After 15+ years of sober travel to and from Seattle to Las Vegas multiple times, I can finally enjoy a trip with minimal triggers and have a blast! But, when it’s time to go, I’m always ready to return to the Emerald City I love because that’s home.
But first, let me tell you what happened to me at SeaTac airport…
Click HERE to watch the IG Reel.
Share Joy!
ICYMI (or don’t want to watch a video right now) – While waiting for my flight to Vegas, I naturally hit up Starbucks before finding a stand-up desk to get some shit done. SIDE NOTE: People always wonder how I get so much shit done. While I don’t believe multitasking is possible, I think in finding small chunks of time to power focus. Because when I’m focused, the world around me doesn’t exist. My fingers and imagination fly like a solid and unpredictable wind.
Back to the iced unsweetened coffee with a splash of oat milk if they have it. I’m standing in line. I’ve already placed my order, and I’m waiting for them to mispronounce my name loudly. I don’t care about the loud part. I’m one of the loudest people I know! It’s the mispronunciation that drives me nuts. Impatiently, I’m checking my Instagram because I need a few dopamine hits to see how many likes I got on something I thought was particularly clever. (Don’t even try to tell me you don’t do that. If you post, you look at the number. Fight me.)
Mask firmly planted on my face, I caught something unexpected at the airport…
This woman approached me, named Amy, and asked me if she could share her joy. Something significant had just opened up for her, and she was feeling herself in the best possible way. I almost would have given anything to experience her joy at that moment. I am forever chasing a high I can not reach. So I listened intently as she explained in detail what challenges she had just overcome in her education. Then she exclaimed she’d just passed her test with a 98% score. And at that moment, she didn’t want to share the news alone. She’d worked so hard and was bursting with pride. So, she asked me.
Instantly, I felt joy. It was like she had just transferred energy to me like a bank cashier hands over your cash transaction. Only in this case is the bank handing out free cash—no strings attached. And then I turned around and called at least three people to tell them the story and pass them some joy. Oh, the irony: the only thing I used to be passing was a substance or a bottle of booze. No one would have wanted to share this news with the younger, not sober version of Alysse. She was too focused on herself and made questionable, often impulsive, decisions.
Entering the lobby of the Flamingo, with the faint cha-ching cha-chings of multiple slot machines humming in the background, I spotted a cake vending machine. And not just any cake! But the original Carlo’s Bake Shop in Hoboken, which is ironically the cake shop I ordered myself at cake at earlier this year. My soberthday is May 1st, and I got sober back in 2006. Anyway, you can read about that here if you are so inclined.
Let Them Eat Cake!
Let’s get back to talking about cake! You order based on what is available, pay, and viola! Out pops a huge ass slice of cake that you can take right up to your hotel room. I love Vegas! Cha-ching! Cha-cake-and-eat-it-too-ching! Then I panicked when I realized the machine was out of forks. I hate Vegas! It’ll probably be a mile’s walk to find a fork.
That’s what it feels like anyway when you’re a 5’4″ chubby middle-aged woman wandering around for a plastic fork after a 3-hour flight and dinner with my IG friend @joyfullysober AKA Lauren McLaughlin, aka Queen of Sober Housecoats on TikTok. Lauren and I met earlier this year on social media, and I interviewed her for a Sober Spotlight. And then, she became a Sober Curator. But this was our first time meeting in person, not on Zoom or FaceTime or Marco Polo, or phone call. Like for realz in person. How FUN is that? Click HERE to watch the IG Reel.
My new friend Lauren, the Queen of Housecoats on TikTok
Lauren and I both came with gifts for each other. You could call them our “nice to meet you and spend the next four days with you” gifts. And they were hilarious, including matching palm tree print housecoats. The Sober Golden Girls had arrived in Vegas. Check out @joyfullysober in the video link below. Go on, we’re on a joy-themed train here, can’t you feel it? Share joy!
Lauren and I had previously discussed all of the options we wanted to do, eat, and see, but the plan was loose—significantly, we went with the flow. We met some of her friends who had flown in for the same conference we were signed up to attend—well, virtually attend, but not in-person attend. But that’s another story for another time.
The Buffet at Wynn Las Vegas
The Buffet at Wynn Las Vegas redefines the breakfast, brunch, or dinner experience with a feast of options, including an all-new Eggs Benedict station and a Latin Street Food station among the 16 tantalizing food kitchens designed by Executive Chef Jason Duarte. All the classics are here, too, from butcher-inspired cuts to shrimp cocktails, sushi, and more. The Buffet at Wynn Las Vegas will satisfy every craving.
