Creative Activities

Discover hands-on experiences that connect you with local artisans, skilled makers, and meaningful cultural traditions.

One of the most rewarding ways to experience a place is to dive into its creative spirit. Learn from a local artisan, join a cooking class, and try a craft for the first time. Participating in creative activities while traveling provides you with some of the most memorable and enriching moments of your trip.

When you spend a few hours in a workshop or class, you slow down from the relentless input of sightseeing. You get tactile (and take a welcome break from screens!). You chat with fellow participants and the instructor. You hear stories that help you connect more deeply with the culture and community behind the craft or cuisine.

How to Use the Creative Activities Hub

In this hub, you’ll find posts about many of the creative experiences I’ve enjoyed and recommend. Check out a jewelry-making workshop in Vancouver, take a week-long drawing workshop with Italiana Tours, join a cooking class in Rome, and experience an artist retreat where you are the creator.

Italy’s Hidden Gastronomic Treasures: Lesser-Known Cuisine Worth Traveling For

When you're planning a trip to Italy centered around arts and cultural experiences, don't forgot to also include food. The ...

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Fathom Stone Art: A Unique Hands-On Experience in Whistler

Whistler, BC, has so much to offer outdoor enthusiasts, but did you know you can also indulge your artsy side? ...

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Chef’s Tour Bangkok Review: The Best Chinatown Food Tour?

If you’re researching whether to book a food tour in Bangkok, this Chef’s Tour Bangkok review will help you decide ...

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Make Your Own Jewelry: Beginner-Friendly Resin Workshop at Soigné Vancouver

Coming to my home town of Vancouver? Consider taking the resin art jewelry workshop or one of the other craft ...

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Jasper Photo Tours: Sharpen Your Skills with a Pro

If you’re looking to elevate your photography skills and capture the grandeur of Jasper, Alberta, treat yourself to a Jasper ...

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Take a Photography Tour in Rome and Learn with an Expert

Rome, with its sumptuous churches, lively street scenes, and evocative Roman ruins, is a photographer’s dream destination. If you're looking ...

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Get Inspired at a Writing and Art Retreat in Tuscany

Looking for a creative retreat in Tuscany where you can focus on your art or writing in peace? Then consider ...

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Fire Up Your Creativity with Italiana Tours

Thirteen people gather for an Italian art retreat in Le Marche, spending a week under the Italian sun drawing, painting, ...

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Explore Greek Cuisine in a Savor Nafplio Cooking Class

Have you ever wanted to learn the secrets of Greek cooking? If so, then consider adding a cooking class to ...

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Pizza, Gelato, Suppli–Oh My! A Fantastic Cooking Class in Rome

Fancy taking a cooking class while you're visiting Rome? I highly recommend the experience. I'm a huge fan of taking ...

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Cooking in Roma with InRome Cooking

Culinary tourism is definitely a thing, and nowhere more so than in Italy. Food tours and cooking classes abound and ...

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Take a Cooking Class in Paris

Have you considered taking a cooking class while traveling in France? Paris is the place for cooking classes, but you'll ...

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About Carol

Carol M. Cram writes novels inspired by the arts; runs Artsy Traveler, an arts-focused travel blog, and Art In Fiction, a curated database of 2,700+ novels inspired by the arts; and hosts The Art In Fiction Podcast. She has also authored 60+ textbooks on computer applications and taught at Capilano University for over two decades. Carol lives with her husband, artist Gregg Simpson, on beautiful Bowen Island near Vancouver, BC.

See all my novels