Wanderlust for One

The world on your own terms

Marsha S.

Finding Yourself Through Solo Travel

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"Sacramento's a nice place to live, but I wouldn't want to travel here." That's what he said. The "he" in question was a young Sacramento resident, roughly my age, who'd shared a van with me as we rode from the airport toward the outer limits of the city. I wasn't exactly traveling to Sacramento, either; it was merely a stop on my way to a backpacking trip in Tahoe National … [Read more...] about Finding Yourself Through Solo Travel

Cairn Gorm: The Mountain That (Almost) Ate My Memories

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Climbing Cairn Gorm wasn't part of the plan.  To be frank, little of my time in Scotland had turned out the way I'd anticipated but after chickening out of a driving tour of the Scottish Highlands, I'd missed my chance at climbing Ben Nevis, Scotland's tallest peak. In Inverness on my last day in Scotland, I decided that the nearby Cairn Gorm would have to do. Topping out at … [Read more...] about Cairn Gorm: The Mountain That (Almost) Ate My Memories

Confession: I Am a Travel Chicken

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Sometimes I feel like such a fraud. Often, while traveling solo, I'll meet someone--usually a group of women traveling together--and we'll exchange travel stories. "Are you traveling by yourself?" they'll ask me. I'll smile. "Uh-huh." "You're so brave!" they'll exclaim. No, not really. I'm not brave. Not at all. I have ample experiences that say the opposite. Like the time … [Read more...] about Confession: I Am a Travel Chicken

Mesmerized by Morro Bay, California

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Sitting on an angular boulder white with splattered bird droppings, I sent a sweeping gaze northward along the coast, blue sky blending almost seamlessly into wheat-colored hills before melting into the turquoise waters of the Pacific. A flock of gulls squawked and shrieked overhead, their shrill calls nearly drowned out by the roar of waves carrying surfers toward the shore. I … [Read more...] about Mesmerized by Morro Bay, California