Best Places To Travel Alone In North And South Carolina

Traveling in groups can be fun, but solo travel can be equally enjoyable. And, these are the best places to travel alone in the Carolinas according to Travel+Leisure.

First of all, I think it takes a certain amount of courage and sense of adventure to strike out on your own trip. But, if you do decide to embark on solo travel these suggestions might point you in the right direction.

So, let's start with Travel+Leisure's top pick in North Carolina for best places to travel alone. The publication chose Asheville, North Carolina.

Of course, they point out all the outdoor activities available to those folks who choose to go that route on vacation. I, however, prefer to relax when I'm not on the clock.

But, in case you are outdoorsy, hiking and biking are plentiful in Asheville. The Blue Ridge Mountains are stunning. And, the article mentions the Craggy Pinnacle Trail and Mount Pisgah. Go for it if you like.

For those like me wishing to do something a little more chill in one of the best places to travel alone, we have ideas.

I can't go to Asheville without a trip to the famous Biltmore Estate. Take a tour of the stunning home, visit the winery for a tour and a taste. See the gorgeous Biltmore Estate gardens, too.

Also, the Grove Park Inn is a fantastic place to post up and enjoy a day or a stay. The Sunset Terrace has beautiful views, excellent food and wonderful cocktails. Plus, Asheville has plenty of breweries with patios for a nice day.

Now, as far as South Carolina, the article names Charleston as one of the best places to travel alone. There's so much to say about Charleston.

Of course, there's so much history in this charming city. It's perfect for guided tours and carriage rides. Plus, the food is unmatched. It's the first place I ever experienced the delicacy of Shrimp and Grits.

And, one of our favorite finds last year was Burwell's Stone Fire Grill. So, Charleston definitely is on my list for travel in general. But, you might want to give it a try if you're going solo this summer!

For more on these spots and to see the full list, check out the complete article from Travel+Leisure.

What do you look for when planning a vacation? Ease of access? A plethora of things to do? I love a place that has plenty of unique restaurants and bars. But one thing that, especially domestically, you may not have at the top of your mind- is safety. Now I do consider it when choosing a hotel, it can be easy to find something where the price almost seems too good to be true. And that often can be due to a not-so-great location. I've definitely stayed in one or two of those before. But what about the overall safest vacation destinations? There are actually some high-quality places on the list. Ones you may be planning to visit anyway. Would you believe two North Carolina cities were named as some of the safest vacation destinations? It's not the safety that surprises me, more than people use vacation days to visit.

Nothing against either of these cities, they are actually the two places I've lived in my lifetime so both hold a special place in my heart. And maybe it's because I've spent so much time in both that I wonder why people would travel long distances to visit. But both made this list, which was compiled by The Boutique Adventurer. They used FBI Crime Data including the cost of crime, the opportunity cost of crime, incarceration, crime prevention, and more. Only cities that have a population of 100,000 or more that they considered to be "vacation spots" or "tourist hubs"  were included on the initial list by The Boutique Adventurer. The total list included 19 destinations across the US.

Two NC cities were included among the safest vacation destinations. You'll find those below as well as the top 3 and one other notable place that I bet a lot of you have traveled to or are planning to travel to. Curious about the entire list? You can find that here.

It's good to know that the island paradise of Hawaii, more specifically Honolulu is the safest vacation destination. While I've never been lucky enough to visit, I hope to one day.

The second safest destination- a beach not too far from the Carolinas. Virginia Beach is a touristy destination complete with a three-mile boardwalk full of whatever attractions you can imagine.

Third on the list is one of my favorite cities in the US- San Diego, CA. Though this southern California city isn't quite as warm as you may expect there is no shortage of fun things to do in the area.

While not in the top 3, I had to recognize NYC for making this list. A lot of people may not have thought this popular destination is one of the safest as well. And for such a bustling busy city that's great news. Also great news as I'm planning a trip in the coming months.

While I personally wouldn't rank Charlotte near the top for tourist destinations it's nice to see the city recognized for safety. I guess there is a lot to see and do if you aren't from the Queen City, but for the rare unicorn who was born here, I can't see using vacation days to come here.

Lastly, Raleigh came in at number 12 on this list. And yes, Raleigh is basically my second home. I visit often for sports and friends. So I'm very glad to see if recognized for safety as well.