In India, every journey is an experience, whether you rumble across the subcontinent on a classic Enfield motorcycle or rattle through the hills in a chartered 4WD.
21.07.2023 - 07:41 / roughguides.com / Rocky Mountains
Travelling alone isn’t just empowering – it’s also, say many, more enriching. Without the buffer of a travel companion, there’s a heightened immediacy to experiencing new lands and cultures. In the USA, you can take your pick of solo adventures. From cities to national parks to arty enclaves, here are our pick of the best places to travel alone in the USA.
This article is inspired by our Rough Guide to the USA — your essential guide for travelling in the United States.
Calling all solo adventurists: Boulder is the perfect spot to park your hiking boots. Sitting in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, this is an outdoor town with plenty of year-round activities that you can take on solo, from skiing to cycling.
After dark, the fun continues, with a buzzing nightlife. Check out the brewpubs of Pearl Street. Or discover the diverse array of fantastic restaurants, where you can comfortably (and inexpensively) wine and dine alone.
Boulder, CO — one of the best solo trips in the US / CC0
The San Francisco spirit can be summed up in two words: be yourself. This is a city that embraces solo travellers. With free summer concerts and festivals, there is plenty of live music.
Take a walk up the steep hills of California street, or across the Golden Gate Bridge. Or take a ride on the city's cable cars — an exciting and novel public transportation.
A view of Golden Gate bridge from the top of Twin Peaks mountain © Shutterstock
Leave Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon to the hordes of summer family travellers. Instead, take a solo trip to trek through America’s lesser-known pockets of the wilderness. Hot Springs National Park is one of the best places to travel alone. Hike the trails at your own pace, and afterwards, soak in a traditional bath at Buckstaff Baths.
Little Rock, Arkansas — one of the best places to travel alone in the US © Pixabay
Looking up at Sedona’s famous red rocks as they glow under the setting sun is a memorable experience – and even more so when you’re alone. The area’s magnificent stillness is best enjoyed without any companion chatter.
Sedona is one of the best places to travel solo in the USA. When you’re ready to join others, there are plenty of ways to do so, such as the First Friday Art Walk (first Friday of the month), which circulates through the top galleries in town.
One of the best places to travel solo in the USA: Sedona, Arizona © Shutterstock
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Where better to travel solo than in one of the most famous singles’ cities in the country? Atlanta’s thriving nightlife includes many solo-friendly options. Go out to trivia nights at the bars of East Atlanta or the singles’ meet-and-greet events at the cocktail lounges of glitzy Buckhead. The city’s sights are also made for solo
In India, every journey is an experience, whether you rumble across the subcontinent on a classic Enfield motorcycle or rattle through the hills in a chartered 4WD.
For at least two millennia, Uzbekistan has been the setting for some of Asia’s most important road trips, following the network of Silk Roads that once formed the major highway between east and west.
Each season brings something different to Denver, whether it’s glittering snow in winter or vibrant foliage in autumn. Perched at 5,280 feet above sea level, the Mile High City’s weather is one of the primary considerations for deciding when to visit — though Denver also offers plenty to do indoors if Mother Nature is not cooperating.
Looking for a new museum to add to your travel to-do list? TripAdvisor (SmarterTravel’s parent company) has released the Travelers’ Choice Top 25 Museums of 2018, including the top 10 worldwide and the top 10 in the United States, with some surprising frontrunners. The findings also highlight bookable ways to see each winner—think VIP tours and scavenger hunts—with some offering the added perk of allowing you to skip the lines to get in.
Just when you thought the Boston vs. New York City rivalry couldn’t get any more heated, TripAdvisor (SmarterTravel’s parent company) released a controversial study stating that Regina Pizzeria, located in Boston’s Little Italy neighborhood, is the best pizza restaurant in the U.S.
Survivor meets The Truman Show. As a pretty clever marketing ploy, the Helsinki Airport invited Chinese actor and TV personality, Ryan Zhu, to live in the city’s airport for 30 days.
With rideshare apps like Uber and Lyft taking over, you might be wondering where in the world it’s still possible to take a cheap taxi. Cabs aren’t dead, yet: These countries still heavily rely on them.
Situated in Agra, India, the Taj Mahal is an architectural marvel and one of the world’s most popular (and spectacular) UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The monument’s grandeur, the intricate detailing, and the stunning play of light as the sun rises and sets all contribute to an experience that captivates millions of visitors each year. Many take the journey to the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh solely to see the Taj — in fact, many would argue to trip to India would be incomplete without making the detour. Because of this, most visitors who come to Agra are there for the same reasons and stay for only a night or two. And there’s nothing wrong with this. There’s a huge amount to see at the Taj Mahal complex (with differing times of day offering a varying experience) and you shouldn’t overlook visiting other heritage sites such as the Agra Fort, and Itimad-Ud-Daulah’s Tomb. And when you add the crowds and heat, a trip to Agra can be full on. That’s why carefully handpicking your accommodation is important. There’s a handful of superb hotels near Taj Mahal, the number one being The Oberoi Amarvilas that offers views of the monument from its range of suites and bedrooms. If your budget allows, a stay at this luxurious hotel will make the chaotic city easier to handle. But there are also a handful of other trustworthy, comfortable, and budget-friendly hotels in Agra. Here’s some of the best.
Berlin is surrounded by the forest-filled, lake-spotted state of Brandenburg, which offers year-round respite from the streets of the capital. Forest walks, cycling routes, dips in the lake, historic sites and much more are all within easy reach, sometimes still within the city’s boundaries.
In Norway, where mountains spring straight from the sea and mossy greens sit starkly against grey, craggy, snow-capped peaks, driving is the best way to get about.
Get away from the crowds of the east coast and explore some truly remote and wild areas. These are some of the best beaches on the west coast of Australia :
The Great Lakes comprise the largest body of fresh water on the planet and more than 35,000 islands are found in the water system. Not all are inhabited and some aren't much more than a single rock jutting out of the lake with a lighthouse on it – but the inhabited ones provide the perfect opportunity for a weekend getaway. Here's our list of the best islands in the Great Lakes.