Anything But Lonely

Bonding over creative pursuits gives new meaning to the term solo travel.

- CASSIE HURWITZ

How many girl-friends' trips make it off the text chain? And while traveling alone has its appeal, dining with just a book for company and navigating international roads without a second set of eyes can feel more Miss Lonelyhearts than Eat, Pray, Love. Though there are any number of group trips for individual travelers that seem like the best of both worlds, they don't always foster meaningful connections. Why? Because they are usually built around destinations rather than passions. As longevity expert Peter Attia, MD, says, “True friendship is cultivated by spending our leisure time together on a shared inter-est”—around 94 hours of togetherness, some studies say. And with the loneliness epidemic raging, community and friendship—both old and new—are more important than ever to our long-term physical and emotional well-being.

Which is why we love creative retreats like these three, which focus on activities such as crafting, reading, and cooking. Together yet apart...on foreign soil. experience is strengthened by group farm-to-table meals, which are picked fresh and prepared by Black Cat’s James Beard Award finalist chef and owner, Eric Skokan.