Summer Edu-Vacation for Adults and Kids
Adults aren’t the only ones with Zoom fatigue—school-aged children are also suffering from excess screen time. Now “parents, eager for lesson plans that can supplement learning, are seeking experiences with an education bent when they travel,” reports the New York Times.
And while wine country may not seem like the most obvious choice for a family getaway, Napa Valley has it all: wide-open spaces and abundant nature for kids, and educational tastings and wine blending sessions for adults.
At Baldacci Family Vineyards, wine lovers can brush up on their technical knowledge of viticulture and enology by enrolling in the Behind the Cellar Door experience. During the 90-minute session, visitors sip wine while learning from wine educator and Napa native Andres Plancarte, as he delves into subjects such as the philosophy behind organic farming, the difference between American oak and French oak barrels, and the nuts and bolts of pruning.
If your visit falls on a Monday, swing by the Napa Valley Wine Academy for their new hour-long workshop. A Master of Wine candidate will guide your tasting, teaching you and a group of WSET students about wine structure and grape varieties as you sip three wines.
More hands-on learners can master the art of blending at wineries including Conn Creek, Raymond Vineyards, and Judd’s Hill. After getting briefed on the basics of blending, you’ll create a custom blend to take home. Raymond Vineyards will even save your unique recipe in their system, so you can always place orders from afar!
While parents are perfecting their blends and upping their wine knowledge, younger travelers can sign up for fun, educational activities and day camps that combine learning and immersion in nature.
At Carneros Resort, the complimentary Little Great Thumb Garden Tour—offered every Sunday afternoon in the culinary gardens—gives kids the opportunity to get their hands dirty. Young guests will tour the organic garden, feed the resort’s flock of chickens, and learn the basics of farming. Starting in May, the resort will also host Sunday movie nights on the vineyard lawn, with blankets, Adirondack chairs, and complimentary popcorn.
Art-inclined youngsters can opt for the Di Rosa Art and Nature Camp, which runs Saturday, April 23 and 30 from noon to 4 pm. Curated by the di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art, the program is designed to awaken a deep love of art and nature while improving social and emotional learning skills.
Up the road, children ages 6 through 12 can take part in one of Silverado Resort’s three-day golf, tennis and swim camps offered on select dates June through August.
The mission of the 150-year-old, family-owned Connolly Ranch is to “instill children of all ages with a deep respect for the environment; a strong understanding of farming and sustainable agriculture; and a love for the natural world.” To that end, the ranch offers a variety of educational programs and camps for young visitors, with outdoor and classroom activities that change with the seasons and combine hands-on learning and “discovery-based curriculum.”
