There are lots of great ways to keep being inspired by travel - virtually! Technology today can take us to destinations around the world without having to leave the house - including some of the most sought-after destinations in the world.
In 2007, people around the world voted on the new 7 Wonders of the World, inspired by the ancient 7 Wonders of the World. You can check out many of these wonders from home using a combination of Google Street View and virtual tours. Let's take a tour of the 7 Wonders of the World!
The Great Wall of China - Huairou District, China
This series of fortifications were built along the northern historical borders of China to protect against invasion and maintain borders. Sections of the walls were built as early as the 7th century BC, and sections were added and maintained over the next thousand years. The most famous sections of the walls were built during the Ming Dynasty.
Christ the Redeemer Statue - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
This Art Deco-style statue was designed by French sculptor Paul Landowski and built by Brazilian engineer Heitor da Silva Costa. It took nearly 10 years to build and was completed in 1931. It stands 98 feet (30 meters) high, not including the 26 feet (8 meters) of its pedestal base.
Macchu Picchu - Peru
This Incan citadel dates back to the 15th century, and is seated between the two mountains Macchu Picchu and Huayna Picchu. It was most likely built as an estate for Incan ruler Pachacuti. It was abandoned about a century later at the time of the Spanish conquest.
Street View - Historic Sanctuary
Street View - Casa de los Nobles
Street View - Plaza Principal
Chichen Itza - Yucatan, Mexico
This large pre-Columbian Mayan city became an important regional capital for the Northern Maya Lowlands in the 10th century. The site today still contains many stone buildings, including the well-known Temple of Kukulcan.
Street View - Chichen Itza
Street View - Relief Ruins
Roman Colosseum - Rome, Italy
The largest amphitheater built at the time, the Colosseum was commissioned by the Emperor Vespasian and completed in 80 AD. It could hold up to 80,000 spectators, who visited to see gladiatorial competitions, animal hunts, re-enactments, and other public spectacles.
Taj Mahal - Uttar Pradesh, India
The Taj Mahal was commissioned in 1632 by Emperor Shah Jahan as the tomb for his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal, as well as the tomb of the Emperor himself. The 42-acre complex includes a mosque, a guest house, and landscaped gardens.
Petra - Jordan
Built around the 1st century BC, Petra was the capital city of the Nabatean kingdom in what is now the country of Jordan. The most well-known site of ancient Petra is Al-Khazneh, or "The Treasury", an elaborate temple carved into the sandstone rock face.
The Pyramids of Giza - Egypt
The Pyramids of Giza are the only remaining of the ancient 7 Wonders. The site includes the Great Pyramid of Giza, the Pyramid of Khafre, and the Pyramid of Menkaure, along with their associated pyramid complexes and the Great Sphinx of Giza. All were built during the Fourth Dynasty of the Old Kingdom of Ancient Egypt.
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