solo road trip – Wandering the Gap

If you’re experiencing a period of loneliness, my heart goes out to you. Whether you moved away from home for work or school or you don’t have a close relationship with family, I can only imagine how bittersweet this season feels. Movies portray the holidays as a perfect time of year when everyone comes together and is happy, but life is much more complicated.

Check out my video How to Deal with Holiday Loneliness for more tips

Regardless of your circumstances, I want to share some tips for making the most of your time alone. My husband is in the military, so I’ve spent many months getting comfortable with doing things solo. Just last year, we spent most of the holiday season separated while he was on an overseas deployment.

Here are some of my favorite solo things to do around the holidays to get in the festive spirit and embrace the alone time:

Solo things to do around the holidays, by lifestyle blogger Wandering the Gap

1. Drive around and look at the Christmas lights

One of my favorite holiday activities is driving around with my dog and a cup of hot cocoa to admire the Christmas lights while listening to festive music. It’s a super cheap, fun way to celebrate and embrace the season. I find it virtually impossible to be in a bad mood while looking at Christmas light displays!

2. Have a cozy night in

While I think it’s important to get out of the house and socialize, I also think it’s healthy to stay in and relax every now and then. I appreciate nights where I can kick back with a glass of wine, watch a movie, order takeout, put on a face mask, and savor my solo time. Brainstorm a few things that help you feel refreshed and set aside a night to indulge in whatever recharges you.

3. Try a new hobby

Taking a Lyra class with Shangri-La Aerial Arts

Being alone is, in my opinion, one of the best opportunities to pursue new interests. I like to make the most of my extra free time by branching out and trying things out of my comfort zone. This could be anything from signing up for a pottery-making class (which is on my list of must-try solo activities!) to tackling a DIY project or exploring upcoming local events.

4. Go to the movies

I love watching movies and take any chance I get to go on solo movie theater dates. Usually, I’ll try to go during the week or a weekend matinee so the theater isn’t too crowded. It can feel awkward to see a movie by yourself, but I’ve done it many times now that it’s obvious no one really cares or even notices. Grab your favorite drink and snacks, settle in, and enjoy the experience.

5. Volunteer

Volunteering at the 2023 Emma Crawford Coffin Races and Festival

I find volunteering to be an excellent use of solo time, especially around the holidays. Get plugged into your community to find organizations needing your time for various projects. Volunteer work isn’t always glamorous, but it’s incredibly fulfilling to pour into others and give what you can to a cause that’s greater than yourself.

6. Cook a new recipe

When I know I’m flying solo because my husband will be away, I like to experiment with new recipes and meals. I’m definitely guilty of cooking the same things over and over again—I don’t want to waste time and money on a recipe that doesn’t turn out! It’s easier for me to justify cooking new foods when I’m alone since I won’t be wasting as much food if I don’t end up liking it. For instance, my favorite recent recipe find was a tofu pumpkin curry that I’ve now incorporated into our weeknight dinner rotation.

7. Challenge yourself physically

My first solo Colorado 14er, Mount Blue Sky (formerly Mount Evans)

From festive races to holiday-themed fitness classes, now is the perfect time to push yourself physically. It can be tempting to spend the season curled up on the couch bringing Christmas movies and splurging on sweet treats.

While I can only speak from experience, I feel much better—physically, mentally, and emotionally—when I’m getting active on a regular basis. Activities like yoga, rock climbing, running, hiking, aerial silks, barre, and CrossFit have made a significant difference in feeling healthy and fulfilled while I’m alone.

8. Reach out to someone

There have been several phases of my life where I’ve felt lonely, especially after moving halfway across the country from our closest friends and family. Being physically separated from your support system can make it hard to connect with loved ones, leading to feelings of isolation.

When I begin to fill down about missing friends and family, I try to reach out and let them know I’m interested in catching up. Sure, it’s not the same as physically being with them, but it comes pretty darn close. Maintaining those long-distance relationships takes effort, but it makes you value the times you do see each other in person so much more.

9. Explore somewhere new

Travel is another huge love of mine, and I’ve been fortunate to take some incredible solo trips in the past to places like Washington, D.C. and New Mexico. Visiting somewhere you’ve never been before is so exciting and enlightening.

I’ve created many lifelong memories during my solo travel experiences, even if I was just taking a day trip somewhere nearby or exploring a neighborhood in my area. Of course, you should always put safety first—but I highly encourage anyone interested in traveling alone to go for it!

10. Handle something you’ve been procrastinating

This last tip isn’t the most glamorous, but it has been one of the most helpful in navigating alone time. Seize this opportunity to finally tackle that house project, random task, or annoying to-do that you’ve been putting off.

I completely understand not wanting to spend an afternoon reorganizing your closet, getting your teeth cleaned, or sitting on the phone with your insurance company. However, I promise you’ll feel relieved and accomplished after taking care of it once and for all.

