Where are the Safe Hiking Trails for women? I'll tell you about two great ones, one on each coast of the US.

If you're not quite ready for big hikes like the Camino in Spain or the Pacific Crest Trail, start with scenic, public, well-known trails you can easily shorten. Here are two great options from coast to coast:

https://www.nps.gov/goga/planyourvisit/landsend.htm

This is my favorite West Coast trail because you get Pacific Ocean cliffs, cypress trees, the history of Sutro Baths, and views of the Golden Gate Bridge—all without leaving the city. The Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy says the Lands End Loop is about 3.1 miles round trip, which fits nicely into the 2-to-5-mile range and is perfect for exploring.

Why is this a good pick for Dr. Travelbest listeners? You can shorten the hike by starting near the Lands End Lookout or Sutro Baths and stopping often to take photos. It feels wild, but you're still in San Francisco. The National Park Service describes the area as trails winding around rocky cliffs, cypress and eucalyptus trees, and offering spectacular views.

A few things to watch for: the trail isn't completely flat, and some parts have stairs, uneven ground, or cliff-side drop-offs. Wear sturdy walking shoes instead of dressy sneakers. Go during the day, bring an extra layer, and be ready for fog or wind.

For the East Coast, my pick is Ocean Path in Acadia National Park. This trail follows the coast from Sand Beach to Thunder Hole and Otter Point. The National Park Service says it's 2.2 miles one way (4.4 miles round trip), and the section from Sand Beach to Thunder Hole is just 0.7 miles if you want something shorter.

https://www.nps.gov/thingstodo/hike-ocean-path-trail.htm

Relax and enjoy a fare-free ride on the Island Explorer shuttle, which serves park destinations, local communities, and Bar Harbor-Hancock County Regional Airport. It is also wheelchair accessible.

Regularly scheduled buses stop at park destinations, including campgrounds, carriage road entrances, and many trailheads.

Bus schedules are available at visitor contact stations and the Island Explorer website.

Looking for more? Check out Edie Sundy Littlefield's mission walks in California and Mexico, and more recently in Texas, Florida, and other places. See the show notes.

https://themissionwalker.com/

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Where in the world am I? In San Diego, talking about Aarhus, Denmark

FAQ: Don't Americans now tend to feel isolated when they're traveling?

Today's Confidence Challenge is to prepare a travel budget.

Here's what one of my readers wrote on Amazon.

​

So engaging! So encouraging!

Oh, Dr Travelbest, you've done it again! Part C is a delight to read and is a heck of a confidence builder for us wanna-be's. It's engaging and encouraging. You share your experiences with self-deprecating good humor and there's something to be learned on every page. More, please!"

Dr. Travelbest's book series looks at ways of budgeting when traveling alone

For information on how to budget for your travel, see Book C.

You can find the series on the website at https://www.5stepstosolotravel.com/ or on Amazon.

​

Today's destination is Aarhus, Denmark:

​https://www.visitdenmark.com/denmark/destinations/jutland/aarhus

https://www.aros.dk/en

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Prince Edward Island, Canada

Can you tell me more about PEI's history?

PEI is one of Canada's Maritime provinces, known for red beaches, seafood, small towns, farms, coastal roads, and, of course, Anne of Green Gables.

Prince Edward Island (PEI) was originally Mi'kmaq territory known as Epekwitk ("cradled on the waves"). French colonists settled it in the 1720s as Île Saint-Jean, but the British deported them in 1758. Later named "St. John Island," the colony was renamed PEI in 1799. It joined Canada as the seventh province in 1873.

• The World's Bluefin Tuna Capital: PEI is world-renowned for its massive bluefin tuna. Anglers flock to the island's coastal waters, where catching tuna weighing well over $500 lbs is common during the season.

• Tourism Prince Edward Island

• NoOcean Escape: PEI is 137 miles long and varies from about 4 to 40 miles wide. Because of its unique shape, no point on the island is more than 10 miles from the sea.

• The red soil gets its striking color from a high concentration of iron oxide (hematite) in the sandstone bedrock, which essentially rusted over millions of years.

60-second confidence challenge

Your challenge today: Confidence Challenge PEI

If you like today's Confidence Challenge, my book series goes deeper into island lifestyles and walks you through 5 steps to solo travel, from easy to more challenging, with foreign-language communication tips and ways to make it more fun. For solo travel in areas like PEI, you can find the series at the link in the description.

See my book series, Part C, for how to address this concern.

Find it on the website​​ at https://www.5stepstosolotravel.com/ or on Amazon. It's a several-part series.

Today's destination is Prince Edward Island, usually called PEI.

I visited PEI near the end of my second long solo journey around the world. At that point, I had just under two weeks left in my adventure.

By then, I had started losing things, too.

I lost my hat after swimming at the beach on Saturday. Then I lost my glasses. Fortunately, I had packed a spare pair, so I could still see where I was going. This is one reason I always recommend bringing backups of the small things that can become very important when you travel.

https://www.tourismpei.com/

https://www.tourismpei.com/askanislander/questions/which-is-better-to-go-to-pei-this-summer-via-the-confederation-bridge-or#:~:text=The%20Confederation%20Bridge%20rates%20are,when%20departing%20on%20the%20ferry).

Connect with Dr. Travelbest

5 Steps to Solo Travel website

Dr. Mary Travelbest X

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Dr. Mary Travelbest Podcast

Dr. Travelbest on TikTok

Dr.Travelbest on YouTube

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