Those little singing children on the "It's a Small World" ride in Disney World could not be more wrong. Sure on a cultural level, the world could be considered small, but on a geographic level, the world is as large as it ever was. In fact, the seven natural wonders of the world range in location from the shores of Australia to the peaks of the Himalayas and everywhere in between. Seeing all of them is difficult even for the most industrious of travelers. And, to see and experience them all in a weekend is virtually impossible, except for an ambitious armchair traveler.

With today's modern conveniences there are a variety of ways for the home traveler to enjoy the world's natural wonders without ever leaving their town. Yes, the computer age is upon us and since I'm poor this is really the only way I can see any part of the world besides New Jersey. But, there are other ways besides computers to experiences some of our travel destinations. And, believe me, I can be really creative when the Internet does not provide a good enough travel experience.

So, let's travel the world! Come on, you can at least be enthusiastic. It's not like we really are going very far. Just find a comfy outfit and a comfy chair. Yes, I know computer chairs aren't comfy; I'm not that far gone yet. But I'm trying to stick with a theme, here. So if you'll please play along, that would make my job a whole lot easier.

We will start our journey 29,035 feet off the ground on the world's tallest mountain, Mount Everest. But, we won't need any Sherpas or the ghost of Sir Edmund Hillary to climb this mountain; we will just need a computer with internet access.

Mount Everest, known as Sagarmantha, or goddess of the sky to the Nepalese, has collected quite a following. People seem fascinated by the treacherous mountain where so many people have died and a lot of would-be mountain climbers wish to talk about it. Websites such as www.mteverest.com offers links to many useful pages related to the mountain. There is even an Everest mailing list that you can join at Sean's Mt. Everest homepage.

After talking with those obsessed with a mountain that has approximately 120 corpses lying around on it, you might feel the urge to get away from the computer for a while. So, why not read a book? Ah reading, you'll get a chance to lie down, whoo-hoo! Wake up backside, we're moving to the couch!

If you do feel like reading a book it shouldn't be just any book. Nope, no Steven King for you, we have a theme to keep. We are reading a book about another natural wonder, Victoria Falls. And, you are going to learn something. Believe me, your brain will not blow up if you do something educational on a vacation day. I know - I tried it once.

Picture it: Victoria Falls, Zambia, which was once Zimbabwe (you knew that country had to have gone somewhere, didn't ya?). This breathtaking waterfall stretches 5,538 feet across and drops 328 feet to the river below. Travel books on Zimbabwe are a good source of information on the falls. But for something more exciting perhaps you should try Missionary Travels in South Africa: Including a Sketch of Sixteen Year's Residence in the Interior of Africa, Volume I, by David Livingstone. ("Doctor Livingstone, I presume?" Oh, come on, someone had to say it.) Okay, granted, the title of this book could give you a headache but the book itself describes the exploits of the Christian missionary who actually named the famous waterfall.

If you are not ambitious enough to read about a 16 year jungle trek just to find out about a waterfall the natives call "Smoke that Thunders", you can always pick up the children's book by Lisa Halvorsen called Letters from Zimbabwe, which is like reading letters from a young friend who is traveling in that country. That shouldn't strain your brain too much.

Now that you have experienced Victoria Falls, let's move on to something slightly drier, in the US State of Arizona. Namely, a big hole in the ground that ranges from 10 to 18 miles across and was formed by the erosion powers of the Colorado River. See, when I say a big hole, I mean a big hole. (If you would all please look to your left you will see a very large hole, now if you will all look to your right you will see more of that very large hole.) To visit the Grand Canyon we will hop back into our comfy (yeah, right) computer chairs for a virtual tour.

There are several websites that give virtual tours of the 5,000 to 6,000 vertical foot drop, including discoverytrek.com and the Grand Canyon explorer at www.kaibab.org. But, the best that I have found is at www.untraveledroad.com. This tour allows you to choose which real life trail you would like to walk to see the Canyon. As you walk, some scenic pictures are provided to enhance the experience. This tour is almost like being there but without the heat, expense, long walks, millions of tourists, or smelly donkeys.

