Has anyone experienced a really great learning vacation destination that you can recommend? I'm looking for a place that combines a really cool learning experience with a phenomenal destination. I think Disney had an Institute with personal enrichment courses some time back (not sure why it closed), but something along those lines. I'm pretty open to ideas. A quick web search shows tons of places (language schools, cooking/sailing/academic instruction), but was looking for some first-hand experience and recommendations. Thanks!

Depends on what you want to learn. If you want to learn about things culinary (cooking and/or baking), I bet there are a lot of cool programs in France. That could be pretty unique

I looked into those intensive language schools once...there is a great one in Costa Rica that is part eco-tourism and part language school, on the edge of the rainforest. I could probably dig around my paperwork and find the name of it if you like, though I'm sure you could find it online.

If it's still in print, there's a book out every year called _Volunteer Vacations_. They list a plethora of trips...everything from archeological digs to medical missions, etc. (Most of them are dirt-cheap, too!)

Was going to recommend Costa Rica and saw that someone else did as well. There are a number of schools in Quepos ranging from budget to upscale. Great beaches, rainforests, nightlife and more.

This link should give you a good start.

http://www.languageschoolsguide.com/CostaRica.cfm

Thanks everyone, good ideas. Anybody know of something close to what the Disney Institue used to be? Also, any idea why that place closed?

There is a program that I read about here about 6 months ago. I have not tried it but it looks fascinating and it's called Living English. The gist of it is that you volunteer to teach English to foreign nationals, who pay to learn it in an intensive 2 week course. For you, it's essentially a paid accomodations & food vacation once you get there.

They become immersed in the nuances of the language because they need to use it back home for whatever professional reason. You, in turn, learn about their lives. Peru, Bali, Japan, you name it, they come. And, you are not really a teacher, but a talker and a communicator, so if you do not like being around people, it's not for you.

Living English UK is one that descibes it from a student's point of view, but I know it happens in many parts of the world.

It may not be closed. This WDW link still offers information.
http://disneymeetings.disney.go.com/...vidualPrograms

[snip]
Here's one site for Spain: http://www.vaughanvillage.com/

However, it seems like an awful lot of work for just room and board. It would be good for someone who doesn't have restricted vacation allotment, though.

The best vacation I ever took was for a week's cooking course in Umbria, Italy. I went with www.italian-cookery-weeks.co.uk. I suppose it depends on your definition of learning. But this was the best combination of tourism and learning and meeting others. YMMV

Thanks for the great tips everyone, much appreciated. Disney Institute does indeed appear to still be around, although it seems geared now more for professional development/office type of seminars, rather than personal interest stuff.