View this post on Instagram Solitary kite surfer taking advantage of strong winds kicked up by an approaching storm front. Incline Beach, Lake Tahoe. Elevation 6,229ft (1,900m). Water temp: 43 F (6 C) Outside air temp: 39 F (4 C) Wind: Sustained at 25 mph (40 khm), gusting to 40 mph (64 kmh) Number of […]
I started using the Polarsteps app in March 2018 at the outset of a 31-day trip to Dubai, Australia, and Thailand and immediately got hooked on it. I’ll be honest. I’ve always thought taking photos and keeping a journal while traveling were self-indulgent and a waste of time. But there’s something about the visual, tangible, and […]
That’s a good–and popular–question. If you don’t know who Karl Bushby is, check out our review of his book Giant Steps: The Remarkable Story of the Goliath Expedition: From Punta Arenas to Russia. It’s the fascinating story of the first part of the epic walk he is undertaking from southern Chile back to his home […]
The following information about Sydney should prove useful as you explore Australia’s largest city and the areas surrounding it. If there is any additional information you think we should add, let us know via the COMMENT form at the bottom of the page. Weather Click for weather forecast Emergency Services Dial 000 if you are […]
A couple of years ago, I stumbled upon and immediately got hooked on Ewan McGregor’s BBC reality television series Long Way Down. The program documents the three-month journey McGregor and his friend undertook in 2007 from northern Scotland to Cape Town, South Africa by motorcycle. I was fascinated and enthralled by their trip: the challenges […]
View this post on Instagram Lone surfer hitting the waters of Lake Tahoe at Incline Beach on Saturday, December 7, 2019. Elevation 6,229 feet. A strong storm front kicked up a sizeable wind swell – enough to be rideable. Water temp: 49F (9C) Air temp: 39F (4C) Wind: Steady at 20 mph (32 kph). For […]
Welcome to the first entry in OnTheGoSolo.com’s blog series “Griz’s Ultimate Guide to Ireland“ Each month our resident traveler errant, Griz Mitchell, will publish a collection of informative, and we hope entertaining, posts on a particular country he has lived in. If he sticks with it—and he’s kind of temperamental, so we’re not making any […]
Overview If you’re looking for cool places to visit in Madrid, you’re in luck. The city is teeming with world-class museums, beautiful architecture, great restaurants, and vibrant public places. This short guide is intended to highlight some of the better known, lesser known, and over-rated attractions in town. Off the Tourist Track Plaza de Oriente […]
Ceiling of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on the campus of the University of Notre Dame, Indiana. Consecrated in 1888 after 17 years of construction, this neo-gothic landmark now attracts over 50,000 visitors a year. The 116 stained glass windows, created by Carmelite nuns in Le Mans, France, add color, light, and airiness to […]
The Nice Carnival celebration is one of the largest carnival events in the world, attracting over a million visitors during it’s 15-day run. The theme of Carnival changes each year. In 2017, it was Energy. This year, it was Space. In 2019, it will be Cinema. Despite the different themes, the overall style of the […]
So, you want to learn how to curse like a leprechaun, do you? Well you’re in luck, ya jammy bastard. Because one of the first things you’ll notice in Ireland is that everyone swears. All the time. From little babies ask for their “fooking bottles” to old women shouting “I will in me hole!” when asked […]
January 11, 2020: Based on feedback from readers and media reports, we’ve rewritten this article to reflect the changes that have recently been made to the Uber in Ireland alternative. The Uber-like app, which was called MyTaxi.com, has been renamed to Free Now. Why a taxi-hailing company would voluntarily rebrand from MyTaxi to Free Now […]
“I’m a big believer in winging it. I’m a big believer that you’re never going to find perfect city travel experience or the perfect meal without a constant willingness to experience a bad one. Letting the happy accident happen is what a lot of vacation itineraries miss, I think, and I’m always trying to push […]
Looking south on Lake Tahoe toward Sand Harbor on a surprisingly warm and sunny day in mid-November. The newly constructed Tahoe East Shore Trail, a three-mile-long biking/walking path, runs from the Harbor up to Incline Village and will eventually connect up with various other existing and planned Tahoe trails to completely encircle the lake. In […]
If you’re looking for breakfast in Santa Cruz California, you’ve got a lot of great options. The combination of a beachy, outdoor vibe, warm weather most of the year, and a young, very social population means people really get into breakfast here. And that’s great because you end up with menus filled with locally sourced, […]
AirBnB is very popular, widespread, and fairly reasonably priced in Ireland. As a result, you’ll find that most towns currently offer a wide variety of rental options to tourists. The first part of this post lets you know what to expect in a typical Irish AirBnB and gives you some advice on what to bring […]
My latest book recommendation for solo travelers is The Good Girl’s Guide to Getting Lost. It’s the true story of author Rachel Friedman’s personal evolution through travel. In the beginning, she’s your stereotypical “good girl.” She tries to please everyone and focuses so much on that, she can’t see anything beyond her immediate surrounds. And […]
I leave the land of underwater farts A couple of years ago I spent six days in the Manuel Antonio/Quepos area of Costa Rica. And let me tell you, when people in Hell feel a chill, they go to Manuel Antonio/Quepos to warm up. It’s not just blazing hot there, it’s humid like you’ve never […]
If you’ve never tried planning the perfect solo trip or if your previous “perfect” solo trips didn’t live up to your expectations, you might feel overwhelmed at where to begin. The following guide leads you step-by-step through the planning process, from figuring out your goals to booking your ticket. The more time you take deciding […]
“In Paris they just simply opened their eyes and stared when we spoke to them in French! We never did succeed in making those idiots understand their own language.” ― Mark Twain, The Innocents Abroad
Godzilla “walking” through Place Massena during Carnival in Nice (2018). The celebration is one of the largest carnival events in the world. Each year, over a million visitors come to cheer on the bands, gape at the floats, and marvel at the giant balloons during the festival’s 15-day run. The theme of Carnival changes each […]
Is it safe to travel to <your intended destination>? It’s a common question for travelers. It’s also one that you can always find an answer to by doing a little research. And the websites listed at the end of this post are a great place to start. Note that each of these is a government-run, […]
Although most people planning to go out to dinner wouldn’t select an Irish pub as a destination, there are some mouthwatering Irish dishes that you mightn’t be aware of. And there are also some that you should probably avoid, even though they’re surprisingly popular. The following are 9 delicious dishes and 3 gross ones that […]
One of the newest travel apps I’ve added to my smartphone is Meetup.com and it’s rapidly becoming a staple of my social life. This despite having the worst corporate logo I’ve ever seen. I’d love to pick the brains of the Meetup Marketing team that decided that “bloodsplatter” was the imagery they wanted to associate […]
Located in the heart of the French Riviera, Nice has a lot going for it. Warm, sunny summers; short, mild winters; two world-class art galleries; great food; and a friendly, welcoming atmosphere. Tens of thousands of tourists come each year, but most don’t even notice that some of the most impressive works of art are […]