What we’re about
This group is for people who want to get out and explore Chicago and beyond. If you don't want to wait on their friends to finally say “yes” to get out to enjoy all that Chicago has to offer and to see the world. Life is too short and the world is too big!
The local events in this group are member-driven so if you’d like to host a Meetup in your area (i.e. walk, museum, coffee, play pickleball, concerts, etc), feel free to let me know and I'll help you get it set up in the group!
The trips in this group are usually 90% solo travelers but everyone is welcome, female/male, solo/couple/friends, straight/LGBTQIA+! So let’s travel together with fun, like-minded travelers! If you have an open mind and are kind to fellow travelers, you will fit in perfectly on these trips!
NOTE: The people on these trips are from all over the States but you’ll always be connected with people from the same city on a trip so you can meet up face to face and get to know your future travel buddies prior to the trip. You’ll also be connected to the whole group via email prior to the trip so you can virtually get to know those that are from different areas. On average, the people on each trip are 90% solo travelers but it’s hard to predict the exact demographic for each trip so please keep this in mind.
Feel free to join the Facebook group to connect with past travelers on these trips, see pictures, ask questions, funny travel memes, travel-related articles, etc: https://www.facebook.com/groups/613025845523107
The trips in this group are put on by a tour company called Globe Drifters and they focus on small group trips geared towards solo travelers with the mission of giving new meaning to travel by putting the human experience at the heart of their trips. The groups are small, usually with 12 people maximum per trip and about 90% of everyone on each trip are solo travelers so you’re not stuck being the odd man out on trips with mostly couples. You’ll have the best of both worlds, solo travel with the security of a small group of other solo travelers for some company on your adventure! To contact Globe Drifters directly, you can email [info@globe-drifters.com](mailto:info@globe-drifters.com).
NAXOS GREEK ISLAND SLOWCATION!
• Dates: May 23 - June 1, 2025 (10 days / 9 nights):
• Cost: $3400 (per person, excluding flights)
• Details: https://globe-drifters.com/trip/naxos-greekisland-slowcation/
See pictures from past trips here: GREEK ISLANDS PHOTOS!
This trip is a “Slowcation” and you can read more about it here: https://globe-drifters.com/slowcations/
Below is some information. If you have any questions, you can email info@globe-drifters.com.
Experience an off–the-beaten-path Greek island paradise on our slowcation… Naxos is an authentic Greek island in the Cyclades away from the masses of tourists. It is the perfect mix of sandy beaches, stunning turquoise waters, olive groves, mountains, and local traditions. Naxos is also Zeus’ childhood home and boasts wonderful Greek food as well as amazing hospitality!
Beaches: Sun-soaked and radiant, Naxos is a great location to take your time and relax in the many sun loungers on the beach.
See what few tourists see: Visit Naxos’ inland which most visitors skip. Take in the charming Greek villages and majestic mountain ranges on the Cyclades’ largest island.
Boat life!: Channel your inner James Bond as you speed around in a boat to the idyllic village of Naousa on Paros and the picture-perfect beaches in and around Naxos.
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- Special Tour of the Monastery of the Holy Cross in BridgeportMonastery of the Holy Cross , Chicago, IL
This is the final church tour of the season as we transition into outdoor walking activities! Join us for an exclusive private tour of the Monastery of the Holy Cross in Bridgeport, led by a knowledgeable guide. Immerse yourself in the captivating stories and insights that bring this beautiful landmark on the south side to life. Join us for a unique journey through faith and community!
The Monastery of the Holy Cross, formerly known as the Immaculate Conception Parish Church, is a prominent example of high German Gothic Revival architecture with historical connections to Chicago’s Bridgeport neighborhood from the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Established in 1908 as a German "national parish," Immaculate Conception served a diverse immigrant community until 1990. The church has remained largely intact, with minimal alterations to the original sanctuary, and a monastic choir has been added to the nave. Since 1991, it has operated as a Roman Catholic Benedictine monastery belonging to the Subiaco Cassinese Congregation, making it the only urban monastery in the country. The monastery feels like an oasis, whether you are religious or not. Every day, the monks sing the entire liturgy during Mass in both Latin and English, using Gregorian chant.
We will have a private docent-led tour through the church. Before the tour, we are allowed to walk around and take pictures. Since we are getting a private guided tour, there is a $10 fee per person. I will collect $10 from everyone and give it to the Monastery of the Holy Cross in appreciation of the tour. Please bring CASH for the donation! If necessary, I can accept Zelle, Venmo & PayPal so I can give one big group donation after the tour. All need to check in with me at the start of the tour & pay me directly~
The tour promises to be an enlightening event on a Saturday morning. It is an event that brings multiple meetup groups together! Although it's not exclusively a photo tour, there will be ample chances to snap pictures! Also, at the end of the tour, we are invited to watch the monks do a short [10-minute] chanted prayer service centered on the Psalms
After the tour, some of us will get lunch at one of the many nearby places:
Zaytune Mediterranean Grill 3129 S Morgan St. https://order.zaytunegrill.com/
Bridgeport Coffeehouse 3101 S Morgan St, http://www.bridgeportcoffee.net/
3 Little Pigs 964 W 31st Street https://www.eat3lp.com/
El Taco Azteca 3355 S Morgan St https://www.ordereltacoaztecabrifport.com/All are welcome to join! BRING CASH IF JOINING FOR LUNCH, AS SOME VENUES DON'T ACCEPT SEPARATE CHECKS!
