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the ultimate usa bucketlist for solo travelers
THE ULTIMATE BUCKET LIST FOR SOLO TRAVELERS
USA USA
Iam not sure you can really understand the thrill of picking a spot on the map, booking your journey and heading off to a destination on a solo trip until you’ve experienced it for yourself. Luckily, the stigma of taking a solo vacation has been replaced by a nearly universal appreciation for the value of taking some time to be alone. Are you looking for incredible spots around the country for independent vacations? Here’s my USA solo travel bucket list.
Hike the Canyons in Sedona, Arizona
If you’re looking to turn your next trip into a soul-finding journey, there’s no better destination than the desert landscape of Sedona, Arizona. There’s something about the way the sun hits the walls of the red canyons here that inspires gratitude, self-reflection and renewal. I also like that Sedona can give you a real workout without forcing you to traverse the higher trails found in comparable spots like Tucson and Phoenix. Sedona’s elevation tops out at 4,300 feet. My top spots for Sedona hiking are Cathedral Rock for views, Doe Mountain for solitude, Fay Canyon for scenery and Devil’s Bridge Trail for a bustling trail full of fellow hikers that will bring you to a photo-worthy finish at a sandstone arch. If you want to see the views in Sedona without wearing down your hiking shoes, I suggest taking a jeep or ATV tour that lets you cover some wild terrains relatively quickly. If you want to get into the Sedona mindset, you can even book a tour on horseback! Stay Out Late in New Orleans, Louisiana
In a city full of haunted spots, it can be fun to feel like a ghost on a trip to New Orleans. I like the idea of visiting New Orleans alone because of the way it always feels like the city is moving around you. There’s no stigma about settling into a booth alone at a pub on Bourbon Street to tuck into a stiff Sazerac made with cognac, absinthe and a sugar cube. Stay busy during a solo New Orleans tour with shopping on Royal Street, live music on Frenchman Street and a couple of long evenings at Harrah’s. During my last visit to New Orleans, I got into the habit of toting coffee and fresh-made beignets over to manicured, palm-filled Audubon Park to have my breakfast on the Mississippi River.
Find Serenity at Islands and Caves in Bayfield, Wisconsin
People were mostly confused when I told them that I was going on a one-person retreat to Wisconsin a few years back. Of course, I can’t blame them because I know most people are wholly unfamiliar with the geological wonder that is the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. Consisting of 21 islands off of Lake Superior’s upper shore, this is one of the world’s top spots for exploring sandstone sea caves. The beaches, cliffs and surrounding forests give this exceptionally crisp, clean portion of Lake Superior an ethereal feel. The highlight of a trip here is visiting the Sand Island Light on Sand Island’s northern tip. You can tour eight lighthouses spread across six islands when hopping between the Apostle Islands if you have the time. Kayaking here is quite a treat if you’ve struggled with ocean kayaking in the past because lake conditions are often as still as glass. You can paddle on up through the limestone caves with ease. As a summer visitor, I missed the opportunity to hike into ice-covered caves the way so many adventurous travelers do every winter!
Enjoy West Coast Solitude by the Sea in San Diego, California
Not everyone who travels alone wants solitude. I’ve found that background noise can often be the best travel companion. That’s one of the reasons why I think San Diego is a great city for solo trips. You can easily spend a whole day exploring the shops and attractions in Old Town before stopping for dinner at one of the restaurants where you can watch fresh, soft tortillas being made by hand in the front window. This beautiful pedestrian zone displays a slice of American and Mexican life as it would have looked during the period from 1821 to 1872. I also recommend seeing the full expanse of San Diego’s waterfront area at the San Diego Bay Walk. To sprinkle in some opportunities for self-reflection and fun with a West Coast twist, plan stops at the Point Loma Lighthouse, Mission Beach Boardwalk and the San Diego Air and Space Museum. Don’t forget to pick up souvenirs for whoever you left behind at beautiful Seaport Village. I’ve found that bottles of hot sauce from the famous Hot Licks store in the village are always hits!
