I tend to play heavy-armor-wearing, 2-handed sword-wielding fighters more than anything else. I often do the upper levels of Vilverin, slowly and patiently, running back out if I have to. I can usually make it all the way down to the spectral enemies after about an hour or hour and a half of real-time play. I usually go over to Sideways Cave after that. I can do about the first two levels in there. I'm probably about level 5 by that time. After that, I just wander around and follow my nose. I'll wander around the edges of Lake Rumare and go into any fort or Ayleid ruin that catches my fancy.
Many of my characters head into the IC about this time to sell loot and join the arena. I'll do four or five arena matches (I generally die by about the fifth one). I'll be anywhere from 8 to 10 by the time I finish my first batch of arena matches. If I have a new quest mod installed I may start it now, if I can. If not, I'll head back out into the wilderness.