How to Travel Sober Without Losing Your Mind or Your Wallet

Ever wonder if you can actually have fun traveling without drinking your way through every destination?

Teresa Bergen joins Dr. Sarah Michaud to share her incredible journey from drinking rubbing alcohol as a child to becoming a sober travel expert who's kayaked through Arctic icebergs and rafted the Grand Canyon. With over 40 years of sobriety starting at age 20, Teresa breaks down the real talk on navigating airports, resorts, and adventures without liquid courage. From avoiding wine country with your drinking buddies to finding your tribe of fellow adventurers, this conversation reveals how sobriety opens doors to experiences you never imagined possible.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Start with group trips and guided activities when beginning sober travel to avoid logistics overwhelm
• Choose destinations based on your genuine interests, not what others expect you to enjoy
• Bring accountability support and maintain your healthy habits while traveling
• You don't have to be perfect at new activities to enjoy incredible experiences
• Sometimes the best adventures happen when you step outside your comfort zone (but keep the hotel room)

NOTABLE QUOTE

"You don't have to be good at all of them. I'm not saying that all these things I'm really great at, like when I'm kayaking in every state, it's not like I'm kayaking 50 miles out of the wild by myself. It's like I'm renting a kayak and paddling around for an hour or two and looking at birds." — Teresa Bergen

GUEST BIO

Teresa Bergen is author of The Sober Travel Handbook and a writer for Sober Curator Online magazine. With over 40 years of sobriety beginning at age 20, she's turned her passion for adventure into a mission to help others discover the world without alcohol. Teresa is currently on a quest to kayak in every US state and Canadian province while sharing practical tips for sober travelers worldwide.

Leaving CrazyTown is a raw, real-talk podcast hosted by Finn and Dr. Sarah Michaud, two recovering addicts turned relatable guides on the wild ride of codependency healing. With a unique blend of humor, honesty, and clinical insight, this show tackles the chaos of dysfunctional relationships, identity loss, and boundary disasters — while offering practical tools, powerful storytelling, and a roadmap for emotional freedom. Weekly episodes on YouTube (@leavingcrazytown) and all major podcast platforms.