As we spend more and more time inside, it’s time to get creative when it comes to connecting with nature. Countless studies have shown the benefits of spending time in nature and the outdoors — even looking at photos of nature can help reduce stress. Here are some ways to connect to parks and wilderness from afar, and create your healing journey from the comfort of your own home!
1. Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park never ceases to amaze us. You can visit the series of live webcams from nine different areas in the park and experience the scale of the world’s first national park or explore a 3D tour of a geyser!
2. Meditate to Nature
The National Park Foundation created a soundtrack of the parks’ night sounds, which is an excellent tool for meditation. Even if you live in the heart of the city, the 12 minutes of soothing, natural sounds will transport you to a state of serenity. Close your eyes, find that one spot at home that brings you comfort, and experience the miracle that is the outdoors.
3. Bears Ears National Monument
Home to beautiful landscapes and more than 100,000 archaeological sites, Bears Ears is magnificent, and now, all you need is a laptop to enjoy it! A virtual reality video series was created, supporting the protection of Bears Ears. Though the series is best viewed with a VR headset, it can also be enjoyed form a laptop.
4. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Believe it or not, there are virtual tours of Hawaii Volcanoes that explore lava tubes. They explain the geological processes that have created more than 500 acres of new land and follow rangers as they describe the beauty of the park’s volcanic coastal cliffs. You can virtually fly over the active Kilauea volcano and be instantly reminded of the mighty forces of nature.
5. Badlands National Park
In 1935, architect Frank Lloyd Wright announced that his visit to the Badlands created “an indescribable sense of mysterious otherwhere.” You can experience this “mysterious otherwhere” through a virtual tour of its thousands of acres of prairies and rock spires.