A new kind of vacation: How AI can bring summer to you

I used to think summer fun meant packing up the car, hitting the highway and trying not to argue over snacks before we reached Byron. But these days, vacation doesn’t always need a suitcase. Thanks to artificial intelligence, you can explore world landmarks, create your own summer camp or even jam out to an AI-generated beach tune, all without leaving your home or melting in a parking lot somewhere off I-75.

This week, let’s dive into how AI is creating new kinds of summer experiences. Whether you’re grounded by budget, burned out from travel planning or just curious about tech, you might find your next adventure is just a few clicks away.

Virtual travel, real wonder

Let’s start with the big one, travel. AI-powered platforms can now simulate trips in ways that go beyond watching a travel show on TV. Tools like VirtualVacation.us and AirPano offer immersive ways to explore the world from home. Whether you’re virtually strolling through city streets or soaring above iconic landmarks in stunning 360° detail, these platforms use video and interactive visuals to bring global destinations to life — no passport required.

Google Earth and YouTube have also upped their game with AI enhancements that make it easier to discover hidden gems. Want to know where the locals really eat in Barcelona? Tools like Perplexity.ai can generate custom travel guides, factoring in your dietary needs, walking pace and budget — all instantly.

Some platforms go a step further by using AI to translate foreign languages in real time or help simulate immersive environments for those with virtual reality headsets. The Meta Quest, for instance, now offers AI-enhanced travel experiences where you can stroll through ancient ruins or scuba dive with digital dolphins.

This kind of tech doesn’t replace the feeling of actual sand under your feet. But for seniors who don’t travel easily, folks with mobility challenges or families trying to stretch their dollars, it offers a surprisingly rich and satisfying alternative. Plus, no waiting in line at TSA.

Summer camps and classes — minus the bug spray

If your idea of summer includes learning something new or keeping the kids occupied, AI’s got your back. Campy.ai is a platform that helps parents find and organize summer camps based on their child’s interests, schedule and location. It streamlines the planning process by recommending personalized options and simplifying registration and logistics.

Apps like Khan Academy Kids and ChatGPT (with a little help from a grown-up) can walk young learners through everything from storytelling to beginner coding. For older kids and teens, platforms like Skillshare and EdX use AI to tailor lessons and give instant feedback, helping them sharpen skills without the classroom pressure.

Best of all, these experiences are often on-demand, meaning they work around your schedule, not the other way around. You don’t have to pack a lunch, drive across town or remember whether sunscreen is “optional” or “absolutely essential.” The camp comes to you.

Creative play: Your own art studio or music lab 

Summer is the season of creativity. Whether you’re 8 or 80, there’s something magical about turning imagination into something you can hear or see. AI can be a surprisingly fun co-creator in that space.

Let’s say you want to make summer postcards. Tools like DALL·E (accessed through ChatGPT), Craiyon or Adobe Firefly can help you design scenes of a fantasy beach day, a futuristic water park or a relaxing mountain sunset.

Thinking music? Platforms like Suno.ai, Boomy and Loudly let you compose original songs by giving just a few prompts. Even storytelling gets a boost. Use ChatGPT, NovelAI or Storybird to spin up short stories set in magical summer forests or high-tech beach towns. You can then bring those stories to life using Play.ht or ElevenLabs, which convert text to lifelike voices, perfect for audio bedtime stories or dramatic podcast episodes starring your imagination.

A world of experience, not expense

What I love most about these virtual summer options is that they’re more than just novelty, they’re inclusive. Someone with limited income, restricted mobility or even just a tight work schedule can still find wonder, beauty and play in the world AI helps unlock.

Many of these apps offer free versions or trial periods and libraries are starting to host workshops to help people of all ages learn how to use them. Even in small towns, access to digital experiences is growing. It’s one way technology is helping level the summer playing field.

Of course, I’m not saying AI is the answer to everything. It won’t chase down a frisbee at the park or grill a perfect hot dog. (Yet.) But it can spark new kinds of joy, open doors to discovery and bring people together in ways that weren’t possible even five years ago.

So whether you’re hosting a virtual luau with AI-generated island tunes, designing your dream treehouse in a digital art app or sending your grandkids an AI-powered bedtime story from across the country, there’s a little summer magic waiting for you. 

Joe Finkelstein (AI Joe) has been a technology educator in Bibb County for more than 20 years. For questions and comments visit askaijoe.com