Virtual Travel Is Here. Is It Any Good?

Plus, National Parks may no longer be 'social distance' solutions.

Subscribe View in browser  The entire world in your inbox. As we enter another week of isolation, I hope you are all coping.  We're still here to keep you informed of what's happening in the industry as well as offering ideas on how to see the world from the confines of your home. There's no shortage of  virtual travel experiences you can escape with during confinement—you can experience world class museums like the Louvre or hike the Grand Canyon. So for this week's lead story I spent a few days hunched over my screen trying dozens of these virtual reality options out. Without giving too much away, let's just say some are actually a delight and you should check them out, while others are utter crap. I've also been doing something on my personal Instagram that may interest some of you. I'm at my family home in Newport, Rhode Island. For those who are unfamiliar it was the summer destination in the Gilded Age so it is an architectural mecca brimming with house porn. I'm still able to get around on foot or by bike and so each day I've been posting a spectacular house and sometimes some of the juicy history behind it. You can access the collection directly here, or head over to my profile and find it in the permanent stories collection. Enjoy, and stay safe!   —William O'Connor, Travel Editor  The Airlines Are Saved. So When Should You Start Booking Flights Again? Industry analysts say that 90 percent of North American flight will be back by Christmas, as the new rescue package puts the workers first. Inside the Hell that is Getting Out of Peru Lulled perhaps into a false sense of security because of only a few cases, thousands of Americans are trapped in Peru and running out of medication, money, and time. The Cockeyed Dreamers Who First Climbed the Himalayas The first people who tried to scale the world's tallest mountains included college graduates and illiterates, pacifists and combat veterans, a beekeeper, and a Wyoming cowboy. The Ancient Text Where Jesus Prayed to a Greek God While many in Turin rush to see its famed Shroud, they might want to wander over to the National Library, which houses a very troubling and perplexing ancient document. Escape With a Great Board Game, Ticket to Ride Building train routes has never been so fun. And if you are the only player, you can play with Alexa.  BUY ON AMAZON  >> "One explanation is that Marlowe's atheism and his scandalous belief that Jesus was in a homosexual relationship with the disciple John played a role in his demise. If correct, this would make Marlowe one of a cluster of individuals who have faced strong, sometimes fatal, opposition for asking questions about the sexuality of Jesus."    —as a bit of non-travel fun this week, historian Candida Moss takes a look at the men who claimed Jesus was gay and the deadly fate that awaited them. Travel to Tangier's Most Fabulous Homes   We love the photographer Guido Taroni—just check out his work in a book on designer Mongiardino to see why.    The homes, gardens, and rooms documented are mouth-wateringly beautiful—from the verdant dream created by Umberto Pasti and Stephan Janson at Tebarak Allah to the jaw-dropping view of the Strait of Gibraltar from El Foolk, the home of Christopher Gibbs and Peter Hinwood.    All make you desperate to be friends with these chic designers, and all convince you that the joy many get just from walking the streets of Tangier is a blissful ignorance as they'll rarely get to see the kaleidoscopic wonders behind the often simple street doors.    Inside Tangier: Houses & Gardens put together by Nicolò Castellini Baldissera with photographs by Taron is the latest highlight in our series on gorgeous travel-related coffee table books, Just Booked. BUY ON AMAZON >> Please note that if you buy something featured in one of our posts or newsletters, The Daily Beast may collect a share of sales. © Copyright 2020 The Daily Beast Company LLC  555 W. 18th Street, New York NY 10011  Privacy Policy If you are on a mobile device or cannot view the images in this message, click here to view this email in your browser. To ensure delivery of these emails, please add emails@thedailybeast.com to your address book. If you no longer wish to receive these emails, or think you have received this message in error, you can safely unsubscribe.