Being cooped up at home is difficult. Staying home right now is the right thing to do but that doesn’t make it easy–not by a long stretch.
We have rounded up some online activities that may help you get through these long, tough days.
Free entertainment at home
Here’s a list, not exhaustive by any means, of some virtual activities for you and your kids:
1. National Theatre at Home (London)
The National Theatre will be showing a series of iconic plays available to stream via their YouTube channel. Each play will drop on Thursdays in April and May at 7pm in London (2PM ET.)
Here’s the current schedule:
- Jane Eyre April 9-16
- Treasure Island April 16-23
- Twelfth Night April 23-30
There’s nothing like a Broadway show to life our spirits. And while we’d like to have front row seats, sitting safely at home in our pajamas is going to have to do, for now. Andrew Lloyd Webber will be streaming Broadway shows online.
The series, dubbed The Shows Must Go On!, will stream weekly to help ease cabin fever during while we are all home. The musical theater legend plans to air some of his most celebrated shows.
NPR has made a list of live music you can stream saying “Some will require registration or a subscription, but most will be free, often with digital tip jars and opportunities to directly support artists by buying music and merchandise.”
You can see an updated schedule of free concerts
4. Katie Couric’s Wake-Up Call Newsletter
When you subscribe to Katie Couric’s daily free newsletter, Wake-Up Call, you get the top news in your inbox every day. It’s filled with resources, ideas, and news your can use that will help you manage life and cheer you up at this crazy time.
Travel the world without ever getting on an airplane and without fighting the crowds. You can see Sydney, Australia, the Colosseum in Rome, Amsterdam or Niagara Falls, and many other places. Continue your world tour with 360 Cities which boasts the world’s largest collection of stock 360 images & videos
6. Comedians and Comedy Acts
We could all use a good dose of laughter right now. Thanks to comedians around the world, there are some great podcasts to listen to where the subject matter is this outbreak. You can read about new podcasts by comedians and pick one that you think would give you a chuckle.
Here are other ways you can watch comedians do their stand up acts in NYC and around the country.
7. Museums
Many museums are offering virtual tours. The British Library Exhibition of all things Harry Potter is a wonderful destination for you and your teens.
The Grammy Museum is showing free, never-seen footage from their archives on their website.
You can tour the Guggenheim without ever having to climb the spiral walkway. Or, if you prefer to travel a bit further, you can hit the Uffizi Galleries.
The world’s largest and arguably most famous museum, The Louvre is hosting free online tours. All you have to do us provide the pastries and enjoy an evening in Paris right through your computer screen.
You can peruse MoMA’s art collection online. For something really different come to The Tenement Museum and see how waves of immigrants lived in New York City.
Broadway World is taking you into to homes of Broadway Singers to watch them preform their music. You can sit back and enjoy the show in YOUR living room.
Each night at 7:30pm EST, The Met will stream a Live HD Series.
10. Library
You can explore almost 900 thousand items digitized from The New York Public Library’s collection.
11. Zoos and Aquariums
Do you miss seeing wild animals? Well, you don’t have to because in your very own home you can watch live cams from the San Diego Zoo. Apes, baboons, elephants, pandas and more-all for your viewing pleasure. The National Zoo has the most adorable webcam of baby cheetahs, it is absolutely mesmerizing.
And if you’re more into fish than other critters, you can join the famed New England Aquarium for all of its virtual activities.
12. National Parks
Do you long to get back out on hiking trails? Well, here you go: Yosemite and Yellowstone national parks are letting you hike their trails and plan future trips without leaving your house. And the scenery is just gorgeous.
If it’s Ireland you’ve got a hankering for, watch the stunning sunset over the Cliffs of Moher.
13. Roller Coasters
Would you rather enjoy a coaster virtually than in person? Well-this is your moment. There are a plethora of videos of roller coaster rides on YouTube, with clips of everything from Space Mountain at Disney World to Six Flags’ Kingda Ka. Just search the coaster you like, and you are likely to find it.
14. Dani & Jackie’s Virtual Happy Hour
According to their website, “Come hang out while observing social distancing. Learn how to make cocktails from industry professionals, find out which brands you should drink while you’re sequestered, get up to the minute information from doctors on the front lines, and suggestions on how to mitigate the anxiety….”
There are a large number of online exercise options, from at-home bikes to Strong by Zumba classes to yoga, there is no excuse not to maintain fitness. And there are also lots of local places that are doing online classes.
Here’s USA Today’s list: 25 Ways to Take Your Favorite Workout Classes at Home for free and paid workouts.
There are a lot of apps that will help you find your bliss, because you need it more now than ever. So try Headspace or Calm.
We hope that some of these virtual sights and sounds will give you and your family the break you need. And while they may not be as good as the real thing, they are good enough for now.
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