“When asked whether they used the internet to relax and help get their minds off of the recent economic or financial problems, three-quarters (74%) of online economic users said they had done so.” -  The Internet as a Diversion, Pew Internet

I don’t know about you, but this is true for me.  Some people turn on the TV or jump into video games and escape.  As for me, most of the time I go online.

So, I’ve decided to list my Top 10 online destinations.

Top 10 Online Escape Routes

10.  iLearningGlobal.biz – I listed this first, not necessarily because it’s my last choice of my Top Ten, but because you need to join in order to view the resources.  But with an account, you have access to really great video, audio, and ebook resources ranging on topics from business strategies including marketing and leadership development, to life skills and personal improvement.  The faculty boasts an impressive group of industry leaders.

9.  Hulu.com – This is one of my favorite video sites.  Hulu offers complete TV episodes as well as full movies which is great if I want to escape for hours.

8. Google.com – Sometimes when I just want to see if there’s an answer to a random question, I’ll google the question just to see what pops to the top of the search engine.  The answers aren’t always the most relevant, but my curiosity as to what google’s reply will be is satisfied.

7. Apple.com – This is a favorite destination when I want to see what’s new in the way of products, pricing and downloads such as widgets for my Mac.  Apple really does a great job and keeping people on their site by offering a lot of content, downloads, movie clips, and more, if you’re in a browsing mood.

6. Hubblesite.org – Out of all of the sites I escape to, this one takes me to the outer reaches of the universe.  The Gallery on the site offers the most stunning images of space as taken by Hubble.  Not only can you browse the images online, but you can also download some for your desktop or screensaver.  If you really want to escape, Hubblesite.org takes you where no man has gone before.

5. PewInternet.org – If you have a web site, especially a business web site, you should be checking out PewInternet.org on a regular basis.  This site offers the latest and greatest in internet research.  It has been quoted and featured on mainstream news media as the resource for internet research and trends.  It really is a “must visit” for anyone who want’s to know what everyone is doing online.

4. Write a blog post - While this escape tactic takes thought, it can be a welcome outlet for inspiration, discovery, and venting.  If you have a web site, and you don’t have a blog, you need one.  It’s a great way to build the content on your site to draw more site visitors.  Not only that, blogs help you tell the world what you’re good at, and why you do what you do.

And now for my Top 3…

3. Tumblr.com – Okay, while I was writing this post, I went to Tumblr.com and couldn’t help but check out the latest posts.  This site is great social site that makes it super easy to post everything from text to images to video, long and short, it’s got it all.  It’s like a twitter for all kinds of media.  And then, depending on what you may be in the mood for, it lists what’s popular as well as all posts by tags.  I really enjoy checking out what’s on this site.

2. Facebook.com - Facebook is my friend and family connection.  Not only that, but I, too, escape into the applications on FB.  This site can easily act as a time vacuum, but it’s one of those sites that keeps me connected with others.

1. StumbleUpon.com – This is my #1 escape destination.  As I said in a previous post, I really love the way my interests matter, I can “favorite” sites, and  also stumble onto newly added sites by using the “Stumble” feature.  When I want to read articles about business, I can choose to just stumble into this category, and when I want to have more fun, I may go to online games or art.  The best thing about this site is that it’s interest driven.

I also like that it’s so easy to share the sites and resources I’ve found with others.  This site also offers a “Stumble!” toolbar for Firefox that makes it even easier to recommend and favorite sites I normally go to.

Check out the sites above, and think about what your top ten web escape routes are.

Tags: Blogging, internet usage, pew internet, social networking