Everyone looks forward to time off at the weekends, even if they don’t have any major plans lined up. In fact, a person might enter the two-day holiday with the goal of avoiding major events. This could be to save time, catch up on chores, or simply recenter themselves after a tough period.
Regardless of why you plan on staying in, modern technology has transformed the experience. In other words, just because you’re relaxing at home, it doesn’t mean you’re worlds away from fun. As streaming technology and gaming hardware improve, so do the number of options for a virtual escape.
And the number of options is simply dizzying. For example, in 2020, Google Arts & Culture went all-in on logging museums and historical landmarks. Anyone with access to an internet browser can explore each and every location listed on the Google Arts & Culture page—and all are free to the public.
In case museums and 3D tours aren’t your thing, we’ve listed five other insane virtual activities that will take your weekend spent at home to the next level.
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Hit 21 at a Virtual Casino
When it comes to casino gaming, most people immediately think of poker. However, for those who haven’t ventured into a brick-and-mortar or virtual casino before, blackjack is much more accessible. The rules are simpler, the strategies easier to understand—plus, accessing the title online has never been easier. So, if you want to challenge yourself and explore the exciting world of casino gaming, then blackjack is a solid choice.
Best of all, most online platforms today offer live dealer features. A live dealer blackjack game uses a live video link to connect you with a real-life dealer, who facilitates the game just like at a physical location.
Explore the Galaxies
Now and then, news about NASA projects and Mars exploration hit the headlines. But what if you could explore the farthest reaches of space straight from your living room? As it happens, there’s an app for that. In fact, NASA at Home is a virtual tour program that was designed with the intention of letting the average person delve deep into space.
Through the app, users can explore our solar system, then branch out to adventure into new galaxies. Along the way, there are plenty of interactive activities that help teach the basics of space exploration and astrophysics.
Escape the Room—in Any Theme
In the last five years, escape rooms have become a global phenomenon. No matter where you go, there’s an escape room ready to challenge you and your friends in a unique way. But the same is true for virtual platforms. Online, you can find single and multiplayer escape rooms. Best of all, they cover a huge range of themes, from history to horror. It’s a great idea for bringing together groups of friends.
Sing Your Heart Out (With Friends)
Speaking of spending time with friends, another accessible choice is karaoke. In the same way that escape rooms have gone digital, so have karaoke rooms. All you have to do is shop around for the best options—just make sure you find a platform or subscription that offers a ‘room’ large enough for all of your friends.
Additionally, keep a look out for song themes. Given karaoke is a global pastime, different platforms might offer different choices in music, ranging from pop hits to oldies to K-pop. You may also want to be aware of platforms that require specific types of microphones, as not everyone will have access to them—especially karaoke beginners.
Explore Virtual Wellness
Lastly, if the point of staying in over the weekend is to focus on rejuvenation and centering, you might consider a virtual wellness program. Keep in mind that these programs are incredibly diverse and let you focus on areas where you’d like to improve your life.
For example, if you’re a remote worker, there are programs that can help you set up healthy and energizing habits for the workday, from short meditation breaks to adding more joy to your home office.