J is for Jaunt

Discovery Cove, Sea World Orlando, Fla.
Discovery Cove, Sea World Orlando, Fla.

Merriam-Webster defines JAUNT:

intransitive verb
1 archaic : to trudge about
2: to make a usually short journey for pleasure

I began this blog about three years ago because I wanted to share my experiences and inspire others, specifically women, to travel alone, not lonely. There seems to be an idyllic image that traveling independently means you need to embark on a year-long globetrotting adventure with a backpack, sleep in hostels and master the art of traveling on $11.47 a day.

Then there’s this thing called reality. I have never been able to sell my possessions and hit the road for an around-the-world journey because honestly, I can’t afford to do so and I really think I’d miss my comforts of home. Besides, it’s not very easy traveling with two cats.

About to Try the Zipline Safari at Forever Florida, March 2009
About to Try the Zipline Safari at Forever Florida, March 2009

Jaunting Jenn

To fulfill my need for exploration, I take a lot of small jaunts. Living in Florida makes it a little easier to find something different to do each weekend, especially since this is the world’s most popular tourist destination.

These adventurous jaunts range from day-trips to extended weekend getaways. I make the most of my short adventures and try to do something different, whether it be a cooking class (or bartending) or something exhilarating, like screaming my head off on a roller coaster. Most of the times I’m traveling solo and don’t mind it one bit.

Mixing it Up at National Bartenders and Casino School, Fort Myers, Fla.
Mixing it Up at National Bartenders and Casino School, Fort Myers, Fla.

Jaunts I’m looking forward to this year include a trip to the Giraffe Ranch Farm in Dade City to feed giraffes and getaway to the Cypress Canopy Cycle at Florida EcoSafaris at Forever Florida in St. Cloud to pedal through the treetops 25 feet above Florida wilderness including an alligators or two. Although I’ve been to Forever Florida before, thanks to Groupon I learned about the canopy cycle and the Giraffe Ranch Farm.

Do you like to get up and go on the weekends for little jaunts or have you found the resources to travel the world for a year?

This post is part of the 2012 Blogging from A to Z Challenge. Check back daily for a different letter!

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Jenn

Jennifer A. Huber is an award-winning travel and outdoor blogger and writer in Southwest Florida. Originally from Buffalo, N.Y., a hiking trail led her to a career path in the tourism industry for more than 30 years. She spent a decade with a park management company in Yellowstone, Death Valley, and Everglades National Parks. She founded the travel blog, SoloTravelGirl.com with the goal of inspiring others to travel alone, not lonely. The unexpected death of her former husband in 2008 reminded her how short life is. His passing was a catalyst for sharing her experiences with the goal of inspiring and empowering others to travel solo. Jennifer holds a Travel Marketing Professional certification from the Southeast Tourism Society, is a certified food judge, member of the NASA Social community, and alum of the FBI Citizens Academy. When not traveling, she is either in the kitchen, practicing her photography skills, or road tripping with her dog, Radcliff.

7 thoughts on “J is for Jaunt

  1. You .. are very adventurousness – and do fantastic things .. it’s not the distance in the journey that counts – it’s the goal.
    Wouldn’t like to travel for year – would miss home, but doing a 27 days trip to US & Canada this July – that will be it for 2012. Next year NYC for my 65th birthday, 11/9. Otherwise I’m very lazy *smile

  2. I don’t even have the resources for many short trips. I kind of like staying home these days, but when I do travel I usually go with my wife. I don’t mind traveling alone, but it’s fun to have someone to share the experience with.
    You are pretty daring.

    Lee
    Places I Remember
    Wrote By Rote
    An A to Z Co-host blog

  3. Dear Solo Travellers
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