Get creative
Organize your art supplies and get to crafting. Look out your window to create a Monet-inspired painting, have a family member pose for a Mona Lisa-style portrait, or paint your pet in the style of the Chat Noir.
Need more inspiration? Check out this virtual tour of the famous Louvre museum.
Pick a film
Watch a movie that relates to your destination. Some ideas for France include:
- Les Misérables (2012)
- The Chorus (2004)
- Hugo (2011)
- Marie Antoinette (2006)
Study some history
Dive deep into the history of specific sites you’ll visit on tour. Learn more about the town of Chartres, best known for the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Chartres, which is considered one of the finest and best-preserved Gothic cathedrals in France and in Europe. Then, tour Paris with this virtual reality video.
Choose a book
Read and discuss a book that takes place in your destination or describes the local culture. Pick from titles like:
- Les Liaisons Dangereuses by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos
- Les Mots by Jean-Paul Sartre
- Le Comte de Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
Fill up your plate
Arrange a potluck and encourage your friends to bring a traditional dish from your destination. Know a chef? Hold a virtual cooking class with your travel group, or support a local restaurant that offers delivery/take-out of your destination’s cuisine. Try coq au vin, flamiche, or chocolate soufflé.
Learn the language
Call up a friend or set up a group video chat and practice your language skills. It helps to make flashcards with common sayings to use on the phone or throughout your travels (think about ordering at restaurants, buying souvenirs, and chatting with locals).
Did you know?
King Louis XIX’s royal reign lasted only twenty minutes!