While California is quarantined at home, there are plenty of free, online experiences that can transport you outside of the house. Organizations far and wide have come together to offer more free content than ever to make this scary and uncertain time just a little bit more enjoyable.
From zoo live streams and free Opera to binge-worthy shows and cooking classes, here’s a healthy mix of fun and educational free things to do over the next month (or more) in quarantine.
Live Streams from Zoos & Aquariums
- San Diego Zoo: Watch koalas, polar bears, tigers, giraffes, and many more on the zoo’s various live cams. zoo.sandiegozoo.org/live-cams
- Monterey Bay Aquarium: The aquarium’s YouTube page has live cams for sharks, jellyfish, penguins and their aviary. youtube.com/user/MontereyBayAquarium
- Smithsonian National Zoo: You can chill in real-time with the pandas, lions, elephants, or naked mole-rats.
nationalzoo.si.edu/webcams - Cincinnati Zoo: Live on their Facebook page, airing a Home Safari every weekday at 12PM. facebook.com/cincinnatizoo
- Explore.org: See creatures great and small, from a hummingbird cam to a Bald Eagle’s nest with the widest variety of live nature streams. explore.org
- The Elmwood Park Zoo: Located in Pennsylvania, they’re offering Zoo School on Facebook Live on weekdays at 8 AM. facebook.com/EPZoo
- The Houston Zoo: Live cams in several of their animal habitats show giraffes and gorillas all the way down to the Leafcutter Ant. houstonzoo.org/explore/webcams
Museums & Culture Around The World
Free Fitness Classes
Cooking Classes
When you’re looking for ways to indulge at home, these free online cooking classes are a great way to do just that! Take a break from takeout and test your hand at something homemade and gourmet with these classes.
- Chef Massimo Bottura is offering a free nightly cooking lesson on his Instagram page: instagram.com/massimobottura
- Learn to bake bread with your kids via King Arthur Flour: facebook.com/watch
- Delish is offering free daily digital cooking classes for kids at 10 am Pacific Time via Instagram Live: instagram.com/delish
- Recreate your junk food favs like Twinkies, Cheetos, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, and more from Bon Appetit Pastry Chef, Claire Saffitz: bonappetit.com
- Milk Street is offering their online cooking classes for FREE through the end of April. You’ll learn recipes, and new ways to approach food and cooking: 177milkstreet.com
Binge-Worthy Content
If you need some ideas of what to consume next on TV, consider these suggestions for nearly every platform you may subscribe to. Because TV and movies are still our favorite source of home entertainment!
Educational Articles for Homeowners
Whether you already own a home or hope to upgrade now that you realize you need more space, it’s the perfect time to learn a bit more about the process of buying and selling. A First Team Real Estate agent can help you make a safe move today using 100% virtual buying and selling process, or you can take this time to simply plan your next move once you’re ready. These articles are the perfect place to start whether you’re learning for the first time or simply refreshing your knowledge.
About the Author
Since 1976, First Team Real Estate has helped hundreds of thousands of homebuyers and sellers achieve their real estate goals.