Holidays to inspire your kids’ future plans
Tired of the same old family beach breaks? Looking for something a little more scholastic than a week of theme park rides and building sandcastles? It’s time to upgrade your next holiday for a trip that will broaden your children’s horizons without compromising on fun. Rebecca Cox unveils the educational vacations that might just inspire their future careers…
01/07/2021Updated 24/06/2024
Swap: a waterpark for coral conservation in Australia
Career inspiration: marine biologist
Not only is Australia home to the world’s most celebrated reef, but the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef in Port Douglas is also set to become home to the world’s first coral conservation centre, and there are plenty of projects for the whole family can get involved in. For an extra slice of pampering, make your base a Luxury Lodge on Lizard Island, where you can enjoy secluded picnics on the sand and snorkel straight off the beach.
Swap: a beach break for tennis in South Carolina
Career inspiration: Tennis player
Ditch your fly-and-flop family break to the States and inspire youngsters to pursue a career in tennis with one of the excellent training centres across the country. While Texas has great options for tennis holiday camps, we’d recommend checking out the Barth-Hawtin Tennis Academy on South Carolina’s Kiawah Island, which has more than 30 years’ experience of developing tennis players. Home of the 2021 PGA Golf Championship, it’s also a great place for budding golfers. (Even better, you could tee off in peace while they’re getting stuck into their tennis lessons.)
Swap: a city break in Rome for painting in Tuscany
Career inspiration: Artist
Forget poster paints and lacklustre kids’ clubs. Inspire budding artists with a visit to Tuscany, so that they might follow in the footsteps of the likes of Leonardo da Vinci and Donatello. Borgo Pignano is well equipped with artists’ supplies and offers private art classes for both parents and children. Parents can also make the most of horseback riding and wine tastings, should you not wish to get involved in creating a masterpiece yourself.
Swap: hiking in the Alps for an educational Bavarian escape
Career inspiration: Scientist
Inspire the kids to follow in the footsteps of famous Bavarian scientists with a visit to the renowned Deutsches Museum, the world’s largest museum of science and technology, which is so big you might want to spread your visit over several days. If you’re pining for lost hiking during your visit, there are fascinating historical and scientific walking tours throughout Munich, and the Bavarian Alps are just a short train ride away.
Swap: a theme park holiday for a farm stay in the South of France
Career inspiration: Farmer
Whether you think a life in agriculture beckons, or you simply want to inspire your kids to grow their own, a stay at a beautiful French farmhouse (à la Beauty and the Beast) is infinitely more appealing than a summer holiday spent queueing. Country Kids is less than an hour from Montpellier and children staying at this cosy, welcoming farmhouse will get to know other guests and help owners Laure and Sylvain on the farm collecting eggs and feeding the animals first thing every morning (while parents sleep in). There are ample activities to keep grown-ups entertained, from bike riding to wild swimming, plus a fully stocked wine cellar.
Swap: your foodie tour for a masterclass in Sicily
Career inspiration: Chef
There are plenty of kids’ clubs that offer cookery classes but, when it comes to learning how to make Italian classics, Sicily has it all. Take budding chefs to Verdura Resort in Sicily, where they can get stuck into cookery classes covering Sicilian classics including homemade pizza and pastries. Of course, parents can also join in. Otherwise, they can explore the region’s stunning towns and beaches or the nine-hole on-site golf course.
