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Between scheduling problems, last minute fights, and wild differences in income, traveling with other people can yield some serious stress—just ask a few divorcees for a story or two. That's not to mention all the things that can go wrong once you are actually on the trip. Sometimes, the key to ditching the stress is to ditch other people, and drop off the radar for a little while.
Though it may be a strange idea at first, many people speak of life-changing vacations taken by themselves. You don’t have to go on a peyote-fueled spirit quest to come back talking of the pleasures of traveling alone. You may find that with no one to distract you, and no one to worry about, or keep you from doing what you want, you are truly free to have a vacation on your terms.
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The Top Down Roadtrip
Where to go: Northern California, Eastern Florida
Why to go: Coastal breezes, winding roads, and high quality people watching
What to bring: Sunglasses, suntan lotion, and a hat (possibly with straps)
It's nice to get away, but as the saying goes, sometimes it's not the destination, but the journey. If you feel strongly toward this kind of advice, perhaps a road trip is in order to nowhere in particular. The California and Florida coast are two of the nicest parts of the country to rent that convertible that you would never own and take in the sights one mile at a time.
The Art Class Escape
Where to go: Jackson, WY; Provence, France; Kerry Country Ireland
Why to go: Art is great therapy
What to bring: Supplies and creativty
Vacations are supposed to be stress-relieving and easy to enjoy, but sometimes all that freedom to decide can actually cause doubt, or even stress. The most rewarding trips can sometimes involve a program that structures your time and your focus. Taking a photography or a painting trip can completely change the way you see Spain, or the Rockies, while also tailoring your talents in a new, exciting way.
Reconnecting With Old Friends
Where to go: Wherever your college roommates ended up
Why to go: To rekindle old relationships, to bask in the glory days, and to compare old friends lives to yours
What to bring: Wine and/or the awful beer you once drank—oh, the memories!
Facebook is a good way to keep in touch with people even when you don't have time to really keep up with people. But there are always those nights where you really wonder where everyone went, and what they're doing. What is Kim up to these days? Have you met Kenny's new wife? Is Colin still alive? Though scheduling can often be an ordeal, if you can make it work, these sorts of trips can be incredibly fun and feed some of that undying curiosity about the people you miss, and think about iften, but never find the time to see.
Backpacking in the Mountains
Where to go: Colorado; Idaho; Wahington; California; Massachusetts; North Carolina, West Virginia
Why to go: To reconnect with nature on your own country's soil
What To Bring: Good boots, lots of water, a camera, and your patience
For those who really want to unplug from the calendar month, there is nothing less digital and fast paced than nature. There are dozens of companies planning backpacking trips both at home and abroad, for a variety of skills and time frames. Enjoy the solitude or take it as an opportunity to meet new people. Either way, the clean air will do you some good.
The Spa Week(end)
Where to go: New Age Health Spa in Neversink, NY
Why to go: To treat yo'self
What to bring: A clear mind and an aching back
This one shouldn't be a hard sell. If you really want to relax, you might just have to go far enough from home to take your mind off things. Get a full package at a resort that fits your needs and mood and never look back. Take this time to focus 100% on you (it can be surprisingly difficult) and it will pay off big time with a soothed body and mind.
The Niche Hobby Outing
Where to go: San Francisco; Portland; New York; Austin
Why to go: To indulge the passions that make you tick (you know, the ones your job doesn't fulfill)
What to bring: A show and tell spirit, curiosity
No matter how normal we all pretend to be, there are plenty of things we decide not to share with others. Whether your pet project is to knit little monsters or collect civil war memorabilia, you are not alone. Taking a trip to join a community of people who share your passions can be incredibly rewarding and make for some great connections that can lead to projects, relationships, and, occasionally, a new home town.
Getting Lost on Purpose
Where to go: New England; Marfa, Texas; The Bay Area
Why to go: It's a great big world, but sometimes it's nice to think small
What to bring: A wink and a smile
It's not something everyone can find relaxing, and it can occasionally backfire, but those who can go with the flow gain a lot by taking a relatively unplanned trip to visit with small town life. Small towns can be almost impossibly charming, especially when you're not from one of them, and the friendliness and lack of overwhelming options can create a nice trip full of easy decisions and long, lazy days. Which is what vacations should be all about.
Investigating Your Family History
Where to go: Wherever the familia is situated
Why to go: Though you often take a vacation to get away from your family, there will come a time when you can think of nothing else besides where you came from
What to bring: Determination, imagination, and a detective's eye for information
There is a certain amount of mystery to all of us. That mystery exists even to yourself. There is a time and a place to go hunting for the people who carried your name before you, and learn about the stock and blood that makes you, you. It's a great, big interconnected world, and even the smallest families have a history that holds many secrets. We're talking soap opera secrets. Get your passport ready.
