Podcast
Solo Travel Adventures: Faith-Rooted Intentional Travel for Christian Women Over 50
Faith-Rooted Solo Travel for Christian Women Over 50
Have you found yourself in a season you didn’t choose?
Maybe your marriage ended.
Maybe you lost your spouse.
Maybe the house is suddenly quiet after years of raising a family.
And now you’re asking the question many Christian women over 50 quietly carry:
“Who am I now?”
Solo Travel Adventures is a podcast for Christian women navigating life after divorce, widowhood, empty nest, or unexpected transition — and who feel a quiet pull toward something new.
Hosted by solo travel coach Cheryl Esch, this show explores how solo travel can become a catalyst for renewed identity, restored confidence, and deeper trust in Christ.
Each week Cheryl shares faith-centered encouragement, practical solo travel guidance, and honest conversations about what it means to rebuild your life in midlife.
Inside this podcast you’ll discover:
• How to rebuild confidence after 50 and major life changes
• How solo travel and faith can help you hear God more clearly
• Practical steps to plan your first solo trip after 50
• Encouragement for Christian women navigating divorce, loss, or empty nest
• Stories and insights about reinventing yourself after 50 as a Christian woman
This isn’t just about travel.
It’s about becoming.
If you’re a Christian woman over 50 navigating life transition who feels the stirring for something more — a new chapter, a renewed sense of purpose, and the courage to step forward — you’re in the right place.
So pack your bags, open your heart, and come discover what God might do when you say yes to the journey.
https://www.cherylbeckesch.com
Instagram: @solotraveladventures50
- Episodes
- 201
- Releases
- Weekly
- Typical length
- 17 min
- On air since
- 2022
- Latest episode
- 1 week ago
Episodes
201 episodes, newest first
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19 min
Alone for the Holidays? How to Plan a Meaningful Holiday Season as a Single Woman
Season 4, Episode 200
Show notes
The holidays can feel like a test you never signed up for when you are divorced, widowed, or single, especially when every ad and every conversation seems to assume you have a full house and a full calendar. I’m Cheryl Esch, a Christian travel coach, and I get specific about what it’s like to face Thanksgiving and Christmas with real grief, real memories, and the very real fear of ending up alone by default.
I share a few honest snapshots from my own post-divorce holidays, from choosing an eight-hour drive to be near family because I knew my mental health needed it, to the year I stood in line for a single Thanksgiving plate and ate it alone, to the awkwardness of being the extra seat at someone else’s family table. Those moments taught me what I do not want to feel again, and they pushed me toward a better approach: plan early, plan intentionally, and stop letting the season “happen” to you.
We walk through three practical questions you can use to design your holiday plans: how do you want to spend the day and how do you want to feel, who do you truly want around you, and where do you want to be. If solo travel during the holidays is part of that answer, we talk about why travel can be a healthy boundary, a grief-friendly reset, and a meaningful way to create new memories without getting pulled into chaos or family drama. We also keep faith at the center by talking about prayer, discernment, and choosing what God may be leading you toward.
To celebrate my 200th episode, I’m also offering one woman a 20% discount on my four-session, one-on-one travel coaching program with a discovery call to make sure it’s the right fit. Listen, share this with a friend who’s dreading the season, and subscribe and leave a review so more women can find support, hope, and a plan.
Coaching Invitation
As a celebration of my 200th episode, 1 woman will receive 20% off my signature travel coaching one-on-one sessions. Be the first to apply.If you’re feeling drawn toward solo travel but unsure where to begin, this is something I support women with through 1:1 coaching. Together we can explore what kind of travel experience fits your season of life and create a thoughtful plan that reflects the woman you are becoming.
https://cherylbeckesch.com/workwithme/
Apply for the Set Free to Become: A Spirit-led Travel Journey Coaching
https://forms.gle/CG6K2pXEQmiXwfBW8
https://www.cherylbeckesch.com
hello@cherylbeckesch.com
Instagram @solotraveladventures50
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40 min
Travel During Menopause: How to Eat Well and Enjoy Vacation Without Guilt with Michelle McCoy//199
Season 4, Episode 199
Show notes
You land in a new place, the pastries look incredible, and you want to say yes to every local bite. But if you’re in menopause or perimenopause, travel can also mean bloating, headaches, fatigue, brain fog, and that nagging feeling that your body is harder to read than it used to be. We’re not doing food rules or calorie counting here. We’re talking about how to enjoy vacation food and still feel good in your body.
