There’s nothing that says confidence more than solo travel. Whether you want to follow every whim without compromising or your friends just don’t have the funds, traveling alone can be fulfilling no matter your main objective: adventure, relaxation or reflection. These eight killer getaways for every kind of traveler (sun-junkie, yoga enthusiast, adrenaline addict and more) should get your wheels turning with some serious bucket list inspo. So start packing your favorite books (ain’t nobody gonna be around to judge you for re-reading The Carrie Diaries), and consider your selfie stick your temporary BFF.
1. Deadwood, South Dakota: If wide open spaces and a good ol’ tech detox sound inspiring, heading to the peaceful Black Hills of South Dakota will help you reset. Leave your phone in your room and check out a local rodeo or reenactment of a Wild West shootout. If you’re not into frontier culture, try your luck at blackjack at one of the shiny Vegas-style casinos. The serene Akela Spa (the spa’s name hails from Abla Kela, meaning “calm” in Lakota, a tribe of Great Plains Native Americans) takes relaxation to new heights with locally inspired treatments, like the wild sage, lavender and desert-salt body scrub, and an outdoor sauna housed in a traditional Native American teepee. Before leaving town, toast your independence with a local standby, red beer, the “South Dakota Martini” that’s part beer and part tomato juice. It’s a small-town bar staple your taste buds will recall for years to come. (Photo via Travel South Dakota)
2. Manchester, Vermont: This mountain paradise is a dream for outdoorsy creatives. Sure, there are impressive hiking trails and gorgeous kayaking treks, but why not go outside your comfort zone and take a stab at fly fishing or off-roading in a Land Rover? The Taconic Hotel puts you a stone’s throw away from all these activities — along with skiing or snowboarding at Bromley Mountain. Each room comes outfitted with a locally made walking stick to remind you to get outside (you’ll appreciate the hiking survival kits and complimentary bike loaners too).
For some culture, venture to Hildene, a gorgeous estate that was once home to President Lincoln’s son, Robert Lincoln, or have the hotel set you up with a local pro photographer for a lesson on taking some stellar nature shots. (Photo via Taconic Hotel)
3. Miami, Florida: Art and design lover? Rest your weary color-crazy head at The Betsy, a hotel in the art-deco district of Miami, where art (think: an impressive installation of poetry etched into metal by water jets, weekly jazz performances and a writers-in-residence program), culture, relaxation and, yes, an insane rooftop pool area all freely mingle. Skip the buzzy downtown scene and cozy up with a good book from your room’s library or journal the night away. This trip is, after all, about reconnecting with yours truly. Speaking of which, that’s exactly what sunrise yoga with an ocean view is for. (Photo via The Betsy)
4. Albuquerque, New Mexico: When was the last time your ex or current beau got excited about wandering through lavender fields? Good thing the only opinion that matters on this trip is yours. Spend two hours doing exactly that at experimental farm Los Poblanos, which also offers cooking classes and incredible farm-to-table culinary experiences from a James Beard-nominated chef.
When you’re done frolicking in the fields, hop aboard the Sandia Peak Tramway, a picturesque ride that will take you nearly 11,000 feet high (bring a journal and pen; inspiration will strike). Spend some time wandering through Old Town, with a dizzying array of museums, shops and restaurants, and keep following your whims to the eclectic Nob Hill neighborhood. (Photo via New Mexico Tourism Department)
5. The Berkshires, Massachusetts: For a solitary sabbatical, forgo Boston for the Berkshires, a secluded region in the western part of the state. Make the wellness center Canyon Ranch your spectacular stomping grounds. Reserve a summer’s evening for Tanglewood, the famed music festival, where you’ll obviously have to treat yourself to a solo picnic spread of wine, cheese and chocolate on the lawn. Or spend a winter’s eve at Hilltop Orchards and Furnace Brook Winery, where the apple cider donuts are made fresh daily to wash down all that swoon-worthy hard cider and vino. (Photo via Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism)
6.Bozeman, Montana: Adventure (AKA Montana) is calling. It may be off-the-beaten path, but this jewel in Big Sky Country is well-worth adding to your radar if you’re looking for a stag-cation to clear your mind or experience something new. First, dabble in fat-tire biking with insane western Rocky Mountain views or ski at famed Bridger Bowl to work up an appetite for all the bistros and breweries waiting for you back at ground level. At The Lark Bozeman, bask in the winter wonderland glory for a unique “snowga” experience (every ounce of Instagram gold you’d expect) as warmup for a trail hike or, you know, sitting by a wood-burning fireplace sipping spiked cider. (Photo via The Lark Bozeman)
7. Carnival Vista Cruise, various routes: Outdoor dance parties, a brewery, magical snorkeling excursions, a comedy club and waterslides galore — all in one location. Did we describe adult heaven? Aboard Carnival’s Vista, the newest (and coolest!) ship, new friends will feel like old friends as you mingle with people swimming on secluded islands in the Dominican Republic or bump into a fellow T. Swift fan at the gym. Must-dos: SkyRide, a unique suspended-air cycling experience; RedFrog Pub, a ship’s first onboard craft brewery; sitting on your deck reading absolutely everything you feel like and soaking up the pink clouds kissing verdant mountains as you cruise along the Caribbean sea. Did we mention there’s no shortage of “single night” activities? Yup. (Photo via Carnival Cruises)
8. Knoxville, Tennessee: On any given day in Knoxville, you may find yourself paddling down the Tennessee River, grabbing craft cocktails at a speakeasy or winding through mountain biking trails with a seasoned guide. If your “any given day” looks like all of the above, we’re proud. Make new friends at Maple Hall, a swanky bowling alley tucked inside the historic JC Penney building, or enjoy a date night with yourself “zorbing” at Outdoor Gravity Park, where you’ll roll around in a giant plastic ball. It’s everything you’d dream it’s like. (Photo via Visit Knoxville)
Which of these destinations just made it to the top of your travel bucket list? Tweet us @BritandCo!
