Tips for a Solo Traveler in a New City
If you are a solo traveler and you’ve moved or you’re exploring new places, it can sometimes be difficult to branch out. You can do so many things on your own it just takes courage. It is a time to venture out and connect with your atmosphere in ways you may not have been able to in your hometown. Here is how you can do activities alone in a new city and perhaps make friends along the way!
Do the Inside Stuff, Outside!
When you have traveled to a new city, it can feel overwhelming to step outside on your own. If you want to explore the city and surroundings but are concerned about being alone, taking some of your inside hobbies outside is a great way to explore. As a blogger, I am constantly looking at articles and cultivating posts that leave me on my computer. Sometimes I work on my blog things outside at different cafes. I try to go to different cafes around the city and it helps me to explore and choose some great places to make friends.
You can draw and read or even do yoga at different places around the city. Maybe visit a park and lay out your picnic blanket. Perhaps you can read downtown on a park bench or draw in a public garden. When you actively do your inside hobbies outside, you’ll find that you can find some great gems in the city.
Taking Yourself on Dates
When you first move to a new place, sometimes you may not know anyone or have friends to do fun things with. That doesn’t mean the fun should cease because you haven’t yet found your tribe. When you go out on a date, get dressed up in clothes that make you feel confident and comfortable, and are excited about the activities. Maybe you could eat at a nice restaurant and enjoy the view. You could go to a nearby body of water and feed ducks or eat ice cream in a heavy-traffic area and people-watch. Sometimes they have bikes for rent in certain cities that you could ride around the park or town and check out some small shops.
A new place is just a different scene for your story and it allows you to romanticize your life. Establish who you’ll be in this new city and how you plan on interacting with this new atmosphere. Will you leave a legacy? Will it be the setting for a great story or is it a souvenir on your path of adventure? You can choose the narrative of how this new experience in a new city will affect you.
Related Article: How to Reinvent Yourself
Putting Yourself in Position for Friendship
Making friends seems easier to do in a school or work setting but how do you make friends when you aren’t established in those organizations? There are ways to connect with people that share your same interests in a new city and it just requires a bit of courage to put yourself out there. Going to concerts alone can seem like a scary activity but once you are in the concert, you are surrounded by people who share your same taste in music and are more than likely to dance with strangers in a scene that has a lot less pressure.
Joining meet-up groups and taking community classes is another way to put yourself out there and make friends with the same interests. When you’re in a new city and have no clue where to start, Instagram Hashtags are great places to start. When I used to organize poetry slams and art shows, I relied heavily on local Instagram hashtags to get the community started. You can also look at organized sites like meetup.com that have specific times and activities in areas near you.
Related Article: How to Manifest Leaving the Country Alone
Becoming a Regular
If you’ve ever worked in the service industry, you’ll recognize the term regulars as someone who frequents an establishment often. It’s not a bad thing to have an established place that is your main hangout. When you go to a place more and more, the staff begins to recognize you and you may interact with other regulars and establish a friendship. This could be any place you feel the most comfortable like a local café you visit often or a restaurant. Though becoming a regular can take a bit of time, it is another great way to make friends in a new place.
Take Away Trail
Moving or traveling to a new city can be tough and doing it alone seems even scarier, but you don’t have to let that stop you from making the most out of this adventure. These are tips I’ve used to help you gain friends and explore all the places I’ve visited. I hope these tips help you to put yourself out there, make new friends, and maximize your experience in this new city!
Join the Trail
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