I’m joined by functional health coach Michelle McCoy of Treasured Wellness, who shares a powerful story about being dismissed in conventional care and why women need to advocate for whole-person health: body, mind, and spirit. We dig into what it looks like to treat your body like a temple to treasure, especially in midlife, when symptoms are signals and “just live with it” is not an acceptable answer.
You’ll walk away with practical travel wellness tips you can use immediately: the Hydrate, Eliminate, Maintain framework (yes, elimination matters), how to anchor meals with protein and vegetables, and how to navigate gluten sensitivity and restaurant menus in any culture. We also talk about dessert without regret, including the simple “three bite rule,” plus how to recover after a trip with deep sleep, gentle movement, and a reset of your daily rhythms.
If you want more energy on the road and fewer vacation “hangovers,” listen now, then subscribe, share this with a friend who travels, and leave a review so more midlife women can find it.
Connect with Michelle McCoy
https://treasuredwellness.com/
https://www.cherylbeckesch.com
hello@cherylbeckesch.com
Instagram @solotraveladventures50
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23 min
Grief and Solo Travel: Finding Space to Heal After Loss//198
Season 4, Episode 198
Show notes
Grief can feel like you’re fine one minute and flat on the floor the next and that swing can make you wonder if you’re “doing it wrong.” I’m Cheryl Esch, and I’m sharing a personal, honest look at loss through two very different stories: losing my mom to breast cancer and, more recently, losing my dad after years of Alzheimer’s. When someone fades in front of you, grief starts early, arrives in waves, and keeps changing shape.
I explore how travel, especially solo travel, can support the grieving process without pretending it’s a quick fix. We talk about the real-life stages of grief and why they don’t move in a straight line. I also share practical grief travel ideas you can actually use: start with a day trip, keep your itinerary light, and build in breathing room for walks, meals, journaling, and rest. If you’re worried you’ll fall apart on the road, you’re not alone and you can plan for support with a trusted friend, a check-in call, or traveling with others when solo feels like too much.
Faith is part of my story too, so I offer a simple way to invite God into your trip without putting pressure on yourself to have a profound spiritual breakthrough. We also name the quiet fear of being judged for “moving on” and why you don’t owe anyone an explanation. Whether your next step is a weekend near home, a place tied to memories, or a completely new setting, the goal is space to breathe and space to heal.
If this speaks to you, subscribe, share it with someone who’s grieving, and leave a review so more listeners can find support when they need it most.
https://www.cherylbeckesch.com
hello@cherylbeckesch.com
Instagram @solotraveladventures50
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23 min
Rest Without Guilt: Why Christian Women Need Restorative Travel//197
Season 4, Episode 197
Show notes
Guilt can sneak in the moment we even consider stepping away. If you’ve ever wondered whether resting is selfish, whether spending money on yourself is wrong, or whether you should be doing something “more productive,” you’re not alone and you’re not failing. We name the hidden pressure so many Christian women carry, especially in midlife, when years of caregiving, serving, working, and staying available can make stillness feel uncomfortable.
We walk through what genuine restorative rest looks like, and why it’s not laziness or something you have to earn by hitting exhaustion. We ground the conversation in Scripture, including Jesus’ invitation to the weary and the biblical rhythm of work and Sabbath rest, and we talk about rest as an act of trust and surrender. When we pause, we practice believing that God continues to care for what we’re stepping away from.
Then we get practical with restorative travel: trips designed around renewal rather than achievement. Think a quiet weekend, a retreat center, a beach day, a cabin, or even one night in a hotel that breaks your routine. We share why solo travel can be especially healing, plus simple ideas like slow walks, journaling, naps without apology, turning off your phone, and daily questions that help you notice peace, release burdens, and hear God more clearly.