Hopefully you’re inspired to seek joy as much as possible during the holiday season, even if you are spending it alone! At the end of the day, it’s a chance to learn more about yourself and get comfortable being independent—so maximize it to the fullest extent.

Happy June everyone! Over Memorial Day Weekend I embarked on a solo road trip to a state I’d never been before: New Mexico! I explored the towns of Santa Fe and Taos and had an amazing time. I was only able to stay for one night, so I’d love to go back to New Mexico and take some more time to see everything it has to offer. This is a little recap of everything I did and saw during my short time in New Mexico. If you haven’t already watched my road trip vlog, you can check that out right here!

Santa Fe

My first destination for my solo road trip to New Mexico was the Santa Fe Farmer’s Market. I arrived around 11:30am and was excited to see that the market was huge! There were a lot of people there because it was a beautiful Saturday morning, but I had a lot of fun wandering around and checking out all the vendors. I didn’t purchase anything this time around, but I highly recommend visiting the market if you want to pick up some local produce, baked goods, or arts and crafts.

After exploring the farmer’s market, I made my way over to REI Santa Fe. REI may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but as a former employee, I find it interesting to visit the different stores when I travel. REI is also typically a great place to buy local goods, and especially souvenir items. While there, I grabbed a few freeze-dried foods and snacks to have for dinner at my campsite.

For lunch, I decided to stop by La Choza because it has amazing reviews, with some people calling it the best Mexican restaurant in the whole city. I had pretty high expectations, and La Choza did not disappoint. To start, I tried their house margarita with prickly pear, which was highly-recommended in reviews. The margarita was incredibly fresh and not too sweet – just my style! I also got an order of their chips and guacamole. While the guacamole wasn’t as chunky as I usually like it, the flavor was amazing and I loved the addition of blue corn chips. For my entree I tried the crisp taco plate with green chile beef. The taco itself was amazing and the green chile beef was super flavorful. The plate also came with beans and posole, a type of pork/hominy soup that I had never tried before and really enjoyed. I chose a sopapilla for my side item which was super simple but surprisingly delicious, even though I totally forgot to try it with honey!

After lunch, I made my way over to Kakawa Chocolate House, which was one of my favorite stops of the whole trip. Kakawa serves up drinking chocolate and all kinds of chocolate creations ranging from truffles to caramels and even brownie sundaes. I got their Mayan drinking chocolate with whipped cream which was the perfect combination of sweet, bitter, spicy, and creamy. I also tried a sampling of their truffles and caramels which were mind-blowingly good. The prickly pear truffle and pinon caramel were my favorites!

Next, I decided to visit the downtown Santa Fe area. I didn’t have a specific destination in mind, so I just wandered through the various streets and popped into a few shops. I stumbled across a beautiful church in the heart of the city that was an amazing find, and I loved the big park in the main square as well. The whole area has a very artsy feel, with lots of galleries, museums, and art vendors around every corner. I didn’t get to spend much time exploring, but would love to come back sometime.

Taos

My next stop on my New Mexico road trip was Taos, where I’d be spending the night. Taos was about an hour and a half drive from Santa Fe, and the ride there went by the Rio Grande which was beautiful. Taos is a pretty small town, and I immediately loved the atmosphere as soon as I arrived. My first stop after checking in to my campsite was the Taos Inn to try their world-famous Cowboy Buddha Margarita. The margarita was very fresh and delicious, and I took my time enjoying it.

As the night came to a close I returned to my campsite at Taos Valley RV Park and settled in for the evening. I had hoped to do some hiking while in New Mexico, but wildfires had sadly closed many of the national forests. All the more reason to plan another visit!

If you’re looking for simple and comfortable camping or RV accommodatioins, I definitely recommend Taos Valley RV Park. All the facilities were very nice and well-maintained, and the park was surprisingly quiet so I got a great night of sleep. There are also beautiful views of the surrounding mountains which made for a beautiful sunset.

The next morning, I started my day with a visit to Michael’s Kitchen for breakfast. The restaurant is clearly a favorite in town because it was very busy, but I was able to grab a table without any wait. I opted for the atole-pinon pancakes which were made of blue corn. I absolutely loved how hearty and almost savory these pancakes were in contrast to your normal buttermilk shortstack. On my way out, I also grabbed a freshly baked loaf of sourdough bread, a chocolate croissant, and an apple empanada. All of their baked goods were amazing!

After breakfast, I took a short stroll through downtown Taos. Like Santa Fe, Taos is full of shops, art galleries, and museums. I picked up some handmade margarita glasses, which I can’t wait to use, and enjoyed my morning walk through town before beginning the journey home.

All in all, I had an amazing trip to New Mexico for the first time! I loved all the art and history that was evident in each town, and would love to return to explore some of the state’s beautiful hiking areas as well. I definitely recommend paying a visit to New Mexico if you’ve never been. What are your favorite things to see and do in New Mexico? Leave your recommendations in the comments so I can be sure to incorporate them during my next trip!