The goal of this article is to draw a roadmap for designing an "ideal" virtual world for higher education, pointing decision-makers in a general direction for implementing virtual worlds and noting various barriers along the way. When using a roadmap, one can take many different paths to reach a desired destination. Similarly, institutions can take many different turns along the road to implementing a virtual world. It is up to everyone on the journey--administrators, faculty, staff, and students--to decide the best path for an individual institution. The important thing is to take the first step. (Contains 22 notes.)