As the buzzy portmanteau “skillcations” suggests, perhaps the best souvenir to take home from vacation is a new skill learned—and bonus points if it reflects a sense of place. Maybe you won’t be able to think about Montana without calling to mind that time you mined for sapphires near Gem Mountain. Sea Island, Georgia, might be where you mastered the art of falconry, while it was in the Hudson Valley where you had your first taste of via ferrata rock climbing.
According to Hilton’s 2026 Trends Report, 72% of travelers expressed a desire to take time off to explore a personal passion, skill, or hobby. Hotels are tapping into this growing consumer desire by offering guests exclusive classes, workshops, and local experiences that reflect their unique locations. From the green hills of Vermont to the islands of Hawaii, here are 10 thoughtful hotels across the US leaning into the “skillcation” trend, offering everything from jewelry-making classes to beginner’s archery.
Alila Ventana Big Sur
Big Sur, California
With an emphasis on mindful disconnection, a stay at Alila Ventana Big Sur is all about highlighting the surrounding Pacific waters and redwood forests of California’s Central Coast. The Alila Experience program is filled with workshops integrated with nature, such as "Dive in the Hive," where you'll delve into the art of beekeeping at Ventana and enjoy a guided honey tasting, or a hydrosol class, where you can learn about botanical distillation using foraged plants from Big Sur. There’s also a course on knife handle-making, which makes use of locally sourced wood from the property.
The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Beach
Waikiki, Hawaii
To celebrate its 10th anniversary this year, The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Beach, has launched a new collection of Signature Experiences that highlight traditional Hawaiian craftsmanship. The Art of Laʻi, for instance, includes a lesson on the spiritual significance of the laʻi (ti leaf), followed by a lei-making workshop, while the Luahala Weaving Experience offers a tutorial on traditional weaving techniques used for dried pandanus leaves. For foodies, there’s The Craft of Poke, a hands-on cooking class led by executive chef Reid Matsumura, which covers the techniques and flavors that define the beloved Hawaiian fresh fish dish.
Sundance Mountain Resort
Sundance, Utah
When founding Sundance Mountain Resort, actor Robert Redford set out on a mission to combine the arts and the outdoors. Case in point: the Art Studio & Gallery, where both day visitors and overnight guests can learn how to make jewelry, journals, prints, perfume, pottery, soap, and more. There’s even a phone photography course, which teaches students how to use the macro lens to capture flora and fauna. And if only just to watch, make sure you pay a visit to the Glassblowing Studio, to witness artisans creating hand-blown, recycled glass works of art—a mesmerizing spectacle.
Sea Island
Sea Island, Georgia
Whether you’re staying in The Cloister or The Lodge, you can choose from a number of classes at Georgia’s Sea Island, from your standard tennis and pickleball lessons to more distinct offerings like “The Falconer’s Apprentice,” where you’ll train with one of Sea Island’s master falconers (covering everything from the history of the ancient art to hunting techniques). There’s unique programming for kids, too, whether that’s the Beginner’s Archery class or “Turtle Technicians,” where little ones can join a naturalist to learn about the turtle species in the area.
Woodstock Inn and Resort
Woodstock, Vermont
Inspired by the idea that hobbies are inextricably linked to personal growth, Vermont’s Woodstock Inn launched “Passion Pursuits” just last year, a curated list of experiences for guests to tap into the beauty of the Green Mountains, whether that looks like skiing the state’s famous slopes or riding nearby trails on horseback. These activities are guided by “Passionistas,” on- and off-site activity leaders who introduce guests to a range of activities—like snowshoeing, pickleball, and knitting—and share their local knowledge. Other standouts include maple sugaring, where you can visit local sugarhouses like Top Acres Farm and taste-test Vermont’s liquid gold, or gardening within the hotel’s very own Kelly Way Gardens, focusing on seasonal flavors and flower arranging.
Mohonk Mountain House
New Paltz, New York
Consider Mohonk Mountain House to be an adult summer camp set in a mountaintop castle. There’s a daily catalogue of recreational experiences, which change depending on the season. In the summer, expect to join in on tomahawk throwing, via ferrata rock climbing, or guided horseback riding. Come winter, you can take part in everything from crafting embossed medallions and sitting in on art history lectures to trying your hand at the ancient Chinese practice of Qigong and “lost proofing” (i.e., navigating without a map in the wild).
The Lodge at Primland, Auberge Collection
Blue Ridge Mountains, Virginia
This 12,000-acre resort is essentially a sporting ground, with opportunities for tracking and hunting wild game, fly fishing, shooting clays, riding RTVs, and more. For those interested in an astronomy lesson, head to the observatory, which is fully equipped with Celestron CGE Pro 1400 and CPC 800 telescopes—just what you need to spot celestial objects in the Appalachian sky. If you’ve got the family in tow, follow a resident naturalist on a foraging hike, where you’ll learn all about the native plants and flowers of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Enchantment Resort
Sedona, Arizona
Inspired by the healing energy of Arizona’s Boynton Canyon, Enchantment Resort offers a number of artsy experiences, from using oracle cards to paint spirit animals to engaging in the practice of pyrography, or wood-burning. But the emphasis is on pottery, with classes dedicated to getting comfortable on the wheel, experimenting with clay shaping (there’s even a class you can take with your dog to make paw prints), and becoming acquainted with Southwestern glazing techniques. Bonus: You can elect to pair your experience with a glass of wine, selected by the hotel’s sommelier.
Wequasset Resort & Golf Club
Cape Cod, Massachusetts
Cape Cod’s famed Wequasset Resort partners with the Orvis Saltwater Fly Fishing School to host novice anglers who are looking to improve their skills at the elbow of Cape Cod—regarded as one of the best places to sight fish for striped bass in shallow waters. Take a one-hour, hands-on class on the art of casting, or embark on a day-long experience where you’ll learn all the basics, from choosing gear and tackle to landing and safely releasing fish. If fishing’s not your thing, the resort also offers guided meditations, mixology classes, and golf lessons.
The Meadows on Rock Creek
Philipsburg, Montana
The Meadows on Rock Creek, a luxury all-inclusive guest ranch in western Montana, is all about embracing ranch life—unplugging, resetting, and spending time in nature. That might look like shooting clays, mountain biking, or driving UTVs along backcountry trails. For a full-on Western sidequest, book a sapphire mining experience to learn how to sift through the area’s beautiful gemstones; you’ll even get to take home your discoveries. Then, come sundown, engage in some ranch games—bocce ball, pool, and the like—or a bit of fireside stargazing.