With 59 national parks inside America, each one of these incredible outdoor destinations has something special to offer visitors. Located primarily in California, Death Valley National Park is recognized for holding two unique titles amongst the rest of our parks. Wondering what makes this place so different from anywhere else? Then keep reading to find out.
Found in the southern half of Death Valley National Park, California’s Badwater Basin is the lowest point in North America. Part of Inyo County, Badwater Basin earns its name due to the fact that the accumulated salts around the basin make the water undrinkable.
With only one main road running through the park, finding the Badwater Basin is an easy enough task for travelers to handle. What won’t be easy? Withstanding the heat. Not only is Death Valley National Park home to the lowest point in North America, it’s also home to to the hottest spot in the world. Over 100 years ago, this place saw a record temperature of 134 degrees in 1913.
Visitors who are willing to withstand the average 100-degree temperatures at the Badwater Basin can walk out onto the salt flats that very seldom ever see actual pools of water. On average, Death Valley National Park only sees two inches of rainfall each year. Talk about dry conditions!
Those who visit the park, specifically the Badwater Basin and Furnace Creek Area, are urged to bring lots of water and sunscreen. Travelers are told to bring survival kits and take caution when hiking out to this area after the early morning during the summer. While most people are drawn to the Badwater Basin because it’s the second lowest point in the Western Hempishere, the actual lowest point lies just a few miles away.
Because the actual lowest point is a hazardous area that’s unpredictable and often an unsteady place to explore, visitors come to the Badwater Basin area to explore the land and take their picture with the sea level sign. A total of 282 feet below sea level, the lowest point in our country deservingly belongs at the top of your bucket list.
Wondering where exactly the Badwater Basin is located inside of Death Valley National Park? Then use Google Maps below to help you find the way!
I have four kids who range in age from six to 13. Over the last 10+ years, my husband and I have dutifully loaded up the family minivan for annual vacations at the beach: Lake Michigan, The Outer Banks, Destin, Hilton Head. (Living in Cincinnati, Ohio, vacation = the beach.)
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My kids had fun, and I'm glad we did it. But to call these adventures "vacations" would be a lie; these weeks required extensive planning, funds, and energy.
I've gone on trips where one or many of my kids screamed the entire drive. The. Entire. (11 Hour) Drive.
I've gone on trips where rear-facing kiddos battled -- and lost -- car sickness. (Don't ask me about the time my oldest, then 18 months, threw up all over his carseat in our rental car. In the middle of the night. In rural North Carolina. Oof.)
I've gone on trips where my kids fought like feral cats and dogs for the entirety of the drive, poking, teasing, ignoring, elbowing, etc, ad nauseam.
I've gone on trips where my husband and I drove through the night, arriving at our rental in the wee hours of the morning, just as the kids opened their eyes.
I planned these vacations because, frankly, I was supposed to. I posted pictures on social media that painted a rosy picture that wasn't true, not really.
I love my family, but I didn't love these vacations.
This year, everything changed when a series of events had me staying in town while my family drove to Hilton Head for spring break. That weekend, I attended the funeral of a very important person in my life. I was still mourning him when I flew down to Hilton Head on a Monday, still in that fuzzy haze of loss when my family picked me up from the airport.
We arrived at the rental, but nothing felt right.
It was loud, messy, and overwhelming – this is life with four kids and a 90-pound pup. We walked to the beach and went mini golfing and did all the things we usually do on vacation, but something felt off. We were on vacation at a beautiful beach in a luxury villa, but I was simultaneously mourning and "mom," cleaning and corralling, emotionally exhausted and stretched too thin. I wasn't having fun, and I realized I wanted to have fun.
My return flight got me home a day earlier than the rest of my family. During this time, I had space to reflect. My kids were getting older, and while it's true I now have a new set of parental challenges, the day-to-day "management" of being a mom has gotten easier. Everyone is potty trained, and bedtime isn't a nightmare. I had a revelatory thought at 12,000 feet: What if I took each of my kids on trips? What if I traded big family vacations for smaller, one-on-one adventures? What if I made these trips fun... for me?
I decided to give it a try.
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In August, I took my 11-year-old to Austin, Texas. We explored an urban park with peacocks, cooled off in Hamilton Pool, and ate our weight in chips and guac at All. The. Austin. Taquerias.
Sarah McCosham/Only In Your State
In September, my six-year-old daughter and I spent a memorable weekend in Nashville, Tennessee. We saw the Tennessee Capitol building, went to the Nashville Farmer's Market, toured the Grand Ole Opry, and ate too many french fries.
In October, I explored Washington, D.C., for the very first time in my life alongside my wonderful 13-year-old. We navigated the Metro, took scooters down the National Mall, immersed ourselves in museums, and also ate too many french fries (I love french fries).
Sarah McCosham/Only In Your State
Over Thanksgiving break, I am taking my 10-year-old to the Everglades. We're going to take an airboat tour, see some alligators, visit the beach, and eat too many french fries, obviously. I can't wait.
