Travelers Are Ditching Souvenirs for Skillcations. Here Are My Favorites

The word “vacation” likely conjures images of languid days lounging by a pool with a chilled margarita in hand—no incessant emails, no meetings, no responsibilities. In other words, a complete retreat from reality. While there’s nothing wrong with that kind of trip, these days, travelers are looking for something a bit more substantial out of their vacations—less escapism, more education. Namely, they’re hoping to return home not only feeling refreshed, but also with newfound abilities to boot. There’s even a name for this zeitgeisty trip: the skillcation. 

Personally, as an avid traveler, I’ve always been drawn to vacations that are more exploratory than passive. I crave discovery, immersion in local culture, experiences that are unique to my destination—and, ideally, I’ll return home feeling like a better version of myself. And I’m clearly not the only one. According to data from GetYourGuide—a platform for booking travel experiences—more Americans say they’d prefer to take home a new skill than a physical souvenir from their trip, and Gen Z is leading the charge with 34 percent noting they want to learn a new hobby while on vacation. What’s more, the brand saw a 66 percent rise in workshop bookings in the summer of 2025 compared to 2024. 

Whether it’s cooking with traditional ingredients in Peru’s Sacred Valley, learning karate in its birthplace of Okinawa, surfing for the first time in Costa Rica, or discovering the craft of agave cultivation and tequila-making in Mexico—there are endless opportunities to hone new skills across the globe. "A great skillcation challenges you to learn, create, and connect with a place, its people, and yourself,” says Jennifer McClymont, travel expert at Naya Traveler, a bespoke travel planning agency that regularly curates journeys connecting travelers with artisans, chefs, and other cultural custodians. For McClymont, a truly standout skillcation involves a hands-on activity, ideally one that’s rooted in heritage and designed to expand your perspective. “The result is more than a trip—it’s a story, a memory, and a new skill to carry home,” she says. 

To help spark your own skillcation ideas, I’ve rounded up six of my favorite destinations and skill-building experiences to explore, including a number I’ve personally tried out. However, this is only a small sampling; as this travel trend continues to garner buzz, there’s no telling how many life-altering adventures could be on the horizon. One thing is certain: Silly trinkets and airport T-shirts are a thing of the past; now, the best souvenirs are lasting skills. 

Surfboard Shaping in Laguna Beach, California

There are few things more quintessentially Californian than surfing—and while attending a surf camp is a noteworthy skillcation option, one resort in Laguna Beach allows you to have a truly special experience that honors SoCal culture: shaping your own surfboard. 

For a little bit of history: Back in the 1950s, Hobie Alter created the very first foam-core surfboard out of his parents garage in Laguna Beach, revolutionizing the surf industry with the lighter, easier-to-manage boards. At The Ranch Laguna—a gorgeous, serene resort nestled into the basin of a lush canyon just off the coast—they’re honoring that rich history by connecting guests with surfboard shaper Gary Larson, to collaborate on crafting a custom board from the shaping bay at Hobie in Dana Point (the very first Southern California surf shop).

“The Shaper” experience involves a pre-visit call to go over design, where Gary walks you through the process, a lunch with the man himself at a local brewpub to discuss last-minute inspiration or changes, and finally a hands-on tutorial to shape the board of your dreams. And hey, while staying in the OC, you can always take your fresh new board for a spin in one of the area's prime surf spots. 

After working up an appetite among the waves, savor a locally-sourced meal at The Ranch’s signature restaurant Harvest, take a tour of the property’s biodynamic farm, or try your hand at contrast therapy (cold plunge and sauna), in one of the House of Hudson spa recovery cabanas. 

Padel Tennis in San Diego, California

Pickleball may have held the title of fastest-growing sport in the U.S. since 2020, but another court sport may soon eclipse its popularity: padel. Although it originated in Mexico in the 1960s, padel—a racket sport that combines elements of tennis and squash—is now garnering a surge in interest across the globe, with over 30 million active players worldwide as of 2024. What’s more, according to the 2025 Global Padel Report, over 7,000 new padel courts opened worldwide in 2024 along with more than 3,200 new padel clubs, driven by growth in France, the U.K., Germany, and the U.S. At first glance, the sport resembles pickleball, but the two sports differ in a number of ways: Padel uses a stringless racket with holes, a depressurized tennis ball, and the court is surrounded by glass, which can be used during gameplay. 

Just north of the sport’s birthplace, in San Diego, Rancho Valencia Resort and Spa is offering travelers an opportunity to try padel firsthand. This year, they built three new padel courts, in partnership with Wilson. While I’d never heard of padel until this year, I recently spent a vacation at Rancho Valencia learning all about the court sport and honing my skills. I attended a beginner clinic with a padel pro, where I was guided through the ins and outs of serving, lobbing, playing off the glass, and even some more skilled shots like the “bandeja” (an overhead shot with spin). Absorbing each new stance and shot felt a lot like learning multiple Romance languages: On one hand, I was leveraging my existing hand-eye coordination and racket handling from tennis and pickleball; but on the other, I had to throw everything I knew about technique out the window in order to embrace this remarkably different sport. That said, by the end of our lesson, I felt ready to get my own racket and seek out a court closer to home. 

Beyond padel, there’s a number of other racquet sports lessons (tennis, pickleball) and introductory fitness classes (reformer Pilates, boxing) to try for the first time while visiting Rancho Valencia. And, after all that hard work, I highly recommend luxuriating with a treatment at their five-star spa. 

Zen Meditation in Kyoto, Japan

Sitting in the lotus position on the floor of a Zen temple in Kyoto, I cast my eyes downward, lids half-open. As thoughts passed through my mind, I acknowledged them without judgement, like trains passing through a station. When I grew sleepy or highly distracted, I bowed forward, consenting to a firm whack-on-the-back wakeup call from a Buddhist monk calmly pacing around the room. While I’ve meditated for years, this was my first experience with Zen (also called Zazen) meditation—and what better place to learn than in Japan, where this tradition has persisted since the 12th century.  

