🌊 Virtual Michigan Experiences

Keep the adventure going with a few virtual ways to explore Michigan from home. From scenic shorelines to iconic flavors and rich culture, these experiences pair perfectly with your American Wanderlust Box.

✈️ Explore the Sights

Mackinac Island

Step onto a car-free island filled with charm, waterfront views, and historic streets.
https://www.mackinacisland.org/video-tours/

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

Soar above towering dunes and crystal-clear shoreline in this breathtaking virtual experience.
https://www.nps.gov/slbe/planyourvisit/virtual-visits.htm

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Discover colorful cliffs, hidden beaches, and Lake Superior’s rugged beauty.
https://www.nps.gov/piro/learn/photosmultimedia/index.htm

🏙️ Discover Culture

Detroit Institute of Arts

Browse one of the country’s most impressive art collections from the comfort of home.
https://dia.org/collection

Motown Museum

Step into music history and explore the legacy of Motown from Detroit.
https://www.motownmuseum.org/visit/still-going-on/

🍒 Taste Michigan

Traverse Bay Fruit Co.

Bring Michigan’s cherry capital to your kitchen with recipes and inspiration.
https://www.traversebayfarms.com/blogs/healthy-recipes

Better Made Snack Foods

Learn the story behind one of Michigan’s most iconic snack brands.
https://bettermade.com/about-us/

Faygo

Take a nostalgic look at a classic Michigan soda loved for generations.
https://www.faygo.com/history/

🌊 Relax & Unwind

Big Red Lighthouse

One of Michigan’s most photographed landmarks, this bright red lighthouse sits along the shores of Lake Michigan and captures the charm of Holland’s coastal beauty. Watch the waves roll in, catch a sunset, and experience this iconic view from home.
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=big+red+lighthouse+holland+michigan

Whitefish Point Light Station

Watch the waves roll in at one of the most peaceful and historic spots on Lake Superior.
https://www.greatlakescams.com/whitefishpoint/

✨ Make It an Experience

Pair your box with a virtual moment:

Put on a scenic tour
Open your snacks
Start your DIY project
End with a calming lakeshore video

Florida

Florida Virtual Experiences

🎨 Art & Creativity
🏛️ History & Education
🌴 Heritage & Local Culture Explorations
🍊 Food Culture - Citrus
- Florida Citrus Grove Tour – See how citrus trees are grown and harvested.

Kansas

Kansas Virtual Experiences

Kansas Museum of History – Virtual Tours & Online Exhibits
Explore museum exhibits and past displays online from the Kansas Historical Society. Kansas Museum of History Virtual Tours & Online Exhibits (Kansas Historical Society)
Kansas Historical Society – Virtual Classroom Tours
Scheduled live broadcast tours on topics like Bleeding Kansas and Westward Ho!. Kansas Historical Society Virtual Classroom Tours
KU Natural History Museum – Museum from Home
Virtual activities, videos, and educational modules about fossils, species, and natural history. KU Biodiversity Institute “Museum from Home”
Museum of World Treasures – Virtual Exhibits (History From Home)
Online exhibit with community-submitted stories and photos focusing on historical themes. World Treasures Virtual Exhibits
Clio: Your Guide to Kansas City History
While not a single tour, Clio offers many virtual history and culture tours you can access online. Clio Digital History & Culture Tours (Kansas City)
Kansas City, Kansas – Virtual Architectural & Cultural Tours
Explore many historical sites and cultural points of interest around Kansas City, KS with virtual tour content. Visit Kansas City, KS Virtual Tours
Jayhawks360 – University of Kansas 360° VR Tour. Experience panoramic virtual reality views of the University of Kansas athletics facilities and campus spaces. Jayhawks360 Virtual Reality Tour (University of Kansas)
Live Kansas Webcams. Watch live feeds from around the state — from city skylines to rural landscapes and local towns. Live Kansas Webcams (IpLiveCams)

Minnesota

Minnesota Historical Society – Virtual Tours
- Interactive, click-through tours of historic homes, museums, and landmarks across Minnesota, including Mill City Museum, James J. Hill House, and Jeffers Petroglyphs.
Minnesota History Center Virtual Tour
- A panoramic, self-guided virtual walk through the Minnesota History Center in St. Paul, featuring galleries, public spaces, and exhibits.
Historic Fort Snelling – Commandant’s House Virtual Tour
- Explore rooms inside the historic fort with clickable views and historical context about early Minnesota life.
Forest History Center Virtual Tour
- An interactive tour of a recreated early-1900s logging camp, showing daily life in Minnesota’s north woods.
Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post Virtual Tour
- Clickable interior tour highlighting Ojibwe history, culture, and artifacts inside the historic trading post.
Minnesota DNR State Parks Virtual Tours
- Interactive panoramic and snapshot tours of Minnesota state parks, including Gooseberry Falls, Itasca, Split Rock Lighthouse, and more.
Minnesota State Capitol Virtual Tour
- A guided virtual walkthrough of the Minnesota State Capitol highlighting architecture, murals, and civic spaces.

New Mexico

New Mexico Tourism Department Immersive Tours
- The New Mexico Tourism Department has a collection of 360° videos and virtual tours of signature destinations, historic sites, and outdoor spaces.
New Mexico Museum of Art — Virtual Tours
- The New Mexico Museum of Art offers virtual tours of past and current exhibitions. Users can explore gallery spaces, click on “hotspots” to learn more about works, and access interviews or background info.
Carlsbad Caverns National Park — Virtual Tours
- 360° Virtual Visit: Explore Carlsbad Caverns with an interactive 360° tour.

