I'm the first to admit it - sometimes, solo travel can get a bit dreary. Yes, having sole control over an itinerary, food selection, and places to visit is appealing, but time after time, it can lose its air.

Since my vacations are fairly planned out for the rest of the year with fall coming on and the holidays right around the corner, I'm looking at what's next for 2010. I've already sketched out the trip I want to take to London - not sure if that's next year or the year after - so I turned to another place for inspiration for something new to do - my DVD collection.

Some of my favorite DVDs to watch are those of stand up comedians' one-person-shows, like Robin Williams and Eddie Izzard. And luckily for me, they're not only still touring, their websites have a complete list of dates and special packages for booking online.

So - now I have a complete list of dates, and a whole list of new cities to explore the possibilities within for my next solo venture.

What I like about booking a vacation like this is that I break out of my norm. The town that I live in doesn't generally have a lot of touring "big name" comedians, so it's not something that I do regularly here. Also, if I'm flying, I can choose a show that's mid-week and book my ticket for a Tuesday or Wednesday when fares tend to be cheaper. If it's within 5 or 6 hours, I might drive just to see some beautiful country, depending on the time of year that I decide to go. Plus, I potentially get an evening of laughter that will give me new stories to tell! All is good!

Booking a vacation like this also gives me the chance to catch up with old friends without becoming dependent upon them for my entertainment. I can go to Iowa, for example, and have an itinerary that allows enough flexibility to go see family and friends without having to rely on them solely for all my comings and goings. Plus, they may want to go to the show, too. And if not, I'll be in an arena with a few thousand other folks. Who's going to care that I'm in there by myself? No one will even know! It's also easier to book a single seat at a show than a string of them. There are all sorts of pluses to this!

There are risks - to be sure - to booking a vacation around an event. Cancellations happen, and in that case, it's always good to develop your Plan B - but that goes without saying for any vacation.

When you're looking ahead for solo travel inspiration, consider what makes you laugh; it might just be the best vacation yet.