Roaming With Dom

A year ago, I booked a one-way flight to Vancouver with nothing but a backpack, a loose plan, and a lot of nerves.

It was my first real solo trip — no friends, no safety net, just me and the road ahead.

What I thought would be just a getaway turned out to be something way more personal. That week in Vancouver shifted my mindset, my confidence, and how I approach life today.

Here are 5 ways my solo trip to Vancouver changed me — and why I wish I had done it sooner.

1. I Learned to Trust Myself

I remember landing at YVR and staring at the transit map like it was a puzzle from another planet. I had to figure out where to go, how to get there, and what to do — all on my own.

There was no one else to rely on, which forced me to take ownership of every decision — from choosing a hostel in Gastown to finding local coffee spots and trails near Lynn Canyon and in Stanley Park.

And with each small choice I made, I started to trust my instincts more — something I rarely did before that trip.

✔️Traveling solo tough me on how to make decisions without doubting myself every time.

2. I Got Comfortable Being Uncomfortable

Vancouver challenged me in subtle ways. I sat alone in restaurants. I introduced myself to strangers at hostel dinners. I missed a ferry to Granville Island and laughed it off with a street hot dog and some journaling in Stanley Park.

Those “solo moments” used to scare me. But now, I crave them. That trip taught me that real growth comes from doing the thing that scares you — and seeing you’re still standing afterward.

🔥 I didn’t need to be fearless.. just willing to be uncomfortable for a few minutes at a time.

3. I Found Freedom in the Unknown

No compromises. No itinerary tied to someone else’s pace. Just me and the city.

If I wanted to walk the seawall for hours, I did. If I wanted to wake up early and hike Quarry Rock before the fog cleared, I could. It was the first time in a long time I felt fully in control of my time.

That kind of freedom is rare — and I didn’t realize how much I needed it until I had it.

🌎 Solo travel lets you move at your own rhythm and do what you want.. and it’s so addicting!

4. I Met People I Never Would Have Back Home

There’s something about solo travelers — we gravitate to each other.

Whether it was sharing beers on the hostel patio or chatting with a bike shop owner in Kitsilano, I found myself having deeper, more honest conversations with strangers than I ever had at home.

And even though those people were temporary in my life, they helped me feel less alone — and more human.

🤝 Being alone made me more open, and brought the right people in.

5. I Realized I Was Capable of More Than I Thought

Before that trip, I doubted myself a lot — could I really handle traveling solo? Could I enjoy my own company for a week? Would it be worth it?

Yes. Yes. And hell yes.

That trip gave me proof that I can trust myself, adapt, connect, and enjoy being on my own. And that belief has quietly changed how I approach everything since — from career decisions to how I spend weekends.

✨That first solo trip rewired something in me and im still feeling the shift today!

A Year Later

It’s wild to think how much has changed since that Vancouver trip. It wasn’t just a vacation — it was a pivot point.

That week made me realize that I don’t need all the answers. I just need curiosity, a backpack, and the willingness to go. And for the first time in a long time, I felt alive.

So if you’ve been waiting for the perfect moment to travel solo — don’t. Book the ticket. Go. Let it change you.

Have you ever taken a solo trip that changed you?

Tell me about it in the comments — or DM me on Instagram at @RoamingWithDom.

Let’s trade stories. ✈️