Kids are naturally curious about what’s around them, and travel can not only teach them about the world, but also help encourage their sense of wonder. 
 
Many destinations offer interesting finds geared toward children as well as adults. A virtual tour can provide a lively and interactive way for youngsters to learn about a country right from their screens. And let’s face it — experiencing another culture beats video games any day.
 
Beeyonder has virtual tours for kids in locations and on subjects that will grab their full attention. Topics cover everything from animals to popular attractions to local excursions and history lessons. 
 
Here are six Beeyonder live and interactive virtual family-friendly tours in destinations across the globe.

Antarctica
Surrounding the South Pole, Antarctica is almost completely covered in ice and is extremely cold. Scientists often travel to research stations there to conduct experiments on weather patterns and climate change. 
 
Different kinds of seals, birds, penguins and whales make their home in Antarctica. Among them, Magellanic, Gentoos, Adeles and Chinstraps. 
 
See some of these penguins flocking around in Antarctica in this virtual tour.  
 
Australia
As the only country covering an entire continent, Australia is often first thought of for its ecosystem (the Great Barrier Reef), natural or manmade wonders (Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock) and animals (platypuses, kangaroos and, especially, koalas). 
 
An iconic symbol of Australia, koalas are marsupials, which are mammals that raise their offspring inside an external pouch on their body. This tree-climber eats leaves from eucalyptus trees and can be found on the southeast and eastern sides of Australia, along with Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia.
 
Children can join local guide and koala whisperer Wendy Bithell virtually in looking for koalas in their natural habitat. 

France
The capital of France is Paris, and this “City of Light” gives off a sense of enchantment as a center of art, culture, and gastronomy. Along with the Eiffel Tower, Paris has other noteworthy landmarks, too, including the Arc de Triomphe, the Louvre, and Notre-Dame Cathedral. 
 
While Paris is often seen as a romantic city, kids will be mesmerized by pastries from cafes or public gardens and parks. Even the youngest traveler can be taken by Paris through this virtual tour with experiences designed specifically for kids. Our guide will delve into fun French folklore and stories. 
 
Ireland
Known as The Emerald Isle, Ireland is full of lush green countryside but also rocky coastlines and grassy hills. Its most recognized holiday is St. Patrick’s Day, which honors Ireland’s patron saint every year on March 17th, not only in Ireland, but also around the globe. 
 
On this day, festivities are held in various cities and people get dressed up in green attire. Many accolades are linked to this real-life saint. While St. Patrick is said to have driven snakes out of Ireland, it’s also noted that Ireland doesn’t have them because the sea would stop animals in mainland Europe from reaching the Emerald Isle. 
 
You and your family can participate in virtual St. Patrick’s Day festivities through a family-friendly tour set in Ireland featuring places that this saint once visited.
 
Italy
Italy is often included on a traveler’s list, and visiting its capital city of Rome is a must. Founded in 753 B.C., this Eternal City has an extensive history with the growth of the Roman Empire. Its long-lasting impression on Rome can be seen at its most famous marvel -- The Colosseum. 
This massive amphitheater was once the site of gladiator battles and other sporting events. In its heyday, the Colosseum could hold approximately 50,000 spectators. Today, it’s a major tourist attraction. 
Youngsters can learn more about its history via this online tour. 

South Africa
South Africa has many interesting facts. Did you know that there are eleven official languages spoken in this country, along with many others that are recognized?  Plus, in 2010, South Africa became the first African nation to host the World Cup.

From aardvarks to zebras, South Africa is home to an abundance of wildlife on land and in the air and water. You can go on a safari in South Africa, too, especially inside Kruger National Park. This park is one of the largest game reserves in Africa. Along with many birds, trees, and other species, the park has what’s known as the Big Five - lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants and buffalos. Learn more through this virtual experience exploring South Africa’s wildlife with our ecologist, Stephan. 

As the pandemic forced travelers to stay home, virtual travel provided an outlet for seeing places through videos or Zoom demos right from our screens. Even as places are reopening, virtual travel can still provide viewers with not only a portal to the world but also a boost to your mental health. Here are seven ways it can do so. 
 
1 - Learn something new 
Travel is its own classroom, providing a multi-layered education beyond a textbook. According to a Florida International University study, travel-related experiences can foster personal enrichment and self-driven learning for students of all ages. Also, the study noted that people who pursue their interest in travel throughout their lives can consider themselves to be lifelong learners. Take note: virtual travel can continue to offer many rewarding lessons.
 
2- Gain perspective and gratitude 
Travel also gives us the opportunity to be introduced to residents of other countries and to learn more about their cultures. Through a virtual tour, we can watch and experience everything from their cuisine to their languages and overall way of life. We can gain a better understanding and perspective of other traditions and practices. Even if we can’t be there in person, we can be taught virtually how to make a certain dish or the history behind a city and other incredible subjects.
 
3- Socialize and meet new people 
While traveling gives us the experience of seeing different places, it’s also the people we meet along the way that can create memories. Virtual travel can provide a sense of connection when in-person travel might be challenging. It can also help with the feeling of isolation.Virtual experiences give us the opportunity to become acquainted and interact with people within their country that we’re interested in learning more about. Through our video tours, connect live with guides as they introduce you to their locations and cities and other areas of expertise. They will show and tell you more about their destinations, from popular attractions and foods and drinks to fun things to do and more about their culture and heritage.
 
4 - Get a boost in creativity
Another plus for virtual travel is that it can stimulate your creative side. An article in The Atlantic noted that our creativity is linked to what’s known as neuroplasticity, which enables the brain to rewire itself and be revitalized to changes in your environment or stimulation. Think of it as a confidence boost. Travel is often touted for its benefit of getting us out of our comfort zones in trying something new that might seem scary to us at first. Watching a travel-related video of an activity that we’re curious to learn more about or always wanted to try is a good step in that direction.
 
5 - It can help relieve your stress
Our lives get busy and packed with responsibilities, so a break from our daily schedules can be rejuvenating. And we need it too. According to findings from the U.S. Travel Association, more than half of Americans didn’t take all of their vacation time, accumulating 768 million days in 2018. Along with a respite from your routine, taking one of our virtual tours can give you time to recharge your batteries. Being instantly transported to a faraway place can provide the mental break needed to face the rest of your day. 
 
6 - It can be a source of self-care
Self-care has become a buzzword but this act of taking care of your mental, physical and emotional needs is important to carry out. Virtual travel provides videos on topics that can help us unwind or deliver us to a calm, soothing place. Virtual experience topics can incorporate a class in meditation or perhaps a seminar about faith. Or decompress virtually by following a tour that takes you along a beach, within a park or garden, or another relaxing scenic spot.
 
7 - It can help to inspire you to plan a future trip
While the pandemic ceased travel plans, planning an upcoming trip can still be a thing to do -- and give us something to look forward to. A National Geographic article highlighted that anticipating an upcoming trip instills in us everything from a sense of optimism to recognizing the value of purchasing experiences over things. Virtual tours can provide inspiration and information for planning a potential visit. For more information, see our pre-trip planning experiences.