Americans who have solo travelled within the USA, where did you go?

Posted by J2Hoe@reddit | AskAnAmerican | View on Reddit | 63 comments

I am F21, leaving Boston next month to solo travel before heading back home to the Uk. I’ve decided to travel to 3 cities before heading to Florida to meet my family at the end of May. I think I’ve settled on Chicago, Washington DC, but I’m not sure where I should go for my last visit. I want the location to preferably be on the east coast, or close by, but I don’t mind travelling more towards the middle. I also need to city to be walkable, or have decent public transport, since I don’t have a car, relatively safe, and not overly expensive (this is why I’m not doing DC AND NYC)

I was considering Savannah, Georgia (I’ve had a few people tell me this is a great place to go) but I would love to hear your suggestions/stories!

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ITrCool@reddit

I’ve been many places. Out west to CA, NV, AZ, NM. Up north to MI, MN, IA.

Out east to DC, PA, MD, VA and KY. Down south to TX, MS, AL, FL, and GA.

Still lots of beautiful country I haven’t seen yet!

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thats-gold-jerry@reddit

I’d do Charleston over Savannah and I’d do NYC over DC.

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J2Hoe@reddit (OP)

I’ve heard Charleston is good too!

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ucbiker@reddit

I’d do New Orleans over either.

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VariegatedPlumage@reddit

New Orleans is the BEST

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thats-gold-jerry@reddit

It really is.

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this-guy1979@reddit

Charleston is a better choice.

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dragonmuse@reddit

I LOVE Savannah, but yeah- I would vote Charleston. I also grew up near DC and would vote NYC.

Savannah has a super dope Riverwalk/downtown area, and incredibly horrifying/interesting history that they make a focal point for tourism- but Charleston has a vibe that would make your trip feel more like a vacation. Notably, I'd say a Savannah trip would be cheaper...Charleston leans hard on their restaurant industry and it is $$$.

The DC museums are GREAT. fantastic. Wonderful. I've been SEVERAL times. Maybe I am jaded bc I've been to DC so many times...but outside of the museums and seeing some cool architecture...DC sucks. NYC has incredible museums, cool architecture, and more- NYC is an entire vibe. Even my incredibly socially anxious, introverted, and easily over-stimulated husband loves NYC. NYC would be a more expensive trip than DC, but would be absolutely worth it.

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relikter@reddit

I live in DC and am originally from South Carolina. These are two great choices if you love history. Charleston has some good eats.

If you're not totally married to staying on the East Coast, consider New Orleans. It's unlike any other city in the US, walkable, and the food is great.

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greekmom2005@reddit

It is.

Honestly, I would skip them all and fly to Yellowstone and stay for a week.

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holytriplem@reddit

OP said they didn't have a car (and I doubt they have a licence based on their comment).

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thats-gold-jerry@reddit

It a cool city. I like it more than Savannah but both are nice. I’d say Charleston is a touch more interesting but they’re similar colonial towns.

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ididreadittoo@reddit

I agree NY over DC.

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bazackward@reddit

I agree with Chicago and DC. Maybe also do Atlanta or Charleston?

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AshDenver@reddit

I was also going to suggest Charleston. Lovely area.

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syndicatecomplex@reddit

You don't want to stay in NYC because it's too expensive, but you're alright flying all over the country instead? That's too bad.

I'd swap Savannah for New Orleans. Historically both cities are important bit NO is larger and has a more distinct culture.

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Md693@reddit

Drove to California it was sweet I was all alone nice quiet ride

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WhatABeautifulMess@reddit

I would skip DC if I was non American, especially in my 20s.

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SweetandSourCaroline@reddit

Asheville, NC or Charleston / Savannah!

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VariegatedPlumage@reddit

Asheville is super fun and pretty walkable in downtown!

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MsPooka@reddit

Asheville would also be a lot cooler than Charleston/Savannah or New Orleans. The weather could be sauna levels.