The Monastery of the Holy Cross is an important early work by architect Hermann J. Gaul, a distinguished ecclesiastical architect from the early 20th century. Built between 1908 and 1909 for the German-speaking national parish of the Immaculate Conception, the church features a complex high-vaulted ceiling. It exemplifies the German Gothic Revival style, incorporating high Gothic design elements such as a high gabled triple-arch entrance, expressive gargoyles, and 14 intricately decorated Gothic-arched Stations of the Cross. The church is also recognized for its remarkable acoustic qualities. It was inspired by Germany’s Cologne Cathedral, the most significant religious structure in the hometown of the church’s architect, Hermann J. Gaul
In 1990, the parish was closed, and the following year, the Benedictine monastic community was invited to transform the building into a unique urban monastery. Although some of the original furnishings were lost after the closure, the monks have enriched the space by adding religious treasures, including altarpiece icons created in the traditional Byzantine egg tempera method by the internationally acclaimed iconographer Vladislav Andrejev.
**A Community of Contemplative Benedictine Monks in the City** The Monastery of the Holy Cross is a Roman Catholic Benedictine monastery belonging to the Subiaco Cassinese Congregation. Continuing a centuries-old tradition, the monks live according to the Rule of St. Benedict, seeking God through lives of prayer, silence, work, and hospitality.
As the only urban monastery in the country, the Monastery of the Holy Cross is home to ten Benedictines—nine monks (four of whom are also priests) and one novice. The monastery took over a parish that closed in 1989 when the Archdiocese of Chicago shut down dozens of churches and schools to reduce costs. Unlike most monasteries, which are located in rural areas where monks can farm or raise animals, the monks in Chicago had to find alternative means of supporting themselves.
Retreat visitors who appreciated their overnight experiences encouraged the monks to provide better, more permanent accommodations. In addition to selling simple wooden coffins made by fellow monks in rural Indiana, the Chicago monks now operate two bed-and-breakfast apartments and a retreat house. https://chicagomonk.org/
If you are taking public transportation, please check Google Maps for directions or use CTA trip planner. https://www.transitchicago.com/planatrip/
If you are driving, there is parking on 31st Street, Morgan, or 32nd Street with plenty of free side street parking. Just watch for permit-only areas.
PLEASE KEEP RSVP UP TO DATE AND DO NOT BE A NO SHOW!
- 5/3 Moor's Brewing Co. Presents: Derby at Diversey! Rock your hats & brims $20Diversey House , Chicago, IL
Derby at Diversey: Hosted by Moor's Brewing Co.
🏇 KENTUCKY DERBY VIEWING PARTY 🥃
🔥 Race-Day Energy. Chicago Flavor!
📅 Saturday May, 3, 2025
📍 2601 W Diversey, Chicago, IL
🎩 Dress to Impress – Derby Style with fabulous hats & sundresses for ladies, brims & bowties for men. Spring pastel colors and florals are encouraged! Get your ticket here before it sells out! Moor's Brewing Co. Presents: Derby at Diversey Tickets, Sat, May 3, 2025 at 4:00 PM | Eventbrite Then indicate PAID in the comments.🥃 Custom Bourbon + Whiskey Specials
🍹 Derby-Inspired Cocktails - Morocco Trip! - May 2025Needs location
MOROCCO TRIP!
• Dates: May 4 - 15, 2025 (12 days / 11 nights)
• Cost: $3150 (per person, excluding flights)
• Single supplement: $675
• Trip details: https://globe-drifters.com/trip/trip-to-morocco/Check out pictures from previous trips to see what we do, where we go, and who goes on the trips: MOROCCO TRIP PHOTOS!
If you have any questions, please email info@globe-drifters.com.
Discover the best of Morocco and its local culture in a small group… From ancient medinas to vast Saharan dunes; Morocco’s enchanting landscapes will mesmerize and transport you back in time. Haggle for spices and textiles in bustling souks, sleep under an immense blanket of twinkling stars in the Sahara Desert, and caravan by camel just like Berber nomads.
The Blue City: Chefchaouen’s brilliant blues will engulf you for 3 days and 2 nights whereas many groups skip it or just do a quick stop.
Luxury desert camp!: Spend a night among the dunes of the Sahara with a blanket of stars covering the night sky… A truly bucket list experience!
Extraordinary accommodations: The riads on this trip are hand-picked for their uniqueness and quality.
- Jordan Trip! - May 2025Amman, Amman
• Dates: May 10 - 18, 2025 (9 days / 8 nights)
• Cost: $3250 (per person, excluding international flights)
• Single supplement: $650
• Trip details: https://globe-drifters.com/trip/jordan-may-2025/Email info@globe-drifters.com if you have any questions!
Journey through time in Jordan in a small group… Discover the ancient city of Petra, sleep in the Martian domes in Wadi Rum, float in the mineral-rich waters of the Dead Sea, and haggle for for treasures in Amman’s souks. Jordan has something for everyone and our 9-day small group trip includes it all!
A rose-red city half as old as time: Experience Petra twice, including a mesmerizing candlelit night visit!
Double the adventure in Wadi Rum: Wadi Rum is a major highlight in Jordan so we do 2 nights here unlike most groups who just do 1. This means plenty of time for unforgettable activities such as a hot air balloon ride, stargazing, a wild jeep safari, just to name a few!
Sleep in a Martian dome!: Go glamping in the middle of Wadi Rum in a bubble tent with huge windows, perfect for stargazing. We’ve found the perfect camp far from noisy traffic, offering some of the best views right from your dome tent!
Get healed in the lowest place on Earth: The Dead Sea’s waters are mineral-rich with many healing properties. It’s impossible not to float… So try to sink; we dare you!
