559 articles tagged with solo travel
Nouakchott isn't exactly on most backpackers' radar, and that's precisely what makes it brilliant. Straddling the edge of the Sahara where desert meets Atlantic, Mauritania's capital offers an authentic slice of West African life without the tourist crowds. When I...
The morning mist swirls along the Ganges as I stand at Assi Ghat, watching the city of Varanasi slowly awaken. This isn't my first visit to India's spiritual capital, but each return feels like peeling back another layer of an...
Standing at the crossroads of the Great Plains, Oklahoma City has undergone one of America's most remarkable urban transformations. As someone who spends his days studying the delicate dance between concrete jungles and actual forests, I found myself unexpectedly captivated...
When most travelers think Pacific Northwest, Seattle steals the spotlight faster than a summer rainstorm. But after spending a week in neighboring Bellevue this past July, I'm convinced this sophisticated suburb deserves star billing of its own. As an expat...
While I'm usually writing about family adventures or classroom-friendly travel, this post comes from a different perspective. After my colleague Sarah shared her incredible yet challenging solo journey through Vietnam's Mekong Delta, I realized there was a genuine need for...
The first time I arrived in Otavalo, my vital signs spiked with that familiar rush of medical adrenaline – but this time, it wasn't from an emergency call. It was the sensory diagnosis of a place alive with cultural richness...
Standing at the edge of Lake Superior, watching the morning mist roll off what appears to be a massive stone giant in repose, I'm reminded why I abandoned my climate-controlled lab for these wilderness excursions. The Sibley Peninsula, or what...
The moment I stepped out of Kualanamu International Airport, Medan slapped me in the face with its intoxicating blend of humidity, exhaust fumes, and the unmistakable aroma of *sambal* wafting from roadside warungs. North Sumatra's capital isn't trying to be...
Standing at the helm of my own journey, I've navigated career crossroads and personal transformations much like the seafarers who once departed from New Bedford's shores. This historic Massachusetts port city—once the whaling capital of the world—offers solo travelers a...
As a surgeon, I've learned that both medicine and photography require the same precise attention to detail – the ability to observe what others might miss. Maastricht, with its cobblestone streets and medieval architecture, offers a similar diagnostic challenge for...
The morning fog lifts off endless rows of tea bushes like steam from a perfect broth, revealing the verdant landscape that has earned Sylhet its reputation as Bangladesh's tea capital. This northeastern gem might not be on most travelers' radar,...
Norfolk, Virginia isn't exactly on most backpackers' bucket lists, but after spending a week exploring this naval town last summer, I'm convinced it should be! This port city surprised me with its walkable downtown, artsy vibes, and—get this—actually functional public...
The sound of waves crashing against pristine shores with not a tourist in sight. That's the promise of Piura, Peru's best-kept coastal secret that I discovered last summer. While travelers flock to Lima's beaches or Máncora's party scene, I found...
Standing on the banks of the Elizabeth River, watching sailboats glide beneath the South Norfolk Jordan Bridge, I couldn't help but appreciate how waterways have shaped this region's identity just as profoundly as its roadways. As an engineer with a...
When my tax advisory work unexpectedly brought me to Kaduna for a consulting project with a Nigerian infrastructure development firm, I discovered a vibrant city that rarely makes international travel lists. Between spreadsheets and client meetings, I carved out time...
