solo travel
You've got somewhere to go, but no one to go with; solo travel is the nexus of independence and opportunity.
My Own Secret Sanctuary
Here I was again. In the little Indian bistro. On a busy main road in the city of Edinburgh. In a loud, hectic part of town. Yet it was hidden. Perfectly hidden from everything although both times I sat right by the window that took up its entire wall. And yet I still felt hidden.
By Vicky Babczyk8 years ago in Wander
Oranges in the Ecuadorian Highlands
It's six in the morning when I wake to birdsong in Baños de Agua Santa, a colourful town of bold reds, blues, and greens, nestled in amongst the mountains of Ecuador’s central highlands. A breeze skirts the awakening streets, shifting the wares of the market traders setting up for breakfast and bringing with it the damp, lush scent of morning mists from the mountains, and a wild, heady hint of the nearby Amazon.
By Wendy Chard8 years ago in Wander
My Top 5 Tips for a First Time London Traveler
I just recently came home from my very first solo trip to London. This was my very first trip internationally by myself and I was excited but absolutely TERRIFIED. There is a big difference in getting lost or navigating your own city and navigating somewhere completely different. And in a whole new country no less. Here are a few things I've been able to reflect on now that I have arrived home safely. Hopefully, these 5 tips will help quell some nerves of other first time travelers!
By Nicole Carlson8 years ago in Wander
Travel Before Career
I grew up in a "deaf world." My confidence was never that high, so when it came to leaving school, I had already made my mind up that I wanted a career in theatre. It was as I was finishing college that I found out how hard it was going to be to get into theatre school, so instead, I chose to travel abroad. I was not pushing my career choice aside or diminishing my decisions about theatre in any way, I wanted to broaden my horizon and gain independence and I had heard that traveling was a good way to achieve this.
By John A. Cole8 years ago in Wander
10 Reasons to Go Backpacking Alone
Maybe solo traveling has never even crossed your mind before, but we're here to convince you why it's one of the best experiences you can have. These are the top ten reasons to go backpacking alone, and why it will be an experience that is invaluable.
By Kelsey Lange8 years ago in Wander
Where Will Your Next Adventure Take You?
Growing up in Texas, you are accustomed to traveling down I35 seeing flat field after flat field with no hill in sight. To the east, when you visit family, you gaze at the never-ending trees that, as a kid, when you looked up the window in your car you still couldn't see the tops of the gigantic green trees. Once you finally escape the dusty, dry, arid region that engulfs most of west/central Texas, you come across some of the most beautiful mountains and hills to climb up just so you don't miss watching the gorgeous Texas sunset. I have always loved this great state that I lived in for 21 years; however, I felt a need to explore, a need to get out, a need to find myself individually, and last summer, I did exactly that.
By Chase Therrien9 years ago in Wander
I've Quit My Job, I'm Going to Asia... What Have I Done...
"Just go! Quit your job and go!" my dad yells across the dinner table on a Sunday night about three weeks ago. Fathers around the world are infamous for their "wisdom" and "advice." Mine, however, seems to have the self control of an untrained puppy on acid. A summary of his advice over the past decade can be summed up by this classic: "It's easier to ask forgiveness than permission" (a horrific thing to tell an 11-year-old!). And yet I listen, and the fallout is something that my father fears and takes pride in in equal measure.
By Kirstyn Brook9 years ago in Wander
Compass Rose
I sat in the airport, clutching my Venti chai latte from Starbucks like a good little White girl, because isn't that what the Instagram posts have conditioned me to do when traveling? Heart hammering in my chest, I stared at the plane that was about to whisk me away to the great unknown. The part of traveling no one really talks about — the part that isn't captured by perfect aesthetically pleasing photos for the gram' or the Snap story — is the flood of terror that runs alongside the excitement. Both these adrenaline powered emotions simultaneously battling for control, mixed with the rush of sweet, sweet caffeine, had me ready to erupt into a fit of uncontrolled hysteria.
By Alexandria Rose9 years ago in Wander
My First Trip Abroad
The following is a post I made on my personal blog back on March 21st, 2016, following my very first international trip abroad. Why publish this? If you're curious about what the international life is like, or curious about doing some solo traveling, this will ideally give you a touch of what to expect, sprinkled in with my own thoughts, opinions, and observations.
By Calvin Fenner9 years ago in Wander
On the Road Again
Excitement, nerves, wonder, panic, exhilaration. These are all the emotions I was feeling and continue to feel as I packed my whole life into my vehicle in the center of the Historic Lockport NY, and began my journey back across the States to Oklahoma. Being able to cut the amount of things you own down to fit it all in one vehicle knowing that is all you have is a humbling moment. I realized while preparing for my trip how dependent on materialistic items I became. 25 years of collecting and saving things just for the sake of trying to hold onto a memory, had taken over my life. We are taught from a young age that the more you have the more important or valued you’ll be. However during this purge I realized without all these knick knacks, I still have the same memories and the same value on myself. In fact it felt incredibly uplifting to be able to donate everything that has been sitting in boxes to someone that can actually use it and appreciate it. I packed my trunk, put my cat in, and we hit the road at 11:00 am EST.
By Olivia Shae9 years ago in Wander
What Solo Backpacking Has Taught Me
Since I was a child, I have been travelling with my parents to many different countries within South America, all pertaining to my ethnicity and the familiarity of cultures. Although I did a fair share of traveling in my earlier years, I can say that I never truly appreciated it...nor did I feel any sort of fulfillment.
By Sadhna Herod9 years ago in Wander
