I took my first solo trip when I was 51. During five years of solo travel, I have met numerous female solo travelers along the way: There was the woman sitting next to me on the train from New Orleans to Tuscaloosa, buried under blankets most of the day because she had stayed up late…
Category: Solo Woman Traveler
Be Kind For Everyone Is Fighting A Battle: A Lesson Learned On The Southwest Chief Train
My feet ached as I stood on the platform, waiting for the train in Chicago. I was going home to Kansas City after a two-week train trip with eight stops throughout the southeastern U.S. As a travel writer, these trips are often marathons of interviews and a schedule that runs from early morning to late…
The Places I’ve Been
Four years of travel selfies. Click the links to learn more and plan your vacation to these delightful destinations. 2018 Blue Bonnets & Wildflowers – Fredericksburg, Texas Outdoor Adventures – Chattanooga, Tennessee Chicago by Train – Chicago, Illinois Sporting and Adventure – Kansas City, Kansas Islands & Lighthouses – Door County, Wisconsin Playtime – Indian…
Surrender to the Moment
Although I’m a goal-oriented person, I have also found the importance of learning to release the need to control the outcome of situations. Acceptance, and surrendering to a situation has helped me overcome fears and phobias in the process. E.g. I can plan a trip and set it into motion, but I cannot control the…
My New Favorite Travel Accessory
I have a new favorite travel accessory. Around Christmas time, I was reading an article on travel pillows when I came across a review of the Tumi Patrol Packable Travel Puffer Jacket. I’m always on the lookout for the ultimate travel accessory, especially if it has multiple uses and saves luggage space.
The Secret to Happiness: A look at the powerful effects of travel on mood
Why am I so happy lately? It’s a question I’ve asked myself frequently since I started traveling three years ago. I know, why would anyone question it? Just be happy that I’m happy…right? Except I have a need to know: To understand this lightness of mood, joy in my step, purpose in my passion. Where…
If a Picture is Worth a Thousand Words, then a Mental Snapshot is Priceless
While I have never traveled to what is traditionally considered a sacred site, I have experienced sacred moments during my travels.
The Sacred Journey: Within and Without, Our Experiences are Self-Defined
The rain and thunder began early in the morning creating an atmosphere both indoors and out–the perfect setting for a lazy day. An unexpected chance to relax. Recoup. Savor in the heavy feeling of the air. I spent the day in a relaxed daze—cooking, sewing, reading. I thought about how if it were bright and…
Want Less Fear, More Joy? Take the Next Step
I stepped off the train into a blizzard. As I stood there trying to figure out where to go, I heard the conductor’s cry of All Aboard!, and knew I would soon be left to fend for myself. Yet fear never entered my consciousness. Instead, fully immersed in the moment and its requirements, I took the next step.
Notes on Loneliness
Is solo travel lonely? Not in my opinion. But… Part of me yearns for companionship on my trips because I know the joy of sharing an experience, and the comfort of having someone with me. Yet another part of me feels guilty for enjoying it so thoroughly while alone. In Into the Wild, Christopher McCandless…
Jill Dutton | Travel Journalist 