Today March 8th is international women’s day and I just want to say how important it is to thank all the amazing women in your life who have gotten you to where you are regardless of what gender you are. There are so many amazing historical women figures to look up to, but you can also look up to the women who are around you today.
In my first article, Flying Solo, I discussed some tips and tricks I have found when traveling as a solo woman in her early twenties. Today I’m going to discuss some of my favorite destinations I’ve been to and locations I would recommend for a first time solo female traveler.
The first International location I’m going to highlight is Iceland. While this is not the most affordable option when it comes to travel it is definitely one of the safest. I comfortably was able to rent my own car and set off on an adventure of my own making. the people I met there were so willing to share local Secrets when it comes to Hot Springs and waterfalls as well as told stories of things I could have never imagined. I was in a cold Plunge talking to an older lady who was local to Reykjavik, Iceland and she told me how if I get lucky I’m going to see orcas off the coast that were visible to us at the time as she saw them a week prior in the same location. Iceland is going to have some of the best Northern Lights visibility in two decades this year, so why wait to go? Flights are available on play Airlines for less than $200. If you are already going to Europe see if play Airlines offers a free stopover in Iceland on the dates you are planning. Iceland is also well known to be lgbtq+ friendly as they have streets decorated in rainbows. Since it’s International women’s day, I feel inclined to tell you that Iceland is the first country to have a world leader be openly lesbian.
The second location I want to highlight is Vietnam. While I spend most of my time in Ho Chi Minh City, I ventured outside the urban area and made connections with those living there. The Mekong Delta is so culturally rich with the kindest group of people you will ever meet. There are countless tours you can book through the app Get your Guide in English, but I guarantee you will make connections striking up a conversation and a local coffee shop. If you are a traveler from the United States, the conversion rate is extremely high right now allowing us travelers to find accommodations for roughly $20 a night, “Ubers” for $2 each on an app called Grab, and quality food for $3 a meal. You will find amazing handmade art in the local markets and I never once had a stranger make an inappropriate comment or physical advance. Let me be clear this is the bare minimum, however there are other parts of the world that I wouldn’t say the same about.
There are places you can go within the United States that have beautiful cultures, food scenes, natural beauty, and architecture. Some of these places are: Charleston, Richmond, Chautauqua, New Orleans, Denver, and San Fransisco. I’ve made many trips to Charleston and have always found it to be a very walkable safe place that feels like an escape from most other places in the US.
These are just a few places of the many I would recommend you travel to. In light of International Women’s Day, I would like to leave you with a quote.
“As a woman I have no country. As a woman my country is the whole world.”
Virginia Woolf
ShoutOut! James Madison University 