The AAA Solo Travelers Club is celebrating 12 years of meetings, extravaganzas, holiday luncheons, new friendships, traveling with friends, and so much more!

Club members from across Western and Central New York boarded motorcoaches to travel to the Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel at the southern tip of Seneca Lake, one of the beautiful Finger Lakes.

The 2022 Extravaganza was originally scheduled to take place in 2020, to celebrate the club’s 10th birthday, said Sue Smith, Member Experience Senior Program Coordinator for Group Travel at AAA Western and Central New York. However, the event was delayed due to the pandemic.

“The pandemic took a toll on our Solo members,” she said. “Many of our members live alone and it was not easy staying home, since they missed their family and friends. Our members always look forward to the annual extravaganza, as it is the one event where we gather everyone from all three regions together and members get to see their friends they met on trips.”

Members gathered in a banquet room at the Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel for a coffee hour before enjoying a buffet luncheon, a slideshow of photographed memories over the years, a raffle drawing, and a birthday cake.

“What I love most about the Solo Travelers Club is the members and seeing them make new friends,” Sue said. “Their smiles make me so happy.”

After lunch, the group walked down to the Watkins Glen Harbor docks and boarded the gorgeous Seneca Legacy for a boat ride on Seneca Lake.

The 2.5-hour boat tour allowed the Solo Travelers Club to take in views only seen from the water, sing and dance to live music, and enjoy an afternoon with their friends.

“The club has helped so many people find new friends and traveling companions,” Sue said. “I find the club to be very welcoming and they look out for each other. It is so much nicer traveling together with friends since it’s not always easy to find travel partners when single.”

The Solo Travelers Club is returning to its regular meetings and events schedule and will offer many new exciting trips in the coming months.

Make new friends and share your travel experience with fellow solo travelers!

AAA Solo Travelers Club