future travel
Imagine you’re playing with a toy spaceship. All of your dolls and action figures hop aboard and buckle up. The spaceship’s engine revs up and, running as fast as you can, you hold the spaceship overhead and race to the other end of the house. “We’re here,” you announce your arrival to every passenger. “Welcome to Mount Everest!”
If only you could make your way through time and space, visiting faraway places in the blink of an eye. Well, it turns out this dream is not so far out after all.
As technology continues to propel us forward, the future of travel becomes more unbelievable every, single day. Why don’t we jump into our time machine and explore a few ways in which the travel of tomorrow is going to be out of this world!
Journey into Space
Ever dream of pitching a tent on the moon and counting the stars? Thanks to a horde of researchers, you could be boarding your very own spacecraft sooner rather than later. Travelers will embark at spaceports here on Earth and shoot off into the starry abyss.
Engineers are also tinkering with space planes, which could travel through space and back down to Earth, making flights much shorter. Before your flight, you’ll receive a lesson preparing you for your zero-gravity adventure. After take-off you’ll sit back, relax, and watch the stars fly by as you enjoy some freeze-dried astronaut ice cream. Maybe you’ll even catch a glimpse of Venus or Mars, as you make your way through the darkness on this journey to the moon.
Antarctic Adventures
For travelers seeking a less other-worldly experience, Antarctica is trending among those brave enough to handle the frigid temperatures. Your trip begins in Cape Horn, at the southernmost tip of South America. Cruise past giant icebergs and snow-capped waves of the Southern Ocean. Take some time to kayak the icy waters if you dare.
Nature lovers will enjoy a meet and greet with the local wildlife—penguins, birds, whales, and seals, reveling in their native habitat. On some expeditions, passengers can even mingle with the scientists sharing stories about the ins and outs of life in this frozen world. Take some time to learn about sustainability how your everyday actions impact our planet. Be sure to bring your warmest coat and a sense of adventure!
Floating Trains, Supersonic Planes, and Travel Tubes
They say it’s the journey that matters, not the destination, and these futuristic modes of transportation promise travelers an incredible journey. If riding Disney’s monorail or even the subway gives you goosebumps, then hop aboard a maglev train. The bottom of the train and the rails both have magnets, which push each other apart so the train is literally floating. To check out this magnetic magic in action, try connecting the opposite ends of two magnets and watch how they repel one another. Because the train floats there isn’t any friction to slow it down, meaning the maglev train can reach incredible speeds.
Speaking of fast, the supersonic plane is an alternative for those who prefer air travel. Supersonic planes travel faster than the speed of sound, meaning passengers won’t have to spend nearly as much time in the sky. Travelers who like to keep both feet on the ground, will delight in the Hyperloop—a tube that shoots passengers from one place to the next in frictionless pods. Combining the comfort and ease of ground transportation with the speed of an airplane the Hyperloop, much like a maglev train, will help people travel more quickly and sustainably.
Outdoor Odysseys
Calling all intrepid explorers! As humans learn more about our planet and its ecosystems, we are discovering just how much of an impact we can have on the natural world—good and bad. People are searching for new ways to enjoy the beauty of the great outdoors in a way that helps, rather than hurts, all of mother nature’s amazing creatures.
New and fun parks are being developed in cities around the globe to encourage outside exploration. Paris has an ambitious new plan to become a green destination, helping the environment and making it a popular attraction for locals and tourists alike. This includes rooftop farming, a tree-planting initiative, and a massive €1 billion cleanup to make the Seine river swimmable by 2024. Travel to Paris in the near future and you might just forget you’re in a city with all the green-friendly attractions popping up.
If you prefer the underwater world, check out one of the many hotels and restaurants bubbling up from the ocean floor. As travelers immerse themselves more deeply in nature, new technologies like Seawalker Helmets are finding ways to make it possible. Ocean enthusiasts are now invited to walk on the sea floor, and submersibles give you the freedom to explore under the sea without even getting wet. From coral reefs to underwater art galleries, the ocean holds plenty of treasures for travelers.
Virtual Voyages
Whether you’re looking for ideas for your next trip or wanting to explore the wonders of the world from home, virtual travel is your ticket to adventure. It has gained popularity in recent years, and continues to become more immersive as technology allows. Online you’ll find virtual museums, interactive exhibits and tours taking you almost anywhere in the world—check out our comprehensive list of virtual field trips!
Virtual reality is another great opportunity to see the world, without time or money holding you back. Once you have a VR headset, you can hop from Egypt to Machu Picchu to the dark depths of the Atlantic Ocean, all in one afternoon. Listen along as a local guide shares unique stories about your destination. For travelers wanting a virtual getaway that engages all five senses, try Amazon Explore. Choose your destination and enjoy a guided tour while you shop for souvenirs, or learn to cook a delicious native dish. These virtual voyages are the next best thing to real-world travel.
For all those with a passion for travel, the future is bright. Fly through space, float past an iceberg, or bake macarons alongside a French pastry chef…it doesn’t matter how you travel the world, just that you do it; and who knows, someday you might find yourself eating macarons while riding a maglev train on your way to an underwater museum. It could happen!
future travel
