Solo Travel Has Skyrocketed in the U.S.; Northern California’s Mendocino County Taps Into This Trend With Millennials and Gen-Zs Driving a Tourism Uptick

National Plan a Solo Vacation Day March 1, 2025

It’s a trend that shows no signs of slowing — individuals setting out for an adventure on their own, no agenda, no negotiation. According to Kayak, 50 percent of Americans plan to travel alone this year, while six in 10 will dine as a party of one.* Forbes notes 76% of Millennials and Gen-Zs are planning solo trips in 2025*, making this a ripe opportunity for destinations steeped in adventure. According to Forbes, “the solo travel boom is also being driven by digital nomads – another form of travel bolstered by the pandemic which offered newfound freedom from the office with hybrid working.” These are people who might visit five cities or five countries over several months, with extended stays, more flexibility and a larger world view.

A destination long known for its rugged individualism and off-grid mindset, Mendocino County is the ideal escape for travel for one. Eye candy for social media and terra firma for adventurers on a solo trek, Mendocino blends 90 miles of prime Pacific coastline with ancient redwood forests and 100+ wineries. From Rothschild Giraffes to the golden City of 10,000 Buddhas, the options are endless along California’s northern stretch of Highway 1 and inland along Mendocino’s Inspiration Highway (101). www.visitmendocino.com.

Top Treks for Solo Travelers

Frolic Among Peacocks & Pagodas - City of 10,000 Buddhas

Ready to reflect in a reflection? Just outside of Ukiah lies the City of 10,000 Buddhas, a peaceful retreat sporting peacocks, pagodas and “Vigor” and “Virtue” signposts — backed with the resonance of chanting monks. The arched entrance is a showstopper as well as the grounds, which are dotted with a variety of large art pieces honoring the essence of Buddha. Open to the public, the City of 10,000 Buddhas offers daily prayer in the eye-popping Jeweled Hall, complete with 10,000 golden Buddhas lining the facility from floor to ceiling; free. Stay for a tasty lunch at Jyun Kang Vegetarian Restaurant on-site. www.cttbusa.org.

Go Steampunk with Big Iron Behemoths – Roots of Motive Power

Housing massive heaps of steel and an inside track on California's rich logging history, Roots of Motive Power is the stop for a shot of big iron at its iconic best. In a stunning display of guts and girth, behemoths – including a classic 1885 Porter steam engine – stand ready for their close up in a symphony of steam. Visits are limited to key events and workdays (1^st and 3^rd Saturdays); the trains are also viewable from the street. www.rootsofmotivepower.com.

Kiss a Rothschild Giraffe – B. Bryan Preserve

Secluded along Mendocino County’s south coast, B. Bryan Preserve is the stop for an escape to the African veldt. On tap for the perfect Instagram shot are an assortment of rare and endangered African hoof stock including Grevy’s Zebra (the largest of the breed and known to be most untamable), Greater Kudu (considered to be the most handsome of the tragelaphine antelopes) and stately Rothschild Giraffes – the tallest land animal on earth. Visitors can enjoy a self-guided car safari or daily tour to feed the animals and cash in on a kiss. www.bbryanpreserve.com.

Slurp some Local Uni – Harbor House Inn

Elk (population 275) was just named America’s Top Small Food & Wine Town,* given its idyllic coastal location and two-Michelin star Harbor House Inn with chef Matthew Kammerer driving the stoves. The Michelin Guide calls the cooking here “highly original,” touting the use of “hyperlocal and foraged ingredients, elevating not only delicacies like sea urchin but also more humble items like seaweed harvested from the nearby coastline or lace lichen plucked from overhanging trees.” www.theharborhouseinn.com.

Drive Through a Living Tree - Chandelier Drive-Thru Tree

Size matters. Soaring at 315 feet high with a girth of 21 feet, this 2,000-year-old towering tree is a definite show stopper. Cut in the late 1930s as a tourist attraction, the Chandelier Tree seems to defy nature, allowing autos a smooth passage through its center, albeit tight at times. A $15.00 fee gains entry through this gentle giant; there are also wonderful hiking trails in nearby Standish-Hickey State Recreation Area. www.drivethrutree.com.

Pet a Goat, Savor a Sauvignon Blanc – Pennyroyal Farm

Set in wine-centric Anderson Valley, Pennyroyal Farm is the stop for a morning tour of an award-winning farmstead creamery including a walk-through of the solar-powered barn to meet the animals – 150+ dairy goat companions and 40+ dairy sheep and a sheep grazing flock of 200+ ewes on fun, full display. Learn about the integrative methods behind both the estate wines and cheeses from cutting and molding of curds, through the aging stage and final packaging. Names like Velvet Sister, Boont Corners and Bollie’s Mollies round out the selection. A final cheese and wine tasting rounds out the tour, including the winery’s signature Sauvignon Blanc. www.pennyroyalfarm.com.

Train to a Bar in the Redwoods – Skunk Train

Seeking a classic cosmopolitan deep within the redwoods? All aboard the scenic Skunk Train on a magical ride back in time through old-growth redwoods and pristine wilderness to Glen Blair Bar. The 14-mile loop departs from Fort Bragg delivering guests to the ultimate party in the redwoods with firepits, heaters, live music and a world-class bar offering local beer and wine, as well as signature cocktails. https://www.skunktrain.com/glen-blair-bar/.

* www.kayak.com/c/solo/

* https://www.forbes.com/sites/angelinavillaclarke/2024/11/27/travel-trends-report-2025-solo-travel/

* https://www.travelandleisure.com/guide-to-elk-california-8681690

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