I wouldn’t say I like potlucks. But a group of kitchens that got together to serve a little bit of everything to everyone in a swanky space? Don’t mind if I do. After over two hours of eating and talking with my now new friends, I was eager and excited to roam the halls of the Wynn, strolling through their shops, art, and wild floral life-size centerpieces. If you’re in Vegas and love a good buffet, do not miss out on the Wynn!
#ADDTOCART
I’m just trying to Walk My Talk while rocking one of my pieces of merchandise from A Sober Girls Guide. Shopping is my cardio, and I love supporting small, sober-owned businesses. Side note: If you wear a Sober Girl t-shirt in Vegas, people WILL comment.
#ADDTOCART A SOBER GIRLS GUIDE
AREA15 is an immersive playground, all rolled into a vast and vibrant space. Throw an ax, wander through a bamboo volcano, race on a zip line, or explore other mesmerizing realms. From the futuristic to the thrill-seeking, there’s an experience for everyone here.
Omega Mart sends participants of all ages on a journey through surreal worlds, immersive storytelling, and playful nuggets of the imagination. Discover secret portals, play and explore among unexpected landscapes, or soak up the innovative art as you venture beyond an extraordinary supermarket into parts unknown. In other words, you have no idea what’s in store for you.
AREA15 & Meow Wolf
I honestly had no idea what we were getting ourselves into. I’d read a little about Meow Wolf on social media but was mainly captivated by the photos I saw. Plus, several of my friends from Seattle had been and loved it. In our Uber on the way there, Lauren asked me why this experience would take over five hours. FIVE HOURS? What are you talking about?
Lauren hasn’t experienced my sometimes lack of attention to detail, which I think doesn’t matter. Directions are just suggestions. I find out just enough to be interested, and that’s all I need to know. I’m a hands-on, experienced, everything-in-person type of person. Please give me the CliffsNotes version of basically everything. Surprises are fun! Usually, this method serves me just fine. Knowing just a bit more in this particular case would have been helpful. LOL. Thankfully, Lauren had done her research and packed her patience.
Omega Mart – also known as WTF is actually going on?
It took us an hour to understand the concept and maneuver through the game. That’s really what this was. Think of it as an escape room that meets the acid trip type of experience. I’m not going to lie; it was incredibly frustrating at first, especially watching all of the younger people around us fly successfully through their challenges. Once we got the hang of it, we started to motor through the overstimulated maze of the fake grocery store aisles, secret hallways, and hidden rooms.
Three and a half hours in, I was done. I didn’t want to play anymore. The thrills of leveling up were no longer giving me the excitement I craved. Turning to Lauren, I asked if we could leave. She quickly exclaimed, “But we didn’t win the game yet!” I knew I needed to tap out and was okay with not finishing. Thankfully, Lauren agreed. We hit the gift shop and headed back to the Flamingo for our Uber.
Sober Curator Pro Tip: It’s a fast way to check if Uber or Lyft will be cheaper when traveling in a pair. Lauren was Team Uber, and I was Team Lyft. Team Uber won nine times out of ten times. Click HERE to watch the IG Reel.
As someone obsessed with street art, I enjoyed the art installations outside of AREA15 as much as the vibrant neon pieces inside. There were so many other things to do there that we didn’t get to. If my son Jakob, now 25, had been traveling with me, I know he would have loved the place.
Friday night, Lauren and I headed to Caesars Palace, just across the street from the Flamingo, to catch the show Absinthe. Recently named by Las Vegas Weekly as “the #1 greatest show in Las Vegas history,” Absinthe is a provocative but unforgettable variety show that delivers the ‘only in Vegas’ experience you came looking for.
Glam and Laughs!
Absinthe at Caesars Palace is a fantastical blend of carnival and spectacle, featuring wild, outlandish acts performed on an intimate, circular stage where the audience is as close to the action as you can get. This show is fantastic! Hosted by the filthy rich (and just plain nasty) Gazillionaire and inspired by the absinthe-drenched cabarets of late 19th century Europe, Absinthe is an intoxicating cocktail of circus, burlesque, and vaudeville for a 21st-century audience. Lauren and I grabbed two sodas and headed into the tent. Not for the faint-hearted, these ridiculously talented and sexy performers from across the globe mix outrageous comedy with jaw-dropping feats of virtuosity and danger. Two thumbs up! Click HERE to watch the IG Reel.