With careful planning and strategic use of travel points and rewards, I've been able to take *all* of these trips for less than *one* big, family vacation. My husband, who travels often for his job (visiting Spain and Italy earlier this year, in fact), enjoys the chance for some quality dad time and is more than happy to "hold down the fort" while I'm gone. We don't have to arrange for pet care, or mail holds. I get to come home to a (quasi) clean house and full fridge, not mountains of laundry and nothing to eat.
On a more personal note, I return from these trips tired, but happy. I feel more closely bonded with my kids, a bucket of experiences that form core memories and inspire our next adventures. My kids see me as a fun travel buddy, a human who's so much more than "just" the person cooking, cleaning, driving, homeworking, and managing.
On the flight back from D.C., I got to talking to the woman across the aisle. She was returning home to her husband and toddler after a girls' weekend with her mom. When I told her about my trip with Julian and recent trips with my other kids, she said I was giving my kids the greatest gift. "My husband still talks about the weeklong trip to Europe he took with his father and what an impact it had on him," she said. "That trip was over 20 years ago."
One of the best reasons to travel is to have new experiences, and when done with the people closest to you, they can be life-changing.
Sarah McCosham/Only In Your State
These travels have enriched my home life, too. I find myself much more present, and in the moment, we've started regular family game nights and weekend movie marathons. We go on hikes as a family, and, more broadly, we spend more quality time together.
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I'm sure the family vacations will resume at some point, but in the meantime, I have a big, long list of places to explore. And four wholly unique and wonderful little humans who are the very best travel companions.
Solo travel has become a trending topic over the years, and it just keeps getting more popular. I love watching solo female travelers take the plunge and embark on their first solo adventure.
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Despite what social media will have you think, solo travel is not exclusively for the young.
My first solo travel was at 35. I had my brother and sister-in-law plan a four-day vacation without me knowing. The day before the flight, they gave me an envelope with the destination and a weather forecast. I went home, packed, drove to the airport, and opened the envelope to see where I would be spending the next four days.
I don’t expect everyone’s initial solo journey to be as wacky as mine, but it’s important to highlight that travel knows no age group. You can travel the world at 35, 45, 55, and beyond.
I’m 39 now and still catching flights at least four times a year. I’m past my expiration date on hostels, and I prefer to have my own space in the evenings. I’m out of the club scene and prefer to spend my evenings stargazing (or watching the Northern Lights). I’ve traded my shots of liquor for shots of expresso, and I’m loving this era of my life.
Travel isn’t solely for the young. You can book a flight anywhere your heart desires, regardless of age. You can travel the world as a 20-something, 30-something, 40-something… or even an 80-something. You might even want to revisit some of the destinations you visited in your younger years — that’s always an interesting adventure.
This article is for all my women filled with wanderlust. I believe solo travel makes you a more confident individual, just as long as you’re prepared. I’m going to break down some best practices and things to avoid when solo traveling as a female.
Oh, and my mystery vacation sent me to Charlotte, North Carolina.
Safety for Solo Travelers
First thing first: Google the destination to find out how safe it is. What type of crime does the city have? Knowing what type of crime a city is battling will help you prepare.
The questions I ask myself before I book the flight:
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How safe is the area?
What type of crime is there?
How safe is public transportation?
Can I walk alone at night?
Big cities will always have some type of crime, but knowing what type of crime is key to being prepared.
For example, Paris has a pickpocket problem. That’s going to affect you more than, say, New Orleans, which has a carjacking problem. If you’re visiting New Orleans and don’t plan on renting a car, then that’s probably not going to affect you very much.
But a pickpocketing problem will definitely affect how you make your way through a city. You should use luggage locks on your bags, keep your valuables in your front pocket, and not drape your bag over your chair or set it on the ground while you’re at a cafe.
Little habit changes can make all the difference in the world. No one wants to end up on the steps of an embassy for an emergency passport. Or worse, at the mercy of the airport TSA trying to prove your identity with nothing more than an ancient library card and an electricity bill.
Knowledge is half the battle. And you’re a stalwart soldier who came prepared, right?
Share your itinerary (or location) with at least one person back home
Don’t tell anyone you’re traveling alone
Trust your gut
99% of the time, your instincts are right. If you get a bad vibe from someone or someplace, leave. It’s not worth finding out if you were right.
Last spring, I was solo traveling around southern Norway. I was outside of my hotel in Bergen when an older (80+) gentleman and I started chatting. Nothing out of the ordinary, just typical traveler chat. He and his wife were from Florida, and we were chatting about things to do, restaurants to try, etc.
The next day, I ran into him again. After about five minutes of chatting, he told me my room number. I don’t think I can express in words how terrifying that moment was. We had not discussed our rooms, and I know for certain he never followed me to my floor. My mind was racing.
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My first thought: [expletive] I’m going to be on the news.
