In Episode 179 of Me and the Magic, host Amanda Bauner dives into the reasons why women choose to travel solo. She shares personal experiences, explores survey data, and highlights the growing trend of learning-based and small group travel among women. Amanda discusses the empowerment, self-discovery, and freedom solo travel offers, debunks common misconceptions, and describes how solo journeys can strengthen relationships and promote self-care.

Episode Resources

• Travel + Leisure, "Why More Women Are Traveling Solo, Together" by Lori Rackl. Published on May 8, 2025.

• Travel Bug Tonic, "Why solo travel? Untangling the reasons why women travel alone."

Upcoming Events

Learn more about our 2026 Seine River cruise, round-trip from Paris, here.

Learn more about our 2027 Norwegian Luna cruise to Bermuda from NYC here.

Join the Me and the Magic Community

Join the Me and the Magic Facebook community to share your love of solo travel, Disney travel, and more with new friends. Plus, share your thoughts and questions on this episode with the community!

Connect with Amanda

Is there a topic you'd like us to discuss? Email Amanda at amanda@meandthemagic.com.

Subscribe to the Me and the Magic weekly newsletter for exclusive content, including solo travel tips!

Me and the Magic has voicemail! Leave a voicemail or text to 1-347-74MAGIC (1-347-746-2442). Share your thoughts about this episode, a future episode topic idea, or just say hi!

Podcast

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Online Shop

Buy some fun travel and pop culture shirts and more, at our online shop!

In this episode of Me and the Magic, host Amanda Bauner welcomes Sarah Magnoni, founder of Cobblestones and Castles, for a deep dive into solo women's travel with a historical feminist twist. They discuss Sarah's unique small-group trips for women exploring Ireland, Scotland, England, and France, where history, literature, and women's empowerment intersect. The conversation touches on meaningful solo travel experiences, cultivating community, and the importance of embracing both adventure and intuition.

Connect with Our Guest

Connect with Sarah Magnoni at Cobblestones & Castles.

Join Sarah's Facebook group, The Cobblestone Collective: Historical Feminism Travel Group.

Upcoming Events

Learn more about our 2026 Seine River cruise, round-trip from Paris, here.

Learn more about our 2027 Norwegian Luna cruise to Bermuda from NYC here.

Join the Me and the Magic Community

Join the Me and the Magic Facebook community to share your love of solo travel, Disney travel, and more with new friends. Plus, share your thoughts and questions on this episode with the community!

Connect with Amanda

Is there a topic you'd like us to discuss? Email Amanda at amanda@meandthemagic.com.

Subscribe to the Me and the Magic weekly newsletter for exclusive content, including solo travel tips!

Me and the Magic has voicemail! Leave a voicemail or text to 1-347-74MAGIC (1-347-746-2442). Share your thoughts about this episode, a future episode topic idea, or just say hi!

Podcast

Subscribe to this podcast so you will be the first to hear new episodes!

If you are enjoying the podcast, I'd greatly appreciate it if you could rate and review it on Apple Podcasts. The reviews help other people find this podcast.

Online Shop

Buy some fun travel and pop culture shirts and more, at our online shop!

In this heartfelt episode, host Amanda Bauner candidly shares her personal struggles amid political turmoil in the U.S. She discusses the impact of current events on her travel plans and explores why finding joy is especially important during challenging times. Amanda offers practical tips for cultivating joy in daily life and travel, emphasizing the value of community, resilience, and meaningful connections.

Resources from This Episode

• February 2025 Psychology Today article: "The Importance of Joy in the Darkest of Times" authored by F. Diane Barth, LCSW.

• HelpGuide.org's article: "Finding Joy During Difficult Times" authored by Stephanie Mihalas, PhD, and ABPP.

• Me and the Magic Episode 124: Microadventures for the Solo Traveler.

• Me and the Magic Episode 159: Why Your Travel Plans and Goals May Change.

Join the Me and the Magic Community

Join the Me and the Magic Facebook community to share your love of solo travel, cruises, Disney travel, and more with new friends. Plus, share your thoughts and questions on this episode with the community!

Connect with Amanda

Is there a topic you'd like us to discuss? Email Amanda at amanda@meandthemagic.com.

Subscribe to the Me and the Magic weekly newsletter for exclusive content, including solo travel tips!

Me and the Magic has voicemail! Leave a voicemail or text to 1-347-74MAGIC (1-347-746-2442). Share your thoughts about this episode, a future episode topic idea, or just say hi!

Podcast

Subscribe to this podcast so you will be the first to hear new episodes!

If you are enjoying the podcast, I'd greatly appreciate it if you could rate and review it on Apple Podcasts. The reviews help other people find this podcast.

Online Shop

Buy some fun travel and pop culture shirts and more, at our online shop!