A break from school means relaxing and setting aside textbooks and homework. However, going on vacation doesn’t mean learning also goes on break. Educational vacations take the best of both worlds and provide your young scholars with new ways to explore.
5 Educational Vacation Ideas
Here are five destinations perfect for families heading out on summer vacation or adult travelers looking to learn something new.
1. Williamsburg, Virginia
What to do: Williamsburg, Virginia, brings American history to life at Colonial Williamsburg, a living history museum where visitors can explore life for early Americans. Plus, Jamestown and Yorktown, two more sites important to American history, are less than 20 miles away.
After learning about history, treat your kids with a visit to Busch Gardens Williamsburg. Squeeze in even more educational fun with an animal tour, where your group can meet the park’s Clydesdales, learn about gray wolves or feed Scottish Highland cattle.
Where to stay: Explore Williamsburg from The Historic Powhatan, a Hilton Vacation Club, where you’ll have space for your whole family. Or pick up a new hobby from one of the resort’s many amenities, including fishing, tennis, volleyball, racquetball and mini-golf.
2. Oahu, Hawaii
What to do: Hawaii is an ultimate family getaway, offering beachside fun, stunningly lush vistas and a rich history. Tour Pearl Harbor National Memorial and have your future historians join the Junior Ranger program for a kid-friendly approach to this significant event. Prepare ahead of time by reading about Pearl Harbor and discussing what they will see at the site.
Experience thousands of years of culture from six different island nations at the Polynesian Cultural Center. Examples of educational vacation activities include playing ancient games, learning to make leis and sampling poi — a thick, starchy side made from the purple-hued taro root.
Where to stay: Check out our guide to Hilton Grand Vacations’ Oahu resorts to choose the best one for you and your travel party.
3. Las Vegas
What to do: While Las Vegas is well-known for its glitzy casinos and bustling nightlife, this desert city can be surprisingly family-friendly if you know where to look. Take a walk on the wild side at Springs Preserve. Explore desert botanical gardens, hike on a trail through wetlands and cool off at the Nevada State Museum.
On the Las Vegas Strip, learn about how the incredible human body works at Bodies: The Exhibition with respectfully preserved skeletal, muscular, respiratory and nervous systems. Then venture to Shark Reef Aquarium and watch sharks, giant rays, sea turtles, piranhas and more aquatic wonders.
Where to stay: Cancun Las Vegas, a Hilton Club is the perfect home base for exploring the area and offers amenities kids will love, such as a pool complete with water slides and a Mayan pyramid.
4. New York City
What to do: New York is a playground for kids and adults, with plenty of museums to wander through. The American Museum of Natural History is a favorite with visitors of all ages. Find the whole range of the natural world on display, from colossal dinosaur bones to delicate flowers.
The Cloisters — the sister museum of the Metropolitan Museum of Art — showcases medieval European art, architecture and culture. Kids can learn about the mythology and history of the famous unicorn tapestries, the culture of knighthood and castle construction in the Middle Ages.
Where to stay: Choose from five Hilton Grand Vacations New York City properties, all in Midtown Manhattan.
5. Lake Tahoe, California
What to do: Observe geology in action at Lake Tahoe, where glaciers, volcanoes and colliding tectonic plates shaped the picturesque landscape millions of years ago. The best way to see the Tahoe Basin is via hike.
If your group is more interested in biology, there are plenty of wildlife viewing areas to spot wildflower fields, porcupines, mule deer and bald eagles.
For a touch of history, tour Tallac Historic Site, Lake Tahoe Historical Society Museum and Vikingsholm, a Scandinavian summer home built in 1929 during Tahoe’s heyday.
Then, learn to snorkel or scuba and dive to the Maritime Heritage Underwater Trail at Emerald Bay to see submerged historic artifacts like shipwrecked barges.
Where to stay: Check in to Tahoe Seasons, a Hilton Vacation Club for quick access to year-round fun — from skiing at Heavenly Mountain to water sports at Lakeside Beach.
How To Have An Educational Vacation Anywhere
Learning is a lifelong habit, whether you’re nine or 90 years old. And wherever you vacation, here are four easy ways to add a bit of schooling to your getaway.
- Read about the destination beforehand.
- Check out local museums and historic sites.
- Learn something new, whether it’s through a class, tour or a self-guided adventure.
- Stay open to unexpected or unique travel experiences.
Need more family vacation ideas? Read “9 Family-Friendly Destination Ideas That All Ages Will Enjoy.”