My second thought: Of course, he’s from Florida.
My third thought: Not today.
I didn’t let on that his words terrified me to my core, though I’m sure my eyes sold me out. I kept the conversation casual and asked to take a selfie with him. I immediately sent the selfie to family and friends back home, with a fairly cryptic message saying to check on me in an hour.
I later learned that he had asked the front desk for my room number, and they gave it to him. Obviously, I escalated this situation to upper management, changed rooms, and never saw the Florida man again.
So maybe don’t tell anyone you’re traveling alone — even seemingly sweet octogenarians. I’m extremely lucky with how this situation played out, and it was a valuable lesson to learn.
The ego boost you get from telling strangers that you’re traveling alone is not worth the potential worst-case scenario. Read that again.
It might seem strange that I'd still be a fan of hotels after I almost became a victim of human trafficking, but hear me out.
Small businesses will always trump large corporations in my mind. I would much rather stay at a locally owned guesthouse than a high-rise hotel, but over the years, I’ve had to reevaluate that idea. Location plays a big role in whether I’m going to book a hotel or an Airbnb.
Don’t get me wrong — I still favor local businesses every chance I get. But if I’m thinking long term, it makes more financial sense to become a member of a hotel chain that has hotels in areas that I visit.
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While most folks would rather spend their summers near the equator relaxing on a Caribbean island, I prefer to travel in the winter. I’m a Northern Lights junkie with a passion for Arctic travel, so winter is my time to shine (or freeze).
When I realized that I’d be committing every winter to Scandinavia, I knew I had to find ways to do this on a budget. Scandinavia is already one of the most expensive areas in the world, and doing it alone with no one to split costs with… well, we just had to reevaluate some things.
Scandic Hotels is the largest hotel chain in Scandinavia. I became a member a few years ago, and I exclusively stay in Scandic hotels whenever I’m in Norway, Sweden, or Finland. Through my travels, I've earned enough points for a few free nights to redeem the next time I’m in the area.
I still use local guesthouses for more remote areas, but hotels are my go-to when I’m arriving in a city.
Once you see a pattern in your travels, see what hotel chains are best for you. It may not help you now, but if you’re going to commit to traveling more (and you should), having a hotel membership will benefit you in the future.
Stateside, there are plenty of hotel chains to work with. Wyndham Hotels is the leading hotel chain in North America. With over 7,000 properties, you’re sure to find one near you. Marriott, Hilton, and IHG are all top hotel chains in North America, too.
For my budget solo travelers, Hostelworld is a fabulous resource. You can read reviews of potential hostels, connect with other members, and find some of the best hostels in the world. Female solo travelers 35+ can absolutely stay in hostels; do not lean into any other narrative. I would recommend reading the reviews first, just to make sure the hostel vibe fits your vibe.
If you’ve got a travel credit card, it’s worth checking to see who your credit card is partnered with. For my Chase Sapphire Preferred, Hyatt and Marriott are the way to go. American Express partners include Hilton, Marriott, and Radisson. I’d argue that it’s better to transfer your portal points to the hotel chain, but that will quickly get us off-topic.
Hotels are also much safer for solo female travelers. You have someone at the front desk 24 hours a day, anything you need is just a phone call away, and hotels are generally in downtown areas where you’ll also have public transportation. Plus, many offer free breakfast in the mornings.
Public transportation can be a hit or miss, depending on your destination. Research how to get around a city before you arrive. If you’re not renting a car, you’re at the mercy of public transportation, and that can make or break your stay.
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It’s also important to check how safe the public transportation is. Are pickpockets a problem? How reliable is the public transportation? Make sure you check routes and timetables. Few things will ruin your day faster than taking a bus to a location, exploring the area, and then realizing you missed the only bus back to your hotel.
Many cities have their own app you can download to get around easier. Little things like this that you can do before you arrive will put your mind at ease and make your solo travel much less stressful!
I’d prefer to let someone else do the driving when I’m on vacation, so tours are a no-brainer for me. Yes, tours are a fabulous way to see the sights, but they are also a fabulous way to meet other travelers! Some of the most insightful, inspirational conversations I’ve had while traveling have been with my seatmate on a tour.
For me, I always find at least one adventure where someone makes me wear a helmet. There are so many types of tours, including food tours, walking tours, history tours, and more. Viator is a great resource for seeing what tours are available, but you can also use Trusted Tours, Kayak, and TripAdvisor. There are even Airbnb Experiences you can take! The options are endless here.
Solo travel looks different for everyone, and there are no wrong answers. Whether you want to stay in hostels or high-rise hotels, everyone should take at least one solo trip in their life. Don’t worry about what anyone else thinks — this is your story.
If you need some travel inspiration, let Only In Your State be your guide. We have a vast treasure trove of amazing adventures you could take, covering everything from hidden gems in Alaska to incredible beaches in Florida. Safe travels, my friends!
