Although the new world of social distancing is putting a crimp in all of our travel plans, that's no reason we can't take a trip - a virtual trip that is! From museums to zoos, to country and city tours, the possibilities are endless. No need to leave your couch, just pick a destination and you're on your way! No passport required. A good place to start your vacation is from one of the following sites which list a variety of virtual tours from around the world.

• Google Arts & Culture  Explore art and culture from around the globe with this comprehensive site, including over 200 museums from 80 countries.
• Thrillist.com  Find links to food, drink, travel and entertainment around the world including their list of the best virtual trips while social distancing
• Pure Michigan  The new #Virtual Pure Michigan campaign brings Michigan travel experiences directly into people’s homes by way of virtual tours, live streams, web cams and other interactive technology such as puzzles, games, and fun fact sheets for the whole family
• VisitDetroit  Links to Detroit attractions offering virtual tours and online learning.
• Travel and Leisure  Tours of Tokyo, European castles, glaciers in Alaska, and Abbey Road studio in London are just some of the many virtual destinations you can find on this site
• Discovery Education  Virtual field trips with hands-on learning activities

Can't make up your mind with all of the many choices available? No problem!  Browse through some of the categories listed here - and take a minute to view this inspiring video about the city of Detroit.

Animals & Nature

• Detroit Zoo
• Explore the Arctic
• National Aquarium
• San Diego Zoo
• Sea World Orlando
• Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

Cities & Countries

• Egyptian Monuments
• Great Wall of China
• New York City
• Paris
• World Heritage Sites

Detroit & Michigan

• Detroit Symphony Orchestra Live Performances
• Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation
• Traverse City
• Under the Radar Michigan

Kids & Family

• Detroit Institute of Arts Virtual Field Trip
• Michigan Science Center
• Take a Trip to Mars
• Tour the White House

Museums

• ​​British Museum
• Louvre
• Vatican Museum

National Parks

• Tour the National Parks of the United States​

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Print & emedia

The Library's collection also offers a variety of ways to experience a virtual vacation:

• cloudlibrary  Listen to your favorite travel books.
• Hoopla  Travel videos for all ages.
• Travel Guidebooks (Print)  Fodor, Frommer, Lonely Planet and more.
• A Tale of Two, or Three, or More Cities  A curated list of city histories.

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Databases

• A to Z the USA  Explore the USA, from sea to shining sea and beyond.  
• A to Z World Travel  Comprehensive travel guides to 200 world cities.
• Global Road Warrior  A cultural database with in-depth information on 175 countries.

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Kick back and soak up some travel tips as well as "visit" some fascinating destinations.

Podcasts

• Amateur Traveler  This long-running podcast (over 600 episodes) talks about a different destination every week.
• Globetrotter Lounge   Hosted by award-winning travel expert Jet Set Lisette who interviews inspiring women who have found creative ways to travel the world.
• Switchback Kids   Elizabeth and Cole Donelson (aka the Switchback Kids) visited all of the 59 national parks, and share their experiences, including top lists, budgeting tips and more.
• The Thoughtful Travel Podcast  Hosted by travel blogger Amanda Kendle, who interviews fellow travel addicts about their travel experiences, like getting lost, navigating different cultures, and meeting the locals. ​

Head back to 62 Days of Summer for more ways to participate in the summer program!

Splash lab is all about using different principles of STEAM to explore one of our most abundant compounds made of two elements: hydrogen and oxygen. Though water is everywhere on Earth, it is a very unusual compound because of the nature of the chemical bonds between its atoms. Here are a few facts:

• Water is denser in its liquid state than in its solid-state, which is why ice can float on or in liquid water.
• Water has an unusually high boiling point based on its molecular weight.
• Water is often referred to as the "universal solvent" because of its amazing ability to dissolve so many substances.

We have collected the following activities for you to experiment with water this summer.   

Originally an accidental invention by an 11-year-old boy back in 1905, the popsicle has become a mainstay treat for hot summer days. Whether you're in the mood for fresh and fruity or extra-sweet and indulgent, it's super easy to whip up your own homemade popsicles. Give it a try whenever you're in the mood for a refreshing snack or dessert. Below is a round-up of resources about America's favorite frozen confection.

Head back to the 62 Days of Summer home page for more ways to participate in the summer program!

Complete one READ square by attending a virtual program or using our resources to DIY a library program at home. For our full program listings, please take a look at our Program Calendar. For programs that perfectly fit the READ square, and further suggestions, please read on.

