Anyone ever took a vacation and traveled by themselves?

I had to go to a wedding in Ireland and had an unexpected few days open up beforehand.

I flew to London and nerded out on historical things. It was awesome.

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Seems like it would be relaxing to stay in a hotel by yourself and eat and visit wherever you want to and not really have a schedule to try to live by and appease either the S/O or a group of friends.

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It is very nice.

I've only done a few "vacations" by myself, but that just consisted of camping on the beach or on sandbars on rivers, etc.

I did used to at times attend week long training classes all around the country. They were low key and I would be done with class by 3:30 or 4 each day and would explore the hell out of whatever city I was in. I would usually fly in a day early or out a day later.
Seattle
Las Vegas
Denver
Los Angeles(stayed right on the border of Hollywood)
Those were the best ones

The kids are getting older so I'm ready to go off on a trip by myself soon. My wife isn't a big outdoor person, so I'm dying to get over to east Tennessee or around Asheville alone and go nuts.

I can't remember the last time I took a vacation with someone lol. I moved around alot in my career so I got used to being new places and not knowing anyone. When I have to go somewhere for a conference or training I just add extra days to the trip and go explore. Never had any issues. Currently looking at Hawaii for sometime this winter. Might end up doing Vegas for New Years if we have a college football season. Watching New Years Bowl Games in sports books are pretty fun (even though I don't bet on the games).

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What kind of things do you normally do by yourself?

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this is a good question... and to be honest.. I try to mix it up... depending on where I go... I did a bunch of tours in Iceland.. that ate up most of the day.. ( I did a Game of thrones filming tour while there and was freaking amazing... could not have had a better time with that)

It helps me see the stuff I want to see.. some people dont like tours and to each their own... I get wanitng to explore on your own.... but sometimes tours are the better option.

... but I did LA in October and I didn't do a single tour... just walked around Hollywood Blvd/ SUnset Strip...and hit the COmedy Store and went to a taping of Price is Right ( HIGHLY reccomend that if you're in the position to do it )


Walking around the north end in Boston... where so much of our History/fouding fathers were... that was surreal to me... I just took it all in... walking on these old old streets imagining myself in colonial times...

I have some social anxiety so I don't really go up and talk to people... but like I said im content with myself and having a quiet trip like Key west... That was mostly drinking and exploring the island


Edit to add: So I was top of the WTC 2 weeks before 9/11... I'll never forget that.... so we went back in 2003 as the massive excavation was underway... then in 2016... I decided it was time for closure as I was finally old enough to go by myself and pay for it myself... the 9/11 museum/ memorial was finally open... so I went... and that drained me...I'm getting emotional as I type this part actually... I'm glad nobody else was with me that day... I was a mess ..

People ask me all the time... " Do you ever gt tired of traveling alone or don't you want someone to go with you?"

and my answer is always.. " Can you imagine the people old in life who never got out of their comfort zone and never traveled bc they didnt wanna go alone .. waiting for someone else to join them and that never came.... I don't want that life

Friend,

I travel alone often. It is often the best way to maximize your travel experience. I am contemplating a trip to Seattle to visit the new nation there. Direct flights are $250 from MSY nonstop. Would you like to join me?

Yours,
TulaneLSU

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I am contemplating a trip to Seattle to visit the new nation there.

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You got to post the passport stamp when you do.

Have you checked to see if you need a special Visa?

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What kind of things do you normally do by yourself? Do you go to bars and strike up convos with random people or keep to yourself and just sort of wander around?

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That's the beauty of it. Do what you want.

One thing I like to suggest if you are going to a city is to take some kind of guided tour on one of the first days so you can get a feel for the area and will learn some points of interest, etc.

For my visits here were some of the main things I did (going to restaurants and sitting at the bar to eat and/or drink are a given.)

Seattle-
*Took a city tour the first afternoon to learn about all of the neighborhoods and some history, etc.
*Just randomly walked up to a sailboat that was offering walk-up spots for their Puget Sound sailings. Enjoyed the hell out of seeing the various mountain ranges and the city views from on the water. Met some nice people who shared their wine and beer with me.
* Explored the hell out of downtown on foot and other areas by bike.
* Even a simple thing like watching LSU baseball play in the college world series was fun rather it be in my hotel room with the balcony door open to let cool area come in while looking out over a small lake or a sports bar/brewery.

Denver-
*Took a city tour. Met some cool arse people
*Hopped around to various breweries every afternoon.
*Rented a bike most days and just rode. Visited the REI store one day while on bike.
Big time regretted not getting out to the Rocky Mnt. Park on this trip.

L.A.-
Mostly walked around Hollywood checking out shops. Walked in front of the Beverly Whilshire while the Boston Celtics were all walking out loading up on their busses. I was the only non team person around.
*Hung out and biked among some great beaches.

Walked down to a fancy hotel to drink at the bar and talked to some people I could tell were in the tv industry. Turns out they had just finished filming the first episode of America's got talent or whatever show was among the first. The next morning while I was having breakfast, one of the guys I was drinking with was on Good Morning America.
* Went to a comedy show with some people I had met in training

I can't wait to take a solo trip to explore the mountains and such.

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What kind of things do you normally do by yourself? Do you go to bars and strike up convos with random people or keep to yourself and just sort of wander around?

My biggest concern is the unknown but i feel like it would be nice

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Mix it up, some planned activities and some wandering around. I really like to walk, and getting around by bike opens up a ton of possibilities.

One of the best parts of traveling alone, if you want to eat/drink, you can often get a single seat at almost any spot no matter how busy, especially at the bar.

Last (while not available now), one of the best experiences in the world is attending a MLB game solo and walking around the park at some point. Baseball is well down the list of my favorite sports, but solo game trips are some of my most treasured experiences.

I love traveling by myself. My favorite solo trip was in 2016 when I spent time in Istanbul, Jordan, and Erbil (Iraq). I really loved driving around Jordan -- one of my favorite countries.

One of the best things about traveling by yourself is that you meet a lot more new people, because you didn't bring a group of people with you to talk to, so you end up talking more to strangers.

I'm headed to Los Cabos for the July 4th weekend by myself. Never been.

Aspen in the summertime is kick arse.