How To Travel to Great Destinations From Home

Who said you can’t see the world from the comfort of your home? Here are some ideas on books, movies, recipes, and virtual experiences for some favorite destinations so that you can experience them from home. Find a bit of inspiration for your next bucket list trip or just enjoy a new way to pass the time!

CALIFORNIA

From the Redwood Forest to the wine country to star-studded Beverly Hills, California has so much history to discover and culture to celebrate.

BOOKS:

• The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan

• Slouching Towards Bethlehem by Joan Didion

• Wild by Cheryl Strayed

• Big Sur by Jack Kerouac

• Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner

• East of Eden by John Steinbeck

• California by Kevin Starr

MOVIES

• Sunset Boulevard

• Pretty Woman

• Clueless

• Escape from Alcatraz

• Maltese Falcon

• The Graduate

• Sideways

VIRTUAL EXPERIENCES

• The Getty

• The Grammy Museum

• Legion of Honor

• Channel Islands National Park Live Stream

• “Pacific Dreams” A California Surfing Film

• Virtual Wine Tours & Tastings

RECIPE

California Avocado Toast – 3 ways

AFRICA

Learn about Africa and virtually experience this incredible destination through these books, movies and special experiences.

BOOKS

• Circling the Sun by Paula McClain

• Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela

• I Will Always Write You Back by Caitlin Alifirenka and Martin Ganda

• Safari: A Memoir of a Worldwide Pioneer by Geoffrey Kent

• Good morning, Mr Mandela by Zelda la Grange

MOVIES

• Out of Africa

• Born Free

• The Lion King

• Long Walk to Freedom

VIRTUAL EXPERIENCES

• Robben Island

• Johannesburg Art Gallery

• Drone Safari in Kalahari

• Nelson Mandela Interview

• South African Slang

• Victoria Falls with National Geographic

INSPIRATION

• Southern Africa Country Guide

• 9 Myths about Traveling to Africa

• Kid’s Games: Southern Africa

• South Africa Insider’s Guide

RECIPE

Red Rooibos Tea Latte

ITALY

With Italy’s rich history, charming people and delicious food at every turn, there is so much to experience from home to get you excited for your return trip.

BOOKS

• Galileo’s Daughter: A Historical Memoir of Science, Faith, and Love by Dava Sobel

• The Agony and the Ecstasy: A Biographical Novel of Michelangelo by Irving Stone

• Brunelleschi’s Dome: How a Renaissance Genius Reinvented Architecture by Ross King

• A Mediterranean Summer by David Shallek

• Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter

• The Venetian Bargain by Marina Fiorato

MOVIES

• Roman Holiday

• Under the Tuscan Sun

• Only You

• Enchanted April

• Letters to Juliet

• To Rome with Love

• Eat, Pray, Love

• La Dolce Vita

• The Italian Job

RECIPES

• A Taste of Italy

VIRTUAL EXPERIENCES AND INSPIRATION

• Uffizi Gallery in Florence

• Vatican Museums in Rome

• The Brenta Dolomites

• An Interview with Winemaker Piero Antinori

• Insider’s Guide to Italy

• Foodie, Adventure, and Family Experiences in Italy

BONUS: CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES

Do you have little ones home from school? Here are some activities for young travelers.

• Sally King’s Downloadable Coloring Book

• Virtual Expedition to the Galapagos

• Van Gogh coloring pages (and “walk” through the Van Gogh Museum together here!)

• Kid’s Corner: Photo Scavenger Hunt

COVID-19 may have put a pause on most travel, but it doesn’t mean you have to stop dreaming about where to go next. From taking virtual tours to escaping in novels, never stop exploring, even while staying safe at home.

While things are still unknown, we at TravelStruck are hopeful for the future of travel. It is our mission to curate meaningful luxury experiences, whether your idea of luxury is sipping wine in Napa Valley or admiring the powerful animals of Africa. Because we, ourselves, are TravelStruck, we have a passion for—and an unparalleled ability in—designing personalized luxury adventures that will once again, leave you feeling TravelStruck.