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BY Nancy Mueller 2 Comments ON June 22, 2015

Solo Travel for Adventurous Boomer Women

Nancy Mueller Alaska

It’s no secret that we encourage solo women travel here at Wanderlust and Lipstick. Yet I marvel at how often my traveling alone to exotic destinations provokes a variety of reactions from fellow women travelers who are not, ranging from:

“You’re so brave!”

“Really?” (as in, Why would anyone want to do that?)

to:

“Wow.” (as in, How do you get to do that?)

“Cool!”

Solo Travel Nancy Mueller Langley, WA

While I’m a great proponent of travel with family and friends given the opportunity, I’m also a strong advocate for solo women travel. In fact, according to recent reports cited both in The New York Times and Oprah Magazine, the number of solo travelers, American women in particular, is on the rise.

As a Boomer woman living life single, as an empty nester, or with a partner who doesn’t share your travel bucket list, perhaps, you too, wonder whether solo wanderings are for you. Having ventured around the world on my own and with travel companions, here’s what I know for sure:

“You’re so brave!”

Solo Travel Nancy Mueller Ecuador

I’m not really. But given the choice of seeing the world solo or not at all, having once-in-a-lifetime travel experiences or not, my bags are always packed. Traveling feeds my soul and the confidence I’ve gained from doing so on my own has returned to me a thousandfold when facing similar, potentially intimidating situations in life. Susan Jeffers said it best in her ground-breaking book. Sometimes you just have to Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway in order to get where you want to go.

If the fear of traveling on your own is preventing you from doing so, make a list of your travel fears, followed by an action plan to minimize their impact. Ask for help from experienced travelers. Browse the Internet for tips from travel pros. Find out how to protect yourself from possible theft or handle other safety concerns. Don’t let fear drive your decision to stay home if you want to see the world but don’t have a travel companion.

“Really?” (as in Why would anyone want to do that?)

Solo Travel Nancy Mueller The Danube, Kelheim

Lots of reasons. Because all the award-winning photography in the world can’t compare to the unexpected emotion you feel when surrounded by Monet’s waterlily paintings at the Musee de’Orsay in Paris. Because when you witness the pristine, natural beauty of sites like Alaska’s Inside Passage up close and personal, you understand in a visceral way why it’s vital to protect our environment for ourselves and future generations. Because the memories of sailing aboard a felucca on the Nile at sunset or biking the backroads of Provence can sustain you when all else around you fails.

Besides enjoying exotic destinations, besides building self-confidence, traveling solo exposes you to fast friendships and exponential growth when you interact with others who speak another language and who see the world through a different lens than you do. Why not learn how to cook the cuisine of Ecuador on location? Why not listen to Mozart’s The Magic Flute at the opera house in Vienna? Why not saddle up for a solo horseback ride in Patagonia if that’s what you want to do?

“Wow.” (as in How do you get to do that?)

Solo Travel Nancy Mueller Montreal

I get to see the world in my role as a travel writer. But you don’t need to be a travel writer to enjoy the best that solo world wanderings have to offer. Research your travel options with the help of a travel agent or tour company that specializes in solo journeys. Network with like-minded adventurers. Set your intention, make a plan and get going.

For more information on solo travel, check out these articles:

The New York Times
Oprah Magazine

Wander on!

Nancy

What solo travels have you taken, wanderboomers? Please share your experience with us here.

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Baby Boomers and Travel Tagged With: boomer women, boomer women solo travel, New York Times, Oprah Magazine, solo travel, travel

BY Nancy Mueller 4 Comments ON March 7, 2014

International Women’s Day – May I Quote You on That?

Woman in Otavalo Market

To celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8th, I’ve compiled a few of my favorite inspirational and empowering quotes by notable women around the world:

Adventure

IFly Seattle

Photo courtesy of iFly Seattle

“When a great adventure is offered, you don’t refuse it.”  – Amelia Earhart, Aviator

Assertiveness

“I love to see a young girl go out and grab the world by the lapels. Life’s a bitch. You’ve got to go out and kick ass.”    – Maya Angelou, Poet/Activist

Beginnings

“Throw your dreams into space like a kite, and you do not know what it will bring back, a new life, a new friend, a new love, a new country.”  – Anaïs Nin, Author

Courage

“The best protection any woman can have . . . is courage.” – Elizabeth Cady Stanton, American Abolitionist/Women’s Rights Activist

Fear

“I’ve been absolutely terrified every moment of my life – and I’ve never let it keep me from doing a single thing I wanted to do.” – Georgia O’Keeffe, Artist

