U.S. cities for solo travel? *Updated

[wanderingback]

Updated in thread

*Obviously this is contingent on the pandemic. I always procrastinate booking stuff anyway so likely wouldn't book until a month out...

Anyway, before the pandemic every year I'd go on a solo trip out of the country. I've been to Ecuador, Colombia, Chile, Canada, Argentina, etc (clearly I like S America!). I think out of country travel is still too much to figure out right now from a safety perspective and logistical perspective. So I really should take advantage of travel within the US!

I'm thinking mid to late summer. I typically like to go to cities because on solo trips I like being on the go and adventurous, but I'm open to anything. Places I've been multiple times and don't really want to visit for this trip - New Orleans, Chicago, Atlanta, LA, San Diego, Denver, DC, Baltimore, NYC, Philly. I haven't really explored New England much or Arizona/New Mexico (only went to the grand canyon once as a child). 

So any suggestions for anywhere in the U.S.?

[abs]

Austin/San Antonio (it will be hot though) or Boston would be my choices.

[macmars45]

Seattle?

[pandorica]

Have you done Boston? If not that would be my recommendation, especially for summer. It's also super easy to do multiple New England cities if you're planning on a longer trip and want to move around!

[lemoncupcake]

What kind of things do you like to do? If you like museums I’d go to DC. Going to a museum by yourself is the best, especially if they have the little audio tours to listen to.

[purplepenguin7]

I was just reminiscing about a trip we took a few years ago to San Francisco, Portland and Seattle. You may not be able to hit all three, but they were all wonderful cities to visit and explore, especially coming from the northeast. I also loved Austin but it was HOT in early June and I like the heat.

[RoxMonster]

I really enjoyed San Francisco.

Are you a wine drinker at all? You could do San Francisco with a couple days in Sonoma/Napa.

[cheeseplease]

I did a road trip loop of Savannah, Charleston, Asheville and the Florida Panhandle Beaches. It was one of the best vacations of my life. I met awesome people along the way. I was gone 14 days all toghther. 

[snipsnsnails]

How much time do you want to spend? We were just tentatively planning a Vegas/Grand Canyon trip and thought the motorized boating through the Canton looked awesome. I think it’s an extended trip, though, like 8-10 days? If that’s too long, the Grand Canyon and Phoenix was a possibility, too, as a 4-5 day trip. Have fun!

[mbcdefg]

Boston
Portland (either one)
San Francisco
Philadelphia (I think you’ve already been there right?)
Washington DC

[toepick]

Seattle
Portland (Oregon or Maine!)
Boston / Providence
Austin

[wanderingback]

Apr 2, 2021 9:11:01 GMT -5 lemoncupcake said:

What kind of things do you like to do? If you like museums I’d go to DC. Going to a museum by yourself is the best, especially if they have the little audio tours to listen to.

Oops.
I should add DC and Baltimore to the list. Been there a million times.
I really like to do anything! Hence my solo trips to just explore and do whatever that city has to offer.

[wanderingback]

Apr 2, 2021 9:19:41 GMT -5 snipsnsnails said:

How much time do you want to spend? We were just tentatively planning a Vegas/Grand Canyon trip and thought the motorized boating through the Canton looked awesome. I think it’s an extended trip, though, like 8-10 days? If that’s too long, the Grand Canyon and Phoenix was a possibility, too, as a 4-5 day trip. Have fun!

Good thing is I don't work on Fridays at my full-time job. I like to hoard vacation days. But I could take 4 vacation days off and be gone from a Friday morning until the following Sunday, so that's 10 days. So that's the longest I'd do. Good question!

[mags]

Charleston
Boston
Atlanta
Miami
Austin
Ashville
St. Augestine

[minzy]

Not already mentioned, Pittsburgh.

[bronxgirl]

Boston and Providence might be fun. I've never been to TN, but a trip to Memphis and/or Nashville sounds interesting. Santa Fe sounds cool, too. I've never actually been to any of these places (except Boston), so take these suggestions for what they're worth. ;-)

[AdaraMarie]

I liked Portland OR, San Francisco, Birmingham, and Austin for places I've been and you didn't list
On my list for future are Seattle, and Santa Fe. When I have more time I'd like to go to South Carolina, but it's a long long trip from CO and I don't have that much time usually.

[thedutchgirl]

San Francisco with a side trip to Napa or Sonoma could be lovely. Did it for my honeymoon with my first husband.

[shopgirl07]

New England is just so beautiful in the summer. You could do Boston and another destination. Portland ME has a lot to offer, you could combine it with Bar Harbor and hike in Acadia National Park which is gorgeous. You could also visit several smaller cities along the coast like Portsmouth NH, Kennebunkport ME, Camden ME and Boothbay Harbor.

Another option would be Newport RI, beautiful and lots to do. You could also combine with Block Island. Finally, Martha’s Vineyard is one of my favorite places, you could combine it with Boston. So many options.

