(Virtual) Travel Guide

Dream Destinations for Summer 2020

05/29/2020

While far-flung travel is mostly on hold right now, a girl can still dream, right? If your wanderlust is as strong as ours, then buckle up and get ready for liftoff. We've put together a roundup of places you can tour and visit virtually from the comfort of home—plus, our tips on what to wear once the actual traveling kicks in.

The Gardens at Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild — Côte d'Azur, France

If you love to explore breathtaking gardens with a side of art—or vice versa—then Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild in the French Riviera is your paradise. There are nine gardens on the estate, each with a different theme: Japanese, Spanish, Provençal, rose, exotic.... Inside the villa, meanwhile, you'll find great antiques, porcelain and furnishings as well as Old Master paintings and sculptures from turn-of-the-century collector Béatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild.

Take a 3D tour here.

What to Wear

Park Güell — Barcelona, Spain

Few urban parks are quite like this. Located on a hill in the bustling city of Barcelona, Park Güell is a wondrous showcase for architect Antoni Gaudí's fantastical Willy Wonka-esque sensibility. We consider the colorful mosaics throughout an instant mood booster. Fun fact: It's a good spot for parrot-watching too.

Take in a panoramic view here.

What to Wear

Jupiter Artland — Edinburgh, Scotland

Jupiter Artland is a combo sculpture park and art gallery, typically only open during the summer months. While it's currently closed due to COVID-19, the organization has cleverly shifted to offer innovative online experiences, like weekly project prompts for the kids ("Notes from Jupiter," available at @jupiterartland) and a virtual replica in the video game Minecraft, where players can explore the current installations and build their own digital sculptures.

Check out the IRL sculpture park here—and then head over to the pixel park on Minecraft.

What to Wear

The Island of Sicily — Italy

Tour all of Sicily, from the seaside town of Cefalù to Palermo's Monreale Cathedral. Yes, we're talking about the entire island. We recommend starting with the "Tour Map" on the top left corner in the link below to view the different locations on a map—and understand where you are exactly—before launching into the menu of options.

Begin your 3D journey here.

What to Wear

Machu Picchu — Peru

Travel across the globe—and back in time—to the heart of the Incan Empire and one of the seven wonders of the world. Scour everything from the Temple of the Sun to the royal residences—plus meet the current natives, alpacas and llamas.

Get up close and personal in a guided 360° tour—from the ground, and from the sky—here.

What to Wear

The Palace of Versailles — Versailles, France

Welcome to Versailles. "Walking" through the famed Hall of Mirrors is an unbelievable experience, even if you have to put your inner serial selfie snapper on hold. But don't stop there. You can soak up the art work in the rest of the palace, stroll through the gardens, head to the Colonnade Grove or the fountains… all without having to elbow your way through the crowds. Finally, you can have your cake and eat it too.

Your private virtual-reality tour awaits here.