At The Sober Curator, we’re passionate about curating excellence in sober living—and today, we’re thrilled to celebrate one of our own whose excellence has been recognized on a national stage.

Please join us in showering Teresa Bergen with love, applause, and (obviously) confetti-stuffed gratitude! 🎉 Teresa just brought home the Gold Medal for her What a Trip travel column in the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) Western Chapter’s annual writing contest! SATW is the leading organization for travel media in North America, and this honor is a big, sober-friendly deal.

✨ What the Judges Said

In awarding Teresa’s column the top prize, the SATW judges said:

“This selection offers ‘other’ travelers plenty of guidance and tips to smooth out their journeys in search of sober-friendly spots, vegan menus and welcoming spaces for gender diverse travelers. The writing is well-reported and researched. The tone is helpful and caring.”

That’s classic Teresa: helpful, thoughtful, and always looking out for those of us navigating the world sober—and stylishly, might we add.

🌍 Travel, Sobriety, and… Cats

For nearly two years, Teresa has been a fierce and feline-loving force at The Sober Curator. Based in Portland, Oregon, she’s the mind (and heart) behind Sober Travel & Sobriety in Flow (Yoga) with Teresa Bergen, the cozy corner of our site where sobriety meets wanderlust.

Whether she’s curating for the Sober Retreat Calendar, uncovering vegan eats on the road, paddling through turquoise waters, or sniffing out the next best cat café (yes, she really does that), Teresa shows us how joyful and adventure-filled sober living can be. She’s equally at home in a kayak or a historic cemetery—probably one with great spiritual energy and fascinating stonework.

Teresa’s interests span open water swimming, yoga, trail running, and her ongoing mission to pet every cat in the world. If you’ve read her work, you know it’s fueled by compassion, curiosity, and a quirky sense of humor.

📚 Beyond The Sober Curator

In addition to her stellar work with us, Teresa’s writing has graced the pages of South China Morning Post, Saturday Evening Post, Delta Sky, MSN, USA Today and many more. She’s the author of several books including:

She also works in the oral history field, helping preserve real human stories with the same care and curiosity she brings to everything she writes.

✈️ Want to Be Featured in Teresa’s Retreat Calendar?

Are you leading a sober trip, retreat, or yoga getaway? Teresa wants to know! Please fill out our Sober Retreats Form or send the details directly to Teresa.Bergen@gmail.com. Include the retreat name, dates, cost, URL, and a high-res horizontal image so we can feature it in our calendar.

🎉 Teresa, We’re So Proud

Winning gold for What a Trip is a huge accomplishment, and we couldn’t be prouder to have Teresa as part of our Sober Curator family. Her work reflects everything we stand for: inclusivity, intentional living, and living large in a sober world.

Please join us in celebrating Teresa’s award by reading her travel pieces, following her cat café adventures, and remembering that the world is full of sober-friendly, joy-sparking, cat-purring possibilities—just ask Teresa Bergen.

👏👏👏 Meow-velous work, Teresa! You’ve inspired us all.

— Alysse Bryson
Founder, The Sober Curator

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.

✈️ 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.

Send us a postcard!
(And by that we mean… save the stamp and shoot us an email. We’re cool like that.)

📬 thesobercurator@gmail.com

Resources Are Available

If you or someone you know is experiencing difficulties surrounding alcoholism, addiction, or mental illness, please reach out and ask for help. People everywhere can and want to help; you just have to know where to look. And continue to look until you find what works for you. Click here for a list of regional and national resources.