The Best Places to Stay Exploring Audacious Women Who Dared

Your Roadmap For What To See And Where To Stay On Your Feminist Road Trip

by Zack Davisson

In the 1990s, veteran journalist Lynn Sherr hopped into a pink Cadillac and went on a summer road trip, but this wasn’t an ordinary road trip (never mind the cameras that followed her through her journey). She was on an iconic American right of passage birthed with the invention of the automobile, but the roads she drove down didn’t lead to national parks or even along the famed Route 69. At the wheel, she led viewers on a journey across the United States visiting sites commemorating American women in history as viewers rode along with her.

A quarter-century after Lynn’s pink Cadillac road trip, Girls That Roam and our friends, accommodation experts AllTheRooms, created our own feminist cross-country roadmap to commemorate American women’s suffrage.

August marks when American women won the right to vote with the ratification of the 19th amendment in 1920. A year and two months and 19 days before the ratification, the United States Congress passed the amendment granting women the right to vote on June 4, 1919.

The ratification of the 19th amendment was huge. It ended a nearly 75-year hard-fought battle for women to gain the right to vote.

However, 150 years ago this year one lone state granted women the unconditional right to vote: Wyoming.

The Equality State is celebrating its remarkable sesquicentennial anniversary granting women the right to vote this year. That’s why our women’s history tour with suggestions of where to stay in each destination begins with Laramie, Wyoming.

Laramie, Wyoming

Some people would point to Laramie and say, “that’s where it all began.” In 1869, the then-called Wyoming Territory passed a bill that granted women equal political rights 21 years before the suffrage movement officially began. A year later in 1870, five female residents of Laramie became the first women in the world to serve on a jury, while later that year another woman became the first to cast a legal vote in a U.S. general election. As for an accommodation recommendation, we like the aptly-named Laramie Cowgirls B&B, a comfortable glamping experience in Wyoming.

Rochester, New York

Nearly 1,600 miles from Laramie and two years later in Rochester, suffrage leader Susan B. Anthony cast her vote in the presidential election along with 14 other women. Two weeks later, she was arrested and found guilty of voting, which was prohibited for women. Rochester’s most notable contribution to women’s history is being the home of the suffrage leader and her lesser-known her sister, Mary, who lived with her. The house is next door to their sister Hannah Anthony Mosher in the neighborhood, that now bears Susan’s namesake, was a haven for abolitionists, like her friend Fredrick Douglas. Susan is arguably the most recognizable figure of the women’s rights movement. She lived and fought her fight from the offices located inside her house on Madison Street. Nowadays, the house is a museum dedicated to keeping her mission relevant. For a cozy stay, we recommend the B&B at The Edward Harris House Inn in the Arts and Culture district of the New York town.

Savannah, Georgia

In 1912, Juliette Gordon Low, a former sickly and accident-prone child, decided to shake away her past and form a girl’s group dedicated to community activism and spending time outdoors. That group later became Girl Scouts of America. While there are some who argue the Girls/Boy Scouts are outdated because of their gender segregation, it is undeniable that the Girl Scouts was a progressive and influential endeavor at the time of its founding. Former alumni include advocates for women’s rights Lucille Ball, Hillary Clinton, and Gloria Steinem. Consider a stay at Stayloom’s Palatial Artisan Duplex in historic Savannah, also close to novelist Flannery O’Connor’s childhood home.

Montgomery, Alabama

Known by many powerful nicknames: “The First Lady of Civil Rights” and “The Mother of the Freedom Movement,” Rosa Parks took her first stand against injustice in 1955 by refusing to sit at the back of the bus. Her willingness to accept the consequences of her actions inspired the black community to boycott the bus system in Montgomery for more than a year. The Renaissance Montgomery Hotel and Spa is the premier luxury destination for those planning a stay in the Alabama capital.

Merritt Island, Florida

Merritt Island makes the list for being the location of NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. On June 18, 1983, the space shuttle mission STS-7 launched into orbit carrying astronaut Sally Ride, making her the first American woman in space. Sally spent six days orbiting the Earth. Afterward, her trip continued to make significant contributions to the progression of space exploration. Although Sally kept much of her personal life quiet, after losing her battle to cancer in 2012, she revealed her 27-year relationship with fellow scientist Tam O’Shaughnessy making her a double first – the first acknowledged lesbian and woman in space. This made her not only a feminist hero but also a source of extreme pride for the LGBTQI community. This serene waterfront home is an example of the good life available on Merritt Island.

Atchison, Kansas

This small town may not be on many people’s radar but for aviation enthusiasts and those rehearsed in women’s history, it’s known as the birthplace of Amelia Earhart. Today, Amelia’s childhood home has transformed into a museum dedicated to her impact on aviation and successful attempts of shattering gender norms. Although located closer to the more popular Lawrence, Kansas, this Countryside Weekend Getaway is a great place to stay with access to Atchison.

Houston, Texas

On September 20, 1973, sexism suffered its largest defeat on a sporting stage. Called “The Battle of the Sexes,” 29-year-old tennis star Billie Jean King defeated former Wimbledon champion Bobby Riggs in three straight sets. Hardly a light-hearted affair, Bobby was often outspoken about his view that female athletes were inferior and defeating them would be easy even at 55 — that is until Billie proved him wrong. To this day Billie Jean King remains an advocate for social equality. While the Houston Astrodome no longer exists, a trip to Houston is always welcome and spending the night at Houston favorite, Hotel Granduca Houston, is a rewarding experience for anyone seeking a romantic hotel or premier amenities.

Zack is a recovering technical recruiter who traded in his suit and tie in Silicon Valley for salsa music and a passion for writing in Medellin, Colombia. When not writing for AllTheRooms you can find Zack with his nose in a book, puttering around nature, or getting ultra-competitive while watching Jeopardy.

Book your next Intrepid women-only vacation with Girls That Roam Travel. Contact Heather Cassell at Girls That Roam Travel at 415-517-7239 or at .

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