Geography Games and Virtual Travel Through the USA

Written by Cassie Parker

Field trips are exciting and can provide great experiences for both children and adults. Although in-person field trips are always an adventure, they can be costly, difficult to plan, and weather-dependent. This is where virtual field trips can come into play as a wonderful alternative. There are countless places to visit across the United States, and many of them have online tours. You can choose a couple or experience all that the country has to offer by taking a virtual road trip across the country from the comfort of your home!

Alabama

Birmingham Botanical Gardens

No beauty is lost in this virtual tour of the Birmingham Botanical Gardens, where you can “walk” around and take in all of the wonders of nature.

Alaska

Denali National Park & Preserve

Not only can you explore and enjoy the beautiful plants and landscapes at this national park, but you can learn all about the research happening there while you wander around.

Arizona

OdySea Aquarium

OdySea Aquarium offers live streaming of their majestic sea creatures’ habitats during business hours and many educational resources to dive deeper into learning about the ocean.

Arkansas

Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas (ASC)

The Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas hosts this exhibit that honors women both in person and virtually with interactive elements. The Female Gaze exhibit is one of several that you can tour virtually at this museum.

California

California State Capitol Museum

Learn all about the history of government in California, and explore the governor and secretary of state’s offices.

Colorado

Denver Zoo

If you have always wanted to go on a safari, this is your chance to experience all of the same wonder without the heat, bugs, or danger.

Connecticut

The Mark Twain House and Museum

Tour the house where Mark Twain wrote The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and see what life was like for him at that time.

Delaware

Biggs Museum of American Art

Watch these videos to explore each exhibit in the museum!

Florida

The Dalí Museum

If you have ever enjoyed looking at Salvador Dali’s artwork, you will appreciate this virtual tour that explores art by and inspired by this great artist.

Georgia

Georgia Sports Hall of Fame and Museum

Virtually explore the largest state sports museum in the country.

Hawaii

Iolani Palace

Built in 1882, Iolani Palace is the royal residence of Hawaii, and any visitor, in person or virtual, will be mesmerized by its rich detail and beauty.

Idaho

Idaho Capitol

This collection of videos forms a comprehensive tour of the Idaho capitol. It can be used in education or by families wanting to know more about their own or other states.

Illinois

Art Institute of Chicago

The Art Institute of Chicago is home to an ancient Roman art exhibit. Browse virtually while learning about each piece.

Indiana

Indianapolis Zoo

Watch fascinating animals like tigers and penguins in their own habitats through the webcams at the Indianapolis Zoo.

Iowa

Iowa Children’s Museum

The Iowa Children’s Museum is a great place to tour for families, as it’s focused on engaging children while teaching them about the world.

Kansas

Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum & Boyhood Home

Here, you can experience Dwight D. Eisenhower’s boyhood home and then travel virtually into the more recent past at his presidential museum.

Kentucky

Behringer-Crawford Museum

Take a ride through history in this virtual tour of “History in Motion.”

Louisiana

Louisiana’s Old State Capitol

Feel like you have traveled back in time when you tour this historic building.

Maine

Scarborough Marsh

Many kids aren’t familiar with marshes, what they do for the environment, or that they are home to many animals. This tour will allow anyone to learn all about these intriguing habitats.

Maryland

Hubble Space Telescope Operations Control Center

Take a 360-degree tour of a NASA control center and learn all about what happens behind the scenes when NASA sends a rocket into space.

Massachusetts

New Bedford Whaling Museum

The New Bedford Whaling Museum allows visitors to explore the history of interactions between humans and whales and “dive” into the current lives of whales.

Michigan

Michigan Central Station

For those interested in the conservation of historical buildings, this tour is perfect, as you can watch the steps of the renovation of the famous Michigan Central Station.

Minnesota

Minnesota Governor’s Residence

Walk room by room through the home of Minnesota’s governor.

Mississippi

The Blues and the Great Migration Virtual Tour

Learn all about the Great Migration and its relationship to the blues.

Missouri

Harry S. Truman Home

Visit President Truman’s historic home in this virtual tour.

Montana

Glacier National Park

This famous national park has multiple webcams so you can view a live tour at any time.

Nebraska

Willa Cather Center

This virtual tour includes a tour of the author’s home and more.

Nevada

Great Basin National Park

Go deeper into your understanding of caves and caverns in this virtual tour.

New Hampshire

Children’s Museum of New Hampshire

This children’s museum welcomes visitors who may not be able to visit in person through this virtual tour.

New Jersey

Princeton Battlefield State Park

Explore a virtual or video tour of this historic battlefield of the American Revolution.

New Mexico

Georgia O’Keeffe Museum

Georgia O’Keeffe’s art continues to inspire, and here, you can view a tour of her home and even a live video of her garden.

New York

Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum

Take a virtual tour of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum and learn all about how President Roosevelt influenced the Great Depression and many other important milestones in America’s history.

North Carolina

North Carolina Museum of History

Explore a range of exhibits online, including a tour made for students all about North Carolina’s history.

North Dakota

North Dakota Lakes Virtual Tour

Use this virtual tour as a science lesson that can teach you all about temperature, oxygenation, and the water chemistry of lakes.

Ohio

Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden

Choose your favorite animals to focus on or visit them all here!

Oklahoma

Museum of Women Pilots

Learn about women in aviation and their accomplishments as they overcome obstacles to fly after their dreams.

Oregon

Rice Museum of Rocks and Minerals

Explore more than 20,000 rocks and minerals in this virtual tour.

Pennsylvania

Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania

This tour may be a favorite for kids who love trains, as they can explore all of the different machinery in the Railroad Museum.

Rhode Island

International Tennis Hall of Fame

If you have ever enjoyed watching or playing tennis, this tour may capture your attention as you learn about gender equality in tennis and the fight to get there.

South Carolina

South Carolina State Museum

The South Carolina State Museum allows you to feel like you have not only traveled to South Carolina but to the moon, thanks to their “Apollo 50: Journey to the Moon” exhibit.

South Dakota

Mount Rushmore National Memorial

A detailed 360-degree view of this iconic landmark lets you see it up close and personal, more so than if you visited in person.

Tennessee

Tennessee Aquarium

Use the live webcams to view one or all of the animals you like at any time of day.

Texas

George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum

See artifacts and exhibits throughout the museum devoted to the 43rd president.

Utah

Natural History Museum of Utah

The exhibits on display virtually include many that have been shown live, such as “Native Voices,” “First People,” and “Past Worlds.”

Vermont

Vermont Institute of Natural Science

Join in with a backyard safari and you may discover things about your own backyard!

Virginia

National Women’s History Museum

Explore how women had an impact on the space race, and then go on to learn about the influence of many other women on society today.

Washington

The Museum of Flight

Even non-pilots will appreciate peeking into historic and iconic aircraft.

West Virginia

Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine

Coal mining may be something you have never given much thought to, but you will not forget its importance after this video tour.