5 Great Learning Vacations For Women

Have you ever wanted to learn a new language? Maybe you'd like to try your hand at painting or sculpture, quilting, or jewelry-making. Why not do it on vacation?

Learning something new is rewarding, and fun! You don't have to "go to school" to learn something new. Spending just a week in a new environment, testing your skills at a project you've always been afraid to try, is rejuvenating! Whether you master the skill or not, you'll have a new perspective on the world, and a deeper understanding and appreciation for the craft.

Even just a day or afternoon away from the beach, working on a language or art project, can breathe a little fresh air in your life. And since women, in particular, lead such hectic lives, sometimes the only way to enjoy a hobby or try something new is to get away from the everyday routine.

A learning vacation is something you can enjoy on your own, or share with your friends, sisters, mother or daughter.

There are hundreds of ways you can enrich your vacation experience. Here are a few examples:

You can immerse yourself in another culture while you learn the language.

The best way to learn a new language quickly is to immerse yourself in the language and the culture - you'll quickly learn to "think" in the new language, and soon you're speaking like a native! There are language immersion courses all over the world, with many in Italy, France and Spain.

You can learn to surf in California, Costa Rica, or Hawaii.

Sure, surfing is intimidating. But there are many camps where you can learn to surf, and most guarantee that you will stand on the board by the end of your lessons!

There are a couple of surf camps that are women-only and are somewhat less competitive, so that takes some of the pressure off. And imagine boasting to your friends what you accomplished!

Surf camps specialize in beginners, so you will learn everything about surfing, from your board to the waves to surfing safety. They are available to all ages, so wouldn't this be a great mother-daughter experience? (However, you MUST be a competent swimmer to learn surfing.)

There are surf camps available all over the world, too, so you can experience another culture while learning to ride the waves!

You can learn to paint or to write in an artist's workshop.

Many of us harbor dreams of being the next Georgia O'Keefe or Joyce Carol Oates. Why not live your dream at an art workshop or writer's retreat?

Some of these retreats are for amatures just testing their skills; others are for those more serious about their craft, who need a nurturing environment to work and learn.

Whatever your level of commitment, there is a workshop or retreat for you. Most are in the U.S., but there are painting workshops in Spain and India, and creativity workshops in Europe.

You can indulge your favorite hobby in a scrapbooking, sewing, or beading retreat.

Do you have a favorite hobby - but no time to actually enjoy it? Take a week or a weekend and indulge in a craft retreat - sharpen your skills or just relax and enjoy! There are craft retreats that teach pottery and jewelry-making, scrapbooking weekends, and sewing weekends. You can even take a tour to learn about or buy Japanese textiles!

You can tap into your inner Indiana Jones at an archaeological dig.

There are archaeological digs throughout the world, and many allow you to actually participate in the process of excavating, cleaning, and cataloging the artifacts. Most are in the U.S., but there are tours of archaeological finds in Europe and Egypt, too.