[Bad Dingo]

A roadtrip up the east coast -

CT - Hartford, Mark Twain House, Harriet Beecher Stowe House, Hartford Stage,etc.
www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g33804-Activities-a_allAttractions.true-Hartford_Connecticut.html


RI - tour the mansions

MA -
Boston

ME - Portland and surrounding areas

[wildrice]

Have you been to Memphis? I thought it was a great place for a weekend - great food, live music, and history. The National Civil Rights Museum is there, which I thought was excellent and very powerful since it is at the site where MLK was assassinated. I think there are a few other things to see and do there, too, though we weren't there long enough for anything else.

If you want to go north I did love Portland, ME. It was beautiful and there was a ton of good food there, too, so I feel like you could just walk around and look at stuff and eat on your own and be perfectly happy. The only downside might be that it is very white. Not sure if that would bother you but we found it noticeable, even as a couple of white people!

I haven't been to Boston yet but that's high on my list of NE places that I want to go. It's only a couple of hours from Portland so you could probably do both depending on how much time you have.

[NewGirlNic]

Buffalo is beautiful in the late summer. There are (usually) lots of events and festivals every weekend. Our food/restaurant scene is great and it's a very friendly town. 
You could also do a day/afternoon in Niagara Falls (though the Canadian side is so much better, and I'm not sure if the border will be open for leisure travel anytime soon)
The Fingerlakes region is close by as well and there are lots of great wineries and breweries that you could make a day trip to, or even stay overnight at a bed & breakfast or boutique hotel. 

Other places that I've been and enjoyed- Nashville, Savannah, Charleston, Austin. But, in late summer, those places are really hot... so it depends on if you like/mind super hot weather. We did Charleston in early September and it was hard to walk around w/out sweating through our clothes. I enjoy those cities much more in early spring or late fall. 

[celeste]

The Pacific Northwest in summer is magical. You could visit Seattle, the Olympic Peninsula, and the San Juan Islands.

[wanderingback]

Apr 2, 2021 10:50:32 GMT -5 wildrice said:

Have you been to Memphis? I thought it was a great place for a weekend - great food, live music, and history. The National Civil Rights Museum is there, which I thought was excellent and very powerful since it is at the site where MLK was assassinated. I think there are a few other things to see and do there, too, though we weren't there long enough for anything else.

If you want to go north I did love Portland, ME. It was beautiful and there was a ton of good food there, too, so I feel like you could just walk around and look at stuff and eat on your own and be perfectly happy. The only downside might be that it is very white. Not sure if that would bother you but we found it noticeable, even as a couple of white people!

I haven't been to Boston yet but that's high on my list of NE places that I want to go. It's only a couple of hours from Portland so you could probably do both depending on how much time you have.

About 2 months ago I did an airbnb weekend away about 3 hours from where I live and ugh it was so white. Was there for 4 days and didn't see any Black people until the very last day I saw 2 young Black women. It was very unsettling. But yes I recognize traveling in the US often means going in to majority white places, so I'm typically ok with it, definitely makes me look at places differently, and obviously would never live in a place like that. 

[HRH Queen Dick I, Orphan]

If you come to SF make it September or October, that's when we have lovely weather. August is called Fogust because it's usually stupid foggy and cold.

[goldengirlz]

Apr 2, 2021 11:00:41 GMT -5 HRH Queen Dick I, Orphan said:

If you come to SF make it September or October, that's when we have lovely weather. August is called Fogust because it's usually stupid foggy and cold.

Except last year when it was hot AF everyday in August, and September and October brought orange skies and terrible air.

I still ❤️ SF. But if the past few years are an indicator, I’d take summer weather over fall weather any day. The fog burns off midday and it’s guaranteed not to rain.

[abs]

Houston is an incredibly diverse city with amazing food and great museums. I personally love it here but it’s ugly as heck. Sam Antonio is similar with better scenery.

Again hot though. June is ok. August is surface of the sun miserable.

[rondonalddo]

Dallas? I was there for work once. Good museums, and I had tacos and margaritas at a different place every night. I like Boston too, and it's easy to take the train to Salem and Providence, which are both great little day trips.

[HRH Queen Dick I, Orphan]

Apr 2, 2021 11:07:02 GMT -5 goldengirlz said:

Apr 2, 2021 11:00:41 GMT -5 HRH Queen Dick I, Orphan said:

If you come to SF make it September or October, that's when we have lovely weather. August is called Fogust because it's usually stupid foggy and cold.

Except last year when it was hot AF everyday in August, and September and October brought orange skies and terrible air.

I still ❤️ SF. But if the past few years are an indicator, I’d take summer weather over fall weather any day. The fog burns off midday and it’s guaranteed not to rain.

La La La climate change La La zombie day I can't hear yoouu

[imojoebunny]

Boston or Charleston, SC depending on the season. I, also, think Washington DC could be really fun alone.