If you’ve been craving spiritual renewal, clarity, and a calmer nervous system, this is your invitation to travel differently and rest without guilt. Subscribe or follow for the next journey, share this with a friend who needs permission to rest, and leave a review so more women can find this message.
https://www.cherylbeckesch.com
hello@cherylbeckesch.com
Instagram @solotraveladventures50
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16 min
When God Changes Your Travel Plans: Embracing a New Season in Midlife//196
Season 4, Episode 196
Show notes
Fall has a way of telling the truth. The light changes, the air shifts, and suddenly you can feel that something in you is changing too. Today I’m sharing what’s been on my heart as we move into a new season on the calendar, after a lunar eclipse, and even toward a new year on the Hebrew calendar. If you’ve sensed a spiritual nudge to slow down, listen, and reassess, you’re not alone.
We talk about midlife travel for women through a faith lens, especially when real life rewrites your plans. I open up about being in a season of more domestic travel and the possibility of postponing a Costa Rica trip because my father isn’t well. That kind of decision can bring disappointment, but it can also bring clarity. The deeper question is whether our travel plans reflect the season we’re actually living, or the season we wish we were in.
You’ll hear practical encouragement for seasonal travel planning that starts with reflection and prayer: honoring grief, making space for quiet, and refusing to force a trip just because you already paid for it. I also share why I trust closed doors, how I think about “metamorphosis” in this second act of life, and what it can look like to wait for the right trip at the right time.
If this resonates, subscribe so you don’t miss what’s coming next, share this with a sister traveler who needs permission to slow down, and leave a review to help more women find the show. What season are you in right now, and what kind of travel would truly fit it?
https://www.cherylbeckesch.com
hello@cherylbeckesch.com
Instagram @solotraveladventures50
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18 min
Sabbatical Travel for Women Over 50: Take Time to Rest, Renew & Reconnect With God//195
Season 4, Episode 195
Show notes
I explore sabbatical travel as an intentional way to step away for rest, renewal, and listening for God without the usual noise of home. I share why more than a week matters, what a “radical sabbatical” can look like, and how to plan it with purpose instead of escape.
• what sabbatical travel means and why it is growing
• Sabbath roots and a biblical rhythm of work and rest
• why leaving home reduces distractions and makes room to pray, grieve, dream, and listen
• realistic sabbatical options from two weeks to a few months
• choosing a clear purpose such as health, emotional healing, spiritual renewal, or writing a book
• planning around finances, work, and family responsibilities
• caregiving support and asking for help to make time away possible
• returning with renewed perspective and readiness for a new season
If you want to get in touch with me, you can email me hello@Cherylbeckesh.com.https://www.cherylbeckesch.com
hello@cherylbeckesch.com
Instagram @solotraveladventures50
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18 min
Solo Travel for Women 50+: Discover America's Most Charming Small Towns//194
Season 4, Episode 194
Show notes
Small towns can feel like a time machine and a deep breath at the same time. I’ve been drawn to quieter places lately, and I want to share what I’m learning as I explore small town travel in the USA as both a solo traveler and a travel coach. If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to trade traffic and endless errands for a slower pace, friendlier hellos, and a main street you can actually walk, you’ll feel right at home here.
We talk about why so many of us default to the kind of place we grew up in and why that can change as we get older, especially in an empty nest season or after downsizing. I also share one of the smartest “try before you buy” travel strategies I’ve seen: doing an extended stay to test a lifestyle before moving, because a quick vacation rarely shows you the real daily experience.
Then I highlight small towns that deliver charm and calm, including Jefferson, Texas with its antiques and bed and breakfast warmth, Woodstock, Vermont for covered bridges and Green Mountain views, Chagrin Falls, Ohio for a walkable downtown and waterfall, Harpers Ferry, West Virginia for history and river scenery, and Mackinac Island, Michigan where there are no cars and the quiet is the whole point. If you’re craving a reset, pick one town and stay more than a night. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs a change of pace, and leave a review with the small town you’d try first.
https://www.cherylbeckesch.com
hello@cherylbeckesch.com
Instagram @solotraveladventures50
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9 min
Are You Using Travel to Escape Your Problems? How Faith, Travel, and Reflection Bring Real Healing//193
Season 4, Episode 193
Show notes
You can feel it building for weeks: the pressure in your chest, the restlessness, the thought that if you could just get away everything would finally make sense. We’re talking about that temptation to use travel as an escape and the sobering truth that your deeper struggles don’t stay behind when the trip ends.
