near-api-js: Contract connection with no sender account

Is there a way I can initially connect to a contract without a signer? I want like to create a user flow where the user can explore with view calls, then choose to connect their wallet at a later time.

Most examples I can find of Contract Connection code includes a wallet connected Account. docs github docs

Yes! You can query the state of an account by using the providers in near-api-js.

Example:

const { providers } = require("near-api-js");
const provider = new providers.JsonRpcProvider("https://rpc.testnet.near.org");

getState();

async function getState() {
  const rawResult = await provider.query({
    request_type: "call_function",
    account_id: "guest-book.testnet",
    method_name: "getMessages",
    args_base64: "e30=",
    finality: "optimistic",
  });

  const res = JSON.parse(Buffer.from(rawResult.result).toString());
  console.log(res);
}

https://docs.near.org/docs/api/naj-cookbook#read-state-without-an-account