the ultimate usa bucketlist for solo travelers

THE ULTIMATE USA USA BUCKET LIST FOR SOLO

20 || Terra Travelers TRAVELERS

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 Luckily, the stigma of taking a solo vacation has been replaced by a nearly universal appreciation for the value of taking some time to be alone.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!