I share a personal story from a June road trip and what I’ve been wrestling with around my living situation after years of nomad life. I’ve been longing to settle down, put down roots, and stop “flitting around,” and I realized how easy it is to call constant motion a lifestyle when it’s sometimes a way to avoid what hurts. Through prayer and daily guidance, I found clarity about what to do next and, more importantly, a sense of peace even before anything changed on the outside.
We also explore the healthier side of travel: how intentional travel can give women the space to heal from trauma, reset mentally, and see a problem for what it really is. When you step out of the day-to-day noise with purpose, you can come home renewed, able to face your real life with a fresher mind and stronger direction.
If you’re in a messy middle season and you know you need a break without running away, this conversation is for you. Listen, share it with a friend who keeps saying “I just need to leave,” and subscribe and leave a review so more sister travelers can find intentional, healing travel.
https://www.cherylbeckesch.com
hello@cherylbeckesch.com
Instagram @solotraveladventures50
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16 min
How the World Cup Inspires Travel: Finding Purpose and Adventure Through Global Events//192
Season 4, Episode 192
Show notes
The World Cup is not just a tournament, it is a moving map. Watching fans show up with songs, costumes, and total pride for their home countries reminded me how quickly a game can turn into real travel inspiration. Even if soccer is not your thing, the feeling is hard to miss: community, curiosity, and that sudden urge to look up a country you had not considered in years.
We talk about how big global events shine a spotlight on places you might never have put on your travel list. Japan’s culture of respect, Scotland’s all-out fun, Norway’s crowd energy, and a first-time underdog like Cabo Verde can spark a brand-new “I want to go there” moment. That is where better travel planning starts, especially for solo women travelers: not with what is trendy, but with what genuinely pulls you in.
Then I zoom out to a practical framework I love: travel with a why. Your why can be pure fun, but it helps to choose something you already care about and let it guide the destination. Think festivals, lantern nights, tulips in Amsterdam, cherry blossoms in Japan, the Northern Lights, music you would cross an ocean for, or even writing retreats if you prefer quieter experiences. When you build a trip around an event, you get the best kind of bonus, the experience you came for plus a deeper taste of local culture.
I also share what I am dreaming about next, from future World Cup plans in Portugal, Spain, and Morocco to the butterfly migration in Mexico, plus an important update on the podcast schedule and where you can hear me as a guest soon. If this sparked a destination idea, subscribe, share the show with a friend, and leave a review so more sister travelers can find their next adventure.
https://www.cherylbeckesch.com
hello@cherylbeckesch.com
Instagram @solotraveladventures50
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14 min
How Travel Changes After 50: We Are No Longer in Our 20's//191
Season 4, Episode 191
Show notes
Your 23-year-old self might have measured a trip by how fast you could pack, how far you could drive, and how many friends you could squeeze into a weekend. But as we hit midlife, travel often stops being about proving we are adventurous and starts being about getting honest with what we need. I’m Cheryl Esch, and I’m exploring a question that keeps coming up when I watch younger travelers move through the world with pure spontaneity: how would you travel differently now, as a woman 50 and up?
We talk about why last-minute plans can feel exciting at 23 and oddly stressful later on, and how that shift is not a loss of fun, it’s growth. We dig into identity, confidence, and the real reason some of us avoid being alone, especially on holidays. Then we move into intentional travel planning for solo travelers: the mental, emotional, and even spiritual prep that can turn “time off” into genuine renewal.
I share three grounding questions to ask before you book anything: How am I feeling right now in my body and mind? Do I feel comfortable giving myself permission to step away? What do I want to feel during the trip and when I return home? Whether you crave a quiet retreat, a break from social media, or a purpose-filled adventure, you’ll leave with a clearer sense of what meaningful travel looks like in this season.
If you want support creating a purposeful solo trip, I also share how one-on-one coaching can help. Subscribe for more, share this with a friend who needs time away, and leave a review telling me: what do you want your next trip to give you?