New Mexico History Museum – Virtual Exhibitions
- The New Mexico History Museum offers 3D virtual tours of key exhibitions, including “Telling New Mexico”, which spans 500+ years of state history.
New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science – Virtual Field Trips
- Explore exhibits about maritime history, pirate/privateer activity, and oystering.
New Mexico Historic Sites – Virtual Tours
- The New Mexico Historic Sites program has video tours for a number of historic locations (Los Luceros Hacienda, Fort Sumner, Fort Stanton, Jemez, Lincoln, etc.).

Maryland

VisitMaryland: Virtual Experiences in History & Heritage
- Virtual exhibits/tours from places like Fort McHenry, The Reginald F. Lewis Museum, Baltimore Heritage’s “Five-Minute Histories,” and the Fire Museum of Maryland.
Calvert Marine Museum – Virtual Exhibits
- Explore exhibits about maritime history, pirate/privateer activity, and oystering.
Maryland Center for History & Culture – Virtual Field Trips
- Live/interactive virtual field trips for learners, plus video content about Maryland history.
Annapolis Maritime Museum & Park – Virtual Exhibits
- Stories of maritime industries in Annapolis, Eastport, oral histories, and exhibits about local watermen and waterfront heritage.
Chesapeake Conservancy – Virtual Tours
- High-res virtual tours (similar to Google Street View) of rivers & waterways along the Chesapeake Bay, especially tied to the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail.
Historic Ships in Baltimore – Virtual Tours
- Virtual exploration of ships such as the USS Constellation and USS Torsk; move through interior spaces and view ship-history online.
Maryland State Archives Exhibits
- Online exhibits about Maryland history: things like Frederick Douglass, exhibits of documents, maps, and photos.

Alabama

Mobile Carnival Museum
- Provides a virtual museum tour chronicling over 300 years of Mobile’s Mardi Gras and Carnival traditions.
Alabama Historical Commission’s Landmark Map
- An interactive, searchable GIS map of historic sites across Alabama. Includes street-view photos, descriptions, and updated documentation.
History Museum of Mobile
- While a detailed virtual tour isn't embedded, the site provides a virtual tour interface for exploring exhibits—great for Mobile’s historical context.
Old Depot Museum (Selma)
- Offers a virtual walkthrough of the Selma/Dallas County Museum of History and Archives. You can click interactive icons for navigation and fullscreen exploration.
USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park
- Explore the WWII-era USS Alabama in immersive 360° detail, including interior decks. Built using LiDAR and narration, this virtual tour preserves history and opens access to those unable to visit in person.
USS Drum Submarine Museum
- A similarly high-quality virtual experience of the WWII USS Drum submarine, using VR tech to showcase maritime history tied to Mobile, Alabama.
Moundville Archaeological Park (University of Alabama)
- “Portals to the Past” virtual tours include a guided tour of the Jones Archaeological Museum, a Tree Tour through the park's woods, and a cultural highlight on cedar trees and their significance to Southeastern Native Americans.
Gorgas House Museum (Tuscaloosa)
- Offers a narrated virtual tour plus educational videos on colonial-era activities like butter churning, wax seal making, and pomander crafting.

Oregon

1. Crater Lake National Park - Take a virtual tour of the deepest lake in the United States. Explore crater views, volcanic geology, and guided hikes through immersive videos, 360° images, and ranger-led digital programs.

2. Portland Japanese Garden - Enjoy a tranquil video tour through authentic Japanese landscapes. Learn about seasonal plantings, design philosophy, and Japanese culture from one of the most celebrated gardens in North America.

3. Oregon Caves National Monument - Journey underground through interactive photo tours and educational videos. Learn about marble cave formations and the biodiversity of the Siskiyou Mountains.

4. John Day Fossil Beds National Monument - Travel back in time with a virtual walk through the Painted Hills and ancient fossil sites. Explore colorful landscapes and view fossil specimens with interactive maps and learning modules.

5. Pittock Mansion in Portland - Step inside a Portland icon from your home. This virtual tour highlights the historic mansion’s architecture, personal artifacts, and stories of early Portland pioneers.

Vermont

Vermont History Museum – Virtual Field Trips
🌐 Take a 360° tour through exhibits highlighting Vermont’s rich past. Includes interactive programs like artifact mysteries and Civil War letters.
🔗 Visit the Vermont History Museum virtually
Vermont State House – 360° Virtual Tour
🌐 Stroll through the historic Vermont State House via a Google-powered self-guided tour. Explore legislative chambers and ornate architecture.
🔗 Tour the Vermont State House online
The Long Trail – Interactive Hiking Resources
- 🗺️ Web-Based Interactive Map
  Plan or virtually explore the Long Trail with this online tool—featuring route overlays, shelters, and elevation profiles.
  🔗 View the Long Trail interactive map
- 🎥 Thru-Hiking Video Experience
  Watch a full documentary of a recent Long Trail thru-hike. Perfect for inspiration or armchair adventuring.
  🔗 Watch the Long Trail Thru-Hike (2025)
Spruce Mountain Fire Tower – Winter Hike & Lookout View
Experience Vermont’s rugged beauty with a winter hike to the Spruce Mountain fire tower. This video offers sweeping views and a glimpse of fire watch history.
🔗 Watch the Spruce Mountain Fire Tower video
Skiing at Stowe Mountain – Powder Day Adventure
Ride along on a perfect Vermont powder day at Stowe Mountain Resort. This high-energy ski video captures the thrill and scenery of one of Vermont’s premier slopes.
🔗 Watch the Stowe Mountain skiing video