You can find Web sites on just about any topic, join a chat group, sign up for a ListServ with people of similar interests, or track down scientific journals. The trick is to steer clear of the glitz and gimmicks, to dig into real information rather than being swayed by colors and lights. Learning Vacations Increasingly, we seek more from our travels than slow days at the beach. Not only do we visit historical sites and museums, but we take part in dinosaur digs, sign up for cooking courses, or head off on a walking tour of England's Lake District, learning about the Romantic poets along the way. The growth in learning vacations began with offerings like the Elderhostel Program, which schedules classes for senior citizens on any number of topics, and has broadened to include discovery camps for young children and more in-depth offerings for their parents.
Cruise ships head to Antarctica with guest lecturers on board.
Veterinarians attend seminars while taking a tour of Alaska's Inside Passage. Even Disney World has undergone a shift from pure entertainment. The famous white-gloved mouse now welcomes adults to a wide range of classes at the Disney Institute. As with all other things, the learning you do through travel can be self-taught, of course. The key is to combine an inquisitive mind with time deliberately set aside for wandering.