Friday, February 28, 2020

Solo Travel: Florida in February by @MagdalenaScott




Have you read about the recent increase in solo travel? It's becoming more prevalent, especially with women. I've read quite a bit about it. Now I'm getting a taste of it first-hand.

I love to see new places, and life keeps turning me into a person who is on her own. I realized I can either stay home all the time or take the plunge into solo travel.

So far this year I've taken a small plunge (a weekend at one of our lovely Indiana state park inns while attending a traditional music festival), and a big one:

Ten Glorious, (mostly) Sun-Drenched Days

From February 15th through 24th, I was on a motorcoach tour from Louisville, KY all the way to Key West, FL, and back--over 2,000 miles. We relaxed at St. Pete Beach and did the tourist thing in Fort Myers. We rode an airboat in the Everglades! We had two nights in Key Largo and saw the sunset at Key West. We were buffeted by cold wind at Kennedy Space Center (oh well, can't always have great weather, and it was 17 degrees back home!) and explored our country's oldest city, St. Augustine.

Since the coach was big but the group was small, everyone had plenty of room to stretch out and be comfortable. Most of my fellow travelers were married couples or pairs of friends or relatives sharing the trip and the expense. I was traveling solo--my first big trip on my own. Two other ladies were doing the same. (I'm very proud of us!)

Over the years, I had heard from many friends that Toby Tours does a great job, so I was confident that the trip would be fun and well-organized. Sure enough, the driver and tour director were terrific, and everyone on the coach was fun to be with. When you travel with a group, you have to follow the prescribed schedule, but this trip also allowed some free time. Two favorite memories were made when I struck out on my own: a lazy day and meandering stroll along St. Pete Beach, and days later, a brisk walk to St. Augustine Lighthouse.

I was fortunate to get a delicious dose of sunshine before coming back home to skies that are as gray and rainy as when I left.

Would I take another motor coach tour? Yes. I'd also like to try a solo trip by rail.

But since Selina missed me terribly, she and I have been discussing the possibility of an RV. That way she could come along on my next adventure.


For now, she's glad to have me home, and I'm thankful for the memories made.

Florida in February was just about perfect.

Is solo travel something you have done, or would be interested in trying?


USA Today Bestselling Author Magdalena Scott is a practicing minimalist, having downsized from a 3,000 square foot house to a studio apartment, where her Giant Closet continues to resist taming. When not writing at home or spending time with family and friends, she loves to travel–carry-on baggage only–and is always pleasantly surprised at the kindness of strangers.


Website: https://magdalenascott.com/

12 comments:

  1. Wonderful post! And bravo for stepping out! I love that you began on your own, locally, and then branched out to the bus tour. A rail tour sounds amazing!!!

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    1. Grace, thank you for reading and commenting. I appreciate you!

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  2. Magdalena, your trip sounds marvelous. I traveled solo to the US Open Tennis Championships last year. It was only a trip from my daughter's house in New Jersey to the tennis center near Flushing, NY, but it required a train trip to NYC's Penn station and then a change of trains. I also drove by myself from Florida to Arizona when we moved west.

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    1. Merrillee, sometimes changing trains can be nerve-wracking. Driving alone from Florida to Arizona would be way outside my comfort zone. Go you!

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    1. Thank you, Margaret. I was fortunate to be able to go.

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  4. Bravo, Magdalena! Sounds like a great trip.

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  5. How I wish I'd known you would be as close as St. Augustine! I recognized the Flagler College photo right away, so couldn't wait to come read this blog post. The lighthouse is one of my favorite places to visit. Of course, there is much to see in the historic city and I'm sure you didn't have time for it all. Still, I hope you managed a walk along St. George Street in the historic district. (St. Augustine is one of those places close enough for us to sneak away for dinner or to just enjoy a change of scenery for the day.) As for making a trip alone: I've often flown or driven to my destination on my own, but have always had friends or family to spend time with when I arrived.

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    1. Hi, Mary. Flagler College buildings were so beautiful, and you're right that we didn't have time to see everything. When on St George Street I was in a hurry to meet up with our group and head to our hotel for the evening. I did take a couple of minutes to stop and listen to street musicians though. I'd like to revisit St Augustine sometime.

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  6. Good for you. I have traveled alone in the past - mostly by airlines. I’ve been living with my daughter & her 3 little ones for five years now and aside from a 2300 mi car trip when we all moved to Texas, I haven’t “vacationed” at all. Your trip sounded wonderful!

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    1. Traveling alone in a plane can be exhilarating too. I've only done that when I was on the way to meet friends, or to attend a conference. I hope you'll get a vacation, Pam. I think I'll be sticking to day trips for a while. :)

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