorado. Enjoy a ride through New Zealand on KiwiRail, courtesy of the Smithsonian Channel.
9. Aerial Britain. Another freebie from the Smithsonian Channel, see Southern England with a view from above.
10. Dive Deep. Take a 360-degree tour of the vibrant corals of Palau, just east of the Philippines. Learn more about this country with Geography Now! (Just click through to skip the ad.)
11. French History and Culture. Take a cultural adventure from Calais to Marseille. Learn about the Father of Impressionism and visit Monet’s Paris, walk Parisian rooftops, and discover the fashion of Coco Chanel. Take a journey through the world’s oldest art gallery… Chauvet Cave, explore the discoveries of Marie Curie and Louis Pasteur, and tour the Hall of Mirrors and the beautiful gardens at Versailles.
12. At Home, Now and in the Hereafter. Visit castles, palaces, houses, and tombs around the world!
We’ll be sharing more tips so watch for the next installment of DLD Daily Dozen!