Airbnb is well known for its rental properties. But this summer, the company is pushing what they call Airbnb experiences. This means visitors can get up close and personal with locals, perhaps doing something a little off the standard tourist trail. You can sign up for a tea ceremony in somebody’s backyard tea house or to make a collage in their art studio, among other things. Airbnb has also added a few specifically nonalcoholic tours to its catalog.
I learned about this project because Airbnb contacted me and asked me to offer a sober experience in Portland, Oregon, where I’ve lived for 25 years. Apparently, I’ve become enough of a Portland character over a quarter century — and a sober one at that — for the ginormous company to find me.
I was very excited that Airbnb was recognizing sober travel. Because I mean, come on, how many tours do you see that are a hike with a wine tasting, or a hot air balloon ride with champagne, or camels and craft beer, or whatever? Wouldn’t it be nice if we nondrinkers could also pick from such creative offerings?
So I asked my Airbnb handlers if this was part of a trend. Sure enough, they helped me track down a few other sober-specific tours in my West Coast region. Of course, many tours have nothing to do with drinking of any kind, so peruse all their choices and sign up for lots of intriguing stuff. But I LOVE when there is something special and considerate aimed at us nondrinkers, so that’s why I’m highlighting this selection of tours.
Hike an Urban Volcano with a Sober Travel Writer — Portland, OR
After discussing various ideas with my excellent Airbnb contact, I developed my tour, Hike Mount Tabor with a Sober Travel Writer. I lead folks on a three-mile round-trip hike up and down our local (supposedly) extinct urban volcano. At the top, we pause for views and some Pacific Northwest NA spirits, including my favorites, The Pathfinder and Wilderton Aperitivo Co. We chat about sober travel, I point out a few interesting cultural, historical and geological points in the park, and people can try to stump me with their Portland questions. It’s a fun, not-too-hard hike in a beautiful park.
Stanley Park Hike Rave — Vancouver, British Columbia
Jacques Martiquet, aka the Party Scientist, leads sober hike raves through Stanley Park, one of my favorite parks in the world. What might merely seem like a fun evening has a deep meaning for Jacques.
“My life purpose is to enable people to discover their intrinsic joy and also to ignite it in other people,” he told me. “Because when we learn how to activate our sober joy, we can spread it, multiply it, and it becomes the most energizing, fulfilling activity on earth when we ignite shameless, un-self-conscious joy in other people.”
Jacques began leading hike raves in 2017. His guided events combine nature, dancing and human connections — elements he lauds for their antidepressant effects. Participants range from teenagers to people in their 60s.
While working as a medic at music festivals, Jacques noticed that people who weren’t sober didn’t connect with others well. “They were having really low-quality human connections. And they were just not aware. So if we have a social awareness with our sobriety, we can unlock so much more joy, so much more fun.”
Napa Food & Mocktail Tour — Napa, CA
Napa is well known for wine and fine dining. Now Devin Joshua is drawing on his decades in the Napa wine biz to show some sober hospitality. His food and mocktail tour brings guest to popular local spots like Napa Yard, Jeffries General, Wilfred’s Lounge and the Oxbow Public Market. Along the way, you’ll enjoy zero-proof cocktails and specialty foods.
“I have been in the wine industry for 25 years and have reduced my alcohol intake over the years beginning around 2018,” Devin told me. “As I drank less, I paid more attention to the burgeoning NA scene.” He knew he wanted to play a part in this movement. “I considered creating an NA spirit, opening an online NA shop or creating an NA mocktail subscription box. But when my wife treated me to a local walking tour featuring food and drink, I realized that doing an NA version of this kind of tour in Napa was a great fit for me.”
And I am so glad he did. There are so many alcohol-focused tours; I am so thrilled to see more for us nondrinkers. And Devin’s guests are, too.
“I’m just at the beginning, but the response has been wonderful,” he said. “I’ve met all kinds of people who find their way to an NA walking tour for many different reasons. Some are sober. Some are taking a yearlong break. And others are just taking a break from alcohol for the afternoon, enjoying wine tastings before and after my tour. “
Sip Botanical Elixirs in Joshua Tree, CA
Join plant medicine expert Sailene Ossman, owner of Brewja Elixir Lounge, for a wellness experience featuring plant medicine. Sailene will help you explore how plant medicines heal the body naturally. I’m especially intrigued by the description, “Enter mushroom room. Enter an immersive art space that sets the grounding tone.”
“Because of the nature of our store and my belief in the power of plant medicine, I’m especially excited to share this experience with people who don’t drink. It offers them a chance to enjoy a natural, elevated state and shift how they feel in their bodies, without the hangover or recovery time that comes with alcohol,” said Sailene about the session. “While they’re here, guests can learn about a variety of elixirs and tonics designed to make them feel grounded and look their best. Most leave not only feeling amazing but also with the ingredients and know-how to recreate these drinks socially for the rest of their lives — giving them a new way to connect and celebrate without reaching for a bottle.”
As Sailene promises on her experience page: “I’m a plant medicine advocate and ritual curator rooted in wellness and community-building. From my book CBD Cocktails to gatherings like Glowing Goddess Getaways, I create spaces for connection and botanical insight.”
Okay, not sure if this one is sober or California sober, but it sounds promising.
Bar Nuda Mocktail Class — Los Angeles, CA
This mocktail-making session in Venice Beach focuses on Mexican ingredients. The event starts with a glass of alcohol-free wine. Then hosts Morris and Pablo help guests craft two mocktails.
“We celebrate mindful, healthy drinking,” they say on their Airbnb page.
✈️ Sober Adventures Wanted! 🏞️
Have you taken a trip without the booze but with all the epic vibes? Did you hike majestic trails, sip fancy mocktails poolside, or just find a quiet corner of the world where your soul could exhale? We want the juicy details (and the jaw-dropping pics)! The Sober Curator is putting together the ultimate sober travel guide—and your story could be the highlight.
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SOBER RETREATS: with Senior Travel Sober Curator Contributor Teresa Bergen is your go-to space for alcohol-free travel tips, insider guides, and honest reviews from a sober perspective. Teresa blends her passions—animals, wildlife conservation, sustainability, geography, culture, outdoor adventure, and yoga—into enriching travel stories that inspire mindful exploration. From kayaking and hiking to visiting historic cemeteries and sacred spaces, she uncovers the beauty where history, art, and spirituality meet.
Planning a sober retreat? Fill out our Sober Retreats Form or email Teresa at Teresa.Bergen@gmail.com with your retreat name, dates, cost, URL, and a horizontal, high-res image for our calendar listing. Sober Events more your style? Click HERE.
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