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The US is a various playground for solo travellers, whether or not you wish to hike craggy canyons, drive by means of huge landscapes, or discover a skyscraper-crowned metropolis. However a metropolis is an significantly interesting place to kick off a wider journey, dropping you straight right into a convivial scene with loads of sights, excursions and alternatives to fulfill folks.
We’ve all heard concerning the highlights of New York, LA and Las Vegas, however different beginning factors are much less trodden by solo feminine travellers, regardless of being extra manageable, friendlier and cheaper than the largest hitters.
What to search for in a solo-friendly US metropolis? A compact metropolis centre or a number of small, walkable neighbourhoods add environment and allow you to discover on foot. A good security document is one other precedence – the US is comparatively secure normally, however crime is a actuality in all huge cities, and a few have higher stats than others. Lastly, search for a relaxed foods and drinks scene, wealthy arts and tradition, and low-key, reasonably priced lodging.
Learn extra: The way to have a culture-filled journey to Orlando
Boulder, Colorado
Once you’re a dedicated city-dweller however love the good open air, what’s a girl to do? Properly, head to Boulder, for a begin – the Colorado metropolis that’s swathed in nature, with climbing and biking trails and mountain climbing havens in your doorstep. This can be a totally trendy American metropolis with hipster espresso outlets, a meals truck park and must-visit farmer’s market – however teams of journey lovers usually strike out into the State Parks, lakes and mountains simply outdoors for a breath of contemporary air. It’s a terrific mixture of sociable, secure and welcoming, with craft beer golf equipment and reside music nights if you wish to cross over with different solos, and peaceable nature trails in case you simply wish to be with your self.
Get there: Lufthansa and United each fly direct from London to Denver, from the place it’s a 40-minute drive to Boulder.
Flight time: Round 10 hours.
Learn extra: Colorado’s greatest scorching springs to attempt
Huntsville, Alabama
By no means heard of Huntsville? You wouldn’t be alone. However this far-south metropolis, 115 miles south of Nashville, was named the perfect place to reside within the USA in 2022. Ladies doing a solo journey can expertise the thriving social, eating and buying scene which sprang up round tech firms that settled right here – Lowe Mill Arts centre is your first cease for artwork and reside music, whereas Downtown is meals central. Take to parallel Jefferson and Washington Streets for barbecue, seafood, Mexican and excellent cocktails. Traditionally, this was a giant base for NASA, so STEM followers will take pleasure in visiting Marshall House Flight Middle; you possibly can chat to the retired house engineers who volunteer there.
Get there: British Airways flies direct to Nashville, two hours’ drive away.
Flight time: 9 hours.
San Diego, California
Los Angeles and San Francisco might get the vast majority of column inches, however consider San Diego as their extra chilled-out beachfront sibling. It’s famously secure, stacked with nightlife, and eminently LGBTQ+-friendly – Downtown and Pacific Seashore are the cool neighbourhoods the youthful crowd tends to remain in. Take to the water to fulfill new folks: e book on to a gaggle surf lesson, whale or dolphin watching tour, or a kayaking tour of La Jolla sea caves, or simply take pleasure in being surrounded by greenery within the 1,200-acre Balboa Park.
Get there: British Airways flies direct to San Diego from Heathrow.
Flight time: Round 11 hours.
Charleston, South Carolina
Clapboard homes, tree-lined avenues, painted shutters, chocolate-box church buildings – this South Carolina metropolis is fairly as an image. And it’s relaxed, pleasant and engaging to wander, too. Keep Downtown, the walkable centre of town’s historic structure, venturing out for raved-about dinner alongside Decrease and Higher King Streets. Becoming a member of a guided tour might help you dig into the historical past of this southern stunner. A lot of Charleston’s classic splendour was constructed on the again of slavery – don’t depart with out studying about it on the Previous Slave Mart museum.
Get there: There are at the moment no direct flights from the UK to Charleston – join in Atlanta or New York with the likes of Delta, Virgin or British Airways.
Flight time: 10-14 hours.
Sedona, Arizona
This petite southwestern desert city is one free of charge spirits and adventurers. Supposedly infused with mystic vitality, it’s a centre for various spas and healers, the place you possibly can have your chakras realigned earlier than climbing into red-rock wonderlands with large rock formations and views for miles. Inexpensive guesthouses and motels make for quirky bases the place you’ll probably meet different healing-curious people passing by means of, keen to utilize the area’s famed “vortexes”. Within the rocky panorama throughout, you’ll discover extra earthly pleasures visiting soothing scorching springs and going kayaking or rafting on close by waters.
