Does anyone have advice for soul searching?

I'm very reliant on a strong base for a relationship looking to go to the next level. I have the trouble of seeking a female whom I hope meet from a mutual standpoint rather than meeting someone in the public. When I say public, I am avoiding the idea of meeting someone I won't know much about and will cause me the grief of prying into someones' deeply rooted past. Not saying I don't want to meet my soulmate by means of meeting in public but it's at the bottom of my list for places of meeting my other half. I'd be willing to take advice from people who have insight for where and what to look for on my troublesome search.