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Journeys for Travelers With Disabilities
Avacation is a universal joy that everyone should be able to savor. I understand that the idea of planning a getaway can be intimidating if you have a disability. With a little research, you’ll discover that many of the most iconic and interesting travel spots in the United States can be experienced by people with special needs or mobility restrictions. Please take a look at my bucket list destinations for people with disabilities in the USA.
Tour Washington, D.C.
The nation’s capital does an impressive job of making its museums and great attractions highly accessible for people with disabilities. Nearly every attraction in D.C. is accessible by wheelchair. Even the Washington Metro system is highly accessible with help from touches like elevators for every stop. You’ll also find that the central part of Washington is mostly flat. That means that getting around the city to tourist spots like the Lincoln Memorial, the National Mall and the Washington Monument is doable by wheelchair.
Visit Morgan’s Wonderland in San Antonio, Texas
There’s quite a bit to do in San Antonio if you’re a traveler with a disability. However, the attraction that draws so many to the River City is Morgan’s Wonderland. The first and only theme park in the world where every single ride is accessible for guests in wheelchairs, Morgan’s Wonderland offers a fun sensory experience for people of all ages that looks like any other fun theme park at first glance. The park offers 25 wheelchair-accessible rides spread across 25 fun acres. There’s even an award-winning splash park thrown in the mix!
Relax on the Beach in Key Largo, Florida
Key Largo is my top pick for a beach that offers easy accessibility for people with disabilities due to its extensive network of ramps and wooden walkways providing direct beach access. Known as the Dive Capital of the World, Key Largo doesn’t exclude anyone from the fun just because they have a disability. Local tour companies like Tranquil Adventures specialize
in making ocean tours accessible to all people by using special wheelchair lifts.
Enjoy the Sparkle of Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas does a fantastic job of providing accessibility to people with disabilities. First, you’ll notice that there are benches everywhere. Navigating Vegas is also breezier than you’d expect due to the city’s flat terrain and wide sidewalks. You can also get around easily using the city’s fully wheelchair-accessible RTC service. Also, popular museums like the Neon Museum, the Bellagio Conservatory and Madame Tussauds Las Vegas are all designed to be toured by wheelchair without disrupting your experience one bit! You’ll find the same is true at all the big Casinos and venues. I also recommend the dazzling lights show that takes place every 30 minutes at the Fountains of Bellagio for a fun, free wheelchairfriendly activity. When you get five miles out of the city to visit the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, you’ll find plenty of viewing spots that can accommodate wheelchairs.
Savor Hawaiian Paradise in Hanauma Bay, Honolulu
Praised for being one of the most wheelchair-accessible beaches in the country, Hanauma Bay is a beautiful crescent-shaped beach with clear waters that are ideal for snorkeling. Hanauma Bay pulls out all the stops to be an inclusive slice of paradise. First, the beach provides a shuttle that will take you to the entrance if you’d like to avoid what can be a pretty long trek to the beach. This beach is also one of the only ones in the country to provide access to free beach wheelchairs. These wheelchairs are spectacular because you can roll them right up to the water.
Navigate a Desert City in Albuquerque, New Mexico
Situated in the high desert, Albuquerque makes the list of the top vacation spots for people with disabilities because it’s a very flat city that’s easy to navigate. That means it’s fairly easy to cover the great restaurants and shops in downtown and Old Town Albuquerque by wheelchair. Albuquerque’s transit system also happens to be one of the most accessible in the USA. What’s more, visitors can use wheelchair-friendly buses to get around via public transit. Another reason why Albuquerque makes my list of top cities for travelers with disabilities is its extensive trail network. These trails make it easy to enjoy the beautiful scenery without getting off the beaten path. You’ll need to research specific trail routes ahead of time because not every inch of Albuquerque’s trails can accommodate wheelchairs perfectly. However, I’ll confirm that the River Trail is a perfect pick for wheelchairs because it’s a wide, paved path that happens to be dotted with stops for the city’s wheelchair-accessible bus line. It’s not uncommon to spot hawks or jackrabbits while exploring this beautiful trail.