The Solo Dolo Cruise
Where to go: Belize; Juneau, Alaska; Tahiti
Why to go: For the forced relaxation, the drinks, and the possibility of meeting someone who is forced by necessity into finding you charming
What to bring: A toothbrush, a book, and a bathing suit
It's not the most novel concept, but there's something to be said of the continued success of cruise vacations. Though mostly tailored to the old and those with youngsters, there are smaller cruise ships that lose a lot of the well-oiled money machine feel that bigger cruises seem to have, and instead offer quiet, calm, and the bare necessities (like a pool). Of course, if you like all the bells and whistles, there's some plenty of giant noisemakers in the water as well.
Study Abroad (Even if You're Not in School)
Where to go: Vienna; Sevilla, Spain; Seoul
Why to go: Just because you're out of school, doesn't mean you're done learning, researching, and debating with your informed peers
What to bring: A digital recorder, hoodies, a sense of wonder, a meal plan
Just because you finally threw away your college hoodie due to fraying, doesn't mean you can't still live the academic life. There are programs that focus on the post-collegiate academic experience. Enjoy the same discourse, but with less day drinking and overheard sexual encounters, and re-live selected parts of the search for knowledge using your sexier, more developed, and more mature brain.
The Yoga Retreat
Where to go: The Catskills, The Lacandon Jungle, Bali
Why to go: To gain peace of mind
What to bring: Comfortable yoga clothes, mindfulness, mindlessness
Don't be misled by your preconception of yoga being relaxing— it can get pretty intense. A yoga retreat is ultimately a giant workshop for body and mind. The focus is on gaining mental clarity and leaving behind all the things that make you need a vacation in the first place, while surrounding yourself with friendly, fit people in a beautiful locale. There's a lot to like here.
Go On Tour
Where to go: Wherever the music takes you
Why to go: Giving in to the music, finding a community of people to love something with, and (ahem) the groupies
What to bring: A vehicle that doubles as a sleeping place, and substances to enhance your, err, listening abilities
Back in the day, going on tour with The Dead or following The Stones was such a regular occurrence that it was one of the preferred ways to kill a summer. Though it's not as common now, especially as bands tour more and more, it's still a great way to become part of a community of people who have, despite the tendency to listen to a hundred bands at once, chosen just one to follow. It's a truly unique experience following a band across country and often leads to encounters with interesting people (and weirdos), and ,occasionally, interactions with the band. At the very least, you'll have some wild stories to tell your kids, though they'll probably be unimpressed.
The Good Samaritan Trip
Where to go: Anywhere that needs helping: New Orleans, Coney Island and/or Rockaway, New York; Tornado Alley
Why to go: Helping people across the country and world who need it
What to bring: A flexible attitude, and maybe some gloves
It may not be most people's definition of a good vacation, but volunteering can be a very fulfilling and stress relieving break from the day to day. Habitat for Humanity is a perfect example of a project with challenge and work that is also a great way to meet people and feel a sense of accomplishment that doesn't always come with a vacation. There are soup kitchens, shelters, and clinics across the country that need help as well. Just don't forget to take this work as a chance to focus on others and don't let the stress creep back in.
Biking Through the Back Hills
Where to go: South Dakota; Tuscany; or for the initiated, the back roads of America
Why to go: Fresh air and exercise make for a great combination of new sights and people
What to bring: Water, light clothes, confidence
There are generally two types of bike tours and they are equally slated towards a solo journey. There are those focused on relaxed pedal-pushing through the rolling hills, and the more serious variety that cut a path across the country, usually raising money for a cause. The scenic rides involve bikes with baskets, and usually come with a guide who will point out places of interest, a stop for a picnic, and the ability to wander off the path a bit. They are a great way for people of all ages to see a new place while getting a light workout., while the other, more strenuous tour of days and sometimes weeks is also a great bonding experience with your caravan and allows you to learn a lot about yourself and the countryside, but is certainly a bit more exclusive.
Taking the Train
Where to go: Pacific Northwest, Midwest
Why to go: For breathtaking sights, sleeper cars, and seeing the country in a unique way
What to bring: Books, notebooks, and snacks
The train system in America is not exactly the most coherent or well organized in the world, but it has its perks. Besides being one of the oldest forms of travel across the states, it allows for some particularly scenic paths through America the beautiful. Some of the trains come equipped with food and (alcoholic) drink cars, sleeper cars, and, along the West Coast and through the breadbasket, viewing cars full of swiveling chairs and big windows for sweeping views of nature's television. Bonus: you can always pretend you're on your way to Hogwarts.