Armchair Adventures: Virtual travel itinerary

For travelers, the call to adventure can be difficult to resist. We appreciate that you’re not globetrotting or even just hitting the road for a little outdoor adventure at this time. To feed your need for beautiful scenery, wide-open spaces, and movement, we have compiled some of our favorite outdoor rec-liner activities. Join us for some armchair adventures until you can get there IRL. The great thing about being an armchair adventurer is that you can see a lot—like six states—in one day! However, we designed this expedition on a logical route so you can follow the itinerary when it’s time to resume real travel.

Dinosaurland, Utah

We’ll kickstart your imagination in Fantasy Canyon, located in Dinosaurland. A short drive from Vernal, Utah, you can explore this geological work of art from your couch today. Now that your imagination is warmed up, choose between a hike, mountain biking, or rafting in Dinosaurland. Better yet, try it all!

Moab, Utah

Your next stop won’t be any surprise for an armchair adventurer: Moab. The 360-degree tours will take you from scenic overlooks to rock climbing to zip lining. Spend some time here in Moab, checking out all that you can do while safe at home. Don’t forget to hydrate!

Tucson, Arizona

Next, point your screen south to Tucson, Arizona. Trade in your puffy vest and leggings for jeans and cowboy boots. You’ll “stay” at the White Stallion Ranch, an all-inclusive ranch with beautiful rooms, an assortment of activities starting with horseback riding. Take a moment to settle into the beauty, explore a bit on your trusty steed, then learn some new cowboy skills.  

Yosemite/Madera County, California

Your first virtual stop en route to Yosemite National Park will be in Madera County. Bass Lake is a peaceful place to gain some Zen before your adrenaline rush. Start by exploring the town and marina, then dive into wakeboarding via 360-degree video. Play like a local while staying local, for the sake of this community and yours. Yosemite is a bucket-list experience, and it should stay on your list. But right now, you can virtually check it off. Enjoy these 360-degree videos that take you to Bridalveil Fall, Mirror Lake, Yosemite Falls, Swinging Bridge, Hecht Hetchy, Sentinel Dome, Glacier Point, Chilnualna Falls, Tunnel View, and much more:

South Lake Tahoe, California

Tahoe South has an all-inclusive virtual visit planned for you as soon as you arrive! They know you want to visit, and they appreciate that you’re giving it some time and protecting the community right now. So they compiled a virtual itinerary for your viewing pleasure. Head over to tahoesouth.com for a virtual visit complete with skiing, roller coasters and boating, ending with a beautiful sunset.

Shasta Cascade, California

After all that thrill, it’s time to slow down and take a mellow scroll through some beautiful flora. So cruise up north to Redding, California and the McConnell Arboretum & Botanical Gardens. You can explore over 200 acres, taking in the views and admiring the water features. Who says adventure can’t have a little bit of R&R?

Willamette Valley, Oregon

We recommend continuing your garden tour north from here. See how plantlife and views change between Redding, California and Silverton, Oregon. The Oregon Garden is one of our stops that can be enjoyed with your VR headset or other devices. Launch the virtual reality experience or select 360-degree photos to discover all the sections of this stunning destination.   So far, you’ve gone hiking, rafting, mountain biking, rock climbing, zip lining, horseback riding, wakeboarding, skiing, roller-coaster riding, boating, garden strolling, and covering a big part of the U.S. It’s time to treat yourself with some yoga and a beverage. Fortunately, that’s just a click away, though it may be time to put the ice cream and sweatpants away for a while. Join the Yoga + Beer community on Facebook and stretch out all those road trip daydream miles via livestream yoga classes.  

Lovell, Wyoming

At this point, you might be a little tired of all the adrenaline and human-powered fun, so it’s time to board the a charter boat and let someone else show you around. Devil’s Canyon, in Wyoming’s Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, is the third largest canyon in the U.S. Enjoy views with Hidden Treasure Charters. Settle into these views as icing on top of your remarkable armchair adventure so far. Pssst: A little patience will be rewarded with a special wildlife sighting.

Wind River Country

Your last outdoor recreation/recliner stop will be just a little south of Lovell. Wyoming’s Wind River Country has made it easy to get a taste of their state parks experience. Check out three parks via 360-degree Google tours: one named for a disappearing river, one for a reservoir juxtaposed against mountain desert, and one for a gold-rush town gone bust. Start exploring here, but watch out for dinosaurs! When the time is right, plan to visit places like this in-person. You can find more about most of these destinations right here on visitusaparks.com!