Learning a New Skill While Traveling Could Make You Smarter

People travel on vacations for many different reasons. You might be searching for the perfect wave in Australia, visiting museums in Italy, or taking a photography safari in Zambia. But now, there is a new travel trend, going on a learning vacation to acquire a new skill while on holiday.

Learning something new is good for your brain, according to Inc. That’s because learning a new skill actually increases the density of your myelin – the white matter in your brain – that helps to improve your overall performance as well as supports the formation of  new neural pathways. This combination helps you learn better, keeps your memory sharp, and could also stave off the onset of dementia in seniors.

Combining learning a new skill with the adventure of travel, could be very good for you. All you need to do is choose a location that offers you the skill you want to acquire, explained The Solo Traveler website. There are many opportunities from one day classes and tours to multi-day experiences. Here are four of the many exciting vacation learning opportunities you can explore around the globe..

Take a Cooking Vacation

Have you always been in love with French cooking? Why not combine a trip to this romantic city of love with a culinary experience you will never forget. According to The International Kitchen the best foodie vacation includes cooking classes and food tastings. You can even meet with a local chef at a market to purchase ingredients to learn how to make your favorite dish.

You can also go to cooking schools throughout the country that are located in restored farmhouses and chateaus, suggested Food & Wine. The class size is small and there are trips to local markets to source ingredients before learning how to cook the specialties of the region including seafood in Côte d’Azur, truffles in Provence, or how to make the perfect baguette. Bon Appetit.

Learn How to Rock Climb

Rock climbing is not for the faint of heart but if you are physically fit and up to a challenge you can learn rock climbing in the Appalachian Mountain through Outward Bound, a program that offers young people expeditions throughout the US. The courses that are designed to teach self-reliance along with new skills run for one-to-two weeks.

Acquire a New Language

Did you ever dream of  speaking Spanish? There are language immersion classes that can accelerate language acquisition. From one-week classes to full semesters, there are experiences for everyone. Go World Travel magazine recommends going off the beaten path and take a study vacation in Costa Rica, Patagonia, or the Galapagos.

Immerse Yourself in History 

Do you dig history? Then participating in an archaeological dig might be the best learning vacation for you. Learn how to excavate, clean, and identify objects from real excavations. Many universities run digs during the summer in countries in Europe , the US, and the Middle East. You can also volunteer to work on an excavation any time of the year with the Israel Antiquities authority. You must be at least 18 and physically fit.