VIRTUAL TRAVEL

 

It is about time for spring break. Numerous movies have used this as a theme about college students involved in various hijincks, but I think most people have not experienced going to Florida or a similar venue to enjoy the change in the season. I do know that most people don’t go to college, and I would guess that most can not afford to travel to the south or west for a spring vacation.

 

If you will allow me, I would like to offer you a way to a lot of places for a very small fee. In other words, you can become a virtual traveler. There are numerous  sites on the internet,and  I would like to pass them on to you.

 

EARTHCAM.COM

 

Perhaps the most exciting choice is EARTHCAM. It offers thousands of places including pictures and

videos of resorts, oceans, rivers, bridges, and numerous other places. It also allows you into the homes of people all over the world. You may encounter a still picture or a video that changes every 60 seconds.

Numerous  websites offer streaming videos where the image changes every  5 to 10 seconds. Some of the homes that you enter will also  allow you to chat with the people that live there. I would caution against this. Additionally, there are some personally disturbed folks who want more than their share of 15 minutes of fame. One young lady has been able to parlay her website to fame with a spot on the David Letterman Show. Some sites are essentially fronts for pornographic sales. In other words, travel with caution.

 

SEARCH ENGINES

 

One of the most comprehensive ways of seeing a particular city is to go to all the search engines on

your browser. Some of the most notables are YAHOO, LYCOS, INFOSEEK, HOTBOT, EXCITE,SNAP NETSCAPE,LOOKSMART as well as others. If you can not get the exact search engine, you can always type in the name in the registry provided by the internet. What you will find are literally  thousands of sites. You can then track the more exciting ones down with  just a click from your mouse. On the screen will emerge  interesting pictures and information about the city that are your traveling to. Certain sites will lead you to other sites and you can travel in the same city all day long.

 

OTHERS

 

There are specific “routes’ that you can take if you find a favorite spot. I liked to go to a bridge over the Mississippi on I-74 in the Quads to watch the sun go down. You can get there with QUADCITY. Try

KCRG and “Cool Stuff” and you’ll get daily updates and pictures of Cedar Rapids.

 

Because of space limitations, I would like to suggest the following: REALTOR, REALTORAD, REALTYNOW,CITYGUIDE,CITYSEARCH,HOLIDAYS,MAPQUEST,GEOCITIES,WEBMASTER,

HOTELGUIDE, VACATION,CNN(TRAVEL) ABC,NBC,CBS(LOCAL) and DESTINATIONS.

 

Additionally, nearly every newspaper now has a website and on that site you will see realtors who will

give  you a wonderful tour of the city through various houses that are offered for sale. Try GAZETTEONLINE FYIOWA for local coverage and then you can move on from there.

 

For years, I have dwelled in my office that is about 10 feet underground. It is a wonderful spot and especially a delightful place in the summer during the tornado season. However, if I want a special  view

I can literally go up 1 flight of stairs and see the entire Cedar Valley. With QUADCITY, I can see the Mississippi and if I want to see the Missouri Valley, all that I need to do is go to the website of a school that I used to teach at and click on one picture that approximates where my office window once was and see the entire valley of  western  Iowa.

 

 

 

 

 

 

At the end of the day,you will have traveled all over without the hassle of losing your luggage, fighting traffic, or getting the jitters as a  jet plane takes off with you in it. Thus,  you can remain in the comfort of your home. You can stop your travels instantly or move around intermittently,  filled with  a child like imagination that you have  traveled the planet  by getting into the  mystical  cyberspace.

 

In the years ahead, all of this should become even more engaging and sophisticated. Many now travel by going to see travelogues, reading an atlas, choosing a non-fiction book about a faraway place. Cable television also offers one a chance to travel vicariously and THE GAZETTE provides a travel atmosphere in it’s Sunday section on travel and leisure. However, virtual travel may become even more exciting and

personal as you customize your own trip even when you have no particular place to go.