When my friend and fellow Sober Curator Contributor, Amy Liz Harrison, asked if I wanted to join her for a Rocky Mountain adventure, I couldn’t say no. The mountains were calling, and my job at WORKP2P allows me to work remotely from anywhere. Amy, a mother of eight and author of multiple books, is taking a Graduate Program for Creative Writing at Western Colorado University. Part of the course requires her to spend two weeks in residency with her classmates and teachers. Preferring not to travel alone, she invited me, her friendly, sober support human and designated driver.
Need a SOBER LOL? Check out Amy’s Funko dancing in the rental bus shuttle at the Denver airport.
Off to the Rockies!
Our adventure began with a flight into Denver, where we picked up a rental car and headed to Colorado Springs for a fabulous night at the Garden of the Gods Resort. Waking up to a view that looked like it was straight out of Carsland from California Adventure, I was in awe of the majestic mountains and grazing deer on the bright green grass just a few yards away.
After a leisurely breakfast, the valet loaded our 8 million bags into the vehicle, and we were off to explore the Garden of the Gods and its surrounding gift shops. Given the heat and altitude, we opted to drive through the park, enhancing our experience by playing the Star Wars soundtrack. Our oxygen tanks, scored from the resort gift shop, added fits of giggles and Instagram-worthy videos to our adventure. Check out the Garden of the Gods video here.
Into God’s Country
With a storm brewing, we set off early in the afternoon for our 3.5-hour drive south to Gunnison, Colorado—also known as the middle of nowhere. Armed with Golden Girls MadLibs, Diet Cokes, Celsius, and plentiful snacks, we hit the road. It felt like we were driving through a painting with breathtaking views around every bend. So many Bob Ross happy little trees! After four hours and one stop at the Badger Basin, we arrived at the Holiday Inn Express in Gunnison, our new home away from home, just in time for Amy to switch outfits and head to the University for the opening night ceremony.
While Amy attended her first night of classes, I unpacked, organized snacks and beverages, set up our laptops, and took a cruise around town. Once Amy was done, we made a Walmart run, capturing a hilarious video montage of Amy’s Saturday night performance inside the store.
Exploring Gunnison and Beyond
The next day, I slept in while Amy attended her morning classes. By noon, we were ready to explore the Pioneer Museum across the street. Surrounded by impressive mountain ranges, the museum preserves the history of those who pioneered the Gunnison Country. With the place practically to ourselves, we wandered the grounds, snapping countless selfies and videos for Instagram.
With history lessons under our belts, we drove 30 miles south to Crested Butte—a charming mountain town that should consider rebranding to “Crested Cute.” Our expectations were low given what we’d experience in Gunnison, but the adorable downtown shops and vibrant public art scene blew us away. Person after person commented on my Sober Curator Trucker Hat, making us feel right at home in what seemed to be the most sober city in the country. Shop after shop featured non-alcoholic mocktail kits, ready-made bevies, and alcohol-free wine displays. We soon discovered that the annual Crested Butte Mountain Conference was taking place, and we decided to crash the opening night speakers meeting after a delicious meal at Elk Ave Prime. Score one for recovering out loud! We would have never known this was happening had I not been rockin’ my Sober Curator hat.
Our patio dining experience at Elk Ave Prime was a delight as we people-watched and admired the adorable flower-painted public bus that kept cruising by. Yours truly ordered the caviar by mistake, thinking I was ordering a prime dip sandwich. #SOembarrassing We were just as pleased with the alcohol-free cocktail options on the menu as with the locally owned bookshop we’d perused in just before we dined. Amy and I LOVE a bookshop, as it feels like a real choose-your-own-adventure. I picked up the book Margo’s Got Money Problems, and you can read that review here. All in all, it was the perfect day for a perfect day in Crested Cute.
Settling into Gunnison Life
The next five days were a blend of Amy attending classes and me working remotely from our spacious, air-conditioned room at the Holiday Inn Express. Evenings were spent dipping in the oversized hot tub with floaties from Walmart, making new friends, and telling everyone and anyone who would listen about the Pioneer Museum. Our nights were filled with face masks, eye masks, Nick at Nite, and Golden Girls-themed decor as part of my month-long birthday celebrations—complete with matching Thug Life blankets, Funkos, coloring books, MadLibs, and magnets. Word to the wise – Amy and Alysse do NOT travel light. Remember the scene with the old lady from Titanic? We could give her a run for her money.
One Last Adventure
On our last night in Gunnison, we made a final run to Crested Cute to buy mountain cowgirl hats. Mission accomplished, we enjoyed outdoor dining at Teocalli Tamale and treated ourselves to ice cream cones at Tin Cup Ice Cream + Desserts. The next day, we hit the road early to make the long trek back, aiming to reach Colorado Springs before nightfall. Our final destination was the luxurious Broadmoor Hotel + Resort, nestled on the southern edge of the Rocky Mountains. With 5,000 acres to explore, we wandered the grounds in awe before settling into our gorgeous estate room to watch the new Amy Winehouse movie, “Back to Black.” Check out the Broadmoor IG Video here.
A Whirlwind of Fun and Laughter
Our nine-day adventure around Colorado was fun and breathtaking. My face hurt from all the laughs and selfies. Traveling with a sober bestie like Amy made the trip even more rewarding. Colorado’s beauty and the joy of sharing it with a good friend made this trip unforgettable. It was a double treat that we met many other sober locals during our time in the mountains. That’s the thing about us sober people; you just have to know where to look. We’re pretty easy to find!
Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or looking for your next great adventure, exploring the Rockies with a sober companion is an experience you’ll treasure forever. Colorado truly is a beautiful state, and we can’t wait for our next adventure!
Ready to explore? Grab your sober bestie and hit the road! ????✨ #SoberCurator #RockyMountainAdventures
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SOBRIETY IN THE CITY is your guide to substance-free adventures and events in cities across the United States. We’re bringing you hidden gems, local hangouts, art exhibits, unique attractions and pop-up events, limited shows, and tours. Being fully present allows us to enjoy life to the fullest. But we’re still taking it in all, just one day at a time.
You can depend on SOBRIETY IN THE CITY for clean, creative alternatives to make the most of your time in these amazing cities.
We’re curating lots of ideas and content on how to live your best sober lifestyle in cities across the USA. Make sure to check out these cities where we have Sober Curators actively keeping us up to date with the latest events and hot spots to check out.
DALLAS – MINNEAPOLIS/ST PAUL – SEATTLE