There’s something about fall that brings out the urge for day trips, road trips and any other type of excursion that I can fit into my schedule. Personally, I’m tempted to say that any town is magical during the fall season. However, certain towns and cities around the United States transform into something movie-level magical during that enchanted window from the middle of September through the beginning of November. That’s why I’m covering the best picks for foliage and spooky follies in my USA fall bucket list! I’ll even reveal the best city to visit if you’re worried that you’re too late for peak foliage.
Fall Under the Spell of Autumn by the Sea in Salem, Massachusetts
Everybody should make the trek to New England to celebrate fall in Salem at least once in their lifetime. Tucked away in Essex County on the North Shore of Massachusetts, Salem is as charming as it is engrossing. What I like about Salem in the fall is that you’ll get your fill of pointy hats, crystal balls and haunted tours while also digging into the history behind one of the most important and fascinating seaports in America’s history.
People who come to Salem to visit landmarks associated with the 1962 Salem Witch Trials end up being charmed by beautiful foliage by the sea combined with the whimsy of a small New England town. When you come in October, expect to see tons of costumed people walking around. You’ll also see plenty of historic homes, taverns, shops and inns all decked out in beautiful harvest décor with a level of enthusiasm you’ve probably never experienced before.
I don’t think you can get a feel for Salem unless you take a walking tour. There are plenty of historic tours that will take you place by place to live out scenes from the Salem Witch Trials. I’ve immensely enjoyed the House of Seven Gables, the Witch House, the Old Burying Point Cemetery, the Pickering House and Pickering Wharf for creating a well-rounded afternoon. You can see a lot in a day in Salem because most of the museum experiences are pretty brief.
Walk in the Footsteps of Washington Irving’s Headless Horseman in Sleepy Hollow, New York
The only place in the United States that I can say even touches Salem’s fall energy is Sleepy Hollow, New York. Located in Westchester County, the village of Sleepy Hollow is situated less than an hour from New York City. However, the two spots are netherworlds apart! First, the foliage alone in Hudson Valley is worth the trip. However, the big draw for an autumn visit to Sleepy Hollow is an event called the Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze that lives up to every expectation for what you’d expect from the place that inspired the Headless Horseman from “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” Sleepy Hollow’s Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze puts on display more than 7,000 handcarved pumpkins at the mysterious Van Cortlandt Manor set on the confluence of the Hudson River and Croton River for the entire length of fall. When touring Sleep Hollow, visiting the burial site of Washington Irving at the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery is always a must.
Experience Fall in Wine Country in Salinas Valley
While I’ll readily admit that I’m partial to New England and the Northeast for foliage viewing, this certainly isn’t the only corridor that
dazzles. Shifting to the West Coast, fall is a fantastic time for a wine tour through California’s Salinas Valley. The shimmering fall colors make the landscape here about as beautiful as it ever gets. You can cover close to two dozen boutique, low-key wineries if you stick to the River Road Wine Trail in Monterey. Do Some Leaf Peeping in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula
It took me many years to discover that I was leaving Michigan too early after enjoying summertime leisure on the Great Lakes to experience the real magic. I recommend having a four-wheel-drive car that will allow you to zip off into the wilderness of Brockway Mountain Drive near Copper Harbor for a drive that’s just under 10 miles of nothing but stunning views of fall foliage mirroring off of Lake Superior and the Keweenaw Peninsula.
Experience a Late-Fall Jaunt in Chattanooga
I promised I’d tell you where to go if you’re late planning a fall getaway this year! You don’t have to worry about missing “peak” foliage if you’re behind. Chattanooga’s position at the gates of the Appalachian Mountains means that leaf colors are at their most vibrant from the final days of October through the first week in November. Generally, Halloween is considered the optimal day for leaf viewing here. Fall is a great time to sip some cider and check out the vendors at the outdoor Chattanooga River Market.
PARADISE athome
Bucket List of Relaxing United States Islands
ntry into paradise is closer than most people realize. For many travelers, resort spots like the Caribbean and Mexico’s Riviera Maya are the go-to destinations for sun, fun and relaxation. It’s understandable if you’re putting plans to leave the country on pause for now. However, there’s no need to let travel restrictions or safety worries keep you out of paradise. American travelers are increasingly looking for ways to enjoy island getaways E without leaving the United States. Yes, it’s more than possible! That’s why I’m covering a bucket list of US islands that make it unexpectedly easy to experience paradise domestically.
