Upgrade your browser - Unfortunately, this site has updated features that cannot run on this version of Internet Explorer. Download a free upgrade of Internet Explorer.
Discover Story Ideas Details back to story ideas

Solo Female Travel: Planning the Perfect Golden State Trip

As solo travel continues to rise as a popular way to unwind and recharge, women are leading the charge by seeking destinations offering safe and unique experiences to enjoy. Here is a list of California’s top spots for solo travelers to explore no matter the season.

EXPERIENTIAL SLUMBER

Hotel Figueroa: An Urban Oasis
As one of the longest-standing hotels in Downtown Los AngelesHotel Figueroa opened in 1926 as a haven for professional women travellers that continues to support women-owned businesses and female artists till this day. Having recently undergone a two-year restoration, the hotel retains its original Spanish Colonial splendor offering guests the perfect setting to relax, recharge and soak in California’s golden sun. 

Hyatt House Midtown, Sacramento: The Original Eastern Star Hall 
Conceived in 1928 by women wanting their own place, the Eastern Star Hall opened as a Masonic women's social gathering and meeting place. Located in the heart of Sacramento's vibrant art, music and cultural scene on the National Register of Historic Places, the building is now a newly opened Hyatt House. The adaptive-reuse project features the original grand entry facade with columns, arches and front entry doors. Engraved tables in the Star Lounge feature the names of Eastern Star Hall members as a nod to its history.

The American Rivera’s Hotel Californian and Kimpton Canary Hotel
Known as the front door of Santa Barbara’s vibrant Funk Zone, Hotel Californian features Spanish Colonial Revival architecture with Moroccan influences from celebrity designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard. Travellers can visit Majorelle Spa for a Chakra Meditation Massage and for a Central Coast wine experience, the Travel Like a Connoisseur package has honorary Connoisseur Club members-only deals. Nearby, the Kimpton Canary Hotel has one of the city’s best rooftop pools with 360 degree ocean and mountain views, premier dining at Finch & Fork, spa services from local partner FLOAT Luxury Spa, and amenities including free wine during the daily hosted evening social hour.

The Kimpton Alton Hotel in San Francisco
The Kimpton Alton offers luxurious accommodations for solo travellers seeking a slow-paced getaway or full-on exploration of the city. Located in the Fisherman's Wharf neighborhood, the retro-chic boutique hotel is near Ghirardelli Square, Pier 39, historic cable cars, and Alcatraz. Create a custom stay renting a loaner bike to see the city, in-room Victrola record players, spa services from Soothe Spa, and complimentary wine during Kimpton's daily social hour. Enjoy the hotel’s Filipino-Californian restaurant, ABACÁ, which was named one of The New York Times’ “50 Best Restaurants of 2022.”

Carlsbad’s Beach Terrace Boutique Hotel
Nestled along the Carlsbad shoreline, Beach Terrace is the only hotel in Carlsbad located directly on the sand and with its own private beach, perfect for solo travellers looking for their own oasis. Lounge away the day with beach service or cool off in the Shorebreak Pool and catch a legendary sunset. Steps from Carlsbad Village, enjoy the acclaimed dining and shopping scene using Electra beach cruisers offered by the hotel. Property amenities include a pillow menu offering eight different types of pillows for optimized beauty sleep, in-room yoga mats and a variety of books to choose from.

The Good House Hotel & Spa 
The Good House Hotel & Spa is a Black-owned adults only Desert Hot Springs oasis that provides the perfect space for women wanting to unplug and reconnect with themselves. At the private yet intimate property, soak in the hot spring pool, order healthy bites, listen to the breeze bouncing off the trees, and take advantage of the on-site spa with a full list of services from eastern and western style practitioners.

Mendocino’s Stanford Inn & Resort
For a truly personalized retreat, Stanford Inn & Resort, a serene, eco-resort on the Mendocino Coast, offers private vacation packages where travellers experience custom itineraries such as creative play shops, nutrition and healthy living classes, plant-based cooking classes, meditation, guided hikes, massage, and yoga. Single vacationers may also find themselves at the indoor pool, relaxing by the wood-burning fireplaces or having chef-prepared organic plant-based breakfasts included with their stay. 

BLISSFUL RELAXATION

Melt Away the Stress at Glen Ivy Hot Springs 
Glen Ivy Hot Springs is the perfect getaway for solo travellers looking to escape the stresses of life. With 19 therapeutic pools and healing mineral baths across 12 lush acres, Glen Ivy offers relaxing massages, skincare and nail care treatments, guided yoga, meditation, and water-based fitness classes for endless hours of exploration and relaxation.

Mind and Body Wellness in Cambria
When travelling solo on the Central Coast, Cambria is a great destination for a mindful pause. At Tula Yoga, experience meditation on the beach while moving your body alongside crashing waves and ocean breezes. Metta Pilates offers sessions both in the studio and outdoors at the beautiful Stolo Vineyards, where you can enjoy nature and reward yourself with a post-workout glass of wine. 

