When I’m planning a trip to a new destination, I try to get a feel for the place before I leave — especially if I’m going abroad. Not that I’m trying to mitigate culture shock, but it’s helpful to know what the areas I’m visiting actually look like. I prefer knowing how walkable the area around my hotel is and what kind of restaurants are nearby ahead of time. Google Maps is of course my first choice for this task, and I’ve spent hours mindlessly tapping away.
But there’s a better way. Nearly a decade ago, Google quietly released an app that lets you roam around the entire world and actually feel like you’re standing in it. I’m talking about Google Earth VR, an app designed for the first generation of PC headsets but still works on modern hardware. It may not be the most accessible version of Google Earth, but it’s a one-of-a-kind experience that has stuck with me and still offers first-person perspective immersion like nothing else out there.