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MsPooka@reddit

I think DC and Chicago are great choices. I think I'd go to both Savannah and Charleston. They are about a 2 hour drive away and you can take a train or bus to get from one to the other. They are both smaller cities so I think 3-4 days would be more than enough time.

New Orleans is a good option too. It has fairly good tram and bus lines. But it the safety is more questionable than other places. It's still overall a safe place to visit, especially in tourist areas but other options are safer and you might feel more comfortable. If you like music then pick New Orleans.

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Euphoric_Ease4554@reddit

I would do only DC and NYC.

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lorribell1964@reddit

Have you thought about traveling down Route 66?

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OkTechnologyb@reddit

OP doesn't drive.

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posi-bleak-axis@reddit

Consumer corporate hell and pretty mountains and deserts.

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ArtichokeOk8667@reddit

Naw Savannah over Charleston. Love both but I lived in Savannah for 10 years. Beautiful walkable downtown, 27 miles to Tybee Island and the Atlantic ocean and the marshes

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DummyThiccDude@reddit

My yearly vacation is a roadtrip by myself. Im not a big city guy, so its a lot of natural or historic sites.

Ive gone to Ames, Iowa to see the Reiman Gardens. Along the way i made sure to visit the Jolly Green Giant museum in Blue Earth, MN as well as a cool bridge in Iowa Fall, IA.

Year after that was to the Soudan iron mine historical site in Soudan, MN. Didnt do a whole lot else, but theres also some hiking there.

And my most recent one was to the Ashfall fossil beds in Nebraska. I went to an old flour mill, and then to a clown doll museum in Plainview, Nebraska. 2nd day of that trip was going to a bunch of museums in Sioux City, Iowa before heading home.

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OkTechnologyb@reddit

New York City is the ne plus ultra of the US, understandably the top city for travelers from the UK. If you have to do just one "expensive" city, do New York.

Chicago is great, but it's a long way from the east coast. I assume you're going to fly there?

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VariegatedPlumage@reddit

Yeah, I would do Philly over DC if you are looking for a fun walking city and a place to see US historical stuff! Though the Smithsonian museums in DC are pretty incredible if that’s what you’re into. Air & Space is absolutely killer.

I live in NYC and NYC can definitely be done on a budget by staying in the outer boroughs and taking the subway into Manhattan. Also, there are lots of fun neighborhoods (and CUISINES) in Queens, Brooklyn, and the Bronx that tourists who stay in Midtown Manhattan totally miss out on!

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Individual_Speech_10@reddit

I went to New Orleans. I stayed at a hostel there. Funnily enough, there were a bunch of Brits there, none if whom knew each other. They just all happened to come to New Orleans at the same time. I was the only non Brit for several days.

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New-Grapefruit1737@reddit

Honestly I would do trains/buses connecting Boston - NYC - Philly - DC then fly to Florida. Not clear how long your stays are. If short, the cost of NYC wouldn’t be so bad and it could cost less travelling that corridor vs bumping out to Chicago. Philly and NYC are great without a car and iconic American ciries.

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OK_Stop_Already@reddit

Chicago, Seattle, New Orleans (Not really travelling for me), Pensacola, Tampa, Orlando... Atlanta, Baltimore...

I want to go back to Chicago the most. It feels like real civilization there LOL

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Godisdeadbutimnot@reddit

Other than major cities, I’d recommend visiting places like the Keys in FL, Savannah GA, Hilton Head or Charleston SC, Kitty Hawk NC, Virginia Beach, Harper’s Ferry WV, the fingerlakes in NY, Annapolis or St. Michael’s MD, or maybe colonial williamsburg VA. There are tons of great small cities and towns on the east coast to visit, I just named the ones I can remember going to off the top of my head. Since you’ll be visiting DC, the sites I mentioned in MD and WV would be easiest to visit, since they are all less than an hour from DC.

