Solo Travel Adventures: Faith-Rooted Intentional Travel for Christian Women Over 50

Cheryl Esch-Solo Travel Advocate/Certified Travel Coach/Freedom Traveler
  • 4.6 (44)
  • Places & Travel
  • Updated Weekly

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

  1. 3d ago

    Travel During Menopause: How to Eat Well and Enjoy Vacation Without Guilt with Michelle McCoy//199

    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://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/treasured-wellness-brain-fog-fatigue-whole-health-restoration/id1587216535 Support the show https://www.cherylbeckesch.com hello@cherylbeckesch.com Instagram @solotraveladventures50

  2. Sep 29

    Grief and Solo Travel: Finding Space to Heal After Loss//198

    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. Support the show https://www.cherylbeckesch.com hello@cherylbeckesch.com Instagram @solotraveladventures50

  3. Sep 15

    Rest Without Guilt: Why Christian Women Need Restorative Travel//197

    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. Support the show https://www.cherylbeckesch.com hello@cherylbeckesch.com Instagram @solotraveladventures50

  4. Sep 1

    When God Changes Your Travel Plans: Embracing a New Season in Midlife//196

    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? Support the show https://www.cherylbeckesch.com hello@cherylbeckesch.com Instagram @solotraveladventures50

  5. Aug 18

    Sabbatical Travel for Women Over 50: Take Time to Rest, Renew & Reconnect With God//195

    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.  Support the show https://www.cherylbeckesch.com hello@cherylbeckesch.com Instagram @solotraveladventures50

  6. Aug 4

    Solo Travel for Women 50+: Discover America's Most Charming Small Towns//194

    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. Support the show https://www.cherylbeckesch.com hello@cherylbeckesch.com Instagram @solotraveladventures50

  7. Jul 21

    Are You Using Travel to Escape Your Problems? How Faith, Travel, and Reflection Bring Real Healing//193

    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. Support the show https://www.cherylbeckesch.com hello@cherylbeckesch.com Instagram @solotraveladventures50

  8. Jul 7

    How the World Cup Inspires Travel: Finding Purpose and Adventure Through Global Events//192

    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. Support the show https://www.cherylbeckesch.com hello@cherylbeckesch.com Instagram @solotraveladventures50

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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

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