What is a Sober Vacation?
My 07/2023 alcohol-free California vacation.
In my almost five years of sobriety, I’ve embarked on a few alcohol-free vacations, each one better and easier to manage than the next. For me, traveling sans booze has been a “learn as you go” sort of thing. If you’re used to prioritizing drinking on vacation but want to try relaxing without it, I have some advice for you! In my last blog post about transformative travel, you might’ve learned that recently more travelers have intentions of wellness and restoration on vacation.
After the Sober-Curious “boom” in 2018, National Geographic, CNN, Forbes, and The New York Times have named “sober vacations” a thriving travel trend.
What is a Sober Vacation?
A sober vacation is one without alcohol (or other mind-altering substances). You might also refrain from activities centered around alcohol. Instead, your vacation focuses on finding joy, connection, self-care, rest, tasty food, real fun, and authentic experiences.
Visit an Alcohol-Free Bar or Bottle Shop:
Even though I still consider these a rare find, alcohol-free establishments are worth seeking out and supporting.
Laura Silverman, the Founder of Zero Proof Nation, created the first global map of alcohol-free venues. Her website, with nearly 300 alcohol-free establishments listed, is truly one of my favorite “sober life” resources.
Visiting an alcohol-free bottle shop for the first time as a person in recovery was inspiring and gave me a lot of hope. In part because non-alc bevs are fun and exciting, but mainly because the existence of such an establishment is nothing short of a miracle.
The folks opening alcohol-free bottle shops are mission-driven with a deep passion for the industry. Plus, you can rely on AF shops to usually have events, tastings, and community connections. I don’t know about you, but most of the places I visit regularly don’t have that same feeling. I’m telling you, if you’re in recovery, these places are worth traveling for!
Travel Should be Relaxing
I am 27 years old as of now, so I don’t have much to compare the sh*t storm that’s been happening the last four years in North America to… But I do know since 2020, people are citing mental health as one of their top reasons for traveling.
We’re tired, we’re burnt out, and we want to relax, right?
I’ve had vacations that I don’t even remember, had the police called on me, or ended up sleeping somewhere totally random. Those vacations give me nightmares when compared to the ones I have now. I will gladly take feeling a little awkward or out of place over hangover anxiety and chaos any day.
You spend a week getting ready, hours packing, scheduling time off, and more, all to end up with regrets if your relationship with alcohol isn’t in check. I do wonder if we’ll see less of the “Spring Break Miami Beach” type of vacationing and more Dry Disco or DAYBREAKER style of events as the Sober-Curious Movement continues to grow.
Setting mindful and conscious intentions is one of the best ways to ensure your preparation pays off in the form of true peace and joy.
Can You Have a Soberish Vacation?
Soberish, a term I first heard from Kayla Lyons, founder and author of Join Soberish, describes a recovery mindset that doesn’t require complete abstinence, and doesn’t shame those who consider themselves cali-sober (like myself), are practicing harm reduction, microdose, or take SSRIs - it’s about “intention and freedom, not restriction.”
If you align with a Soberish lifestyle, a sober vacation for you will likely still be alcohol-free or low alcohol, but might include plant-based medicines that haven’t historically been acceptable for someone in recovery or sobriety, as mentioned above.
To learn more about this, I recommend checking out Soberish and always using your own best judgment.
My Top 8 Tips for a Sober Vacation:
Planning is important when you’re no longer calling drinking entertainment 💃🏻
Give yourself social breaks when needed 😴
Try wellness activities like hiking, walking, visiting a spa, yoga, etc. 🧘🏽
Go with people who also don’t mind being alcohol-free 👭🏽
Check for alcohol-free beverage menu options before visiting restaurants 🥂
Try to learn about the city you’re visiting 🌎
Use Zero Proof Nation to find booze-free bottle shops and bars⚡
Don’t be afraid to speak up for yourself, others don’t always understand what you’re going through 💗
Want to Learn More?
Planning for Sober Travel and My 2024 Alcohol-Free Travel Suggestions
