Five Cities worth exploring when you're ready to take your PT, OT, or SLP career on the road
If you've ever thought about taking your PT, OT, or SLP license on the road to work travel gigs, here's your guide for choosing the destination for your first contract. These cities deliver Walkable neighborhoods, public transportation, tons of things to do and the opportunity to meet people with similar interests! These five cities are worth putting on your list.
1. Denver, Colorado
Best for: Travelers who love the outdoors
If your ideal day off starts with a hike and ends with a local brewery, Denver is hard to beat. The city gives you a mix that's especially appealing for a traveling therapist: an active urban lifestyle with easy access to Colorado's mountains. Downtown Denver is compact and walkable, with neighborhoods like LoDo and RiNo offering restaurants, breweries, shops, museums and plenty of places to spend an afternoon without needing to plan an elaborate itinerary. And when you're ready to get out of the city, the options get even better. Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre is about 15 miles from Denver, and shuttle options from Denver Union Station can make a trip there easier for visitors without a car. That's one reason Denver can work particularly well for a solo traveler: you can have both city life and outdoor adventure without choosing one over the other.
What to do on your days off
Denver’s neighborhoods each have their own personality, so your days off are a chance to experience more than just the area around your workplace. LoDo (Lower Downtown) is one of Denver’s most popular neighborhoods, known for its historic buildings, restaurants, breweries, shops and easy access to downtown attractions. Start your morning with coffee and breakfast in LoDo, explore the neighborhood on foot, then make your way to Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre, one of Colorado’s most iconic concert venues, for an evening show or a hike through the surrounding park. If you want to spend your day outdoors, you don’t have to drive hours into the mountains to find a good trail. Several popular hikes are within easy reach of Denver, making them realistic options for a day off during a 13-week contract:
- Red Rocks Trading Post Trail: A 1.4-mile loop through the distinctive red rock formations surrounding Red Rocks. It’s a good option when you want an outdoor experience without committing to an all-day hike.
- Mount Falcon Park: About 30 minutes from Denver, this park has several trails and mountain views, with options ranging from shorter walks to more challenging hikes.
- Bergen Peak: A more challenging option for days when you want to get a real workout in. The trail climbs through forested terrain near Evergreen and offers views of the surrounding foothills.
Why solo travelers may like it
Denver's transportation hub, Union Station, connects the city to light rail, buses and Amtrak, while the airport rail line provides a direct connection between downtown and Denver International Airport. That can make coming and going for a contract, or planning a weekend trip, less complicated.
2. San Diego, California
Best for: Travelers who like everything
Beach days, walkable neighborhoods, outdoor activities, restaurants, museums and a mild climate make San Diego a particularly easy city to settle into during a travel contract. But one of the biggest advantages for solo travelers is that the city’s beaches and neighborhoods offer very different experiences depending on what you’re looking for. For a more social, lively beach day, Pacific Beach is popular with younger crowds and offers a busy boardwalk, beach bars, restaurants and plenty of opportunities to meet people. Mission Beach has a more energetic, activity-focused feel, with the famous Belmont Park and a wide stretch of beachfront that attracts groups and families. If you want something quieter, Coronado Beach is a better fit for a relaxed afternoon of walking, reading or exploring the village, while La Jolla offers a mix of beaches, coastal trails, restaurants and opportunities to see sea lions at La Jolla Cove. When you want a break from the beach, Balboa Park gives you an entirely different side of San Diego, with museums, gardens, walking paths and cultural attractions spread across more than 1,000 acres. You can spend one weekend exploring the park, another checking out the restaurants and nightlife in North Park, and another exploring the coast. That variety means your 13-week contract doesn't have to feel like one long beach vacation—you can keep finding new places to explore without leaving the city.
What to do on your days off
You won’t run out of ways to spend a day off in San Diego. These are a few spots worth adding to your list:
- Explore Balboa Park. Spend a morning walking through the gardens and trails, then choose one or two of the park’s museums to explore. With so much to see in one place, it’s an easy option when you want to spend a few hours exploring without planning an entire day around it.
- Spend the day around La Jolla Cove. This small beach is one of San Diego’s most recognizable coastal spots, known for its clear water, rocky shoreline and resident sea lions. Walk along the coastal paths, stop at La Jolla Cove to watch the sea lions, then continue along the shoreline toward other nearby beaches and restaurants. It’s a good choice for a solo day because you can explore at your own pace, whether you want to spend the afternoon outside or turn it into a longer coastal outing.
- Watch the sunset at Sunset Cliffs Natural Park. The dramatic cliffs and ocean views make this one of the better places in San Diego to catch sunset. Bring a blanket or grab takeout nearby and make an evening of it rather than treating it as a quick stop.
- Walk around Mission Beach. If you want a more energetic beach day, head to Mission Beach for its oceanfront boardwalk, shops, restaurants and Belmont Park. It’s a popular spot for groups and families, so it’s also a good option when you want to be around people rather than spending your day somewhere quiet.
- Get out in North Park, Little Italy or the Gaslamp Quarter. For a more social day or night, these neighborhoods give you plenty of options for restaurants, bars and events. North Park and Little Italy can be particularly appealing for solo travelers who want to grab a meal or drink somewhere lively without needing to plan a full night out.