Good, so we've seen Mt. Everest, Victoria Falls, and the Grand Canyon without having to move around very much. If you're not running late it should be about noon by now. Moving right along, get your backside back out of that comfy armchair you armchair-traveler, it's about time to stretch our legs with a trip to Australia's Great Barrier Reef. We could buy some tropical fish, but that may be a little too expensive. So, let's redecorate instead!

The Great Barrier Reef is over 1,250 miles long and is actually made up of 2,900 small coral reefs all very close together. It is home to over 1,500 species of fish and 400 types of coral. To experience it, why not create it, matey? (Wait a sec, Matey? That's Pirate. Mate, yeah mate is Australian.) Anyway, you could cut out pictures of fish and coral from magazines and hang them all over your refrigerator, or, if you're feeling extremely ambitious you could paint a room to look like the reef with coral near the floor, fish and sea turtles in the middle, and just blue water for a ceiling.

Alright, maybe this is a little extreme but by now you probably need a chance to stretch; so if you simply laughed at the idea of turning a room in your house into a coral reef, maybe you'll use the little creative outlet given to you by our next natural wonder.

The Northern Lights. Those amazing and mysterious lights in the sky over those that live near the Arctic Circle. Is it aliens? Is it Nordic gods? Is it too many sips of brandy while trying to keep warm? Actually it is none of those things, although the brandy theory would have been my first choice. The Northern Lights are caused by the sun's rays reacting with gases in the air to create colors. Oxygen glows red or green, and nitrogen glows blue or violet. In our little experiment we will be creating our own version of the Northern Lights using a really dark area and round, wintergreen candies.

You've all probably heard of this, but how many have actually tried it? Come on, indulge yourself. Go into a dark room and with your mouth open, bite down hard on the candy. It should spark. This isn't exactly the same as the Northern Lights but you are creating a strange light in the dark. And, there is a scientific explanation for it as well. The sugar crystals are stressed when you bite on them and that creates a small electric field, which creates the spark. Pretty cool, huh? (Bad pun, I apologize.)

Had enough science for one day? Or maybe just enough strange suggestions? Feel like finding that comfy chair again? Or maybe doing something nasty to your tour guide? Instead of that, why don't you watch a movie? And, in keeping with our theme of the seven natural wonders of the world, (And yes, we are keeping with it no matter how much you complain) there is a great movie out there with your name on it.

The Paricutin Volcano, which ripped up out of a cornfield near Mexico City in 1943, was caught on tape. Lucky for you! The silent film, Footage of Paricutin Volcano in Michoacan, Mexico, 1945-1952 shows ash, pumice and volcanic bombs erupting from the volcano. The volcano only survived for ten years, becoming extinct in 1952. It is famous because it was a rare opportunity for scientists to witness the birth, growth and death of a volcano. As for the silence in the silent film, maybe you could play a piece of classical music while watching it; that would probably give it a nice effect. Or you could listen to some igneous rock. (Will the bad jokes ever stop, coming?)

All right, it has been a long day but there is just one more stop on our tour of wonder and hopefully this one will get you up and out of the house for the night. Pick your feet up off the ottoman and let's get moving.

The Harbor of Rio de Janeiro is known for its statue of Christ the Redeemer, but it also has some interesting natural formations that make it the seventh natural wonder. It seems to create illusions. The land makes the bay look like a river and there are several hidden harbors that look more like lakes than outlets to the sea.

To experience the Harbor of Rio de Janeiro, go out and find your own body of water. Even if it is just a reservoir, bring a picnic lunch and sit down to watch the wildlife. I know I promised you wouldn't have to move very much but I lied. I'm an all-powerful tour guide; I can do stuff like that. So yes, you will have to leave the house for this one but don't you think it is about time you got out of that armchair? It's starting to acquire a noticeable dent. Take a boat cruise on a lake or river. If you can't find one, create a naval battle in your bathtub or kitchen sink. Be creative. (Magellan knows I am.)

The world is full of wonders but you don't have to be independently wealthy to enjoy them. And you don't necessarily need a computer. Just think about it for a little while, and you will find many more wonders, besides the seven natural ones, that you would like to see. And, with a little ingenuity, you will come up with many more than seven ways to see them. So what if those singing children don't know geography? Pretend you don't either and make it a "small world".

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