Picture this: You stretch out on a lounge chair, parked right in front of the beach. An umbrella provides some cool shade as you take a nice, big sip from your fruity, refreshing cocktail. It’s pure paradise. The only thing missing? Alcohol.
The above scenario may sound unappealing to those who associate vacations with lots of carefree cocktails, but a growing number of travelers are purposely vacationing without booze, in a trend that’s known as sober travel or “dry tripping.” According to NBC, social media mentions of “sober travel,” “dry tripping,” and “alcohol-free vacations” increased 205 percent in the first six months of 2024, compared to the six months before that. And the interest in dry tripping is only growing: Social media analytics company Sprout Social tells Katie Couric Media that searches for “sober travel” across X, Tumblr, Reddit, and Youtube increased 161 percent in the second half of 2024 — and engagement on posts about dry tripping rose over 2,500 percent.
Hilary Sheinbaum, author of Going Dry, tells Katie Couric Media, “Dry tripping is intentional travel without imbibing. Instead of framing your activities around the bar or poolside cocktails, you’re finding activities that don’t revolve around alcohol.” She tells us that in addition to individuals choosing to refrain from booze on their travels, entire groups are rethinking their idea of a vacation. For example, “A lot of new age bachelorette parties are not about going to Vegas, going to the club, and getting drunk, but rather, spa weekends and being relaxed and refreshed.”
It’s all part of a larger cultural shift deprioritizing alcohol. A Gallup poll from August 2024 found that more Americans than ever before view alcohol as unhealthy: A whopping 45 percent feel having one or two drinks per day is bad for your health, up 6 percent from 2023 and 17 percent since 2018. It seems that younger generations are leading the sober-curious charge: Gallup found that 65 percent of American adults aged 18-34 feel that alcohol consumption negatively affects one’s health, compared to 37 percent of those ages 35 to 54, and 39 percent of adults 55 and over. And two-thirds of adults under 35 believe that reducing booze intake can improve one’s health.
Whether you did Dry January, Damp January, are sober-curious, or just want to enjoy a vacation without feeling hungover every morning, we’ve rounded up the best non-booze-centric places to stay (and sip mocktails) in amazing locales across the country. And no matter where you’re going, if you’re departing from LGA, JFK, PHX, BOS, or SAN, enjoy a mocktail before your flight at the Chase Sapphire Airport Lounge.
Best Places to Stay While Dry Tripping
Four Seasons Resort, Santa Fe, N.M.
If you wanted to do some dry travel in Santa Fe, you could spend your whole trip on the Four Seasons property: The resort has daily nature walks for guests to hike through the local flora on-site, a robust schedule of rejuvenating yoga classes, and a full-service spa with access to individual hot tubs and saunas for more relaxation after your relaxation. Terra, the resort’s restaurant, has one of the most extensive non-alcoholic beverage lists we’ve ever seen, with multiple mocktails using zero-proof spirits and even NA wines — their boozeless sangria tastes just like the regular version.
If you do make it off the resort and into Santa Fe, you’ll find lots of hiking, rich history (or both at Bandelier National Monument, which has numerous trails and the ancestral and traditional lands of at least 23 tribal nations), a vibrant art scene (Santa Fe is home to the first Meow Wolf, an interactive art installation), unique shops selling one-of-a-kind art and jewelry made by local artisans, and plenty more.
Black Mountain Resort, Heber City, UT
Utah in general is known for some strict alcohol laws compared to the rest of the country, so you won’t feel like a fish out of water if you’re not imbibing there. If you’re headed to Park City for a ski trip, Black Mountain Resort is where you want to stay. In addition to being just a 12-minute drive to the center of Park City, which has tons of cute shops and restaurants to check out, it’s also conveniently located near the slopes — just 15 minutes to either Deer Valley Resort or Park City Mountain Resort. If you’re more of an après ski person, Black Mountain Resort has an outdoor hot tub and indoor saunas for maximum relaxation. The bar has a robust menu of signature nonalcoholic cocktails, from a mango “faujito” to a “Berry Burlesque” — a delicious mixture of ginger beer, huckleberry syrup, lime, mint, and agave.
Untitled at 3 Freeman Alley, New York, N.Y.
There might not be a better place to travel than New York City if you’re not a drinker — because while, yes, the city has thousands of innovative bars, it also has so much more to offer, including its theater, music, and comedy scenes; world-famous tourist attractions; and beloved parks. You could spend days researching hotels in NYC, so let us be your guide here. The Untitled Hotel is located in the buzzy Lower East Side neighborhood, which is home to kitschy stores, trendy nightlife, and interesting culture — from eclectic graffiti and avant-garde performance spaces to contemporary art exhibitions to historic landmarks. Untitled’s rooftop bar carries NA beer and a few delicious-sounding mocktails like the Matcha Faux-Lada, which contains coconut and burnt caramel. The hotel itself is unique for its location — it’s on one Manhattan’s few operating dead-end alleys. (It’s not creepy at all, we promise.)
Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, Atlantic City, N.J.
A casino might not seem like the place for sober-curious travelers, but there’s so much more to do at the Borgata than play the slots with a martini in hand. You can visit the hotel’s lush spa, swim in the indoor or outdoor pool, and see a show at the events center — and that’s not even counting all there is to do on the nearby Atlantic City boardwalk. As far as booze-free drink options go, there are plenty at American Bar & Grille. The Rosemary Pear Spritz blends pear puree, rosemary simple syrup, and lemon topped with sparkling water. The Apple Cider Mule offers a refreshing and gut-healthy twist on a favorite cocktail, with apple cider, ginger beer, and tonic.
JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort, Marco Island, Fl.
That hypothetical beach vacation we waxed poetic about earlier? You can make it a reality — no booze required — at this resort in Marco Island, Florida. Lay out at one of the property’s private beaches or pools; indulge your competitive side with tennis or bowling and arcade games at the resort’s 10K Alley taproom; get on the water in a paddleboard, catamaran, or sailboat; or soak up some arts and culture in nearby Naples, Fl. Not only is there so much to do without leaving the resort, you can do it all while sipping on any number of the resort’s mocktails. Our favorites? The Arancia Rossa, which is sort of like a non-alcoholic, floral Aperol spritz — it’s got Seedlip 101 non-alcoholic spirit, blood orange, strawberry shrub, Fever Tree grapefruit soda, and rose blossom water.
The Henson, Hensonville, NY
This 16-room boutique hotel offers a luxurious and relaxing escape in the Catskills. Unwind in the living room, a cozy communal area with plush couches and floor-to-ceiling bookshelves; wander the beautiful gardens; or perch up on the roof deck for gorgeous views of the property and nearby mountains. The surrounding area in the Catskills boasts skiing at Windham and Hunter Mountain, numerous parks and hiking trails, lakes, and waterfalls. The hotel restaurant has both No and Low ABV beverage options for dry and damp travelers.
Fairmont Olympic Hotel, Seattle, Wash.
The Fairmont’s onsite bar offer cocktails “sans alcohol” — and unlike ones that are basically just fancy (and expensive) juice, these are made with nonalcoholic spirits. Take, for example, the “Sunshine on a Cloudy Day” at the Founder’s Club, which mixes Ritual NA Rum with orange juice, pineapple juice, and date-coconut cream for a tropical experience. For travelers who want a break from boozy nights but not a full breakup, the bar also has low-alcohol cocktails: “The Soyer Au Champagne” contains brandy, dry curaçao, maraschino vanilla ice cream, and champagne. When you’re wiped out from all the sightseeing Seattle has to offer, unwind at the hotel’s Penelope & the Beauty Bar for a day of pampering.
The Lodge at Bodega Bay, Sonoma, Calif.
We can imagine your incredulous thought: Dry tripping? In wine country? But hear us out: Napa is quickly becoming a sought-after destination for sober travelers because it has tons of gorgeous nature to soak in (redwood forests, anyone?), a scenic coast, antiquing, and so much more. Its food scene is award-winning, and dining establishments are embracing nonalcoholic options, from cocktails to wines, on their menus. The city of Healdsburg even has a mocktail trail, mapping out the best spots to grab a booze-free beverage. As far as where to stay, the Lodge at Bodega Bay is just steps away from nature, hosts fitness classes like yoga and Pilates to help you get centered, and the restaurant Drake’s even serves alcohol-removed wine.
The Broadmoor, Colorado Springs, Colo.
This expansive resort in Colorado Springs takes its activities seriously: It’s got a legendary tennis and pickleball club, where you can take lessons from pros or participate in tournaments. The resort offers three different all-inclusive wilderness getaways, including fly fishing. It’s close to all sorts of outdoor adventures, from ziplining to white water rafting. And, of course, it has a bevy of dining options that offer zero-proof sips. We’re itching to try the Lapo’s Spritz at Ristorante Del Lago, which combines Lapo’s NA Aperitivo, orange, vanilla, lemon, and soda.
Drift Hotel, Nashville, Tenn.
If you look close enough, you’ll realize Nashville’s attractions extend far beyond a lively bar scene and a million bachelorette parties — though of course, it has those, too. It’s also the birthplace of bluegrass and a hub for music history in general, so there’s no shortage of live entertainment to indulge in. As far as hotels go, the Drift Hotel does something a little different when it comes to their NA offerings: Their mocktail is made with Delta-9 THC soda for a, shall we say, elevated experience.
