As a child, for ten years I attended summer camp, graduating to become a C.I.T. (counselor-in-training) and finally, at a Canadian wilderness camp, a full-fledged counselor. As a result, I can still lash sticks together to make a table in the woods, pilot a canoe with precise J-strokes, and win a greased-watermelon relay (the trick: hug the fruit loosely).

As an adult, spurred by those early exploits, I pursue vacations as education-cum-action. I learned to fly-fish on an Irish estate, where I landed a whopper salmon. I’ve herded cattle on a Montana ranch with seasoned wranglers and held my own. I made big strides in perfecting my tennis stroke at an Arizona resort. And, in between hikes in Japan, I learned to make delicate wagashi, flower-shaped sweets, too pretty to eat later.

It turns out I’m not alone. A desire for meaningful, experiential travel, similar to the camp experiences we had as kids, is catching on, says Jessica Ourisman, a Virtuoso travel advisor based in Baltimore. “Many of my clients are looking for a beautiful outdoor, fresh-air vacation,” she says, “and find an organic energy that flows from being in nature.” What’s more, she adds, “these types of trips also inspire lifelong learning.” Indeed, many have staying power, as travelers pick up new passions and book their next adventure to pursue them further.

Whether you’re indulging your inner child on a solo escape or seeking a time-out on a family getaway, the following sophisticated and stimulating vacations channel summer camp without the splinters.