South of Los Angeles lays the famous OC, Orange County, California. More than just what is seen on television, this county is home to Disneyland, Knotts Berry Farm, and some of the best beach towns along the coast. Go Sailing off of Newport Harbor to Catalina off the coast or spend the day shore-side, soaking up the rays. Orange County is full of many cities to explore filled with places to eat, shop, golf, walk, with tons of galleries and nightlife to enjoy.
Whether your travel style is to spontaneously wander or to meticulously plan your daily itinerary, traveling solo is the perfect opportunity to do everything exactly as you please! When you travel solo, you can have more time for reflection, ample opportunities to make new friends, and the satisfaction of knowing that you forged your path yourself.
More and more, women are making their travel dreams come true, and many of them are doing it solo. In this culture, women are frequently warned about the perils of being their gender, especially when it comes to wandering far from home. While it’s true that there are specific concerns for female travelers, the risks that are out there haven’t stopped a countless number of them from hitting the road!
Feeling motivated to plan a solo trip, or have one in the works? Read on for travel tips and inspiration!
Staying Safe
Some research about safety precautions is a wise thing to do before any travel experience. Keeping some general tips in mind, as well as remaining alert and using common sense can keep travelers safe whether traveling solo or in groups. That said, here are a couple good tips geared especially for the solo female traveler: maintain contact with friends and family back home, whether by telephone, email, letter, or by keeping a travel blog. Keep somebody posted on where you are, especially if you will be on your own for a day or more. Many travelers leave a note with their hotel front desk on their travel plans when they are touring on their own, which can be a reassuring precaution.
Looking for a relaxing vacation in a beautiful natural setting? Then look to laid-back Laos. Landlocked by Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar and China, Laos is accessible through all of these surrounding countries, making it a well-situated destination for visitors to Southeast Asia. Mountains, tropical forests, the majestic countryside, tiny villages and larger cities are just some of the attractions Laos has to offer. Although the city of Vientiane, the nation’s capital, is busy compared to the small villages found here, it remains relatively quiet for a large Asian city. Realtravelers Chris and Vee toured around northwestern Laos and share their adventures in Vietiane and Vang Vieng:
“What a week of contrasts we have had in northwestern Laos. From Luang Prabang we headed south, a spectacular mountain road to Vang Vieng, a small town set amongst rugged karst scenery by the Nam Xong . Our room, in a traditional Lao home perched high above the river, had fantastic views of the surrounding mountains. After a morning trek which had us wading through a flooded cave I drifted down the Nam Xong on a huge inner tube. Traditional village life interrupted by noisy riverside bars with bamboo towers where tourists leapt into the river on zip wires-bizarre! In Vang Vieng you can see locals fishing and washing in the river or watch continuous episodes of ‘Friends’ in the bars on the main street!”
If you’re looking for an exotic Spring Break destination, consider the tropical paradise of Thailand. Whatever your age or disposition, you’ll find plenty to do from the adventurous to the downright decadent. Unwind on the picturesque beaches where you can pamper yourself with massages and pedicures, snorkel and canoe around the many gorgeous islands, or live it up with countless strangers at the famous monthly “Full Moon” parties.
Many of our RealTravelers have traveled to all corners of this beautiful country, chronicling their adventures along the way. Here are a few small excerpts of their trips to help inspire you when planning your own:
KevHolls had a blast stopping in many places around Thailand. Here are their impressions of Chiang Mai:
“It’s early morning and I’m writing this while watching the sun rise over the Ping River from an outside computer at our amazing little guesthouse we found tucked down a small little street away from the bustling streets of the city…yesterday we ordered pad thai (of course) and Singha (the beer of Thailand) and when we realized how cheap it was ($4.00 US) we added in an order of banana pancakes too. These were TO DIE FOR! We are now on a constant mission to find them, which really isn’t hard seeing that they serve them at pretty much every restaurant in Chiang Mai.”
Then they took advantage of the famous Thai massages:
“150 baht ($3) for a 60 minute Thai massage…we had our first Thai massage and foot reflexology - $6 for both of us. Thai massage is wonderful! They put pretty much all of their body weight onto you and there is a lot of stretching and cracking. It is the best type of massage both Kevin and I have ever had. You feel like a new person afterward.”