Coaching Invitation
If you’re feeling drawn toward solo travel but unsure where to begin, this is something I support women with through 1:1 coaching. Together we can explore what kind of travel experience fits your season of life and create a thoughtful plan that reflects the woman you are becoming.https://cherylbeckesch.com/workwithme/
Apply for the Set Free to Become: A Spirit-led Travel Journey Coaching
https://forms.gle/CG6K2pXEQmiXwfBW8
https://www.cherylbeckesch.com
hello@cherylbeckesch.com
Instagram @solotraveladventures50
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17 min
Divine Guidance on Solo Road Trips//190
Season 4, Episode 190
Show notes
What would change if you treated your next solo road trip like a daily conversation with God instead of a race from one stop to the next? I just got back from a 15-day U.S. road trip that surprised me in the best ways, and it started with one intentional prayer: give me a truth, a promise, a word each day while I travel. I didn’t expect how clearly those “daily nuggets” would show up once I made the space to listen.
A week before I left, my friend canceled, and I had to scramble to rework my plans, my lodging, and my budget. That disruption could have derailed everything, but it became part of the gift. Road trip travel is flexible in a way air travel isn’t, and that flexibility created room for rest, reflection, and real communion with God. I share how I journal each day, how I catch quick notes while driving, and how guidance can come through surprising places like a random autoplay song or a simple daily meditation that confronts worry and calls me back to trust.
I also talk about the deeper side of travel memories, including what it felt like to return to the Badlands as an adult and how nature helps us savor the moment and carry it forward. Along the way, I recap the route (16 states and 4,600 miles), a personal answer I felt God gave me about where to live, and why intentional solo travel can strengthen faith and clarity. If you’re craving a meaningful road trip, Christian encouragement, and practical ways to travel with purpose, this one is for you.
Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs a reset, and leave a review. What’s one thing you’d ask God to show you on your next trip?
Coaching Invitation
If you’re feeling drawn toward solo travel but unsure where to begin, this is something I support women with through 1:1 coaching. Together we can explore what kind of travel experience fits your season of life and create a thoughtful plan that reflects the woman you are becoming.https://cherylbeckesch.com/workwithme/
Apply for the Set Free to Become: A Spirit-led Travel Journey Coaching
https://forms.gle/CG6K2pXEQmiXwfBW8
https://www.cherylbeckesch.com
hello@cherylbeckesch.com
Instagram @solotraveladventures50
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9 min
The Loneliness Nobody Talks About After Divorce and Empty Nest | Finding Yourself Again Through Solo Travel // 189
Season 4, Episode 189
Show notes
Loneliness can sneak in after divorce and an empty nest, not as a dramatic breakdown, but as a quiet feeling you carry while you still do your job, return calls, and tell everyone you’re okay. I’m Cheryl Esch, a travel coach and solo travel advocate, and I’m sharing what I wish more women said out loud: you can be surrounded by people and still feel completely alone. When big life transitions pile up at once, grief does not always look like tears in public. Sometimes it looks like isolation, numbness, and the exhausting work of pretending you’re “strong.”
I talk about how my divorce collided with empty nest life, how depression can drain your motivation, and how winter and seasonal affective disorder can make everything heavier. We also get into the social side of healing: what happens when you finally get vulnerable and someone shuts you down, and why that moment can teach you to stay surface-level even when you desperately need support. If you’ve felt dismissed, too much, or hard to love during a transition, you’re not alone, and you’re not broken.
We close with practical ways to rebuild community and confidence, including women-to-women support, divorce support groups, church groups, and the surprising power of a small women’s travel group (think 12 or fewer). Solo travel does not have to mean being lonely. It can be a bridge back to yourself and to friendships that feel real. If this resonates, subscribe, share this with a friend who’s starting over, and leave a review. What kind of support would change everything for you right now?
https://www.cherylbeckesch.com
hello@cherylbeckesch.com
Instagram @solotraveladventures50
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11 min
Solo Travel for Healing After Loss | Remembering Who You Are Again // 188
Season 4, Episode 188
Show notes
You can do everything “right” and still wake up wondering who you are. When your identity has been stitched to relationships, responsibilities, and everyone else’s expectations, a major life change can leave you feeling emotionally numb, stuck, and exhausted. We get real about that moment and why it’s more common than most of us admit.
We talk about how solo travel can become a practical path to self-discovery, not as a glamorous escape, but as intentional time away that pulls you out of survival mode. Cheryl shares her own turning point after divorce, why a simple solo road trip created the solitude she needed, and how the goal is not to forget your life for a week but to remember who you are at the core.
You’ll also hear concrete tools you can use right away: a phone-free reset, time in nature to quiet your brain, and journaling that works even when your thoughts feel messy. We explore how joy and laughter can return in small moments, and how faith can feel clearer when you finally stop living under constant noise.