SANIBEL ISLAND, FLORIDA Sanibel Island offers a kiss of the tropics right in sunny, friendly Florida. The beauty of Sanibel Island is that you really can decide to make your holiday here as active or relaxed as you prefer. Personally, collecting shells on the fluffy, white sand in Sanibel Island is a top pick for me. There’s also endless fine dining, access to excellent golf links and the vibrant Sanibel Island Farmers’ Market on Sundays. I like Bowman’s Beach and Lighthouse Beach Park when looking for a place to park in the sand with my umbrella and book. January, February and March are the best months for shelling in Sanibel.
LONGBOAT KEY, FLORIDA Longboat Key does a great job of offering the luxury shopping and fine dining that you get in some higherend Caribbean spots. You’ll even feel like you’re in Europe during snippets of your trip with help from terraced restaurants and umbrellaed cafés near the water. Longboat Key is a real hotspot for water sports. When coming to Longboat Key, I highly recommend booking a spot on a charter boat that takes off from one of the local marinas for whale watching, dolphin watching or fishing. When looking for a famous and sparkling beach offering access to the Gulf, Coquina Beach wins. Show up early on Sunday mornings to enjoy an outdoor beach market where you can scoop up jewelry, clothing and great food.
THE OUTER BANKS, NORTH CAROLINA Before I dive into my next recommendation, I’m going to warn you that several people I know have packed up and moved to the Outer Banks after visiting for vacation. It’s that amazing here. If you’ve never made your way down to North Carolina’s shore before, the Outer Banks is a 100-mile stretch of beautiful barrier islands dotted with beach cottages, lighthouses, maritime museums, crab shacks, shops and more. You have a lot of range when deciding which area to stay and play in when planning your Outer Banks vacation. A lot of tourists focus on popular spots
like Hatteras and Rodanthe. There’s no need to feel cornered into picking one spot in the Outer Banks. You can do a lot of “town hopping” easily via scenic byways if you’ll have a rental car. The northern part of the Currituck Banks is probably my favorite dot on the Outer Banks only because it has a lighthouse and a population of wild horses.
SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO Located on Puerto Rico’s Atlantic coast, San Juan is a vibrant capital city alive with cobblestoned alleyways, vibrant public squares, Spanish architecture and sunsoaked promenades. A San Juan holiday is an excellent option if you prefer paradise to come packed with tons of activities and attractions. Of course, a quick detour to Isla Verde Beach when you need to unwind is all it takes for those tropical vibes to kick in. Planning an itinerary for San Juan is a bit more like planning a visit to a European city than making the typical “lazy itinerary” for a place that’s strictly beaches and spas. While you can choose your own pace, I recommend at least making room in your schedule for an afternoon spent walking among the more than 400 colorfully restored buildings that make up Old San Juan. For absolutely sweeping Atlantic views, plan an excursion to Castillo San Felipe del Morro. This fort, dating back to 16th-century Spanish rule, attracts more than 2 million visitors each year! My tip for animal lovers is to head to the Save a Gato (SAG) cat sanctuary. This “hidden” spot in the city allows you to interact with feral and abandoned cats that have been scooped up and cared for by animal helpers. Relaxing while friendly cats roll around on large rocks overlooking the ocean is quite a treat! The last thing I’ll add about San Juan is that the eating is good here. I had a great experience with ordering a dish called pastelón that is Puerto Rican lasagna made with plantains at the suggestion of a waiter in an eatery not far from Condado Beach. If you enjoy libations, you can order several varieties of rum made at distilleries just miles away from the core of San Juan.
newyorkcity
People spend a lifetime living in the Big Apple without crossing every item off from their bucket lists. This is a crucial detail to keep in mind when crafting your own New York City itinerary. With so much pressure to “see it all” when visiting NYC, it can be hard to know where to start. I’m sure you’ll have no trouble finding your way to spots like Central Park, Rockefeller Center and Times Square. That’s why I want to introduce you to some “hidden” NYC gems that I think deserve to make your bucket list.
