Five of my favorite tips that have made solo travel not only possible but deeply fulfilling.

At 21, I spent five weeks studying abroad in Trujillo, Spain – my first time overseas and my first quiet step into independence. A decade later, I reflect on how that summer shaped the way I move through the world.

A reflective trip to Seattle for the SSWR Conference — balancing research presentation and networking, city exploration, and intentional pauses along the way.

A one-day trip to Washington, DC, for the Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR) Conference filled with recognition, mentorship, and quiet walks past monuments that tell their own stories.

I spent a few days in Phoenix on my first solo trip, wandering through murals, catching rooftop fireworks, and learning to enjoy my own pace.