If you’ve been telling yourself you “just need a vacation,” this is your sign to choose something deeper. Listen, share this with a friend who feels lost, and subscribe and leave a review so more women can find the freedom to rediscover who they really are.
Coaching Invitation
If you’re feeling drawn toward solo travel but unsure where to begin, this is something I support women with through 1:1 coaching. Together we can explore what kind of travel experience fits your season of life and create a thoughtful plan that reflects the woman you are becoming.https://cherylbeckesch.com/workwithme/
https://www.cherylbeckesch.com
hello@cherylbeckesch.com
Instagram @solotraveladventures50
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35 min
Budgeting for Solo Travel Without the Shame or Stress [ft. The Budget Besties] // 187
Season 4, Episode 187
Show notes
Travel keeps getting blamed on “not enough money,” but that excuse falls apart the moment you can actually see your numbers. We sit down with Vanessa and Shana from Budget Besties, master financial coaches who work with women earning good money and still feeling stuck, stressed, or ashamed about budgeting. They make the B-word feel less like a punishment and more like a plan that gives you real permission to spend on what you love, including a trip you have been postponing for years.
We talk through their practical, modern approach to a budgeting system that works in a digital world: a simple one-page layout, automatic money separation, and savings buckets that keep goals clear without tracking every single transaction. They share why most people are not failing at money because of “mindset,” but because nobody taught them the mechanics. Once the system is set up, confidence follows fast, and travel stops being a vague wish and becomes a funded category.
We also dig into the truth about credit card points, travel guilt, and vacation debt. A credit limit is not a budget, and points are not worth the heaviness of a balance that steals the joy when you get home. You will hear why a high-yield savings account and a dedicated travel savings bucket can beat the stress of overspending, and how you can pay off debt while still making memories now, not in retirement. If you want budget travel tips, a realistic debt payoff plan, and a clear way to save for vacations in cash, this conversation is for you. Subscribe, share this with a friend who keeps saying “maybe next year,” and leave a review so more women can travel with confidence.
Find out more on how the Budget Besties can help you.
Financial Coaching For Women Podcast
https://www.cherylbeckesch.com
hello@cherylbeckesch.com
Instagram @solotraveladventures50
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17 min
Why Hawaii? // 186
Season 4, Episode 186
Show notes
Hawaii isn’t one thing. It can be a surf town, a volcanic summit that feels like the moon, a rainforest with waterfalls, and a quiet stretch of beach that makes you forget what day it is. On my first trip to Hawaii, I head to Maui and use one guiding question to make sense of it all: why would someone choose Hawaii over any other “paradise” on the map? What I learn comes as much from conversations as it does from the scenery.
I stayed in a hostel, even though that’s not the most common pick for women 50 and above, and it quickly becomes the most unexpected part of the journey. I meet young international travelers from South Africa, Germany, and Spain, and I hear why Hawaii feels like a unique US destination compared with the big-city routes most visitors take. I also meet Sandie, a 75-year-old nomad who returns each year for the relaxed pace, the temperate weather, and the steady calm that “island time” brings.
We talk about what Hawaii offers that’s hard to replicate: turquoise beaches, volcanoes, national parks, hiking, beginner-friendly surf spots, history, and a living culture rooted in a deep connection to land and ocean. I also share practical solo travel tips for Hawaii planning, including why it can be easier than international travel, how distance and time zones factor in, and why the best itinerary starts with your real reason for going, whether that’s adventure, rest, healing, or spiritual renewal.
If you’re craving nature, a reset from burnout, or a solo trip that feels safe and expansive, this one is for you. Subscribe, share this with a friend planning a getaway, and leave a review with your answer: what’s your why for travel?
https://www.cherylbeckesch.com
hello@cherylbeckesch.com
Instagram @solotraveladventures50
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39 min
From Divorce To Kuwait: A Midlife Move That Rebuilt One Woman’s Life // 185
Season 4, Episode 185
Show notes
A sleepless night. A divorce after 32 years. A job listing that makes zero sense on paper. Then Kuwait shows up on the screen and Danielle Hebert takes the leap. What starts as a desperate need for space turns into two years of solo living abroad that reshapes her confidence, her faith, and the way she sees the world.