Kyle and Dan dove into the pristine Thailand waters to scuba dive and snorkel:
“Maya Beach is located on Koh Phi Phi Leh and was made famous by the film ‘The Beach’ with Leonardo Di Caprio. There are also several smaller islands nearby including Bamboo Island and Mosquito Island. All of these islands are located in the Andaman Sea which at this moment in time is possibly our favourite body of water. The water was very clear and a beautiful shade of turquoise and there were many living coral reefs located around the islands…the ferry trip to the islands presented us with wonderful views of the islands, with many limestone rock formations jutting up out of the sea. We were astounded by the beauty as we approached the two main islands. The hot and sunny weather was perfect all week and helped fulfill our desire for tropical paradise.”
The UNESCO World Heritage Site list can look like the most enticing travel wish list you’ll ever see, so it’s no wonder many people plan their travels around these precious destinations. Heritage sites not only enrich our lives today, but will also serve future generations, and luckily UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization) is helping make sure these sites live on. The UNESCO World Heritage organization seeks to preserve the many wonders that exist in our world today, encouraging nations throughout the world to protect their national and cultural heritage.
All this week we will be featuring off the beaten path World Heritage Sites, lesser known but no less worthy, including the charming castles of the United Kingdom, the national parks of Indonesia, the historic towns of Mexico, and the spiritual sites of India.
Today we take a look at Australia, where World Heritage Sites range from the cultural (such as the Sydney Opera House) to the natural (the Wet Tropics of Queensland), sheltering some of the world’s most precious endangered species and offering travelers ample beauty within its many different landscapes. Most people have heard of the Great Barrier Reef, a famous scuba diving spot and host of the world’s largest collection of coral reefs, so today we take you off the beaten path to explore some more unusual Aussie sites!
Tasmania
Tasmania appeals to any traveler with a sense of adventure, with its many lush parks and wildlife reserves. The Tasmanian Wilderness is a wonderland of natural wonders, from the Bay of Fires and Freycinet National Park, to Wine Glass Bay and Cataract Gorge.
Realtraveler Peters Travels saw some wallabies and other wildlife while exploring Tasmania:
“We arrived at Freycinet National Park after lunch for a couple of hours walk to the view point overlooking wineglass bay and a walk to the beach. This is a very beautiful area out on the peninsula of the same name with hills clad in thick forest and native bush, plus the odd friendly Wallabies looking for lunch!! Wine Glass Bay, so named from the whaling days, Whales where brought into this bay for cutting up, and as a result the sea turned red, and the bay is shaped like a wine glass, hence the name wine glass bay.” (more…)
Realtraveler and London native DaisyRTW also experienced Tasmania during her around-the-world travels:
“The National Parks are stunning, 2 of them are World Heritage sites. Stopped in Freciynet National Park to see the stunning Wineglass Bay, then headed off to Cradle Mountain where the walks were good and the scenery spectacular. Traveled through some tiny towns and cute villages. The food was great and met some real characters.” (more…)
Uluru National Park (Ayers Rock)
Pictured above, the beauty of Ayers Rock in Uluru National Park speaks for itself. The enormous red sandstone monolith is considered the largest in the world, changes colors throughout the day as it reflects the sky, and has an important place in Aboriginal history. The Newell Post, a couple from Saskatchewan, Canada, snapped this gorgeous photograph. Here is an excerpt from their blog about Ayers Rock:
“The amazing thing about Ayers Rock (besides being the world’s biggest monolith), and what attracts all the attention, is the fact that it never looks the same no matter how many times you see it. This is due to the changing nature of the sky. This means that the best times to see the rock are at sunrise and at sunset…it was so beautiful watching the sun rise and set over that rock. The colours of it are incredible - red rock like I have never seen before.” (more…)
Fraser Island
Lying off the east coast of mainland Australia, the phenomenal natural wonder known as Fraser Island is so unique and extraordinary that it was inevitable UNESCO would name it a World Heritage Site. It is the largest sand island in the world, characterized by its soft, sloping sand dunes and sparkling fresh water lakes.
Blue Mountains National Park
The spectacular Blue Mountains National Park features sandstone outcrops, glistening forests, winding rivers, several waterfalls, and the famous Three Sisters Rock Formation. The park has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its magnificent beauty, and is perfect for travelers who like to enjoy the great outdoors through hiking, trekking, camping, wildlife viewing, or guided tours.
World Heritage Sites of Australia