INSPIRATIONAL FEMALE-LED ATTRACTIONS 

“Sonoma County Stories” Exhibit Featuring Gaye LeBaron
Opening June 2023, “Sonoma County Stories” is a new exhibit at the Museum of Sonoma County that will capture Sonoma County’s rich history, defined by a confluence of cultures and people, and a powerful connection to the land. This permanent exhibition will have at its core three decades of the Oral Histories of Gaye LeBaron, a groundbreaking female storyteller and historical writer, who entered the male-dominated field of journalism in the 1950s and devoted herself to telling Sonoma County’s stories in a unique way, spending her entire career with The Santa Rosa Press Democrat. 

Female Leadership in San Francisco
The popular La Cocina Municipal Marketplace in San Francisco is America's first woman-led food hall which opened last summer. Among the market's vendors is Binita Pradhan who grew up in Kathmandu, Nepal, and moved to San Francisco where her success at La Cocina has brought her to opening her first kitchen-kiosk in the city's financial district. Similarly, the War Memorial Opera House and San Francisco Ballet - which celebrate major anniversaries this year - have come under female leadership. Music Director Eun Sun Kim will lead the opera and Tamara Rojo of the English National Ballet will oversee the season at the San Francisco Ballet. 

San Luis Obispo’s Female-Led Film Festival and Businesses
The world-class annual San Luis Obispo International Film Festival will take place April 25-30, led by female Executive Director Skye McLennan, Associate Director Grace Tucker and Development Director Chelsea Baumberger. The festival celebrates film through engaging storytelling and celebrates local, domestic and international filmmakers. While in town, seek out women-owned businesses Negranti Creamery, owned by Alexis Negranti, offering sheep’s milk ice cream, Brown Butter Cookie Company owned by sisters Traci and Christa Hozie and J. Dusi Wines in Paso Robles, where you can take a tour of Jannell Dusi’s family tradition of Italian winemaking.

Female Aviation in Torrance
Tucked away on the coast of Los Angeles’ South Bay is Torrance, home to the Western Museum of Flight’s “Women in Aerospace” exhibit. The walk-in exhibit allows young girls and women to identify and explore the many career choices available to them in the world of aerospace. The exhibit enables them to explore the subject at their own pace and to concentrate on those specific fields within aerospace that are of greatest interest to them.

SOLO EXPEDITIONS

Redwood National Park in Del Norte County
Head north of California to Del Norte County for a serene solo travel experience bathed in nature. Book a stay at The Historic Requa Inn where the oversized clawfoot tub will melt away the day’s worries. Experience a vibrational yoga hike or learn to surf with Natalie Jane Yoga. End the day at Schmidt’s House of Jambalaya with a comforting bowl of seafood followed by a slice of triple chocolate cake. 

Rest, Recharge and Reconnect in Napa Valley
Wine lovers can delight in the ultimate self-care trip to Napa Valley. Boutique inns like The Francis House offer the comfort of a bed and breakfast while connecting with fellow travellers. Arrive in style and safety with car service from Pure Luxury Transportation. Secure a spa appointment for the iconic mud bath at Dr. Wilkinson’s, followed by a soak in the mineral pool. Head to St. Helena to enjoy the art collection at Heitz Cellars while tasting the valley’s famous cabernets. For an indulgent dinner try at PRESS St. Helena, which recently earned its first Michelin star.

Unforgettable Trip to Anaheim
For delicious food, head to the Anaheim Packing House, a must-see foodie favorite with two stories of bars and restaurants. Visitors can explore the historical Center St. Promenade ― a local gem known for its artisan shops, chef-driven eateries, and innovative vendors. Take FRAN (Free Rides Around the Neighborhood), a free shuttle service with stops at Anaheim Packing House, Center St. Promenade, and more. The acronym FRAN is inspired by Francisca Avila Rimpau, one of the founders of the historic Anaheim Colony district. Francisca and her husband had 15 children, and Anaheim’s 10 FRAN vehicles are named after the couple’s daughters and granddaughters.

Mindful By-the-Sea in Carmel
Carmel-by-the-Sea offers a myriad of personalized experiences to help visitors relax and be in the moment through its Mindful-by-the-Sea Beginner’s Guide. The Best Kept Carmel campaign showcases locals, lore, legends and more to deepen visitors’ knowledge and appreciation of this beautiful place. 

Tropical Vibes in Huntington Beach
When in Huntington Beach, Paséa Hotel & Spa’s ocean views, aesthetic rooms, and coastal dining options are perfect for women travelling solo. Located on-site, Aarna Spa transports travellers to Bali and offers luxury spa treatments, massages and innovative facials for relaxation and rejuvenation. Reconnect with nature through a community-led yoga on the beach session, rent a bike and beach cruise along 10 miles of coastline, or explore the hundreds of bird species at the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve. Head to Tanner’s to enjoy your favorite rooftop cocktail and watch the sunset over the Pacific Ocean. 

Get Fit with Cassara Carlsbad’s Private Wellness Rooms 
Perched on the coastal bluffs above the Pacific Ocean, The Cassara Carlsbad offers private Wellness Rooms equipped with Peloton bikes, TRX machines, and other equipment for solo travellers wanting to work out in the comfort and safety of their hotel rooms. Cassara’s Mediterranean-inspired architecture, lush gardens, jacuzzi, pools and cozy fire pits are perfect for the ultimate getaway. The hotel is minutes away from the area's eateries, shops, beaches and attractions, and offers a free shuttle service that will take guests anywhere within a 5-mile radius.

TAGS: