Family-Friendly CME Vacations: Learn, Relax, and Make Memories Together

Continuing Medical Education (CME) doesn’t have to mean time away from your family. For many healthcare professionals, juggling professional growth with personal life is an ongoing challenge—especially when vacation days are limited. That’s where family-friendly CME vacations come in.

These unique educational getaways allow physicians, nurses, and other healthcare workers to earn CME credits while bringing their loved ones along for the ride. Whether you’re exploring Europe, relaxing at a resort, or cruising the Caribbean, you no longer have to choose between meeting licensure requirements and creating lasting memories with your family.

What Are Family-Friendly CME Vacations?

A family-friendly CME vacation is a travel experience designed for healthcare professionals who want to earn continuing education credits and enjoy quality time with family. These trips typically offer:

Accredited CME sessions in the mornings or select days
Built-in free time for sightseeing, excursions, and relaxation
Access to kid-friendly activities, childcare, or teen clubs
Destinations that appeal to both adults and children

From all-inclusive beach resorts to ocean cruises and cultural tours, these vacations make it easy to blend learning with leisure.

Why More Medical Professionals Are Choosing CME Vacations with Family

1. Maximize Time Off
Instead of taking separate trips for work and leisure, you get the best of both worlds—CME credit and a true family vacation.

2. Reduce Guilt and Burnout
Many clinicians feel torn between professional obligations and family time. These trips help reduce that pressure and foster work-life harmony.

3. Strengthen Bonds Through Shared Experiences
Traveling together deepens relationships. Whether you’re snorkeling in Hawaii or enjoying gelato in Rome, you’re building memories that matter.

4. Educational Exposure for Kids
Many CME trips include cultural excursions, museum visits, or wildlife adventures—fun and enriching for children and teens alike.

Ideal Destinations for Family-Friendly CME Travel

1. Caribbean Cruises
Perfect for families, cruises offer supervised kids' clubs, teen lounges, pools, and activities while parents attend CME seminars during sea days.

2. Disney Resorts with CME
Some medical conferences take place at or near Disney World, offering the magic of theme parks while earning CE credits in the mornings.

3. Hawaii
Several CME conferences are hosted in family-friendly resorts with beach access, luaus, and outdoor adventures for all ages.

4. Europe (Italy, France, Spain)
Multi-city CME tours often include optional family excursions, food tours, and historical attractions, making education a shared experience.

5. National Parks (USA)
Programs in places like Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, and Yosemite combine education with nature and outdoor fun.

What Does a Typical Day Look Like?

Here’s an example schedule from a family-friendly CME cruise in the Caribbean:

7:30 AM: Breakfast with your family
8:00 AM – 12:00 PM: CME lectures while kids enjoy the onboard activity club
12:00 PM – 4:00 PM: Port excursion to explore a beach or nature reserve together
5:00 PM: Group dinner or family free time
Evening: Entertainment options—movies, shows, or just relaxing on deck

Most programs are designed with family schedules in mind, ensuring plenty of time together outside of the educational sessions.

What Types of CME Are Offered?

Topics vary by provider but typically include:

General practice updates
Women’s and children’s health
Emergency and urgent care trends
Wellness and burnout prevention
Travel medicine
Pediatrics and family health
Dermatology, cardiology, and more

You’ll often earn 10–25 CME credits depending on the length of the trip.

Choosing the Right Family-Friendly CME Provider

Look for companies that specialize in combining medical education with leisure travel. Some reputable providers include:

Sea Courses Cruises
CME Away®
CMEatSEA™
MCE Conferences
Contemporary Forums (Family Health-focused events)

Be sure to confirm that your CME credits are from an accredited provider accepted by your licensing board.

Key Tips for Planning a Successful CME Family Vacation

1. Check Accreditation & Credit Hours
Ensure the CME content meets your state or board's requirements.

2. Review the Childcare Options
Cruises and resorts often offer structured programs for kids and teens—making it easier to attend sessions guilt-free.

3. Look for Free Time
Prioritize trips with limited lecture hours per day so you can enjoy time with your family.

4. Bring a Support Person
If you have younger children, bringing a spouse, friend, or grandparent can give you added peace of mind during CME sessions.