Food

Scallops

“When I walk into my kitchen today, I am not alone. Whether we know it or not, none of us is. We bring fathers and mothers and kitchen tables, and every meal we have ever eaten. Food is never just food. It’s also a way of getting at something else: who we are, who we have been, and who we want to be.” – Molly Wizenberg, Author, Blogger

Friendship

“Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down.”  – Oprah Winfrey, OWN Network CEO, TV Show Host, Philanthropist

Happiness

St. Patrick's Cathedral Door

‎”When one door of happiness closes another one opens, but often we look so long at the closed door we do not see the one that has been opened for us.”  – Helen Keller, Author/Activist

Inside St. Patrick's Cathedral

 

Independence

“I think the girl who is able to earn her own living and pay her own way should be as happy as anybody on earth. The sense of independence and security is very sweet.” – Susan B. Anthony, American Suffragette/Women’s Rights Advocate

Kindness

“Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.” – Mother Teresa

Love

“Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope.” – Maya Angelou

Reinvention

“It’s only too late if you don’t start now.”  – Barbara Sher, Author, Career/Life Coach

Stillness

“You must learn to be still in the midst of activity and to be vibrantly alive in repose.” – Indira Gandhi, First Female Prime Minister of India

Travel

Sailing

“Nightingale saw chaos in Egypt; Flaubert saw harmony. Nightingale saw the misery of life; Flaubert saw the glory. Both saw clearly, and both were looking at the same thing. In the end, they saw what they needed to see.” –  Rosemary Mahoney, Author, Down the Nile

“I have my own set of survival techniques. I am patient. I know how to pack light. I’m a fearless eater. But my one mighty travel talent is that I can make friends with anybody.”  –  Elizabeth Gilbert, Author, Eat, Pray, Love

“Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating that all peoples cry, laugh, eat, worry, and die, it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends.” – Maya Angelou

Women Power

“I think the key is for women not to set any limits.”  – Martina Navratilova, Tennis Pro

Work

“Hard work keeps the wrinkles out of the mind and spirit.” – Helena Rubenstein, Polish-Born Cosmetics Entrepreneur

Writing

“So much of good writing is Feng Shui – moving the furniture so the energy can flow.”  –   Lauren VanMullem, Writer, Former Wanderlust and Lipstick Blogger

Wander on!

Nancy

What about you, wanderboomers? What’s your favorite empowering/inspiring quote for women by women? Please share with us here.

 

Filed Under: Activities, Fearless Women, Florida, Food & Dining Tagged With: adventure, Amelia Earhart, famous quotes, International Women's Day, March 8th, travel

BY Nancy Mueller 13 Comments ON October 14, 2013

On Writing: Sharpening the Travel Writer’s Saw – 2013

Writers on the Sound 2013

Last year’s response to Sharpening the Travel Writer’s Saw proved so popular with readers that I’m happy to share nuggets learned from the 2013 Writers on the Sound Conference (WOTS) as well.

Once again, I received just the right dose of inspiration and practical information to polish my writing in the days ahead. Here are a few highlights captured from this year’s event:

Rick Steves 2013

He’s baaack . . .  On Travel Writing from travel guru Rick Steves . . .

“You need to have a practical foundation and weave your poetry into that if you want to make money. . . Pico Iyer is my friend and he’s brilliant. But my book on Ireland probably sells more than his most brilliant piece of writing. That’s not fair, but I’m not complaining.” Action step: Keep on writing with an eye on the business of travel writing.

“Talk with people. Find out their fears and confusions. Deal with the challenges your readers have. I look at travel writers as the current equivalent of the court jester. We need to inspire our citizenry not to be so fearful of the world. Give your readers context so they see beauty instead of conflict.” Action step: Pay attention to the fears and confusions of my readers. Remember to provide the bigger context for my travel stories. Write with my readers in mind.

“Clarity is really important. You have to put yourself in your confused readers’ minds. The struggle is to find ways to make complicated ideas clear. The temptation as travel writers is to dance around them. We have a responsibility with language. Be willing to kill your babies if they don’t fit. You lose credibility when you write: ‘This chocolate is to die for!’” Action step: Kill the clichés! But keep the chocolate.

“I think immediacy is really important. You have to be over there, collecting notes. You need to be actually doing things all the time. If you’re in Spain, go to a bullfight. If you have an opportunity, you have to take it.” Easy action step: Keep my bags packed at all times. Just say “Yes!”

