Traveling the world offers incredible opportunities for children to immerse themselves in new skills and activities. Consider spending 3 – 6 months in one location, and focus on one skill-building program. This provides an optimal balance of stability and adventure.
By selecting a destination and renting accommodation for multiple months, families can create a home base while parents work remotely and children engage in intensive skill development. This approach not only fosters significant growth in the chosen skills but also enhances the family’s travel experience, turning each journey into a transformative adventure.
Children can benefit immensely from learning new sports and physical activities during their travels. Here’s a guide to a few sports and activities that might be of interest to kids between the ages of 10 – 18, along with some prime locations around the world where they can deepen these skills.
Martial Arts
Martial arts help children develop discipline, focus, and physical fitness.
Karate: Training in Okinawa, Japan, the birthplace of karate, or renowned dojos in Los Angeles, USA, provides a deep connection to the art’s roots. Seoul, South Korea, and Bangkok, Thailand, also offer excellent karate programs.
Taekwondo: South Korea is a prime destination for taekwondo, with Seoul providing numerous academies. Additional options include Los Angeles, USA, and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, where children can master this dynamic martial art.
Judo: Originating in Japan, judo teaches balance and throwing techniques. Tokyo, Japan, is a great place for authentic training, as are Paris, France, and New York City, USA, where renowned dojos offer comprehensive judo programs. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is also known for its strong judo community.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Focusing on ground fighting and submissions, Brazilian jiu-jitsu is popular in Brazil. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is ideal for immersive training. Other notable locations include Los Angeles, USA, and Lisbon, Portugal, where children can learn from top practitioners and compete in various tournaments.
Kung Fu: This Chinese martial art includes a wide range of styles and techniques. Children can train in Shaolin Temple, China, which is famous for its kung fu heritage, or explore programs in San Francisco, USA, and Hong Kong. London, UK, also offers diverse kung fu schools.
Capoeira: A Brazilian martial art that combines dance, music, and acrobatics. Salvador, Brazil, is the cultural heart of capoeira, with vibrant schools and workshops. Other notable locations include Lisbon, Portugal, and New York City, USA, where capoeira is practiced with cultural enthusiasm.
Aikido: Known for its focus on harmony and redirecting an opponent’s energy, aikido is practiced in Japan. Tokyo offers traditional training, while Seattle, USA, and Paris, France, provide strong aikido programs. London, UK, also has a number of dedicated aikido schools.
Muay Thai: This Thai martial art, known as the “Art of Eight Limbs,” is best learned in Thailand. Bangkok offers some of the world’s best muay thai training camps. Children can also explore programs in Los Angeles, USA, and Sydney, Australia, where muay thai is taught by experienced instructors.
Krav Maga: Developed for self-defense, Krav Maga emphasizes practical techniques. Training in Tel Aviv, Israel, where it originated, offers an authentic experience. Other locations include New York City, USA, and London, UK, where specialized Krav Maga schools provide intensive training.
Dance
Dance improves coordination, rhythm, and flexibility while offering a creative outlet.
Ballet: Paris, France, is renowned for its ballet schools, as are Moscow, Russia, and New York City, USA. For a unique experience, consider dance programs in Havana, Cuba.
Hip-Hop: Breakdance and hip-hop classes thrive in New York City, USA, and Los Angeles, USA. London, UK, and Seoul, South Korea, also offer vibrant hip-hop scenes.
African Dance: Children can explore traditional African dance in cities like Lagos, Nigeria, or Accra, Ghana. Johannesburg, South Africa, and Dakar, Senegal, also offer rich dance traditions.
Irish Dance: Dublin, Ireland, is ideal for learning Irish dance, with other great options in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and Boston, USA. For an authentic experience, consider workshops in Galway, Ireland.
Latin Dance: Children can delve into Latin dance in Havana, Cuba, or Buenos Aires, Argentina. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and Mexico City, Mexico, are also fantastic destinations for salsa and tango.Middle Eastern Dance: Explore belly dancing in Cairo, Egypt, or Istanbul, Turkey. Amman, Jordan, and Dubai, UAE, also offer opportunities to learn traditional Middle Eastern dances.
English Riding: High-quality riding lessons are available in Gloucestershire, UK, Wellington, Florida, USA, and Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Western Riding: Texas, USA, is known for its Western riding traditions. Other notable locations include Colorado Springs, USA, and Calgary, Canada.
Outdoor Sports
Outdoor activities develop physical skills, endurance, and personal challenge.