Get there: British Airways flies direct to Phoenix, Arizona, a two-hour drive from Sedona.
Flight time: Round 11 hours.
Learn extra: Williams, Arizona metropolis information
New Orleans, Louisiana
Town greatest identified for spring’s Mardi Gras pageant is a pleasure year-round – and extremely welcoming to solo travellers. The truth is, you’ll discover it far mellower and slower paced outdoors of the bead-hurling February to March festivities. With a lovely, compact previous city to walk (the French Quarter), in addition to a number of satellite tv for pc neighbourhoods to enterprise to for excellent meals, tradition and sightseeing, it’s a pleasure to find on foot. Virtually European in its quaintness and French affect, NOLA (because the locals name it) is among the greatest locations to get into Creole and Cajun meals – take a look at town Faculty of Cooking – take heed to reside jazz, and study voodoo (take the free strolling tour).
Get there: British Airways’ direct hyperlink to New Orleans hasn’t returned for the reason that pandemic; fly through Charlotte, Dallas or Washington DC with any variety of transatlantic airways.
Flight time: 12-14 hours.
Learn extra: The way to spend a day in New Orleans’ French Quarter
Washington, D.C.
The US capital manages to be vastly well-known, with out actually being on America’s vacationer path. Nevertheless it’s acquired tons to maintain a solo traveller occupied, from historic, political and as-seen-on-screen excursions to its personal cherry blossom season (finish of March into early April). Cool inns like Eaton encourage mingling and group, whereas reasonably priced sightseeing contains free strolling excursions, self-guided audio excursions and free landmarks, from the Lincoln Memorial to Smithsonian museums. See the White Home and the Capitol Constructing, then head to one of many metropolis’s 14 meals markets for a casual chunk with a aspect of people-watching.
Get there: Virgin Atlantic and British Airways each fly direct from Heathrow.
Flight time: Round eight hours.
Honolulu, Hawaii
Set on the world-famous Waikiki Seashore, this coastal capital is arguably probably the most touristy little bit of the wild, distant Hawaiian islands. However for the solo traveller, meaning a totally fleshed-out metropolis with museums to discover, buying streets to browse and cafes and eating places to go well with each funds. The teenage dwelling of President Obama was additionally ranked the US’s most secure metropolis in MoneyGeek’s 2023 report. To see extra of its island, Oahu, hop on the 55 bus from town heading east, which circles across the east and north coasts, taking you to key sights and seashores for simply a few {dollars}. Or simply keep on the town and stroll the surf-heaven sands of Waikiki, climbing as much as Diamond Head, visiting the wonderful Bishop Museum, and consuming banana pancakes in its beachside cafes.
Get there: The quickest solution to fly is through LA (British Airways, Virgin, Delta) after which on to Honolulu (Hawaiian Airways, Alaska, United).
Flight time: Round 16-20 hours.
Learn extra: One of the best time to go to Hawaii for a vacation – and how one can keep away from the rain
Austin, Texas
Texas’s enterprise capitals Dallas and Houston are higher identified, however various, hipster-magnet Austin is a uncommon discover for ladies flying solo. Guided excursions of town’s sights, parks and lively pursuits make it straightforward to seek out associates, whereas high quality hostels and funds inns begin from simply £70 per evening. Should-dos on the town embody in search of out some reside music (Austin’s identified nationwide for its band scene and venues); attempting the native barbecue joints; and, within the hotter months, cooling off within the metropolis’s premier swimming spot, Barton Springs.
Get there: British Airways flies direct to Austin from London.
Flight time: Simply over 10 hours.
Seattle, Washington State
Not solely did the Solo Journey Security Index discover Seattle to be the world’s most secure metropolis for solo travellers in 2023, this metropolis’s sights and meals scene have been delighting its guests for years. Bucket-list meals markets imply casual eating within the metropolis centre, whereas group climbing excursions into Mount Rainier Nationwide Park imply you may get a straightforward, nourishing nature repair. Zoom up the enduring House Needle constructing for prime views of town, then attempt among the state’s more and more lauded wines at a vineyard outdoors of city. Keep Downtown or in cool Belltown to be closest to the perfect eats.
Get there: British Airways and Virgin Atlantic each have direct flights to Seattle from Heathrow.
Flight time: Round 10 hours.
Curious concerning the Wild West? Right here’s why New Mexico must be your subsequent US journey
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The Unbiased
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Lucy Thackray , 2024-12-21 18:48:00
