Creative Activities

Last updated on June 14th, 2026 at 08:03 am

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.

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? ...

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 ...

Carol Cram at the Resin Art Jewelry Workshop at Soigne in Vancouver

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 ...

Lone tree in front of Lake Beauvert near Jasper, Alberta, taken during a Jasper Photo Tour

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 ...

Castel Sant'Angelo, a fortress that combines in itself both the Roman times of the Empire, it was Hadrian's masuleum, and medieval and Renaissance times, since it became the fortress of the Popes, while it is a museum now. Photo by Giulio d'Ercole

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 ...

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 ...

Painting instructor Rod Moore teaches plein air drawing to a group of Italiana Tours participants

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, ...

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 ...

Chef Marco stands behind a table filled with fresh ingredients, ready to lead a cooking class in Rome."

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 ...

Chef Marco at InRome Cooking making pasta

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 ...

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 ...

About Carol Cram

Carol M. Cram is the author of five award-winning historical novels inspired by art and the women who shaped it, the creator of Artsy Traveler, an arts-focused travel blog, the founder of Art In Fiction, a curated database of 2,500+ novels inspired by the arts, and the host of The Art In Fiction Podcast. She also authored 60+ textbooks on computer applications and taught at Capilano University for over two decades. She lives with her husband, artist Gregg Simpson, on beautiful Bowen Island near Vancouver, BC.