This experience is available through Get Your Guide, and involves a three-part journey. First, a guide takes you on a tour of notable sacred temples in Kyoto (including one with a breathtaking, peaceful Zen garden) where you’re introduced to the history and principles of Zen Buddhism. The final stop on the tour is another tranquil temple, where you receive a crash course on Zazen meditation from a monk (translated by your English-speaking guide) followed by an authentic meditation session, including the option to experience getting lightly hit with a kyosaku (a flat wooden stick used to keep monks alert). After the session comes to a close, you enjoy a Shojin vegan lunch, akin to a traditional meal for monks.

As McClymont shared with me, “finding the right skillcation is about seeking depth, not just destination,” and I can’t think of an experience that allows you to feel more connected to your sense of self (both during a trip and back at home) than mindful meditation. 

Authentic Moroccan Cooking in Marrakech, Morocco 

There’s something intrinsically captivating about Morocco, with its vibrant textiles, intricate architecture, bustling marketplaces, and, of course, its incredible food. 

During a trip to Marrakech a few years back, my husband and I fell in love with the flavors of North African cuisine. Unlike other global fare that’s more prevalent in the U.S., Moroccan restaurants are generally harder to come by. So when we spotted a cooking class offering at our affordable hotel (Riad Al Mamoune), we added it to our itinerary immediately.

Over the course of a few hours, the in-house chef at our riad escorted us to the local marketplace to buy fresh vegetables and herbs. Despite a language barrier, she patiently walked us through preparing and cooking our meal using the traditional clay tagine, teaching us how to properly place each ingredient in the pot for optimal cooking (and aesthetic appeal). We also whipped up classic dips, a gorgeous salad, and a rice dish to pair with our warm veggie main course. 

Once everything was complete, we feasted in the courtyard of the riad, savoring each bit and marveling at our newfound cooking skills. And, although I was tempted to buy a tagine pot and take it home with me, I was content knowing I now had the ability to recreate some of the incredible food I tried on this trip. 

Scuba Diving Certification in Gros Islet, St. Lucia

Tucked away in an idyllic crescent beach in the Caribbean, BodyHoliday in St. Lucia is a wellness-lover’s paradise. The all-inclusive resort offers everything you could possibly imagine to curate a personalized health retreat—countless fitness classes, daily therapeutic spa treatments, and nourishing food designed to help you feel your best. 

Among its wide swath of offerings, BodyHoliday is also home to its own Dive Centre, a PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) accredited program offering courses and experiences for every level of divers—all included in the price of your stay. That means you can learn to scuba for the first time—or, if you already have some experience, you can choose to progress through certification qualifications necessary to become an advanced diver or even instructor. The resort features top-of-the-line facilities and amenities for your scuba skillcation, including an on-site diving pool, all necessary scuba equipment, and a 46-foot Newton dive boat affectionately named “Tiny.” 

For anyone who also wants to sharpen their swimming skills, book a trip to BodyHoliday in November during their “Swimfit” month, which offers guests the opportunity to train with world-class swim coaches and professional swimmers.

Cross-Country Skiing in Voss, Norway

Before touching down in the Bergen airport, I’d never put on a pair of skis in my entire life. But over the next week of my trip, I learned how to both Nordic ski and downhill ski, taught by none other than former Olympic freestyle skier Kari Traa. While Traa isn’t available for ski skillcations (unfortunately, because she was a truly incredible, patient teacher), her hometown of Voss, Norway is an ideal place to take up any form of skiing for the first time, particularly Nordic skiing. 

Voss has come to be known as the "adrenaline capital," since it’s the setting of numerous extreme sports and activities like skydiving, paragliding, rafting, and, of course, skiing. Considering Nordic, or cross-country, skiing is rooted in Norwegian culture (it originated in Scandinavia as an ancient form of transportation across snow-covered terrain), it’s fitting to learn this skill during an exciting winter trip to Norway.

Lessons are available through the ski school at Voss Resort, which offers private and group options for cross-country skiing. Or, opt for a full cross-country skiing adventure through Manawa—another booking platform for various excursions. Its “Discover Cross-country Skiing in Voss” experience begins with instruction on the basics, then allows you to venture into the stunning winter wilderness as you feel comfortable. It also includes a lunch midway through, where your guide will show you how to build a campfire in the wild, providing another metaphorical stamp on your skillcation passport. 

Skills and Thrills

More noteworthy trips to add to your bucket list.

Squid Fishing at Casa Angelina | Praiano, Italy

Perched above Praiano’s cliffs, Casa Angelina is a seaside haven that gives guests an opportunity to try the unique “Totani Ritual”: a night of squid fishing instruction aboard a traditional wooden boat helmed by local fishermen; followed by a cooking lesson with executive chef Leopoldo Elefante to prepare their catch in the signature dish, totani e patate.

Falconry at Adare Manor | County Limerick, Ireland 

At the Adare Manor—a 19th century castle hotel nestled into a charming village in Ireland—guests can try their hand at the falconry experience, where they’ll get up close and personal with owls, falcons, and a Harris Hawk.

Casual Crabbing at The Charleston Place | Charleston, South Carolina

During a stay at the newly-renovated Charleston Place hotel, guests have the opportunity to experience traditional Lowcountry crabbing. Led by local expert Tia Clark, participants start at the hotel’s private dock, where they learn how to bait traps, lower lines, and reel in blue crabs—all while Tia shares about Charleston’s maritime heritage, the ecology of its waterways, and tips for sustainable crabbing.