Candice Wilmuth

Lake Tahoe is great in any season and for any type of traveler, but I think it’s an especially good choice for a solo trip due to the variety of activities and how easy it is to make your own itinerary on the fly. The Lake (a.k.a. “Big Blue”) is 72 miles around—it’s the largest alpine lake in North America and the second-deepest in the United States at 1,645 feet. Many first-time visitors take the time to drive around Lake Tahoe (it should take two hours without stopping), stopping at key points along the way for hiking, swimming, biking, and eating. I also recommend choosing a shore for your home base—my favorite is Tahoe City, which gives you easy access to the West Shore, Emerald Bay, Truckee, and Kings Beach/Incline Village. Whether you have a day in Tahoe or a week, check out my guide to find numerous solo-friendly excursions to fill your time. Reach out so we can start your next booking!

North Carolina's Outer Banks offers the best of both worlds: This iconic beach destination is also full of history and beauty, providing a mix of group and family travel options as well as romantic outings. The long beach boasts soft sand, tall reeds, rolling dunes, gorgeous sunrises, and even crabs popping out of the sand as you walk by. We spent a week there in June 2025, alternating between family time and couple time. Most days we'd start out at the beach with the crew, but then my boyfriend and I would get the itch to do some exploring. There were so many options close by, from water activities to historic sites to North Carolina's famous vinegar-based barbecue. The Outer Banks (OBX) is a one-hour-and-45-minute drive from Norfolk airport, and is the perfect beach vacay for a family, couple, or group of friends. Book your week-long visit today!

Tiburon is the perfect place to stay when you want to be close to San Francisco, but still in a cozy little town surrounded by the redwoods and the coast. It is a great jumping-off point for wine tasting, exploring the outdoors via hikes or biking, and you can get to the city in 20 minutes via car, Uber/Lyft or ferry. Or you can stay in Tiburon, which has great cafes, restaurants, trails and dog parks.

Carmel-by-the-Sea is a charming coastal town nestled on the Monterey Peninsula in California. It's a scenic two-hour drive south of San Francisco in the Bay Area. Though it's a smallish town, there are many activities to keep you busy, and many yummy restaurants to try out. Which makes it the perfect place to do a getaway for one day, four days or an entire week. You can also visit Carmel all year round, making it easy to schedule your next visit!

Park City is an easy-to-love mountain town in the Wasatch Mountains, about a 45-minute drive from Salt Lake City. Originally a silver mining town, and then mostly rebuilt in the Victorian style. Park City’s main “old” town stuns year-round, whether you visit during a flowery early summer, a golden autumn or a snow-blanketed February weekend. And the location is perfect for a variety of purposes: my boyfriend and I went in October for a romantic weekend, but Park City works just as well for a joint bachelor / bachelorette party, a family ski trip or even a day trip to hike to the region’s many waterfalls and lakes. Regardless of the reason — or the season - Park City is definitely a place you and yours should check out soon!

Mammoth Lakes is a mountain town in the Eastern Sierra Mountains, a 3.5 hour drive south of Lake Tahoe and five hours north of LA. The drive itself is beautiful, but once you get to the Mammoth area, you are in for quite the leaf-peeping show. Whether it is from the car window, during a hike or soaking in a hot spring, a mid-October visit means you will see some of the most beautiful fall leaves in the United States. For utmost convenience, stay right in Mammoth Lakes, but be ready for some daily adventures both south and north of town. Pack layers, as temperatures can vary greatly…and maybe even pack some fall color outfits so you can fit right in with the shivering aspens!