I recently did a six-day, 1350-mile solo road trip to Asheville, NC and Nashville, Tenn.
I met an experienced solo traveler who made my teeny tiny road trip seem thoroughly insignificant next to her massive world travels (think Ireland, Jamaica, the Caribbean, all over the U.S.)
I met a music journalist (yes, he interviewed Taylor Swift, I asked) who told me the best advice he had for a young journalist was to write about what you love.
I met a French guy who was doing a solo bus trip, same as me. He stood in the back of the walking tour group and chain smoked.
I met a couple who sang along with me to every song at the dueling piano bar in Nashville.
I met an Alaskan native with bad tattoos who just wanted to go home.
I met an experienced solo traveler who made my teeny tiny road trip seem thoroughly insignificant next to her massive world travels (think Ireland, Jamaica, the Caribbean, all over the U.S.)
I met a music journalist (yes, he interviewed Taylor Swift, I asked) who told me the best advice he had for a young journalist was to write about what you love.
I met a French guy who was doing a solo bus trip, same as me. He stood in the back of the walking tour group and chain smoked.
I met a couple who sang along with me to every song at the dueling piano bar in Nashville.
I met an Alaskan native with bad tattoos who just wanted to go home.
I drove past small towns, junk yards, shopping malls and purple sunsets. I ate the best burger in Asheville, danced to a piano rendition of “Shut up and Dance,” made semi-friends with a cow I named Ash, took an Iyengar yoga class, bought a sage stick at a Nepal import store and may have seen Kaitlin Bristow walking down the street.
I was out the door by 8 a.m. and exhausted by 4 p.m. every day. I spent time in coffee shops and gave myself an extra five minutes in my car to rejuvenate before heading out to scope the next cool neighborhood, the next cool brewery, the next cool live music bar.
I was grateful for the times I was with friends, familiar faces. At times, I missed having a companion –for convenience and to have someone to share things with. When I was with Hannah and Parker, I appreciated how traveling with another human made things easier. He would drive and she would navigate, or look up the next spot to visit. They shared their experiences together.
I was out the door by 8 a.m. and exhausted by 4 p.m. every day. I spent time in coffee shops and gave myself an extra five minutes in my car to rejuvenate before heading out to scope the next cool neighborhood, the next cool brewery, the next cool live music bar.
I was grateful for the times I was with friends, familiar faces. At times, I missed having a companion –for convenience and to have someone to share things with. When I was with Hannah and Parker, I appreciated how traveling with another human made things easier. He would drive and she would navigate, or look up the next spot to visit. They shared their experiences together.
But I was also grateful for the times I was alone. It would have been so easy to order fast food and hide away in my room at night. Instead, I forced myself, little, introverted me, to go out into the world, sit at a bar, engage in conversation, meet incredible people and have incredible nights.
Those are the moments I’m proud of. And I realize it would’ve been a completely different experience, had a traveled with a friend. Would it have made the trip better? I don’t think so. Would I travel solo again? I’m not sure.
I learned a few things: That I don’t like crowds; that Nashville is a bit too boozy for me; that I retreat into nature when I’m overwhelmed; that it’s easier when you don’t care what people think; that I like routine, that I’m a super light sleeper and hostels aren’t for me; that people are generally good.
Those are the moments I’m proud of. And I realize it would’ve been a completely different experience, had a traveled with a friend. Would it have made the trip better? I don’t think so. Would I travel solo again? I’m not sure.
I learned a few things: That I don’t like crowds; that Nashville is a bit too boozy for me; that I retreat into nature when I’m overwhelmed; that it’s easier when you don’t care what people think; that I like routine, that I’m a super light sleeper and hostels aren’t for me; that people are generally good.
So, onto the next adventure. Houston, March 2015, for my semi-annual study abroad reunion with my girls.
Share your solo travel experiences with me. I’m so curious, now that I’ve had my own adventure.
Here’s a list of places I went:
In Asheville:
Share your solo travel experiences with me. I’m so curious, now that I’ve had my own adventure.
Here’s a list of places I went:
In Asheville:
- The Laughing Seed Café
- The Battery Park Book Exchange and Champagne Bar
- Sunny Point Café
- Early Girl Eatery
- River Arts District
- Biltmore Village
- Well-Bred Café and Bakery
- Sweet Pea Hostel
- Martin’s BBQ Joint
- The Rockin’ Nashville Walking Tour
- 12 South Taproom
- Marathon Village
- Acme Feed and Seed
- The Big Bang Dueling Piano Bar