Photo credit: Jessie Festa
Have a Look Around
Browse destinations, read New Orleans guides, get some travel tips, or read all about my awkward adventures on the road.
All Right, Here’s the Deal
I’m Natalie, an introverted solo traveler exploring the U.S. with my dog, Elgie. Over the course of four years, we’ve lived in 11 states and visited many others. We now call New Orleans home.
I started Outsider Odyssey for 3 reasons–
- To inspire you to travel the United States. It’s beautiful!
- To make the digital nomad lifestyle, and travel in general, feel more accessible and achievable. If I, an awkward, neurodivergent introvert with a dog, can do it, so can you!
- To show that travel can -and should- be done with a sense of humor. Because if you can’t laugh at your own cringy stories, what’s the point? And besides, more than anything else, travel should be fun!
The Dog
Meet Elgie (2011-2026)
Elgie, a.k.a. L.G. (Little Guy), was a 14-year-old lab/corgi mix who stuck by my side on every single one of my digital nomad adventures. He swam in the Atlantic, the Pacific, and the Gulf, and when he was twelve, we hiked a thirteener. I’ll miss him forever. Rest in peace, my friend.
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Best of Outsider Odyssey
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21 Fun Things to Do Alone in Austin
Updated 4/2/2026 Looking for the best things to do alone in Austin? Whether you’re visiting solo for a weekend, working remotely as a digital nomad, or just want ideas for exploring the city independently, these activities make Austin one of the easiest cities in the U.S. to enjoy on your own. Austin is a fabulous…
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Eating Alone in Restaurants: A Solo Traveler’s How-To Guide
A guide to overcoming that awkward feeling of dining solo. Tips for solo travelers, digital nomads, and anyone else who’s going out to eat alone.
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The 3 Worst Dates I’ve Ever Been on as a Digital Nomad
Be careful out there, folks. I’m about to tell you about the 3 worst dates I’ve been on since I began my digital nomadic odyssey. These stories are funny to me now, but at the time I was less amused. Don’t worry–nothing terrible happened, but still, look out. The last one is the absolute kicker….
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My Unforgettable New Orleans Mardi Gras Experience: A Story
Howdy, folks, it’s story time today! I traveled solo to New Orleans for a Mardi Gras experience and lived to tell the tale. At first, I was nervous. Part of me was dreading it. All the crime you hear about on the news can get to you. And there I was–a solo female traveler going…
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Key West Travel Guide for First-Timers (Plus Hidden Gems Locals Love)
Updated 3/29/2026 Looking for the best things to do in Key West? Whether you’re visiting for the first time, planning a laid-back island escape, or searching for hidden gems beyond Duval Street, these are the experiences that make Key West unforgettable. I love Key West. Well, I love all the Florida Keys, really. But Key…
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11 Tips on How to Make Friends as a Digital Nomad
Being a digital nomad doesn’t mean you have to be lonely. While I usually love my quiet routine of working during the day, spending nights curled up with my dog, and solo exploring on weekends, every now and then, I get the urge to take my hair out of the bun, put on something nice,…
For People Tired of Trying So Hard
the bare minimum journal
An anti-self-help journal for people who are done with hustle culture and can’t read another line of 5 a.m. LinkedIn broetry.
Latest Posts
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Things I Don’t Do as a Solo Female Traveler (And Why)
I’ve been traveling solo for four years now, a good chunk of that full-time. I’ve taken cross-country road trips alone with my dog, stayed in some skeevy motels, lived as a digital nomad, explored cities solo at night, made travel friends, and made a few dumb decisions too. Over time, I’ve learned solo travel gets…
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Best Things to Do in New Orleans Outside the French Quarter
The French Quarter gets all the attention in New Orleans, and to be fair, it’s iconic. I’ve lived in New Orleans for years now, and the French Quarter still makes me smile every time I go. But it’s also crowded, loud, and not always the version of New Orleans people actually fall in love with….
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14 Best Spring Destinations in the U.S. (Wildflowers, Waterfalls, Beaches + City Trips)
Spring is one of the best times to travel in the U.S. because the weather is mild, it’s not quite peak tourist season for most places, and prices are often lower than in summer. Spring travel in the U.S. looks different depending on where you go: in some places it means cherry blossoms and wildflowers,…
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Visiting the Legendary Flora-Bama Lounge on the Florida-Alabama Line
When I die, I want to go to the Flora-Bama. The Flora-Bama Lounge is honestly my idea of heaven: good food, strong drinks, music always playing, interesting characters, and most importantly, the ability to turn off my mind and just zombie out and enjoy it for a few hours. Everybody’s in a good mood, and…
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How to Become a Digital Nomad in the U.S. (Step-by-Step Guide)
When thinking of digital nomads, many think of globetrotting types, switching countries every month. Or people living in southeast Asia or another budget-friendly digital nomad hub. But honestly, you don’t have to leave your home country to become a digital nomad. I’ve been a digital nomad in the U.S. for four years, and in this…
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When Even Travel Feels Like Work: Avoiding Digital Nomad Burnout
If you’ve been a digital nomad for any length of time, you likely know the feeling: you’re tired. You want to explore your surroundings, but you also want to lie in bed and do absolutely nothing. When you do go out, everything seems to annoy you. At the same time, you feel guilty for not…