When in Rome, I mean Vegas. If you know me, you know I love any reason for a theme. Let’s say Lauren and I fully embraced our Sober Golden Girl Flamingo vibes on this trip.
Pool Party at the GOPOOL Dayclub at the Flamingo!
Located in the center of the strip, this 15-acre Caribbean-style pool is just outside the bustling casino. The hotel’s location is such a dream, with a gorgeous view of the LINQ and a 550-foot-tall High Roller Observation Wheel. In addition to providing the perfect pool, it’s also located next to the monorail for easy access up and down both sides of the strip. Ironically, from when we booked the trip to when we got there, the price decreased by 50%. It felt like we were winning money just by visiting. Lauren and I spent the first half of Saturday sitting by the pool, flipping through magazines and talking about everything. Then, I got an overpriced haircut at the Flamingo salon while Lauren continued to work on her tan.
Sober Curator Pro Tip:
When traveling sober, remember time takes time, so take time-outs for yourself! I navigated this trip so nicely and trigger-free because I made time every day to meditate and practice being where my feet were. I also drank a shit-ton of water.
Hey, True Crime Lovers!
The best stories are found by digging under the surface. At The Mob Museum, they put in the work to uncover some of history’s most intriguing tales, exploring the age-old dichotomy of good guys vs. bad guys.
Located in the heart of downtown Las Vegas, The Mob Museum is an immersive experience that explores the ongoing power struggle between organized crime and law enforcement from the Mob’s origins to today.
All the dirt. All in one place.
Guests are presented with the facts, the fiction, and the gray area in between through vivid storytelling, showcasing the events and characters that played an integral (and infamous) role in U.S. history. Taking its cues from the Entertainment Capital of the World, The Mob Museum seamlessly melds intrigue with explanation through four expertly curated floors of interactive exhibits, multimedia displays, exciting artifacts, and pop culture lore. Lauren is from the suburbs of Chicago, so boy, did I enjoy pointing out all of the crime in her city.
We didn’t do extra exhibits like the Crime Lab, Firearm Training Simulator, or Distillery Tour. We skipped the speakeasy and distillery entirely. But it was fun to take the self-guided tour through the museum’s four floors. One of the Museum’s most prized artifacts is its home, an immaculately restored former U.S. Post Office and Courthouse.
Sober Curator Pro Tip: When I travel to another city, I always visit at least one museum. Maybe it’s the nerd in me, but I find that keeping my mind occupied by learning new things can help offset any triggering distractions I might encounter.
I hunt street art like it’s a sport. One day, I hope to put together the most epic photos from my travels of street art I have found in a gorgeous, full-color coffee table book. But since I currently don’t own a coffee table, I’ll keep snapping photos and peaking down alleys.
Camera Ready!
One of my favorite travel pastimes since getting sober is photography. Although I rarely travel with my professional Canon Rebel anymore, I am never more than a few inches away from my iPhone. And these days, since our phones take such great quality shots, that Canon Rebel bag has been collecting dust in the back of my closet next to multiple pairs of high heels that will likely never be worn again. In early recovery, I was taught to look for similarities. That translates to my travel habits of hunting for interesting things or bringing me joy. Maybe you don’t love taking pictures, but writing is more of your jam. Pack a journal! Love to read, throw in a book. I like to keep my hands and mind busy. Photography and writing help me capture the memories of my trips.
Ice Cream, you scream! Hell yeah, we want ice cream! It may have been September, but the weather was still in the 90s! This was my first time experiencing the Downtown Container Park, an open-air shopping center filled with boutique retail shops, unique restaurants, and live entertainment for the whole family. And you guessed it: everything was built using old shipping containers.
We could hardly contain ourselves!
See what I did there? Hunting for street art and learning about the history of crime works up an appetite. We grabbed dinner at Pinches Tacos and then made our way over to the Waffelato bar. Dessert is mandatory while on vacation. Great spot! I highly recommend it. Just watch out for the fire-breathing bug out front. Click HERE for the IG Reel.
Founded in 1996, The Neon Museum is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization dedicated to collecting, preserving, studying, and exhibiting iconic Las Vegas signs for educational, historical, arts, and cultural enrichment. This was my second time visiting this neon boneyard, and I still want to go back and check it out during the daytime.
For the love of NEON
Night tours at The Neon Museum feature their restored signs’ fabulous neon and beautifully and dramatically lit un-restored signs. This time, we went with a tour guide, and I have to tell you, it was much better than the first time I had gone on a self-guided tour. The guide talks about the history of each sign, the history of the business at which each sign was located, and many more fascinating facts.