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RhinoGuy13@reddit

Savannah and Charleston are pretty boring for young adults. They have a weird issue with trying to be Southern.

I'd work my way down the East Coast. Nashville, New Orleans, and finish out my journey in Key West.

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skatoulaki@reddit

I'd do NYC, DC, and New Orleans.

NYC - walkable with great public transport, lots to see!

DC - I have been there a couple of times, including my honeymoon. Definitely check out the Smithsonian museums!

New Orleans - I'm from Massachusetts and I've always wanted to go there!

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LibraryLadyA@reddit

I travelled solo as a twenty something to Seattle, Los Angeles, DC, and Charleston. Orlando, Florida was my home at the time.

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Icy-Cardiologist-958@reddit

Just around New England, and once to Phoenix. Several times to FL, and one or twice to ATL.

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818488899414@reddit

I've done AZ to NJ three times and AZ do MA once. I've also done countless trips around the Southwest. I like to drive and I have plenty of friends and family spread out along the way that I never have to pay for a hotel room.

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myohmymiketyson@reddit

Chicago is incredible in the spring. It's very flat and walkable. Good public transportation, including to and from the airport.

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DoookieMaxx@reddit

Drove from South Florida to San Diego, CA on a whim.

Up until that trip I had never seen a sunset on the West Coast. I had the vacation time saved up over 2 years. Me and my Dog …drove for a week and a half (took my time, sight seeing) and got to Mission Beach.

Overcast. I didn’t plan well.

Drove back home, less stops on the way back. 3 weeks of quasi road life (we slept in the car most nights), great pictures of my dog, and tons of cool people and memories along the way.

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AnchoviePopcorn@reddit

Charleston, Asheville, Nashville.

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Dave_A480@reddit

I went to DC for the 2000 innauguration....

The rest has generally been moving places when I was in the Army....

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Arleare13@reddit

Philly is great.

Also, it’s obviously not in the U.S., but Montreal is fantastic, and is just as easy to get to as your other options.

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VariegatedPlumage@reddit

Oooh seconding Montreal, great city!

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JulesInIllinois@reddit

New York City -- take the ferry past the Statue of Liberty to the museum on Ellis Island. Learn how the US grew from immigration.

Walk around Central Park, 5th Avenue, Soho & Chinatown. Try dim sum.

Charleston, SC--stay at the Market Pavillion hotel. You will not need a car. The tours all leave from that corner. The great restaurants are up the block one direction. The open market is right there on the other direction. The aquarium is like 3 blocks away.

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Commercial-Group4859@reddit

I went to San Francisco once solo. The people were soooooooooo nice and actually took time to talk to me and have genuine conversations. One of the workers on the ferry, people on the tram, the uber drivers.

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VariegatedPlumage@reddit

Philadelphia is a load of fun, small enough to walk but also has good public transit, great museums and good food!

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Stressed_C@reddit

I go to upstate NY every few months to visit friends by train

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CorrectCondition9458@reddit

On your way south from dc make a stop on the eastern shore of Delmarva. You ought to see the wild horses on chincoteague. It’s literally right on the way and the whole stretch down the eastern seaboard has wonderful things to see that you can schedule as rest stops. Most can be seen in an hour or two and are once in a lifetime things. Safe travels. Hope you have good experiences along the way.

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CorrectCondition9458@reddit

It’s worth renting a car for that leg of your trip. Sorry didn’t notice that you didn’t have a car.

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Rooster-20189@reddit

Monterey Bay

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Ree1954@reddit

Atlanta, Georgia

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LocationNo2127@reddit

How do you plan on getting from place to place? Also, you said you both are and are not considering Washington DC. I would definitely consider DC, it's a great city and it's on the way.

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Curmudgy@reddit

See r/usatravel.

Can you rent a car? Acadia National Park is the closest National Park to Boston, and well worth some time. I’m not sure if you can get there entirely by bus, but while Bar Harbor is walkable, it really helps to have a car to see the park.

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