‘Skill-Cations' Provide Options For Personal Growth And Enrichment

Forbes

16-06-2025

'Skill-cations' provide a wide array of hands-on experiences.
It's never too late to pick up a new skill, and more travelers are seeking opportunities for personal growth even while on vacation. In fact, immersive experiences continue to shape the travel landscape as 86% of travelers are prioritizing such offerings over traditional sightseeing. As a result, hotels that offer enriching, hands-on learning experiences are seeing a surge in popularity.
These "skill-cations" are a combination of skill development and vacation or travel, where individuals learn new skills. It's a way to enrich both professional and personal growth by incorporating learning experiences into leisure activities. From learning to fly fish to getting PADI certified or identifying bird calls in the wild, this summer offers countless opportunities for travelers to pick up a new skill. With school wrapping up soon, it's a great time for families to plan educational getaways that keep everyone engaged and learning while away from the classroom.
Vacations offer a unique opportunity to immerse oneself in new environments, explore diverse cultures and acquire practical skills through hands-on experience. From learning ukulele chords or identifying native bird calls, guests to the following properties can return home with unforgettable memories, but also with new skills.
Explore Baja's underwater world with expert guides.
The only 5-star PADI Resort in Los Cabos, Montage Los Cabos offers opportunities for scuba certification and exclusive night dives that reveal bioluminescent marine life, stingrays, octopuses and more under a moonlit sky. It's an unforgettable way to explore Baja's underwater world with expert guides, whether a novice or a pro. Scuba diving offers a wide array of benefits, impacting both your physical and mental well-being. Scuba diving engages many muscle groups, from your legs and core to your back and shoulders, offering a comprehensive workout. The resistance of the water makes even simple movements challenging, helping build strength and endurance. Once you dive, chances are you'll be hooked.
Guests of the resorts can enjoy Ukulele And Hula lessons.
Guests of Montage Kapalua Bay can take part in ukulele and hula lessons that explore Hawaiian heritage through music and movement. Learn to strum basic chords, then move through traditional hip and hand gestures tied to ancient storytelling. Hula dance lessons offer a range of physical, mental, and spiritual benefits. Physically, hula improves coordination, balance, flexibility, and strength, while also providing a low-impact cardiovascular workout. Mentally, it can boost memory, enhance focus, and reduce stress. Spiritually, hula can connect individuals to their culture, traditions and a sense of community.
Bird watching is a relaxing activity while on vacation.
Set on 20,000 acres of Lowcountry wilderness, Montage Palmetto Bluff affords guests the chance to join a private nature walk led by a resident naturalist to learn about native birds, creeks and ecosystems. The immersive experience invites travelers to connect with the region's flora and fauna through sound and sight. Studies show that spending time in natural settings can lower cortisol levels (a stress hormone) and help to calm the mind. Bird watching offers numerous benefits for mental and physical well-being, fostering a connection with nature, promoting mindfulness and encouraging physical activity. It can reduce stress, improve mood and inspire a sense of awe and appreciation for the natural world.
Guests gain a hands-on appreciation for sustainable gardening.
Guests of Turtle Island, Fiji, can join the private island's gardeners to harvest tropical fruits, herbs and vegetables from the five-acre organic farm that supplies the resort's chefs. From hydroponic lettuces to papayas and lemongrass, guests gain a hands-on appreciation for sustainable island living. Sustainable gardening involves practices that include composting, using organic methods and prioritizing native plants. It also emphasizes reducing water waste through efficient irrigation and water harvesting, as well as minimizing energy consumption by using electric or push-reel mowers.
Guests the chance to learn the fundamentals of fly fishing.
The Hythe offers guests the chance to learn the fundamentals of fly fishing, from casting techniques to reading river conditions, with expert guides along Vail's scenic waterways. Whether on a Cast & Taste adventure or at a secluded private ranch, guests leave with practical angling skills and a deeper connection to Colorado's alpine environment. Fly fishing is a natural stress reliever. It allows anglers to disconnect from technology and the daily grind, immersing themselves in the present moment and the beauty of nature.
Guests can take part in two tasting experiences.
At Cellar & Barrel in the Sheraton Fiji Golf & Beach Resort, Fiji's first speakeasy bar, guests can take part in two tasting experiences while learning about the nuances of winemaking. Cellar Elite, a guided wine tasting in the walk-in cellar, and Barrel Craft, a whiskey tasting session focused on flavor profiles and aging techniques. Led by the bar team and featuring ingredients like herbs and syrups sourced from the on-site farm, both experiences help guests better understand what they're tasting.
The Land Rover Experience offers an unmatched adventure.
The Quail, located in the rolling green hills of the majestic Carmel Valley,offers a number of on-property activities destined to create the perfect 'skillcation.' Only found at The Quail and in the entire state of California, the Land Rover Experience offers an unmatched adventure through off-road driving. Guided by a qualified instructor, drivers will make steep descents, climb piles of logs and navigate tight hairpin turns.
Surfers are bound to catch some waves during this experience.
Located on the nation's most celebrated beach, Regent Santa Monica Beach has recently unveiled its newest slate of programming for its first summer season since opening in October 2024. Guests of all ages are welcome to enjoy a coastal getaway with immersive and skill-building on-property experiences. A cornerstone of California's identity, guests can learn how to surf with the resort's dedicated surf lessons. Regardless of their skill level, participants are bound to catch some waves by the end of the session with expert instruction.