Why This Camping Adventure Was My Favorite Solo Trip

Solo traveler snapshot

• name: Teresa W.
• Year: 51
• position: St. Louis
• marital status: single
• Favorite solo trip: Bike camp at Taum Sauk Mountain State Park

Teresa has done most of it herself. They became her adventure partners when she had children. Now that her kids are older, she is traveling alone again, but she also loves traveling with her friends.

She is the Chapter Director of Wanderful, an international community of women who love to travel. She loves helping women solo travel through her own companies, Sparkle Adventures and her Sparkle RV Services.

solo travel inspiration

A trip awaits: What made you start traveling alone?

Teresa: I have always been adventurous. After I got divorced, my kids were grown up and had their own lives, I had more time to travel.

first solo trip

A trip awaits: How was your first solo trip?

Teresa: My first solo trip was to New York. I was launching a nonprofit, Women in Business in Missouri, and was invited to a conference there. I was really lucky to be able to stay in one of the conference organizer’s staff girlfriends – an apartment directly across from Central Park. I hung out briefly with other conference attendees, but spent the rest of my time exploring the city on my own. I felt so free and so happy to be in a new and different place on my own – back for my 50th birthday! It was even better than I remembered.

Favorite place to travel alone

A trip awaits: What do you like about traveling alone?

Teresa: I loved being in New York alone, not bound by other people’s tastes. When I got off the plane, I asked the information desk how to get to my accommodation by public transport. I love the subway and was giving directions to other tourists by the time we left. Since this trip, it’s my favorite to use public transportation to go anywhere. I love figuring out where I’m going and I love people watching.

My last trip was to Mexico City. It was a whole new level of using public transport. Not only is English not your first language, but Mexico City is the most populous city in North America, so buses and subways were packed with people. The bus was so crowded that I couldn’t get on, so I had to pass by several. Luckily, there is a women-only area on the train and it is not crowded.

favorite solo trip

A trip awaits: What is your favorite solo trip of all time and why?

Teresa: My favorite solo trip was to bike camp at Taum Sauk Mountain State Park. I’ve been camping since my kids were little, but it was my first solo camp, a motorcycle solo camp.

Bike camping is a bit like backpacking. Because you need to lighten your load. My first bike trip was to Nashville, but he stayed in a hotel for one night, so I didn’t need too much gear. This trip was my first time camping alone. I really enjoyed my time alone daydreaming and exploring and loved the challenge of riding a motorcycle alone.

For more information on this trip, visit Teresa’s blog.

Biggest solo travel concerns

A trip awaits: What was your biggest concern before your first solo trip and how did you overcome it?

Teresa: I remember having no worries before going to New York City, but I had a lot of worries before my first motorcycle camping trip. Locking gears and keeping the bike safe in all its gears was my number one concern. I learned a lot about securing bike gear for my first trip.

group or individual travel

A trip awaits: Do you travel as a group or as an individual? Why?

Teresa: I have traveled both ways. Sometimes being alone is sacred, other times you feel lonely and wish you had company. Sometimes I like being completely alone and other times I like having friends.

Recommended tour company

A trip awaits: Is there a group tour company that you recommend for solo travelers?

Teresa: It’s not a tour company, but it does have a tour company that it’s a member of and has tons of resources for solo travellers. I love the travel community at Wanderful. Joining Wanderful made a lot of friends. Mexico City was a global meetup hosted by the Wanderful Mexico City Chapter.

Favorite travel product

A trip awaits: What is your must-have travel product?

Teresa: I have a lot of “one item” that I can’t miss on a trip. With a phone and a pair of lipsticks (LA Colors Matte Charmed), you can probably manage almost anything.

I wanted to join the group for this trip…

A trip awaits: Are there any solo locations/destinations that have been better with a group? Why?

Teresa: I can’t think of a particularly good place for a group, but I can think of a time. Sometimes being alone is sacred, other times you feel lonely and wish you had company. I think it has more to do with expectations and mood than where I went.

Best solo travel advice

A trip awaits: What advice would you give to someone thinking of traveling alone?

Teresa: If you don’t feel comfortable going it alone, start with small steps. Go out to a local dinner alone. Do other things you enjoy alone. Get interested in the place and the people. Make a plan, but be spontaneous. The good thing about traveling alone is that it’s all up to you and you can change your mind at any time. Everything we are good at takes practice.

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