Food and Wine Writing Tips from author Nick O’Connell . . .

Author Nick O'Connell

“Focus on the story. You have to figure out a way to tell the story behind a particular dish or bottle of wine. The further you go back, the more interesting it becomes.” Action step: Start with a wide-angle lens on my travel writing. Then zoom in for a close-up look.

“Food and wine writing is happy writing. People want to be entertained. If you don’t like the dish or wine, don’t write about it.” Action step: Don’t worry. Be happy when I write. The wine helps.

“Start with the familiar and go to the unfamiliar. Readers want to feel comfortable so start with something they already know, e.g. gelato or pasta. But by the end you want to teach them something they didn’t know.” Action step: Research, research, research. Add depth to my stories.

“Bring the elements of fiction into your writing. Think scenes, characterizations, dialogue and point of view. Bring your personality to your writing. Read Bistro Cooking by Patrica Wells (scenes), Cooked  by Michael Pollan and Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain (dialogue) and Ruth Reichl (how to negotiate difficult social landscapes like family gatherings at Thanksgiving). Action step: Start reading.

The Olympics and Puget Sound

What are your favorite travel writing tips, Wanderboomers? Please share your ideas with us here.

 

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Activities, Pacific Northwest, Travel Writing, Washington State Tagged With: travel, Washington

BY Nancy Mueller Leave a Comment ON September 4, 2012

Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa

With so many choices available in Waikiki Beach, how’s a wanderboomer to choose where best to stay? Fortunately, I had the chance to try out the Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort and Spa for a couple of days on a recent vacation. Here’s why the resort ranks high on my list for solo and family travelers:

Location, Location, Location

The resort lies at the southernmost end of Kalakaua Avenue, the main road through Waikiki.  Kuhio Beach Park is right across the street, for easy beach and ocean access, with Diamond Head and the Honolulu Zoo close by. Even the Waikiki Sand Restoration Project, well underway during this visit, couldn’t diminish the pleasure of having the beach just footsteps away, since most of the beach still remained accessible.

The good news is that the restoration is now complete!

Ocean View

Guests can book a room in one of two towers at the resort: the beautifully renovated oceanfront Kealohilani Tower with its own private balconies or the older Paoakalani Tower. Can you guess which one gets my vote?

Bright, tropical colors and cozy down comforters inside sheeted duvets define the look and feel of rooms in the Kealohilani Tower. Having reading lights mounted into the headboards is a welcome touch, along with outlets and connecting jacks for electronic devices.

Cultural Connections & Activities

So much of why I love to travel is wrapped around learning about and experiencing different cultures. The Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort rests on land that was once the summer palace of Hawaii’s last reigning monarch, Queen Liliuokalani. To honor her legacy, the resort renamed the twin towers, together translated as “heavenly fragrance,” to represent her two homes.

Lucky VIP guests can book the Queen Liliuokalani suite, thoughtfully designed to include her love of flowers and music composition.

In a further nod to the Queen’s musical background, nightly entertainment at the resort presents authentic Hawaiian music. What a treat to sit in the warm open-air of Moana Terrace overlooking Waikiki Beach, listening to music masters George Kuo, Martin Pahinui (slack key guitar) & Aaron Mahi (bass)!

And if watching hula dancers is on your must-do-in-Hawaii list, you’ll be happy to know that performances are presented throughout the day in the resort’s enormous main lobby.

Active wanderboomers  can also take advantage of the Surf Package offered by the on-site Pro Surf School Hawaii, owned and operated by professional surfer Kai Sallas. For $244./night, guests can stay in a deluxe room with balcony, and receive a two-hour lesson with professional surfers and a two-day surfboard rental. Classes are offered at all levels in how to surf, stand up paddle and bodyboard.

Amenities

With 1,310 guest rooms, 5 dining facilities, plus Seattle’s Best Coffee House, two outdoor pools and whirlpool, a free 24-hour state-of-the-art fitness center and a spa salon, is it any wonder that staying at the resort feels like living in a small village? Oh – and don’t forget over 55,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space and a Business Center (if you must work while you’re here), plus a host of places to shop throughout the property, including the always popular ABC Store.

Hawaiian Hospitality

Maybe it’s because the ever-present sun and timeless, natural island beauty bring out the best in people. Whatever the reason, the spirit of warm hospitality runs deep in Hawaii. From the fragrant floral leis presented to visitors at airport arrivals to the heartfelt expression of “Aloha” in greetings and partings, Hawaiian hospitality is legendary. A little bit of kindness extended by chef Chuck and server Janice in the Kuhio Grill, for example, went a long way in making this WanderBoomer a happy camper.

