In 2015, I had never been out of the country (besides Canada, but I grew up in Michigan, so that doesn’t count). I had just started a new job that included business travel and was given the opportunity to travel to London for work. By myself.

I was beyond excited. I had taken a couple of trips stateside by myself prior, but never one of this grandeur. It was almost overwhelming; London is massive and I didn’t know where to start. With no set plan, I started wandering, walking for hours taking it all in. There was so much culture and it was so different from what I was used to back home; I loved every minute of it.

Luckily for me, this was the first of many business trips to London and many other parts of Europe. Wanting to take advantage of every trip I made, I would tack on a long weekend or take a week of PTO at the tail end of my trip. I didn’t want to miss a single opportunity to experience and see the world, even if that meant going it alone.

For my daily vacation on Tuesday, I listened to the Women Who Travel podcast episode on “Growing into Solo Travel” with guest Dolly Alderton. This episode resonated with me in so many ways, I couldn’t help but smile the entire 30 minutes. In discussing what it is about solo travel that she loves so much, Dolly says that she “really noticed that there was a sensory difference with how [she] was moving around the place and how [she] was discovering the place” while she was on her own versus with her friend. All three women on the podcast agreed that the “true benefit of solo travel ... is you have no one who’s like, ‘I want to go to this other place.’ And you’re like, ‘But, I want to keep walking down this block for the next two hours.’” On your own, it’s easier to just be and do on your own terms, and for Dolly “a big part of seeing a place for me is noodling around, literally just wandering around aimlessly.” She speaks for both of us with that sentiment. Major girl crush.

On my own wandering through the streets of many destinations, I’ve found myself in alleys and squares, markets and shops, and restaurants and bars I may have never found otherwise. In Zurich, I found myself atop the Grossmünster church roof overlooking the city and the swiss mountains in the distance. In Copenhagen, stumbling across Torvehallerne market and the most fabulous champagne bar. Elblag Poland’s beautiful brick cathedral and the side streets surrounding it. Hopping on an ATV on the island of Santorini and speeding off to the red and black sand beaches to enjoy a Mythos beer in the sun. Taking way too many stairs down to Wreck beach, where clothing is optional, in Vancouver Canada. Wandering is my absolute favorite way to see a new place.

Many people find it intimidating when they realize solo travel also means having to wine and dine alone. I’d be lying if I didn’t say that it is the first couple of times, but once you get past the awkwardness it’s actually quite enjoyable. Without someone to distract you while you’re dining, your senses are free to pick up on things you may not normally notice. I find that I truly savor a meal, relishing in the pleasure of enjoying the smells, tastes and presentation, when I am alone as opposed to with company. You also get free reign over picking where (and what) you are going to eat, and for Dolly that means “if we’re in Naples, we’re eating the best pizza. I don’t care if I’m sitting on my phone for an hour reading through every single pizza blogger’s blog.” I would love to compare bookmarked Yelp lists with her.

One of my fondest memories of dining solo is in London at Barrafina, a tapas joint I frequented every time I was in town. The line to get a seat at the bar always required a wait, but it was well worth it. I was never the only solo diner and the staff made you feel like you were right at home. I tried pigs head, squid ink pasta and razor clams for the first time. I fell in love with the pan con tomate and octopus with capers. For an hour and a half, it was just me and my glass of cava watching the chefs whip up each creation, admiring every flawless movement in the kitchen until the moment the plate was placed in front of me. Other memorable solo meals include the late night fries I stopped for in Amsterdam on my way back from a bar in the red light district, slightly buzzed. Served piping hot with a generous helping of mayo in a red and white checkered paper cone, I laughed to myself the entire walk to my hotel in disbelief at how good they tasted and how happy they were making me in that moment. In Cape Cod, at Water Street Kitchen, a meal of smoked bluefish pâté and cioppino that cost me an entire days per diem but made me literally want to lick the plate. My very first authentic French chocolate croissant in Nice from the local bakery at the farmers market and the subsequent chocolate croissants I ate for the next 3 straight days.

Traveling solo has taught me so much about the world, but also myself (and how to take good selfies). I’ve taken many amazing trips with family and friends, but traveling alone will always take the cake for me. It allows me to enjoy the things that bring me joy and immerse myself in a destination in a way I’ve never been able to do with someone else along for the ride. I decide what I want to do and when I want to do it. If you never have, I highly recommend taking a solo trip and letting it change you, likely for the better. As I stated in a Facebook post circa 2013 after my very first trip on my own: “traveling solo...badass.”

You can listen to Women Who Travel on Apple Podcasts and find the episode “Growing into Solo Travel” by clicking here.