Fun Things To Do With Friends At Home: Best Virtual Activities During COVID

As the quarantine continues to stretch on, Kevin and I have been looking for fun things to do with friends at home. One thing that we miss the most has been seeing our friends and family during these socially distancing times. But just because we can’t see someone in person, doesn’t mean we can’t stay connected. For that reason, we’ve been seeking out the best virtual activities  — doing everything from virtual pottery classes to a virtual wine tasting in Napa Valley.

We’ve written about some of our favorite quarantine activities early on in the pandemic. And let’s just say, we’ve had our hands full with having twin babies making it tougher to escape. To keep sane, we’ve been doing at least one virtual activity a week. So clearly, we’re becoming Zoom experts!

For this latest post, we’ve narrowed down our list to the 5 best virtual activities to do with friends at home. Just remember, you have no excuse for showing up late. The “I’m stuck in traffic” line won’t work these days. Sorry! Without further adieu, here are our top picks.

5. Hobnob With The Stars With a Virtual Screening, Best Virtual Activities During COVID

One of our favorite things about living in LA is access to the many TV and film events around town. It’s one of the best perks of living in LA. But then came along coronavirus. What are we to do? Go online, that’s what! Even if you’re not in “the biz,” you can still hobnob with big name filmmakers and stars with KCET’s Cinema Series. KCET, LA’s local PBS station, launched their very own online screening series this past May — showcasing top movies before they’re released to the public. Following each screening, film critic Pete Hammond sits down with the filmmakers and stars to get their behind-the-scenes perspectives. Screenings are scheduled like an event — meaning you join the event with the other moviegoers roughly at the same time. Don’t expect to show up and watch Weekend at Bernies. These movies typically fall under the “indie” genre. So get ready to ponder the meaning of life, the visual perspective… Or wonder what on earth is going on. Screenings are just $10 per household.

4. See the Mona Lisa at The Louvre on a Virtual Tour to France 

Did you know that the Louvre is the largest museum on Earth? We certainly didn’t before taking The Tour Guy’s virtual walking tour of the famed Louvre museum. The 60 minute tour is one of our favorite activities we did at home. Kevin admits he has a problem with museums in general. No joke, he falls asleep within minutes of going inside. So I was a little reluctant to book a museum tour all from the comfort of our couch. But guess what? He was truly engaged the entire time. Throughout the tour, you can ask your guide questions as she takes you right up to the artwork. Also, we loved the interactive quiz throughout the tour. Think of it like the “poll the audience” feature on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? Meaning, even if you get it wrong, nobody will know! Since The Louvre is such a massive museum, the tour concentrates on four of its most well-known pieces of art including Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece, the Mona Lisa. But why does the Mona Lisa have its own personal bodyguards and bulletproof glass? You’ll just have to take the tour. Tours start at $17.85.

3. Arrange (And Eat) Cheese in a Virtual Cheese Plating Class

Caputo’s Market and Deli is a Salt Lake City institution. Food has always been an essential part of the Caputo family. After coming to the United States from Greece and Italy, the Caputos owned and operated a small market on Salt Lake’s west side, before eventually moving to its current spot in 1997. Kevin and I love this market so much that we made a stop here on our latest babymoon adventure to pick up some cheese to make some fondue. And of course, I can’t help but pick up some of the locally-produced chocolates. I never knew there were so many chocolates from Utah. While wandering the store, I was beyond excited to learn that Caputo’s also offered online classes like wine tasting and cheese plating. Wait what? Decorating with cheese? Clearly, I was down.

All the materials are shipped overnight directly to your home, giving you the freshest food possible. We unwrapped all the various meats and cheeses (and maybe had a few bites that didn’t quite make it onto the tray). Classes take place over Zoom and all you need is a reliable internet connection. Classes are $98 and can be booked online directly on Caputo’s Market and Deli website.

2. Join an Airbnb Experience To Experience The World

Airbnb has become one of the top places for us to seek out online experiences. With a network of Airbnb hosts around the world, you literally can travel just about anywhere from the comfort of your home. We’ve done several of these, including a quiz with Mr. Socrates himself. Now this isn’t your standard history lesson. You’ll join along on an interactive game as he shares some bizarre and often raunchy stories from ancient Greece. But of course, there is also some made up stuff. But the real fun is guessing what is true and what isn’t. The one hour experience is $15 per person and can be booked directly on Airbnb’s experience page. But that’s not the only crazy experience on Airbnb. There was no hesitation from Kevin when I asked him if he’d be interested in doing one of Airbnb’s newest online experiences — a virtual class featuring a crew of Portugal’s fabulous drag queens teaching us how to make fresh sangria from scratch. It almost sounds like a comedy sketch. But oh no, this is a real thing!

The class is 1.5 hours and after a brief intro, the drag queens will interact with everyone on the Zoom video call. But don’t worry, it’s all in good fun. The class zips along during the longer prep sections with over-the-top drag performances. I mean, I sort of wish that all my recipes came with a show! Spots fill up far in advance. So be sure to reserve your place on Airbnb’s experience page. The cost is $34 USD per person, plus you’ll need to buy the ingredients in advance if you don’t have them. The list of ingredients is sent to you upon booking and includes substitutions in case you have a difficult time finding anything. Most of it is pretty standard though. And the final product? It tasted amazing, if we do say so ourselves.

1. Take A Virtual Journey to The Magic Castle

The Magic Castle in Hollywood was one of our favorite big nights out on the town. The private magic club, with celeb fans like Johnny Depp and Quentin Tarantino, takes some effort. First, you must score a ticket. Plus, there is the whole required advanced reservations, formal attire and a sit-down dinner. Oh, and no photos please (unless you’re tricky as a magician and can sneak one in like I did when my parents visited!). But now that it’s pandemic times, you can hang up that sports coat and make a reservation by just visiting their Dine and Delight virtual magic castle experience. If you’re local, you can purchase food and pick it up directly at the Magic Castle. Or just eat whatever you have in the fridge (like we did). The live, interactive shows are 1 hour and great for the entire family. The night also typically includes several magicians that will keep you guessing. The show is just $20 or if you’re local and order from the Magic Castle restaurant and spend $50, the show is free.

Looking for other fun activities to do in LA while you’re still stuck at home? We recommend a double date night with a virtual Napa Valley wine tasting from the comfort of your home. Still looking for ideas? Check out our other recent top picks including a cheese tasting class from New York’s famed Murray’s Cheese Shop. And if you’re still looking for ideas, check out all of our quarantine ideas here, including some of the best hidden staircase climbs and hikes in LA.