* Special thanks to the Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort and Spa for hosting a portion of my stay.

There’s still time to enter our special Travel Writing Contest, Wanderboomers! Win a 5-night stay (and fantastic extras) on Hawaii Island at the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa. For details, click here:

http://wanderlustandlipstick.com/2012/hawaii-island-travel-writing-contest-announced

But hurry – entries must be submitted by September 14, 2012 11:59 p.m. PST!

Filed Under: Activities, Baby Boomers and Travel, By Land, By Ship & By Sea, Destinations, Entertainment, Food & Dining, Hawaii, Shopping Tagged With: Aaron Mahi, Aloha, bass, beach, bodyboard, cultural connections, culture, Diamond Head, fitness center, George Kuo, Hawaii, Hawaiian hospitality, heavenly fragrance, Honolulu Zoo, hospitality, hula, Kai Sallas, Kealohilani Tower, Kuhio Beach Park, Kuhio Grill, leis, Martin Pahinui, Moana Terrace, ocean view, oceanfront, Paoakalani Tower, Pro Surfer School Hawaii, Queen Liliuokalani, restoration, slack key guitar, spa, stand up paddle, surfer, surfing, travel, Waikiki Beach, Waikiki Beach Sand Restoration Project, Waikiki Marriott Beach Resort and Spa, Waikiki Sand Restoration Project

BY Nancy Mueller 4 Comments ON August 6, 2012

Make a Difference with Meaningful Trip

“It doesn’t take much to do good,” claims Joe Staiano, founder of Seattle-based Meaningful Trip. He should know.

At home, Staiano devotes his time to several non-profit organizations: ICO (Inner City Outings) through the Sierra Club, IRC (the International Rescue Committee) and Camp Erin, founded by All-Star major league baseball pitcher, Jaime Moyer and his wife Karen, for children grieving the death of someone close to them.

For 10 years Staiano coordinated overseas tours for REI Adventures to such dream destinations as Ecuador/the Galapagos Islands, Turkey and India.  He then spent the next 7 years working in community-based tourism and volunteering his expertise in Africa and Southeast Asia.

Moved to make a difference in the lives of the people he met beyond his own volunteer efforts, Staiano started Meaningful Trip with the goal of giving back to the local communities. Volunteer tourism is a worthy goal, he recognizes, and “the travel and tourism industry can do even more,” starting with his own company.

First, in addition to ensuring the travel expertise of his global partners, Staiano goes further by asking tough questions, such as: “How many women are on your staff?” What are your environmental values?” “What do you do to support your community?”

Second,  a portion of each client’s fees, typically 5 – 10%, is donated to women’s empowerment, health, education, and poverty alleviation. His company also supports hunger and anti-trafficking programs in the U.S.

The third leg of Meaningful Trip’s “Triple Give” giving mechanism extends to Staiano’s dream of “building a community that cares” when clients return from their travels. Through meaningful dinner parties and thought-provoking conversations, Staiano encourages people to explore actions that make a difference in their local communities.

“Travel with an open heart and open mind.  Meaningful travel and you can change the world,” says Staiano.

For more information on responsible travel and all of  Meaningful Trip’s itineraries, including a Founder’s trek in Nepal in November, click : http://www.MeaningfulTrip.com or contact: info@meaningfultrip.com.

*All photos: Copyright Joe Staiano

How are you making a difference in your travels or in your own communities, Wanderboomers? Share your experiences with us here.

Filed Under: Activities, Africa, By Land, By Ship & By Sea, Destinations, Make a Difference Tagged With: activism, Africa, All-Star, All-Star baseball pitcher, Bhutan, Camp Erin, communities, community, community-based tourism, Conversation, dinner parties, economy, Ecuador, environment, explore, giving back, ICO, India, IRC, Jamie Moyer, Joe Staiano, local economy, make a difference, Meaningful Trip, non-profits, REI Adventures, responsible travel, social justice, Southeast Asia, the Galapagos Islands, travel, travel and tourism, travels, trip, trips, volunteer travel, women, women's empowerment

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Hello fellow wanderboomers! I’m a Seattle-based travel journalist, specializing in fun travel adventures for the young at heart. My articles have been featured in Hemispheres, AAA Highroads Magazine and Northwest Travel & Life Magazine where I'm a frequent contributor. When this Wanderboomer isn’t traveling, I help global executives polish their personal and professional brand for long-term results.
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