FINANCIAL DISTRICT/ DOWNTOWN
Covering Manhattan’s southern tip, the financial district is populated by skyscrapers and waterfront views. This is where the National September 11 Memorial and Museum is located. Here’s a look at other must-see items when touring the Financial District: • Enjoy the waterfront area at
Battery Park. This is also the place to catch a ferry to the
Statue of Liberty. • Walk through Wall Street to look at key attractions like the New York Stock
Exchange, 40 Wall Street and the Charging Bull statue. • Enjoy shops and restaurants along the cobblestone walkway at the South Street
Seaport.
Located along the East River, Long Island City is unbeatable if you’re looking for wide, sweeping views of the Manhattan skyline. This is an excellent place if you’re picturing riverfront walks, art galleries and trendy bars. Do yourself a favor and grab a room at the Aloft Long Island City. The big draw of this hotel is that it offers incredible views of the Queensboro bridge. Here’s a look at the best spots to visit: • View the Manhattan skyline from across the river at
Hunter’s Point South Park. • Sit with a coffee for relaxing views of Midtown on a bench inside manicured, beautiful
Gantry Plaza State Park. • Pose for a photo in front of the famed Pepsi Cola sign that can be seen from
Manhattan. • Enjoy rotating exhibits set against the city’s skyline at
Socrates Sculpture Park. • Tour art exhibits at MoMA
PS1. • Stop for coffee at ETTO
Espresso Bar to sip worldfamous brews.
GREENWICH VILLAGE
A haven of artists, Greenwich village retains the independent spirit of New York associated with folk music and bohemian living. Once home to Edgar Allen Poe, the village now boasts a list of residents peppered with Hollywood stars and musicians. This is one of the better spots in the city for “bumping into” celebrities. Here’s a look at how to spend your time in the village: • Visit Washington Square Park to cover more than 9 acres of space housing attractions like the Washington Square
Arch. • Check out some jazz clubs. • Tour streets lined with brownstones.
ASTORIA
Nestled beside the East River in Queens, Astoria is a hip neighborhood with a very downto-earth vibe. The neighborhood is known for its excellent nightlife scene, buzz-worthy restaurants and edgy art galleries. Here’s a look at what to cross off your list while in Astoria: • Tour the Museum of the
Moving Image to take the deepest dive into the worlds of screen and cinema in the world. While the museum is temporarily closed due to
COVID, you’ll want to be first in line to see the new exhibits when it reopens. • Enjoy a sunset walk to enjoy views of Manhattan from the
East River.
BROOKLYN
With iconic neighbors like Brooklyn Heights and Park Slope, Brooklyn manages to be a homey slice of the city that does a great job of maintaining its artsy edge. Today’s Brooklyn is known for its youthful population, experimental restaurants and high walkability score. Here’s a look at the top picks for visiting Brooklyn: • Explore 52 acres of flowers and plants at the Brooklyn
Botanic Garden. • Get great views of the waterfront area spanning the Manhattan skyline to the
Brooklyn Bridget at Brooklyn
Heights Promenade. • Check out the independent boutiques and restaurants at
Down Under the Manhattan
Bridge Overpass (DUMBO).
CHELSEA
A wonderland of factories turned into luxury high-rise condos, Chelsea offers a taste of real Manhattan living. This is a lowkey spot with lots of culture. Here’s what to enjoy while in Chelsea: • Walk the 1.45 miles of linear, elevated green space at the
High Line. • Spend a morning shopping the stalls at the famed
Chelsea Market. • Take a catwalk tour through fashion history at the
Museum at FIT. • See groundbreaking contemporary art exhibits at the David Zwirner Gallery. • Witness up-and-coming comedy stars as they work on material at Amy Poehler’s
Upright Citizens Brigade.
5 of the Best River Cruise Experiences in the USA
t’s a misconception that only Europe offers fantastic river cruises. River voyages through the great channels and watercourses I of America offer a powerful sense of Americana mixed with views that those who travel by highways, byways and roads will never see.
