The Starlit Path

📚 New Skills • 🌍 Deeper Places • ✨ Intentional Travel

I recently attended this cooking class in Austin with Cozymeal and Chef Zach. I didn’t realize that skillcations were trending until recently, but it makes perfect sense!

Skillcations are popular at the moment. Instead of traveling just to escape, more people are traveling to learn. A skillcation blends a getaway with hands-on experiences like cooking regional dishes, learning pottery, studying photography, foraging, sailing, or even picking up a new language.

The class I took was an Italian cooking class, which I did in honor of my Italian roots! We made spinach and egg fettuccine, seared chicken with Italian herbs and a green salad (Insalata Tricolore) as a side dish. We then ended the class with a custard dessert topped with berries (Zabaglione).

What makes skillcations so appealing is intention. Travelers want to come home with more than photos. They want a skill, a story, and a deeper connection to the place they visited. A pasta-making class in Italy, a weaving workshop in Peru, a bread-baking retreat in France, or a surf camp in Portugal suddenly feels more meaningful than ticking landmarks off a list. Check out more classes in your city.

This trend also reflects a shift toward slower travel. Skillcations encourage staying put, engaging with local teachers, and building routines that mirror everyday life rather than rushing between highlights. They’re especially popular with solo travelers, creatives, and people craving experiences that feel grounding rather than performative.

In a world of constant scrolling, skillcations offer something rare: focus. Travel becomes less about consumption and more about participation. You don’t just visit a place. You practice it.