When you can’t get out to your favorite events, spending time on your computer is a convenient way to stay entertained. Before you settle in to spend hours scrolling through social media, though, check out some of our top picks for online activities. With more options than ever for entertaining yourself on the internet, you can take time at home to learn about American culture and improve your English from the comfort of your sofa.

Check Out a Good Book
It’s always a good time to practice your English with a book! ​Scribd​ is offering a free 30-day subscription to its digital library of fiction, nonfiction, and magazines. If you like audiobooks, Audible​ has launched a free library including literary classics and teen favorites.

Tour a Museum
When museums are closed, you can still see the masterpieces at ​Google Arts & Culture​. If you want to experience more than just the images, museum websites offer many opportunities to learn about art. New York’s ​Guggenheim​ offers a full tour of its iconic spiral gallery, while the Met’s ​Artist Project​ provides commentary from some of the world’s most talented creators. If science and nature are more interesting to you, ​The American Museum of Natural History​ offers tours and educational videos about everything from dinosaurs to butterflies.

Explore America’s National Parks
America is home to some of the most beautiful and diverse landscapes on Earth, and the National Parks Services helps to protect both natural lands and historical sites. Partnering with Google, they offer interactive ​panoramic tours​ of some of the country’s most amazing sites, complete with commentary from park rangers.

See a Play
Fans of live theater can enjoy dozens of filmed stage shows for free online. The world famous Metropolitan Opera​ is streaming shows every night. ​BroadwayHD​ is offering one week free to their catalogue of over 300 filmed stage shows. The site ​24 Hour Plays​ is bringing together some of the top writers and actors from around the world to create unique content while raising money to support the arts. These online offerings let you experience some of the best of American theater, from the famous performances of Broadway to new productions of the classics.

Go to the Zoo
Thanks to livestreams, you can see animals at some of the country’s most famous zoos whenever you want! You can check out tigers, apes, elephants and more from famous sites like The San Diego Zoo​, ​Smithsonian’s National Zoo​, and ​The Houston Zoo​. If underwater adventure is what you prefer, you can see sharks, jellyfish, sea lions, and penguins from Georgia ​or ​Monterey Bay​.

Take a College Class
Whether you’re considering attending an American university or just looking to learn something new, online courses can be a great way to spend your time. ​Coursera​ and ​EdX​ allow you to take free online classes with professors from some of the top schools in the country and around the world. Whether you’re looking to learn practical career skills or want to explore your interest in the humanities, these platforms allow you to learn from some of the top professors in the country.