Sober Curator Pro Tip: Not going to Vegas anytime soon? The Neon Museum offers a virtual tour that lets guests from all over the world experience their collection online and you can check that out here.
Brilliant!
Also new to me was adding the Brilliant! Show at the end of our tour. This magical audiovisual immersion experience reanimates 40 monumental examples of The Neon Museum’s iconic vintage signs and transports visitors into the history of Las Vegas through sight and sound. Brilliant!, created by artist Craig Winslow, takes place in our North Gallery and is the largest augmented reality experience of its kind. We loved it!
Four words. Lazy. River. Wave. Pool.
When these magical words are also paired with Cabana Hostess and beachfront pool lounge chairs, you know it will be the perfect day for the perfect day. The pool at Mandalay Bay did not disappoint.
Pool Party! Sober Party of Two!
Although we didn’t stay at the Mandalay Bay resort, we discovered it was off-season. This means non-hotel guests can pay for pool access. Mandalay Bay Beach is an 11-acre aquatic playground that invites you to sun, swim, splash, and soak on your terms. Ride tides in the wave pool. Flow with the Lazy River. Lounge in a lagoon. Catch some shade in a convenient cabana.
As a retired sun worshipper who has also survived stage one skin cancer, I try to be careful with how much sun I get. I also lather 100 SPF over my entire body, wear a hat, and sit in the shade. As an astrological cancer sign, I feel my best when near water. And I feel my very best when weightless and floating in a wave pool. This spot was magical and worth every penny! In case you’re wondering, we spent $100/each, and then I dropped another $30 on the inflatable tube for the lazy river and gifted it to a lovely couple as we were leaving.
At the newly renovated Bacchanal Buffet, you’ll explore dozens of cuisines and hundreds of perfectly prepared offerings from specialty chefs. With food prepared right in front of open kitchens, it’s like having your pick of nine high-end restaurants in one location.
Buffet #2, Don’t mind if we do!
To close out our stellar four-day escapade, we headed back to Caesar’s Palace to Bacchanal Buffet, frequently referred to as the #1 Buffet in Vegas. It was deliciously overwhelming, and we left with full bellies. But the number one buffet in Vegas? If we’re voting, I have to give it to The Wynn Buffet. Maybe because we went there on our first morning in Vegas and we went here on our last night. One thing is for sure; Vegas gets old fast.
Sober Friends
If you have found new sober friends online in the last almost two years of the pandemic, and you’ve been thinking about making a trip to meet them IRL (in real life), DO IT! Lauren and I found out early on after meeting online that we basically have the exact same amount of sober time. She’s technically two weeks “older” than I am. Sober Class of 2006! Whoop Whoop!
On the last night at the Bacchanal Buffet, surrounded by plates filled with delicious food, we talked about our rose and our thorn of the trip. Is this a game you play at dinner with your family? If not, add it! It’s always such a great conversation. When I asked Lauren what her thorn was, she quickly said with a sly smile, “Oh, you know what it was.”
She may never forgive me for putting her through the Mega Mart Escape room on acid 800-hour experience. I don’t blame her. And for me, it was the overpriced haircut at the hotel salon by a woman who’d been working there for 30+ years. Don’t get me wrong, the stylist was a hoot, and we’ve even become Facebook friends. But the $400 haircut (before the tip) was a bit of a shock. Details! Must learn to ask about the details!
The Sober Rose of the trip was friendship.
Lauren and I eagerly agreed that the rose of the trip was hanging out in person and growing our friendship. We loved the Neon Museum, particularly Brilliant! and the wave pool! There were lots of laughs and talks about serious topics. There were moments of sadness when we passed by a well-groomed, well-dressed man who was blacked out and passed out on the sidewalk, missing one shoe. I didn’t particularly enjoy the group of men in the hotel elevator who asked me for a hand job either.
We both left Vegas with our long-term sobriety intact and a solidified friendship that will likely last the rest of our lives. I mean…who else will I wear matching Sasquatch wearing a pink flamingo floatie t-shirt with?
WHAT A TRIP! We trip as often as possible because travel is our jam! Here, you’ll find insider information, tips, and honest reviews from a sober perspective. The pandemic is messing with our future tripping mojo, but no worries. We have plenty of perfect trips from our past to share. So, come…. SOBER TRIP WITH US!
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