Why solo travelers may like it
3. Portland, Oregon
Best for: Independent travelers who love food, nature, and exploring at their own pace
Portland has a particularly nice quality for solo travelers: you don't need a packed itinerary to have a good day. Grab coffee. Walk through a neighborhood. Find a food cart you've never tried. Spend the afternoon hiking. Browse a bookstore. Repeat. The city's compact downtown is highly walkable, and MAX Light Rail connects the downtown area with other parts of the city and Portland International Airport. Travel Portland also notes that the city has a 96 out of 100 Walk Score downtown. And then there's the outdoors. Washington Park sits just two miles west of downtown and is accessible by MAX. The 410-acre park includes gardens, museums, a zoo and access to Forest Park, one of the country's largest urban forests. For a solo traveler, that's a pretty great setup: you can spend your morning in the city and be surrounded by trees without making a huge production out of it.
What to do on your days off
Make a food-crawl day out of Portland's food cart scene. Explore Washington Park and the Portland Japanese Garden. Hike in Forest Park. Spend an afternoon biking around the city. Or take a day trip toward the Columbia River Gorge, Mount Hood or Oregon wine country. Forest Park is particularly useful for someone working a contract because you don't have to dedicate an entire day to a big hiking adventure. The Wildwood Trail runs for 30 miles, but there are shorter routes and loop options, so you can choose something that fits your schedule and energy level.
Why solo travelers may like it
Portland makes it relatively easy to explore independently. You can walk through much of downtown, use MAX or the city's streetcar, and find plenty of casual places to eat alone. Its food cart scene is also practically built for indecisive solo dinners, you don't have to negotiate dinner plans with anyone.
4. Nashville, Tennessee
Best for: Travelers looking to socialize
There's a reason Nashville works so well for people traveling alone: there's almost always something happening. And you don't need a group to participate. Visit Nashville specifically highlights solo travel as a good fit for the city, pointing to everything from coffee shops and restaurants to live music, shows, tours and even line dancing where you don't need a partner. That last part matters. One of the harder things about moving somewhere alone is figuring out how to meet people without forcing yourself into awkward social situations. Nashville gives you plenty of built-in opportunities to get out and be around other people.
What to do on your days off
Start your morning at a coffee shop, spend the afternoon exploring a neighborhood, then catch live music in the evening.12South is a particularly good neighborhood to explore on your own. The half-mile stretch is highly walkable and packed with restaurants, coffee shops, bakeries, bars and locally owned boutiques. Germantown and The Gulch are other walkable neighborhoods worth exploring, while East Nashville offers restaurants, live music, vintage shopping and a more eclectic atmosphere. And, of course, there's the music. You can grab a solo seat at a show, visit the Ryman Auditorium, check out a songwriter round or join a group tour or pub crawl. Visit Nashville even specifically recommends solo travelers take advantage of single-ticket availability for shows and activities.
Why solo travelers may like it
Nashville makes being alone feel less noticeable. Sitting at a coffee shop, grabbing dinner at a bar or going to a concert by yourself is completely normal, and the city's neighborhoods give you plenty of options beyond the busiest parts of downtown.
5. Boston, Massachusetts
Best for: History buffs, city explorers, and travelers who want to leave their car behind
Boston is a great reminder that solo travel doesn't have to mean hiking through the wilderness alone. Sometimes it's just walking around a new city with no one asking, “Where do you want to go next?” Boston is known as “America's Walking City,” and that's especially useful for solo travelers. Downtown, the Waterfront, Beacon Hill, Back Bay, the North End and other neighborhoods are all well suited to exploring on foot. The MBTA's subway, buses, commuter rail and ferries can take you farther when your feet need a break. That means you can build an entire day around wandering without worrying about parking or coordinating transportation with someone else.
What to do on your days off
Start with the Freedom Trail and let the city become your itinerary. The trail connects historic sites throughout Boston, including Downtown, the North End and Charlestown, while also giving you plenty of opportunities to stop for coffee, lunch or a little neighborhood exploring along the way. When you want a break from the city streets, Boston has nearly 300 parks and plenty of outdoor spaces, including Boston Common, the Charles River and the Boston Harbor Islands. And if you're working a contract during baseball season, Fenway Park is an obvious bonus.
Why solo travelers may like it
Boston's combination of walkability and public transportation makes it easier to explore independently. It's also a city where you can have a full day without needing to make every activity an “event.” Take yourself to a museum. Walk through a historic neighborhood. Grab dinner at a counter. Sit in a park with a book. That's the beauty of solo travel: your schedule is yours.
Questions to Ask when choosing a travel therapy contract
The best solo destination isn't necessarily the city with the most attractions. It's the one that fits how you actually want to live for the length of your contract. Before accepting a travel therapy job, think about:
How will I get around?
If you don't plan to bring a car, look for a city with reliable public transportation and a neighborhood where you can walk to everyday essentials.
What do I do after work?
If you're happiest outdoors, prioritize destinations with trails, beaches, parks or easy access to nature. If you love trying new restaurants and meeting people, look for a city with a strong neighborhood and social scene.
Where will I live?
The neighborhood you choose can have a huge impact on your experience. Being close to work is convenient, but being close to the things you enjoy can make it easier to actually experience your destination during a busy workweek.
Do I want to make friends?
You don't have to arrive with a built-in friend group. Look for running clubs, recreational sports, fitness classes, volunteer opportunities, professional groups, tours, or local events that give you a natural way to connect with people.
Most importantly, don't choose a destination solely because it looks good in a travel guide. Choose somewhere that fits the life you want to live while you're there.
