Travelers Are Trading Sightseeing for ‘Skillcations’

For generations, vacations have been about seeing famous landmarks, lounging on beaches, and collecting souvenirs. But today’s travelers are looking for something more. Across the country, hotels and resorts are embracing the growing trend of “skillcations” — trips built around learning a new skill rather than simply visiting a destination. Travelers can learn how to fly fish, arrange flowers, garden, surf, and much more. More people are seeking experiences that allow them to participate in a destination rather than simply observe it. You can see why it’s popular. Photos capture a moment, but a skill can last a lifetime, and the experience you can have during a “skillcation” is one to remember. In Burlington, Vermont, the locally owned Hotel Vermont created experiences around connecting visitors to the community. The hotel is known for its locally sourced furnishings, local artwork, and bath products made in Burlington, which allow guests a meaningful look at life in Vermont. One of its most unique partnerships is with AO Glass, a working glassblowing studio in Burlington’s South End Arts District. Once in the studio, guests enter a world of roaring furnaces and burning hot molten ...