Rock Climbing: Children can experience world-class climbing in Joshua Tree, California, USA, the Swiss Alps, Switzerland, and Krabi Province, Thailand. Yosemite National Park, California, USA, is also a renowned climbing destination.
Surfing: Learn surfing on the sunny beaches of Honolulu, Hawaii, Byron Bay, Australia, Bali, Indonesia, and Costa Rica.
BMX Biking: Training is available in Barcelona, Spain, and X Games locations like Los Angeles, USA. Other great spots include Melbourne, Australia, and Houston, USA.
Mountaineering: Explore mountaineering in the Swiss Alps, Switzerland, the Rocky Mountains, Colorado, USA, and the Himalayas, Nepal. Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania is also a renowned climbing destination.
Mountain Biking: Children can enjoy mountain biking in the forests of Whistler, Canada, the trails of Moab, Utah, USA, and the rugged terrain of the French Alps. Additional great spots include Rotorua, New Zealand, and the mountains of the Azores, Portugal.
Trail Running: For a mix of running and exploring, children can take on trail running in the forests of the Pacific Northwest, USA, the scenic trails of the Dolomites, Italy, and the national parks of New Zealand. The Canadian Rockies also offer excellent running trails.
Caving/Spelunking: Discover underground adventures in Waitomo Caves, New Zealand, the Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico, USA, and the caves of Batu, Malaysia. The Blue Grotto in Italy also offers thrilling cave experiences.
Paragliding: For an aerial adventure, children can try paragliding in Interlaken, Switzerland, the French Alps, and the cliffs of Cape Town, South Africa. Locations like Queenstown, New Zealand, and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, also offer stunning paragliding experiences.
Winter Sports
Winter activities improve agility, strength, and stamina.
Skiing: Kids can enjoy skiing in Aspen, Colorado, USA, Chamonix, France, Zermatt, Switzerland, and Whistler, Canada.
Snowboarding: Learn snowboarding in Park City, Utah, USA, Nagano, Japan, Whistler, Canada, and St. Anton, Austria.
Cross-Country Skiing: Train in places like the Swedish Lapland, Norway, and the Austrian Alps. The Canadian Rockies also offer excellent cross-country skiing opportunities.
Snowshoeing: Explore snowshoeing trails in the Rocky Mountains, Colorado, USA, the Adirondacks, New York, USA, and the Swiss Alps, Switzerland. Lapland, Finland, is another great destination for this activity.
Speed Skating & Figure Skating: Learn skating in Calgary, Canada, and the Netherlands, known for its ice rinks. Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, and Berlin, Germany, also offer excellent facilities.
Ice Climbing: Discover ice climbing in the Canadian Rockies, Banff, Canada, or in Chamonix, France. Additional locations include Norway’s Romsdal Valley and Iceland’s glaciers.
Water Sports
Water sports enhance agility, strength, and endurance.
Swimming: Children can improve their swimming skills in places like Sydney, Australia, or Dubai, UAE. Honolulu, Hawaii, and the Mediterranean coast of Spain also offer excellent facilities.
Diving: Training is available in the Great Barrier Reef, Australia, or in Cozumel, Mexico. Other fantastic locations include the Maldives and Bonaire, Caribbean Netherlands.
Canoeing: Children can learn canoeing in the Amazon River, Brazil, or in Canada’s Algonquin Park. The Loire River in France and Lake Tahoe, USA, are also popular spots.
White Water Rafting: Exciting rafting opportunities are available on the Colorado River, USA, the Zambezi River, Zambia/Zimbabwe, and the Futaleufú River, Chile. Nepal’s Trisuli River is another thrilling option.
Sport Climbing: Children can develop climbing skills in places like Yosemite National Park, California, USA, and the Dolomites, Italy. Other top locations include Fontainebleau, France, and El Chorro, Spain.
Gymnastics & Aerial Arts
Gymnastics and aerial arts build strength, coordination, and flexibility.
Gymnastics: Children can train in world-renowned gymnastics centers in Moscow, Russia, and Sofia, Bulgaria. Other notable locations include the USA Gymnastics facility in Indianapolis, Indiana, and the National Gymnastics Center in Tokyo, Japan.
Aerial Silks: Aerial silks training is available in cities like New York City, USA, Montreal, Canada, and Berlin, Germany. Barcelona, Spain, also offers specialized aerial arts programs.
Tumbling: Children can enhance their tumbling skills in competitive centers like those in Houston, Texas, USA, and in Brisbane, Australia. Other great spots include Toronto, Canada, and London, UK.
Trapeze: Learn trapeze skills in San Francisco, California, USA, and in Paris, France. Other locations include Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Melbourne, Australia.
