Mark Twain once said "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do, than by the ones you did do. So, throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." This is in essence what traveling should be, but unfortunately isn't in today's society. Thankfully, the educational travel movement has birthed in many the desire to do just what Mark Twain was talking about. To learn, live and see all that life has to offer. The following points are just a few more reasons you should consider educational travel -- or a trip where you learn something instead of simply being entertained -- on your next adventure.
It's Usually More Affordable
I have often found that educational travel is more affordable than traditional travel options. After all, tourist locales up their prices for food, clothing and even a hotel stay. While other "non-tourist" locations are simply happy to have visitors and offer better rates as a result. In addition, going on a guided tour, enticing locals to show you what their home is really like, or enjoying the natural beauty of a locale can be a cheaper option than a typical tourist attraction. Attractions, which of course are designed to separate you from your money, while convincing you that standing in hour long lines in 80 degree weather is fun. Therefore, it is safe to say that overall, partaking in educational travel is a less expensive way to vacation.
Great For Families
Children today are accustomed to technology and instant gratification. It's all they know. On the other hand, I remember a time when a family would drive across country and enjoy the process of getting to a location as much as the destination itself. Well, you can't turn back time, but you can switch your kids' world view before it's too late by taking them on educational adventures instead of going to traditional vacation destinations.
With this type of travel, your kids will actually have something worth sharing with their classmates when they return to school after summer break. They can talk about how they experienced the wild Sahara in Africa, or saw wild Kangaroos jumping alongside the road in Australia or visited the many monuments in Washington D.C. Monuments that stand as a testament to the blood sweat and tears spilt by the countless heroes who gave their all for our country over the years. Now, tell me that isn't better than saying, "Well, this year we went to Disney Land"?
It Can Still Be Luxurious
Sometimes, educational travel gets a bad rap. It is thought of as "roughing it" or living like people in a third-world country. But, that isn't true at all. You can still enjoy the luxuries associated with a destination while taking in the many wonders that are present. You can still stay at nice hotels and enjoy the pool. In other words, there is no need to stay in a hostel just to enjoy educational travel. Although, if you want to go that way, it is an experience!
It's Educational
Maya Angelou once said, "travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating that all peoples cry, laugh, eat, worry, and die, it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends." This statement perfectly summarizes why educational travel is so important. It's crucial to our understanding of other cultures and lands, and it gets us out of our comfort zone. It is, for lack of a better way to put it, educational. That is why it's valuable. Some parents of homeschooled children have embraced this type of travel as a way to show their children in real life, what they are learning in their lessons at home. Just imagine how cool it would be to learn about the Great Wall of China on location, instead of on a computer or out of a text book. What an education indeed!
I hope you have enjoyed my list about the importance of educational travel. It is something that has changed my life for the better and I hope you too can appreciate its worth.