As a young woman in my mid-20's I’m always a little apprehensive about travelling alone. Even though my trip to Mexico was with a tour group, I knew that during our free time I’d be tempted to head out on my own - not to mention, during the weeks prior to my trip, Mexico had been in...

Jackrabbits. Roadrunners. IBM executives who dropped out of the rat race to be trail guides. I found them all at horse ranches in Arizona. My first one was at Circle Z Ranch in Patagonia near the Mexican border. After reading about it in the New York Times Travel, I was sold. I booked a flight...

I went to Paris alone. I was in my 20's and I wanted to learn French. Classes at the Alliance Francaise would be my ticket to fluency. But I knew no one in Paris.  I spent the first few nights in a cheap hotel, sharing a hall bathroom. I wandered the streets in wonder. I practiced French I'd...