5. Make It Fun for Everyone
Involve your family in choosing the destination. When everyone is excited about the trip, the experience becomes that much more meaningful.

Final Thoughts

Family-friendly CME vacations are redefining how healthcare professionals approach continuing education. Instead of trading time with loved ones for professional growth, you can now have both—without compromise.

Whether you’re relaxing on a sun-soaked beach, exploring ancient ruins, or hiking through the mountains, CME vacations turn professional obligations into treasured family adventures.

So, if your license is coming up for renewal and your kids are begging for a trip, consider combining the two. A family-friendly CME vacation might just be the perfect prescription.

Let customers speak for us

from 649 reviews

I did hospital medicine course in May 2025. Very updated program. Every piece of info shared was backed by recent studies. Enjoyable. I will return.

Raul Vila

CME Vacations, LLC

05/15/2025

Fun and informative.

Great conference and knowledgeable speakers. Loved the online option as well that gave me flexibility during my trip. I highly recommend cme vacations!

Maria R

CME Conference - Clearwater, Florida - May 7-10, 2025 - Hospital Medicine Update

05/13/2025

Excellent! 5 star!

I did the hospital medicine conference in Clearwater, the quality of presentations was the best I've ever experienced. Very good content!!! Also very nice staff to work with, especially prior to the conference, I had a couple questions and quick and helpful responses.

Gwen Polaski

05/11/2025

Clearwater, Fl

Great review and excellent speakers. Will attend more in future.

Sara G

05/10/2025

Amazing CME

Outstanding content and insightful lectures that I would gladly attend repeatedly to stay current in the world of hospital medicine. I truly appreciate all the presenters and staff who made this event possible.

Mhd Wael Tasabehji

Awesome experience!

Nnamdi M.

Great experience!

This is my first experience with CME vacations. It is very educational, informative and enjoyable. Both presenters are nice and covered the most important every day hospital medicine topics very well. Highly recommended!

Tanuja K

Clearwater CME

This conference exceeded my expectations! It provided updated guidelines/ updated clinical trials that affect hospital practice in a clean and concise manner, with multiple ways to get content based on learning style (In person, online, and Live Stream). They even provide slides, helpful hints, and more to be able to review later at your own pace. This was my first experience, and I will likely book again! Thanks CME Vacations!

Clearwater, FL

Great speakers! Fabulous location. Can’t wait to attend another

Clearwater Florida 2025 Hospital Update Course

This is my 3rd CME vacations course and it always exceeds expectations--great , updated educational content delivered in multiple formats (in writing, audible lectures, online access) catering to all learning styles and allowing you to revisist material to make the most of the information. It is the only CME company I use anymore and recommend 100%

Stephanie Fougerousse, DO

A great way to efficiently use time off!

I was so happy to be able to earn CME while taking my family on a trip! I loved the conference format and content itself, the presenters were engaged and had great follow up with any questions we had, and the hotel itself was amazing! I have already recommended this to my colleagues and will continue to do so!

Kaila H.

CME conference

Hospital medicine conference in Clearwater was a great experience! Very educational and enjoyable

Shruti Saini

Best CME ever

This was by far the best CME event I have ever attended. I have traveled all over the US going to events that are so jammed packed it’s hard to decide which classes to attend. Classes start at the crack of dawn and last past supper. You choose your classes off the title that catches your attention to sit through a boring lecture that doesn’t even go with the title. By the end of the day you have no energy to explore the location you are visiting.

NOT with CME vacations. You get straight forward, up to date info on the disease process that is covered with the current guidelines validated by research articles. Plus they cover research that might have an impact on the current guidelines in the future.

Classes are designed to review material in an efficient manner, get you out by lunch so you can enjoy the rest of your day - vacationing. hence the name CME vacations. This will be my go to CME event. Highly recommended.

Cheryl Vinson

Super relevant content with all of the most updated medical literature. Relaxed format with plenty of time to enjoy the location of the conference!

Elizabeth

05/09/2025