Outdoor Experiences
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Outdoor Experiences
Retreats
Weddings
Planning a solo adventure? Looking for the best outdoor activities to add to your itinerary? Then this is the blog for you! Traveling solo comes with many benefits, from the opportunity for self-discovery to the flexibility to do what you want, when you want to do it. It’s also a fantastic way to experience the great outdoors, letting you stay in the moment and connect with nature. Whatever time of year you plan on traveling, the U.S. offers endless ways to enjoy its outdoor spaces, from wildflower hiking and birdwatching in the spring to summer wellness retreats, to leaf peeping and snowshoeing in the fall and winter, respectively. Ready to start planning your solo adventure? Nook Outdoors brings you a seasonal guide to the best outdoor activities for solo travelers.
With spring comes the promise of new life and great weather. That makes it the perfect time of year to get outside! Here are the best spring outdoor activities for solo adventurers:
Charge your camera and lace up your hiking boots – it’s wildflower season! As the snow melts, the landscape explodes with a rainbow of vibrant colors. Don’t miss your chance to capture it! Some of the best regions for hiking, such as Western North Carolina and the Texas Hill Country, also happen to be among the best places to see wildflowers. Traveling solo is a great way to experience the beauty of wildflower season, letting you set your own pace and stop and smell the roses as often as you please.
With mild spring weather comes calm waters, making spring a great time for freshwater kayaking. These solo watercrafts let you explore lakes and rivers on your terms, for a peaceful, scenic core workout you won’t soon forget. While spring waters are typically calm, it’s always a good idea to check water levels and wear a life vest when paddling alone.
Bird watching is a great outdoor activity for solo travelers. As a lone birder, you can be as patient and stealthy as you want. Moreover, you can reap the full meditative and transcendental benefits of bird watching when you go it alone. Key spring migration routes in the U.S. include the Pacific, Central, Mississippi, and Atlantic Flyways.
Summer is an ideal time for backpacking, offering clear trails and long daylight hours. For those who choose to go it alone, it’s a great opportunity to gain self-reliance, self-confidence, and a stronger connection with nature. Of course, solo backpacking comes with some safety concerns. To prioritize safety, be sure to let someone know where you’re going and bring along a GPS tracking device or beacon.
One of the key tenets of yoga is that you can practice it anywhere. That said, there’s nothing like practicing yoga in the great outdoors. Whether you’re joining a summer yoga retreat, following along with an audio guide, or simply stretching out by a quiet lake, outdoor yoga is a fantastic way to stay mentally and physically fit.
Like yoga, paddleboarding is healthy for both body and mind. The slow, rhythmic movements help to calm the nervous system, while the balance required to stay on your feet is great for your core. Sunrise is an especially peaceful time to go paddleboarding, casting a soft golden glow on the water and offering calmer conditions than other times of day.
Fall is prime time to hit the trail. With cooler temperatures, you can enjoy a longer, more comfortable hike than in the summertime. Of course, the main attraction for fall hikers is the changing leaves. From North Carolina’s Smoky Mountains to the Green Mountains of Vermont, the explosion of fiery colors that accompanies the fall season makes the ultimate backdrop for solo hiking. And the changing leaves aren’t just beautiful; they can be a catalyst for reflecting on life, death, and the human condition. Solo hiking gives you the time and privacy to contemplate the big questions, so don’t forget to bring a journal to jot down your thoughts!
Brisk air, fiery foliage, and low off-season traffic: fall was made for cycling. Of course, while fall is considered the off-season for many tourist destinations, in places known for leaf peeping, the roads can be quite busy. Luckily, you’ll find plenty of car-free cycling paths in top fall destinations across the country, from the Stowe Recreation Path to Bar Harbor’s historic carriage roads, to the Cape Fear River Trail in Western North Carolina.
Fall is apple season, and there’s no better way to enjoy harvest time than at a u-pick orchard. While primarily marketed towards families and couples, u-pick apple orchards can also be a rewarding outdoor activity for solo travelers. Purchase a bag from the visitor’s center and take your time to fill it with the best apples on the orchard. It’s fun, relaxing, and affordable!
Soaking in a natural hot spring while snow falls all around you is an experience you’ll remember forever. From Astoria Hot Springs Park in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, to the town of Hot Springs, North Carolina, these natural hot springs are ideal for solo soaking in cold weather. Of course, popular hot springs can get crowded on weekends and holidays, but visit on a weekday or early in the morning, and you might just have the spring all to yourself!
In the northern hemisphere, winter boasts the clearest skies of the year. That makes winter the perfect time for some solo stargazing. Doing it alone, moreover, can be an even more transcendent experience, inviting you to feel at one with the cosmos. For the best winter stargazing, seek out dark-sky areas such as Dripping Springs, TX, or Flagstaff, AZ.
Forget hitting the old dusty trail; with a pair of snowshoes, solo travelers can hit the snowy trail and enjoy a quiet, solitary activity in the great outdoors. National Parks like Rocky Mountain and Yellowstone open snowshoeing trails in the winter, letting you experience America’s crown jewels without the distraction of the high-season crowds.
Whether you’re a seasoned adventurer or it’s your first solo trip, finding great outdoor accommodations can be challenging. At Nook Outdoors, we strive to bring you the best outdoor accommodations in the U.S. We hand-pick the finest boutique hotels, landscape hotels, and glamping retreats from across the country and assemble them in one easy-to-find, easy-to-navigate location. But don’t just take our word for it. Explore our complete collection of outdoor accommodations and book your solo travel experience today!
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