Sometimes, lounging on the beach is all you need for a perfect vacation. But vacation bliss can also come from hands-on travel experiences. If you, like me, love that feeling of learning something fun and new, allow me to introduce you to the “skillcation.”
A skillcation combines all of the usual elements of a vacation with the opportunity to learn a new skill while traveling. I’m not talking about just the usual suspects like tennis and golf. Hotels and resorts offer all kinds of experiences to help guests try new hobbies and learn about the world around them. Here are 11 great hotels and resorts for a skillcation.
1. Saddlebrook Resort
Wesley Chapel, Florida
The skill: sports broadcasting
This 480-acre property near Tampa is already a draw for sports lovers, with an onsite golf academy and 27 holes of golf, tennis and pickleball instructional program, and sports performance program. As part of its major $92-million transformation, Saddlebrook Resort has also introduced a new experience in partnership with Play-by-Play Sports Broadcasting to help guests flex their athletic muscles behind the mic.
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Under the guidance of former journalists, radio hosts, and TV personalities, guests can learn about everything from sideline reporting and play-by-play commentary to the ins and outs of sports debate panels. Sessions are private, customizable, and available year-round and can range from two hours to full- or multi-day experiences, with pricing based on group size. There’s no age requirement to participate, making it a fun option for a multigenerational family getaway.
2. Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel & Cabins
Mammoth, Wyoming
The skill: wolf tracking
Families with teenagers can book the Winter Wolf Discovery Lodging & Learning package at Wyoming’s Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel & Cabins for an out-of-the-ordinary nature experience in Yellowstone National Park. A Yellowstone Forever field educator leads guests ages 12 and up on morning wildlife watching excursions in search of wolves in their natural habitat, and afternoons are spent examining tracks and other signs of wildlife.
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Participants usually spot other wildlife along with wolves, and the field educator provides high-powered spotting scopes and binoculars for group use to keep everyone a safe distance away. Expect to clock up to three miles a day hiking snowy trails or snowshoeing in search of memorable animal sightings.
3. D Maris Bay
Mugla, Türkiye
The skill: sailing
With an idyllic location on Türkiye’s Datça Peninsula, D Maris Bay delivers picture-perfect views of both the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas. Guests ages 12 and up can get out on those waters with the resort’s international sailing school.
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Courses range from short introductions to intensive five-day Basic License courses for those who want to get more serious about sailing. You’ll learn skills like casting off, steering, and tacking along with theory and sailing basics. When you’re not sailing, make the most of the resort’s five private beaches, indoor and outdoor pools, and water sports like wakeboarding and tubing.
4. Beaches Turks and Caicos and Beaches Negril
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos, and Negril, Jamaica
The skill: scuba diving
Beaches Turks and Caicos and Beaches Negril all-inclusive resorts are beloved by families for their kids club offerings and wide range of amenities. Among those included amenities is the resorts’ scuba diving program.
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First-time divers ages 10 and older can take part in the PADI Discover Scuba Diving Experience, a three-hour introduction that includes both training and one guided open-water dive under the supervision of a certified PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) instructor.
If you want to earn your official scuba certification, complete PADI’s online course before arrival and then finish your training at the resort. And young guests ages eight to 12 can learn scuba and snuba skills and take part in environmental projects during the weeklong Beaches Ocean Explorer Kids Program.
5. Lamangata Luxury Surf Resort
Dominical, Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica
The skill: surfing
All-inclusive boutique hotel Lamangata Luxury Surf Resort makes learning to ride the waves a truly memorable experience. Situated on Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula, the resort offers six ocean-view suites, an infinity pool overlooking the mountains, and gourmet meals made with ingredients sourced from the onsite food forest.
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Families of all skills levels, from first-timers to experienced shredders, can take daily group or private surfing lessons with expert local instructors. Newbies start with a pool session to learn safety protocols and proper techniques before getting out on the waves on top-quality surfboards. Individualized instruction is the norm, and video analysis provides personalized feedback.
6. Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center
National Harbor, Maryland
The skill: pastry decorating
There’s a lot to do at the sprawling Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, from the nightly atrium light shows to the indoor pool and seasonal splash pad. But for the sweetest vacation experience, take one of the resort’s pastry decorating classes.
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Led by the resort’s pastry chefs and offered five times a year, classes have seasonal themes and teach participants ages eight and up skills like ombre and floral piping and fondant techniques. The hands-on experience costs $65 per person and includes all tools and materials, along with a personal six-inch cake to decorate and take home.
7. The Lodge at Blue Sky, Auberge Collection
Wanship, Utah
The skill: Western horsemanship
Just 30 minutes from Park City, this 4,000-acre private ranch offers a luxury outdoors experience in the mountains of Utah. Horseback riding is a draw here, and guests ages eight and up can sign up for the resort’s Introduction to Western Horsemanship. Ideal for first-timers and experienced riders, the experience focuses on the fundamentals of the Vaquero style of Western horsemanship from grooming and tacking to groundwork and riding.
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Expand your knowledge by booking the Western Heritage Arena Riding Experience, which also offers insight on the history of horses and their important place in Western culture. And guests ages 12 and up can take part in a cattle sorting experience led by Blue Sky’s wranglers.
8. The Islands of Islamorada
Islamorada, Florida
The skill: sportfishing
Islamorada in the Florida Keys is known as the sportfishing capital of the world. So it’s no surprise it’s a great place to learn how to cast a line and reel in a catch.
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At The Islands of Islamorada, the on-site Coastal Concierge pairs families with the right fishing captain, true local experts who’ll take guests to secret spots around the area. The adventure begins right at the resort’s marina, where kids and novices can try shoreline fishing lessons before heading out on the water. A partnership with local chef Andrew Tsang offer opportunities to take part in “cook your catch” outings or learn about stone crab harvesting and preparation.
9. Terramor Outdoor Resort
Bar Harbor, Maine
The skill: beekeeping
Learn about the balance between people and bees at Maine’s Terramor Outdoor Resort. The property’s resident beekeeper leads weekly beekeeping events and family-friendly private 90-minute bee experiences that teach guests about how bees communicate, the role they play in the ecosystem, and how human temperament can influence a colony’s behavior.
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An added bonus? Beekeeping has been shown to reduce stress and support well-being. So you might notice a feeling of calm after a some time spent among the hives.
10. Salterra Resort & Spa
South Caicos, Turks and Caicos
The skill: coral restoration
Salterra Resort & Spa sits along a secluded stretch of the Turks and Caicos archipelago where the natural setting is a major draw. Guests ages six and up can help take care of that ecosystem by participating in a coral reef restoration experience.
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On land, guests tour the School for Field Studies and learn about the work of the South Caicos Coral Reef Consortium (co-founded by Salterra). Participants also snorkel in the crystal-clear waters around Dove Cay to help scientists cultivate and plant corals. It’s an informative and interactive way to practice the principle of leaving a place better than you found it.
11. C Lazy U Ranch
Granby, Colorado
The skill: fly-fishing
With lots of gear required and techniques to learn, fly-fishing is a difficult sport for beginners to pick up. But C Lazy U Ranch—one of the best all-inclusive resorts and best dude ranches in the U.S.—makes it easy for anyone to try casting a line.
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The property is recognized by The Orvis Company as one of the top fly-fishing lodges in North America, and Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing guides offer complimentary introductory sessions on C Lazy U’s pond. Guests can also rent waders, rods, reels, and other Orvis fly-fishing gear for free to fish the resort’s Willow Creek on their own. Guides can be booked for half- and full-day sessions for an additional cost for more hands-on instruction.
