I was in Ireland last month and thought, of all my travels, the people were the easiest to get along with. I’d go back for a laid back trip, in a flash. And sometimes, you just want no language barrier. Plus, so inexpensive on Norwegian Air.
@cincygal, I’m intrigued! Did you have a direct flight from the U.S. to San Miguel? Looks like a beautiful place…many tourists?
+1 on Norwegian Air Shuttle. NAS has flights to Europe reasonably priced even if you need to travel on a short notice.
If you come to California to see Muir Woods, be advised that you now MUST have a reservation for parking or a shuttle van. You CANNOT just show up and park any more. 
https://www.nps.gov/muwo/index.htm
On a different note, my wife took a Rick Steves tour in Italy last summer and had a wonderful time although the others were mainly couples and families so there was a third wheel aspect some of the time.
Backroads is a well-known premier biking and hiking travel company; I’ve run into their Pacific Coast bike tours a few times, and they look fun. I doubt that anyone wanting an organized cycling or hiking tour would be unhappy with their tours.
But I’ll put in a word for Iron Donkey in Ireland for bike tours. They set up a fantastic bike tour for me a couple of years ago. They provide the bike, they provide the routes, they make the B&B reservations. All I had to do was ride.
My husband and I had them set up a trip where he would drive from B&B to B&B, stopping along the way to go on a hike, and I would do their usual bike route. Ireland is fantastic for cycling and hiking, the B&Bs know how to feed hungry cyclists and hikers, and we loved everything about Ireland. We did one week on the west coast, the Wild Atlantic Way, and a second week in Northern Ireland, both fantastic.
They do small group guided tours as well as self-guided. If I were traveling alone, and I didn’t want to set up my own tour, I’d have them set me up a solo tour. But most people are more gregarious than I am, and would opt for joining a group tour.
Our trip to the Azores was on Azores Airlines, and we flew non-stop from Boston to the city of Ponta Delgada on São Miguel, less than 5 hour flight. We were on our own to book flights from our home airport to Boston. We booked a flight/hotel/airport transfers package with Azores Getaways. You can book additional day tours with them, although I heard on our last day about a Azores tour company called Amazing Tours that sounded worth checking into.
Azores Airlines has non-stop flights from Boston and Toronto and maybe other cities too. I think they also have non -stop flights from the US to other isliands in the archipelago too. Word is that São Miguel is the most scenic island. There may be other airlines that fly there also.
Side note a about our trip: we were literally seconds from landing in Ponta Delgada when the pilot pulled up and aborted the landing. It was announced that the winds were too strong for the plane. We diverted all the way to Lisbon - 900+ miles! Before we even got off the plane in Lisbon, Azores Airlines already had us booked on a flight back to Ponta Delgada a few hours later and gave us a meal voucher.
If you decide to go to São Miguel, I can give other suggestions.
I wanted to thank everyone for all the ideas! I don’t see DH becoming a traveler any time soon and this thread has alerted me to new options, especially for the hiking and active activities.
@OnceARebel, when/if you decide on something or take that trip, I hope you will tell us about it!
Do it! I’m taking my first solo hiking trip this August with a guided group.
In my hiking club, some of the solo travelers will hire guides one on one, or look for a hiking club at the destination. Sierra Club, Meetup, or Googling “hiking club” and the destination.
^^^^^ thanks! Sad to say, but at my age, I’m thinking I better start working on the bucket list outdoor adventures. I feel great now, but ???
http://travelingprofessor.com/Default.aspx
…My SIL went on a great women’s trip to Paris. Other destinations available…
These are all such great ideas. My bucket list has gotten a lot longer. Thanks!
Southeast Asia is a safer place for single female travelers than some venues (I’d include the US in that as well, though I have no data). My D traveled there for three months – two with friends and one on her own. Very inexpensive on the ground (although you can spend a lot if you want). Vietnam, Bali. But, upon returning to your post, you want to go for a week. It’s too much work to get there for a one week trip – it would be worth a two week trip.
I recently came across a blog from a solo woman traveler with lots of advice for solo female travelers. http://aplus.com/a/travel-blogger-ciara-johnson-on-traveling-alone?no_monetization=true but there others (http://www.adventurouskate.com/ and http://www.adventurouskate.com/).
I’ve been fortunate to have traveled to lots of places in the world (apparently I flew 186K miles last year).
Depends upon the season. In addition to Vietnam and Bali (both great places), I really enjoyed Croatia, but it is probably too cold until May/June (weather seems to be on a par with Boston), Northern Italy (we go every other year). Again, a little cool. I love the Bay Area (including Muir Woods) per @TQfromtheU’s suggestion but there are lots of other places in the Bay Area as well. The Pacific NW could be great in the less rainy seasons. Same with Vancouver. As a hiker, I love the Canadian Rockies and Yosemite (which are likely snow-covered now, so good for cross-country skiing) and Bryce and Zion in the Southwest. Assuming you are going soon, how about Southern Spain or Portugal (Valencia, Sevilla, Algarve, …)? Capetown and game parks?
The thread above I wrote a couple of days ago but didn’t post. Now I see you love hiking. One of the nicest places in the world for hiking – that you can go alone – is Lake O’Hara in the Canadian Rockies. there is a wonderful (and expensive) lodge there, but the same people go every year (it is hard to get a reservation) but the culture is such that you could join with others each day for hiking. Then you come back to really nice dinner.
OP here, with an update. I’ve made the decision: Azores! I appreciate all the ideas, and when I win the lottery, I’ll try to visit them all.
Terrific! Sounds like a great location. I hope you’ll write us a trip report! When are you going?
OnceARebel, you will love it. In a few years, the Azores will be like Iceland - full of tourists. So you are going at a good time. Which island or islands are you going to visit? I would have some suggestions and comments for São Miguel.
Azores is on my list, too. Please tell us later how it goes.
That webcam is fantastic! I’ve visited several cities this morning instead of doing laundry and making breakfast. I’ve followed along and love all the trip suggestions.
This is a great thread. I had missed it, but there sounds like some wonderful suggestions, and interesting travel groups to check out.
I was planning a week in the Cinque Terra region of Italy as a nice reward for making it through a tough year, while my husband would be in training for a couple of months (hopefully). I asked my sister (whom I get along with very well)…a week of hiking, facial and massage, strolling around peacefully, eating good food and drinking delicious wine. Four star hotels, business class travel, and I’ll pay, arrange everything and be the tour guide. And I’m willing to change the trip to anywhere else in Europe, to do anything else whatsoever. Now I’m starting to feel like she is going to back out of this once again.
So I’m trying to figure out a backup plan (no money is invested yet, since we don’t even have the timeframe). I’ve traveled by myself all over the world, so it’s not a big deal. I’m just not sure if I’d prefer an all females group, a mixed group, or to go by myself. I’m kind of anti-social and don’t want to have to talk to people all the time, but every now and then would be nice. Maybe I’ll just wait till the last minute and do something spontaneous. Or maybe I’ll wait till my husband is finished up and go with him.
@busdriver11, your sister must be crazy to back out of that Italy trip. WTH?!?!
I’ll go with you! 