Storytimes

• Looking for stories, songs, rhymes, and fun? Try our Far and Away Storytime on Wednesdays.
• Want to create your own storytime? Explore our Share a Story blogs that are full of story, song, and rhyme suggestions that you can use at home.

At-Home Literacy Ideas

Explore our Lit Lab handouts for early literacy activity suggestions that you can use at home. Visit our Kids page and scroll down to our list of Lit Lab handouts by theme.

Virtual Book Clubs

Click on the program titles below for descriptions and registration information.

• This is NOT a Book Club (for patrons ages 10-13)
• The Advanced English Language Learners Book Club
• Fiction eBook Discussion Group
• Nonfiction eBook Discussion Group
• Email Book Club

Create your own virtual book club using Hoopla Book Club Hub, or stay tuned for new programs at OverDrive's Together We Read. Get suggestions for how to host online. 

Virtual Writing Group

Attend our Adult Writers Group and make writing a regular part of your literary life.

Return to the main READ blog post.

Head back to the 62 Days of Summer home page for more ways to participate in the summer program.

As you travel through the 62 days of Summer, there are many ways to share your experiences with family, friends, and other folks in your community. To share your experiences with the CPL community, make sure to hashtag #howdoyou62. You can also create shareable moments with some of the 62 Ways squares listed below.

Head back to the 62 Days of Summer page for more ways to participate in the summer program! 

• Be a Tourist in Your Own Town
• CPL Connect
• Create a Summer Memory Book
• Critique or Compliment
• Practice Kindness
• Recommend a Book
• Send a Postcard
• Snap a Photo

A great sign of spring is the sound of frogs and toads. The "Listen to Frogs" 62 Days 62 Ways square encourages you to do just that! Frogs are important to the environment (and to us!) for many reasons, but perhaps the most important is that they are an indicator species that help us determine the health of the environment.

Activities:

• The Rouge River Watershed Frog & Toad Survey is a volunteer listening survey that the whole family can participate in. Volunteering is relatively easy, simply e-mail spetrella@therouge.org and they will send you materials to help you distinguish the breeding calls of the seven frogs and one toad found in the watershed. Surveyors choose a quarter square mile area within the watershed that they survey independently on warm spring nights March - July. While this is a serious Citizen Science Project and effort - it is also a great way to spend some time out in nature with the family.
• Frog activities and fun ideas for kids!
• For those that crochet, or would like to learn, there is an adorable Crocheted Beanbag Frog with Lily Pads available through Creativebug. (CPL card required)

Resources:

Earlier this year, we asked you to tell us about the books that moved you, books you loved, books that you wanted to share with others. The recommendations listed below come from your neighbors and friends who participated in the Canton Book Project. The links below feature personal recommendations across a variety of genres and include, in their own words, a bit about why the books means so much to the person recommending it. 

If you would like to recommend a book that means a lot to you, you'll find a recommendation form at the bottom of this page. Happy reading! 

Kristin Felsburg recommends Letting Go of Supermom by Daisy Sutherland.*  "I chose this book because I think it does an excellent job of depicting how mothers in today’s age feel the pressure to be everything at all times."  A single working mom of three, Kristin says "I have double the duties and double the workload at home and I feel the pressure to perform all of my roles perfectly all the time.  This book helped me understand that by doing that I’m actually doing a disservice to those who want to help me, as well as my children who need to learn some independence." 

* Currently unavailable at CPL, but click here for other options

Cecilia Escobar recommends An American Marriage by Tayari Jones. "As a new year resolution, I decided to read even more this year, from fiction to political science, to philosophy and all in between." A friend recommended An American Marriage and Cecilia found it fit her resolution.

"The simple storyline is narrated by the characters whose individual complexities and points of view add substance to the story. Different upbringings, social class revelations, and yet, a criminal justice system consumed by inequality complete the novel." 

Sandra den Boer recommends Fearfully and Wonderfully Made: A Surgeon Looks at the Human and Spiritual Body by Paul Brand.  "Dr. Brand shares his unique knowledge of the human body and the amazing way our various biologic systems work. He covers the skin, nervous system, skeletal system, etc., and shares many incredible cases he personally worked on." Sandra recommends this book to readers of all ages, especially high school or college students "pondering what career choice and course of study to take. I believe that this incredible book will inspire them to consider medicine as a path of study."