We talk through the practical realities of moving to a Muslim-majority country as a midlife woman: what Danielle asked in her interview about culture and dress, what surprised her when she landed, and how she learned to navigate daily life, safety, and boundaries. She shares the warmth she receives from strangers, neighbors, and coworkers in an international school community filled with people from across the Middle East, Asia, and beyond. The conversation also holds space for the complicated parts, including moments that feel unsettling and the inequality she witnesses among migrant workers.
Most of all, Danielle explains why this wasn’t “running away.” It was healing travel with intention: rebuilding self-esteem through meaningful work, creating deeper connections with family back home, and finding spiritual rhythm in an unexpected place. If you’re searching for solo travel inspiration, a midlife reset, or hope after divorce, this story will challenge your assumptions and widen your imagination. Subscribe for more Solo Travel Adventures, share this with a friend who needs a fresh start, and leave a review telling us: where would you go to heal?
Coaching Invitation
If you’re feeling drawn toward solo travel but unsure where to begin, this is something I support women with through 1:1 coaching. Together we can explore what kind of travel experience fits your season of life and create a thoughtful plan that reflects the woman you are becoming.https://cherylbeckesch.com/workwithme/
https://www.cherylbeckesch.com
hello@cherylbeckesch.com
Instagram @solotraveladventures50
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13 min
Fearless Solo Travel: Faith, Freedom and Flight // 184
Season 4, Episode 184
Show notes
Fear can sound responsible, even wise, until you realize it’s quietly making your decisions for you. If you’ve felt that tension between wanting to take a solo trip and hearing the anxious loop of “what if something goes wrong,” I’m speaking straight to that moment. We get honest about the difference between real safety awareness and the internal fear that grows in the unknown, especially for women who want freedom but also want to feel grounded and protected.
I share how I lean on scripture when fear gets loud, because God hasn’t given us a spirit of fear but of power, love, and a sound mind. We talk about the Biblical pattern of being called to go even without perfect clarity, and how solo travel can become a personal journey of trust, courage, and discovering who you are in Christ. Then we flip the script on the questions that keep women stuck: not just “what if I can’t handle it,” but “what if God has already equipped me for this?”
We also get practical with solo travel tips that build confidence without feeding the need to control everything: praying before you book, researching your destination, choosing accommodations wisely, sharing your itinerary, and staying connected with trusted people back home. I explain why safety isn’t rooted only in control, and how peace grows when you plan well, listen for Holy Spirit prompts, and stay open to the unexpected.
If you’ve been waiting for the “right time” to travel alone, let this be your nudge to take one small first step today. Subscribe for more solo female travel encouragement, share this with a friend who needs courage, and leave a review so more women of faith can find it. What’s one place you feel called to go next?
Coaching Invitation
If you’re feeling drawn toward solo travel but unsure where to begin, this is something I support women with through 1:1 coaching. Together we can explore what kind of travel experience fits your season of life and create a thoughtful plan that reflects the woman you are becoming.https://cherylbeckesch.com/workwithme/
https://www.cherylbeckesch.com
hello@cherylbeckesch.com
Instagram @solotraveladventures50
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15 min
What If Your First Trip Quietly Built You? // 183
Season 4, Episode 183
Show notes
Your travel style didn’t start when you booked your first grown-up trip. It started the first time you learned what “new” feels like. We’re digging into the idea of a travel origin story and how childhood experiences can shape your adult relationship with road trips, adventure travel, and even solo travel confidence.
I share one of the most defining trips of my life: a four-to-five-week RV road trip at age nine, crammed in with a family of six and rolling from Pennsylvania through the Midwest and out to the West. It’s part awe and part chaos, with U.S. national parks like the Badlands, Arches in Utah, and the Grand Canyon leaving a permanent mark. Alongside the beauty are the moments that test you, including my first tornado on the horizon and a string of RV problems that turn into stories you never forget.
We also talk about why the same exact trip can create totally different outcomes. One person feels inspired and hungry for nature and novelty. Another feels repelled and avoids that style of travel forever. The point isn’t to judge your past. It’s to use it. If you’re a midlife traveler trying to figure out what fits now, or a woman planning solo travel and wanting more courage, this conversation helps you connect your memories to a travel plan that actually matches your personality and season.
