Pennsylvania Has One of the Top Cities for Solo Travelers

Traveling with friends and family can be fun and rewarding, but don't underestimate the excitement of traveling solo. As it turns out, Pennsylvania has one of the most vibrant cities for solo travelers, according to experts. So, if you've never taken a trip by yourself, this city might be a good place for you to explore. It's likely right in your backyard, too.

Where do you think are the best places in America to travel solo? It's not the biggest cities, such as New York City or Los Angeles, according to a new study. The study is from OpenTable and Kayak and researched solo bookings at restaurants and hotels in major cities across the U.S. in 2023 and 2024. According to their study, solo travel is getting more popular, showing a 38% increase in solo hotel room bookings since 2019 and an 8% increase in the number of people going out to eat solo in the last year. The experts at OpenTable and Kayak also report that an upwards of 70% of all Americans have traveled alone and 81% of Americans have dined solo. I always see people eating solo when I'm out to eat, and I never think it's out-of-the-norm, so this number doesn't surprise me. If anything, I would think it was higher.

"Contrary to popular belief, some things aren’t better when shared (like a motel twin bed)," they state, adding, "That’s why 50% of Americans plan to travel alone this year, while 6 in 10 will dine as a party of one. For the freewheelers out there, we found the world's top cities to see solo."

So, what's the No. 1 best city for solo travelers in the U.S.? It's Washington, D.C., according to the study. They emphasize that this city is great for those who love nightlife, history and tours. Washington, D.C., actually scored a "solo score" of 100%, meaning it's the perfect place to travel alone. If you love museums, don't miss the Smithsonian museums and all of their great tours.

Which Pennsylvania city is considered one of the best and most vibrant for solo travelers? It's Philadelphia, which came in at No. 7 on the roster. Philly scored a 46% "solo score," which is good. The study also says Philly is great for those who love history, shopping and art, which I'm sure we can all agree is true. Great food choices, according to the study, are roast pork, cheesesteak and soft pretzels. It's great to see Philadelphia on this list. When you're in town, remember to be nice to anyone you see out there solo.

Summer always brings a bevy of vacation options, some more exotic than others. But, you don't have to travel far or do something major to have a great vacation. There are many fun and affordable staycation ideas that can give you a memorable vacation memory by just staying close to home.

So, what exactly is the definition of a staycation? It's pretty self-explanatory, but according to the Oxford Dictionary, it's "a vacation spent in one's home country rather than abroad, or one spent at home and involving day trips to local attractions. Similarly, Merriam-Webster says it's, "a vacation spent at home or nearby." I think it's a stretch to call any vacation that's spent in your home country a staycation. That would mean that someone living in Michigan who travels to California for a vacation is really having a "staycation." It makes much more sense to define a staycation as a vacation where you literally stay at home or do something fun in your local area. Thankfully, there are a plethora of great staycation ideas out there.

Plenty of cities have "be a tourist in your own town" activities promoted by their local city tourist bureaus, which are perfect for a staycation. Really, staycations have been around forever, but they increased in popularity during the pandemic, when people actually weren't allowed to travel abroad. Still, even after the pandemic, the staycation is going strong. According to an international study by tourism and hospitality experts in the U.S. and China, the "staycation phenomenon" that started during the pandemic is still very popular and likely to stay as a new normal. The study, dubbed "Customer Preferences for Staycation Package Attributes," is published online in the International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management. It researched the local staycation preferences of Chinese tourists, as well as staycation information from the U.S., Netherlands and Indonesia.

I love a good staycation. It can be stressful to plan a huge trip to squeeze into your time off. By the time you get everything packed, do all the flight stuff and get to your hotel, you might just feel like resting for the short while that you're at your destination. What's more, you can often find so many great places close to home that you've never experienced before. I've had so many great staycations where I ventured to a part of town or the state that I had never been before, and those are among my favorite vacation memories. In that spirit, here are some fun and affordable staycation ideas. Send me your ideas, too.

Have a vacation in your living room or bedroom. Make it a movie-watching marathon. Watch a string of your favorite guilty-pleasure movies or binge-watch a brand new series. Either way, it'll be cozy and comfy.

If you have a state or national park nearby, use your vacation time to go adventuring. Being at a local park can offer some breathtaking scenery, especially in the summer. Have a picnic out there, too. If you don't have a state or national park close by, try a local park.

Nearly every town has a local museum or art gallery. Perhaps you've never really had the time to visit your local museum or art spot. Use your vacation time to explore those local spots, and you might find a new favorite place.

If you've driven by that new hotel for a while and wondered what it's like inside, why not book it for a night? You don't have to be traveling to say at a hotel, Airbnb or local bed-and-breakfast. It can make for an exciting adventure right in your backyard.

Using vacation time to plan a big party for friends is a good use of that time. Instead of traveling around the world, bring to world to you. Invite lots of your good friends, and spend some of the cash you would have on a vacation for your party. It'll be the party of the year. Make that decade.

Pamper yourself. Maybe you think having a spa day is too much of a luxury, but if you're saving money by not taking a big trip, why not use that money for a spa day? It's not just for ladies, either. Guys can book a spa day for a variety of services. It'll make for a day of bliss.