TAMPA (BLOOM) – Solo dining and solo travel are growing trends. In fact, research shows single-person reservations have risen 29% at “American eateries over the last two years,” according to the New York Post and OpenTable. Tampa tops the list as one of the best cities to visit and dine solo, coming in at number six.

Content producer and entrepreneur, Alexia Gonzalez, joins Gayle Guyardo, the host of the nationally syndicated health and wellness show, Bloom, to share more about the rise in solo dining and solo travel.

Gonzalez says solo travel helps with self-discovery and overcoming loneliness. It’s also a great way to embrace local culture and stay connected she says. While dining alone can be scary, Gonzalez describes the feeling of empowerment eating alone brings, sharing tips on how to enjoy instead of dread the experience.