While museums, historic sites and other attractions remain closed, you can still explore interesting places and discover new ideas thanks to virtual tours, lectures and lots of online activities.
Take a virtual vacation from the mountains to the shore. NC 360 is an immersive experience that allows viewers to discover some of the state’s most popular attractions. Using cameras like those used for Google Street View, state park employees trekked all over the state to film parks and historic sites like the N.C. Zoo, the Wright Brothers National Memorial and Hanging Rock State Park.
The North Carolina Museum of History in downtown Raleigh houses more than 150,000 artifacts that bring the Tar Heel State’s past to life. The History at Home program allows virtual visitors to explore exhibits, search the collections, listen to a podcast or download activities.
Although its popular exhibits will have to wait, you can watch one of more than 200 talks on scientific topics recorded at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. Topics include Deadly Stars, Bears and Coyotes in the Triangle and The Science of Monster Myths.
The park at the North Carolina Museum of Art is open, but you’ll need to go online for a closer look at the museum’s collection. Through the NCMA Learn program, visitors can watch video interviews with artists, take a closer look at individual pieces or get ideas for family activities.
Explore the historical gardens, grounds and history of the Biltmore Estate in Asheville. Dozens of virtual tours can be found on the Biltmore YouTube Channel, including a look at the spring gardens in bloom and the Downton Abbey exhibition.
If the beach is more to your taste, explore Wilmington and its island beaches. Wake up early and catch a sunrise by visiting the Carolina Beach, Kure Beach and Wrightsville Beach webcams. Or take a virtual tour with Wilmington’s SkyNav 3D tour, which consists of multiple aerial and ground panoramas that encompass the entire coastline from Wilmington to Carolina, Kure and Wrightsville beaches. Visitors can discover numerous attractions and sites throughout the area, fully immersing themselves in the destination.
