How to incorporate fun and education into your Spring Break Plans
Spring Break is fast approaching and though beach destinations or theme parks are usually hot-ticket items, you might want to consider slipping in a bit of education into that travel itinerary. I like to refer to this as “Educational Broccoli.” Just as I might try to hide some vegetables in my kids’ spaghetti sauce, it doesn’t hurt to add a bit of learning to the vacation plans. Here are a few locations to consider that bring the fun AND the education to Spring Break 2023.
Indigenous Communities
Thankfully we are entering into a time where the history of Indigenous communities is coming to the forefront. In Australia and Canada, Indigenous people are adding cultural value to vacation destinations. If you’re vacationing in Australia, you can stop by a National Park, tour ancient eel farms, and travel along the Ningaloo coast to find evidence of early Aboriginal occupation. While in Canada, you can stay at Indigenous-owned properties like the Haida House or the Nemiah Valley Lodge.
Bora, Bora
If you do love a tropical destination, this locale is the full-package. Not only do you get to experience white, sandy beaches and crystal blue water, but you can learn about the culture as well. Schedule a lagoon tour that teaches you the native stories and symbology behind the animals, sun, waves and more. Take an afternoon to learn traditional jewelry-making alongside a Polynesian family.
Japan
If you find yourself in Japan in the month of March, the family can perfect their snowshoeing technique as you hike along the historic Winter Nakasendo Trail. This route was once traveled by feudal lords and samurai warriors. The wise guides will help you along this 3 to 5-day trek and help you get up-close and personal with Japan, embracing the culture as the locals do.
An Educational Cruise
Most of us love a good cruise on Spring Break. The beautiful scenery, relaxing rooms, plenty of food and beverages. But what if your cruise came with the promise of education? Hurtigruten Expeditions offers just that! I recently travelled with (check out this post) them and was pleased with the amount of science on board! The cruise included everything from lectures to microscopes, identifying whales and birds, and even sending data to NASA. This was a vacationer and science lover’s dream!
San Francisco, California
San Francisco is known for The Golden Gate Bridge and the steep roads, but it can also be quite educational. Granted visiting prisons isn’t always on everyone’s to do list, visiting Alcatraz is one stop everything should take while in CA. During the tour, you can pick up a headset and travel back in time as you walk through the cells of famous gangsters like Al Capone. Read this GTM Blog Post to get the details on my family’s visit to Alcatraz.