If this sparks something, share it with a friend who needs a nudge, then subscribe and leave a review so more women can find the confidence to take the trip they’ve been holding back on.
Coaching Invitation
If you’re feeling drawn toward solo travel but unsure where to begin, this is something I support women with through 1:1 coaching. Together we can explore what kind of travel experience fits your season of life and create a thoughtful plan that reflects the woman you are becoming.https://cherylbeckesch.com/workwithme/
https://www.cherylbeckesch.com
hello@cherylbeckesch.com
Instagram @solotraveladventures50
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14 min
What If Your Next Trip Is God’s Direction? // 182
Season 4, Episode 182
Show notes
Your suitcase is packed, your itinerary is tight, and your mind is already racing ahead to everything that could go wrong. We have been there. That’s why we’re talking about the link between Christian travel and prayer while traveling and how bringing God into the process can change not just your trip, but your peace.
We explore travel and prayer as two journeys that move you in different directions: one across the world and one closer to God. From the first moment a destination pops into your head, we walk through what it looks like to pray for guidance, timing, finances, and whether you should go solo or choose a tour. We also share a real story of wanting to take a specific trip, hitting roadblocks, and realizing God’s answer was “no” and why that can be a gift, not a loss.
If you deal with travel anxiety, we spend time in scripture that speaks directly to it, including Philippians 4:6-7, and we talk about how thanksgiving and continual prayer can guard your mind with a peace that doesn’t depend on perfect plans. We also touch on praying for protection and staying open to hearing God more clearly when you step away from daily noise.
If you want your next trip to be more than a getaway, press play, then subscribe, share this with a friend who loves faith-based travel, and leave a review so more women can find it. What’s the one thing you most need to pray about before you travel?
Resources & Links
Apply for 1:1 travel coaching with Cheryl:
https://cherylbeckesch.com/workwithme/Coaching Invitation
If you’re feeling drawn toward solo travel but unsure where to begin, this is something I support women with through 1:1 coaching. Together we can explore what kind of travel experience fits your season of life and create a thoughtful plan that reflects the woman you are becoming.https://cherylbeckesch.com/workwithme/
https://www.cherylbeckesch.com
hello@cherylbeckesch.com
Instagram @solotraveladventures50
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24 min
Can A Long Walk Reconnect Body Mind And Spirit? // 181
Season 4, Episode 181
Show notes
You can feel it when travel stops being about seeing more and starts being about becoming more. I’m Cheryl Esch, and I’m sharing the pull I’ve been sitting with lately: the desire for a deeper, quieter kind of solo travel that resets me from the inside out, not just for a weekend, but in a way that lingers.
I talk honestly about the Camino de Santiago and the part people don’t always say out loud. I went in carrying big expectations after a hard season and wanted the walk to equal instant healing and a clean new beginning. It didn’t. That disappointment taught me something important about purposeful travel, spiritual travel, and mindful travel: when we force a trip to deliver a guaranteed transformation, we miss what’s happening right in front of us. The real work is staying open, letting God lead, and allowing meaning to unfold in its own time.
Then I get practical about planning a pilgrimage style hike or multi day trek that fits real life. We walk through how I’m choosing my next route by listening to my body, factoring in injuries and training, testing what’s feasible on my schedule, and deciding whether a guided group tour makes sense. I also share a list of inspiring options around the world, including Kumano Kodo in Japan, Via Francigena, Cotswold Way, Scotland trails, Iceland’s Laugavegur, Patagonia, and more, with an eye toward quieter routes and nature focused experiences.
If you’ve been craving a reset, a little peace, or just space to breathe again, press play. Subscribe for more solo travel inspiration, share this with a friend who needs a fresh start, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show. What kind of walk is calling you right now?
Resources & Links
Apply for 1:1 travel coaching with Cheryl:
https://cherylbeckesch.com/workwithme/Coaching Invitation
If you’re feeling drawn toward solo travel but unsure where to begin, this is something I support women with through 1:1 coaching. Together we can explore what kind of travel experience fits your season of life and create a thoughtful plan that reflects the woman you are becoming.https://cherylbeckesch.com/workwithme/
Episode 107:
Episode 104:
https://www.cherylbeckesch.com
hello@cherylbeckesch.com
Instagram @solotraveladventures50
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