What is Step 1?
It’s the first of five steps that will bring you to the level you wish to travel. Only this is by yourself solo, or with a friend, independently, but not on a guided tour.
The steps in order: briefly, Step One is your first solo trip, nearby overnight. Step 2 is state to state travel, Step 3 is to a far away state or nearby country, Step 4 is to a far country and Step 5 is to a country where you don’t speak the language.
Before I became a solo traveler, I was shy and introverted. I did not have confidence in myself. I was often quite lonely and sad, and my life felt unimportant. I was bullied by my so-called friends as a young teen. These so-called friends smeared oil and grease from carbon paper all over my body and mocked me. This has never been publicly shared before, as I was shamed. The experience of travel has lifted a burden from my past and now I can share the lessons I have learned throughout this book—of new places to see and favorite places to revisit. This was a transformation for me, and I know it will transform you, irrespective of your age or lifestyle. This is no longer a story about being shy and under confident. Travel has changed my life and it can change yours too.
I started traveling. And I tried to find books on how to travel solo, but I was not able to find any that I liked. So I decided to write one and help the millions of other women my age who are desperate for this travel, especially after two years of not being able to travel. Think of the plans that are now being made. You need this book now.
Solo travel is about the experience, all which leads up to going somewhere new, and subsequent events. Books like this one help you decide where to go, how to go, what to see, and how to experience it at the level where you are. Do you want to know more?
Step One: No experience yet, but ready to start a solo trip. Suggested trips include: starting at a city where you have a family member or friend with whom you can stay. It could be Boston, New York, or even a suburban town in Montana. It should be relatively close to your home state and not for an extended period.
Consider: when you were in kindergarten, you were just starting out, and you knew it. If you realize you are once again just embarking on a new journey, you will give yourself some extra time and grace to travel alone and learn. Ask questions along the way. Don’t assume everything is going to go well (it won’t!). Accept that plans will go smoothly some of the time;celebrate those moments. When you look back on your personal history, you will be telling the story the way you saw it unfold, so it will be from your perspective alone as a Step One traveler. Don’t carry extra baggage from plans that didn’t go exactly as you prepared them.
Every chapter has step one guidance on what you need to travel, accommodations, packing, food, air and ground travel, safety and health and general travel tips. I also tell you of my lessons learned, including the most embarrassing ones. An example of that is when I drew out directions for a friend that had the wrong info. The water was on the east, not the west.
Step One Destinations found in the book include the following:
East coast:
Vermont, New York, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Boston
Midwest, USA
In this Midwest USA section Step One, we cover parts of Nebraska, Colorado, Tennessee, Wisconsin, and Illinois.
Now that you learned about Step one, You will hear the other four steps to follow.
Connect with Dr Travelbest
Dr. Mary Travelbest Facebook Page
Dr. Mary Travelbest Facebook Group
Comments