From the great frontier of the Pacific
Northwest to the jazzy shores of the Big Easy, USA river cruises deliver everything from sprawling views to small towns that show off a version of America that remains untouched by time. If your goal is to see as much of the USA by river as you can, take a look at four bucketlist USA cruise itineraries that will get your rudders spinning.
The Mississippi River
The mighty Mississippi flows from Lake Itasca in Minnesota all the way to the Gulf of Mexico. However, I picture that stretch from about Memphis to New Orleans when I think of a flavorful, spirited Mississippi River adventure. Seeing New Orleans as a port of a call is the best way to experience the Big Easy, in my opinion. While off the boat in the NOLA, I’m always eager to check out what’s new in the Garden District, the French Quarter and around Frenchman Street. After dinner on the ship, it’s easy to slip back to the city for some fiery jazz or a misty pub crawl in the fog blown in from the bayous. The Columbia River
Beginning in Portland, a Columbia River itinerary shows off the Pacific Northwest’s splendor by way of Washington and Oregon. Dualstate itineraries for the Columbia also include a jut into beautiful Vancouver for an overnight port of call. The real magic of a Columbia River cruise happens when your ship comes upon a small town called The Dalles. Home to the Columbia River Gorge, The Dalles offers a trip through time that will make you feel like you’re in an old, rugged mining town populated with renegades and pioneers. The Columbia Gorge on its own is worth the whole trip! With a depth of 4,000 feet, this stunning canyon cuts through the Cascade Range westward for miles and miles. Along the gorge, you’ll find a series of waterfalls. Another gem along the Columbia that’s worth marking on your map is Astoria, Oregon. Kept secluded by surrounding mountains, Astoria is a small river town that encompasses an area home to the Clatsop tribe. Astoria’s waterfront area is best explored by trolley for just a few dollars.
The St. Johns River: Florida
Known for its quartz beaches and voluminous dunes perched beside the Nassau Sound, Amelia Island
5 of the Best River Cruise Experiences in the USA
is a Florida gem. My preferred route is Amelia Island to Green Cove Springs along the St. Johns because this little destination offers a very therapeutic, relaxing holiday experience. Upon arriving in Green Cove Springs, you’ll be able to visit the fresh mineral spring that made this small town a popular holiday spot for elite vacationers from the North more than a century ago.
From the St. John’s River, you can link up with the Tolomato River for a spectacular journey between Florida’s true coastline and barrier islands. This U-shaped dual-river route can bring you to America’s oldest surviving European settlement at St. Augustine. This is a rare spot in the United States where you’ll find fortresses and castles intermingled with lighthouses and sandy coastal footpaths. While in St. Augustine, a visit to the oldest masonry fort in the United States at Castillo de San Marcosis is a must. Considered the heart of the city, St. George Street is where you’ll want to head for shopping, lunch or evening drinks after finishing dinner on the ship. This pedestrian-only street offers delight after delight once you pass through St. Augustine’s Old City Gate to access boutiques, specialty museums and historic properties that cross into the city’s Colonial Quarter.
St. Lawrence River: New York
Rounding out the list of must-do USA river cruises is a St. Lawrence River adventure. More than spectacular enough on its own, this journey can also be paired with a cruise of the Great Lakes or an Atlantic coastal cruise. The 744mile St. Lawrence river extends from Lake Ontario to the Atlantic. Along the way, views of thousands of islands pepper the watery landscape. The fact that the great river forms part of the international border between Ontario and New York makes this a rare USA river cruise that allows you to cross into another country. One thing you’ll notice when traversing any of America’s exalted rivers on a sparkling vessel is just how vital waterways have been for developing towns and cities. During my time exploring watercourses spanning from coast to coast, I’ve discovered that the smallest towns often offer the biggest opportunities for adventure. Balancing out flashy hot spots with small mining towns or steamboat townships is a great way to spend your time on America’s banks.
TERRA TRAVELERS
next: DOMESTIC HOLIDAY DESTINATIONS
