Last weekend I took a solo weekend trip to Acadia National Park in Maine… And it was an amazing experience. (Acadia is a definite must-see for everyone in my opinion. If you haven’t been there, I highly recommend it.)
The entire island (Mt. Desert Island) is sprawling with pristine wilderness. Acadia has miles and miles of well-kept hiking trails. There are mountains with ridgelines that look like the spines of gigantic creatures, merging into the scenic, rocky Maine coast. Then there’s quaint town of Bar Harbor, with a nice selection of quality restaurants and shops. Endless awesomeness everywhere you go.
I had a great weekend in Acadia. Every time I travel alone, I’m ridiculously spontaneous. I consciously let go of any fears, do everything on a whim and get into all kinds of random adventures. Plus I always meet more people than when I’m with people I already know. (Don’t get me wrong, traveling with others is awesome too. It’s great to bond through experience. But the benefits of solo travel aren’t valued and enjoyed enough, in my opinion.)
Be open and spontaneous; not closed off and rigid. You need to be open to new experiences, because that’s when the magic happens. Cultivate your inner lone wolf and enjoy the experience of life.
“We came here to be free.” -Ralph Smart
6 Reasons to Travel Alone
1. You meet more people.
When you’re traveling alone, you just end up talking to more random people. And that’s part of why it can be so fun. Make friends at the top of a mountain. Go out to dinner by yourself and talk to whoever is around. Venture into a bar by yourself and strike up a conversation with a stranger. Talk to some friendly people on the street. New experiences… That’s what life is all about.
2. You’re completely free.
Solo travel entails being dynamic and spontaneous. You can do anything on a whim. There is no one else to please, no one to ask for approval and no limits. The only constraints you have are those created by your own mind. Traveling alone allows you to follow your heart on whatever spontaneous adventures it may bring you on.
3. You become more present.
When you’re solo, you don’t worry about anyone else. You’re able to more easily get “in the zone” when you’re by yourself. Especially when alone in nature, you slip into a deep presence; a connectedness with all that is.
4. You’re forced into personal growth.
You can’t depend on anyone but yourself when traveling alone. You have to constantly step out of your comfort zone. There’s no one to hold your hand or do anything for you. Traveling solo fosters so much self-improvement, and puts you back in the driver’s seat of your own life.
5. You become comfortable in your own skin.
You have to learn to be comfortable with yourself to travel alone. And the more you do it, the more comfortable with yourself you get. Traveling alone cultivates self-love and self-acceptance, which is so crucial in maximizing the human experience.
6. You get to know yourself better.
It’s just you… When you travel alone, you give yourself space to reflect as you accumulate experience. Solo travel adventures give you the opportunity to ‘look within’ even as you’re exploring the outside world.
“Knowing others is wisdom, knowing yourself is enlightenment.” -Lao Tzu
Explore, stay spontaneous and keep metabolizing awesome experiences.
Much love.
-Stevie P!
