The past few months have been a whirlwind, and if you’re feeling cooped up like many of us, you’re not alone. With restrictions on travel and a shift in how we spend time together, it can be hard to find ways to keep the family entertained. That’s why I’m excited to share a creative and fun solution: virtual road trips! This is something Abby and I decided to try, and it turned out to be such a great bonding experience.
Even though we can’t physically travel right now, there’s still plenty of adventure to be had from the comfort of your home. We’ve planned a virtual road trip and I want to challenge you and your family to do the same! It’s a perfect way to explore new places, learn about geography, and spark your curiosity, all while honing valuable research skills. Plus, it’s a great homeschooling activity that covers everything from geography and math to technology.
Getting Started with Your Virtual Road Trip
First, open Google Maps and enter your starting location. If you’re unsure where to begin, ask your kids if there’s a particular city or attraction they’ve always wanted to visit. For example, when I asked Abby, she immediately said, “Oklahoma City.” This took me by surprise, but then she explained it was because of the Science Museum Oklahoma, which she had seen featured on DIY SCI, a series she watched on Amazon Prime. Who knew that a TV show could inspire a whole road trip!
Once you have your destination in mind, enter it into Google Maps and get directions from your home. That’s when the fun begins.
Creating Your Road Trip Route
To make your virtual trip exciting, add a few stops along the way. Click “Add Destination” and choose another place you’d like to visit. We chose Dallas, Texas, since my sister and her family live there. Abby also decided that while in Dallas, she wanted to stay at the Great Wolf Lodge! After adding your second destination, you can close the loop by adding a stop to return home.
Once your basic route is set, you can start looking for interesting places along the way to visit. We decided not to travel for more than 3 to 4 hours at a time, so we scrolled through the route and found some cool spots. For example, we learned that Tupelo, Mississippi, was the birthplace of Elvis Presley! It was fun to add unexpected places to our list and explore new destinations.
Adding More Stops and Fun Detours
When you’re ready, click “Add Destination” again and rearrange your stops to create a well-planned loop. It’s also a good idea to search for quirky roadside attractions or interesting stops where you can stretch your legs and enjoy some downtime. If you’re unfamiliar with a destination, checking out a town’s tourism website (or CVB) can give you an idea of what to see, where to stay, and any fun facts about the area.
We had so much fun with this step, learning about hidden gems like Conway, Arkansas, and even some local attractions that I never knew existed!
Finalizing Your Road Trip
Keep adding stops until you’ve got the perfect route, making sure you’re not cramming too many activities into one day. Once your road trip is set, share your map with us! You can click the three horizontal lines on Google Maps to generate a link and share it in the comments or on social media. It’s always fun to see other people’s road trip ideas and get inspired by what they’ve included on their route.
Abby’s Virtual Road Trip
Hi, Abby here!
I’m so excited to share my road trip list with you! I’ve picked some cool places to visit along the way, and I can’t wait to “travel” to these spots. Here’s my road trip route:
- Birmingham, Alabama – The Birmingham Zoo, Birmingham Botanical Gardens, and Gatos and Beans (a cat cafe!)
- Huntsville, Alabama – U.S. Space and Rocket Center
- Tuscumbia, Alabama – Helen Keller Museum
- Tupelo, Mississippi – Elvis Presley’s Birthplace
- Little Rock, Arkansas – Fourche Creek Wetlands
- Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – Science Museum Oklahoma
- Dallas, Texas – Great Wolf Lodge (and visit my Aunt Linsey, Uncle Tevin, and Baby Cousin Hudson)
- Shreveport, Louisiana – Shreveport Aquarium
- Home
There are so many exciting places to see, and I can’t wait to learn more about them!
Endless Road Trip Possibilities
The fun doesn’t have to stop with one road trip! You and your family can create maps for different themes. Whether it’s a National Parks tour, a trip to visit all of your cousins, or even a search for haunted hotels, the possibilities are endless. The best part? You can explore these destinations virtually until we can all hit the road again.
We hope this inspires you to start planning your own virtual road trip and look forward to the adventures that await!
