Stories from the road.

19 years sober  ·  50+ countries  ·  written from the road

What Tiger Sharks Taught Me About Facing Fear - Zac Spowart | Nomadic Addictt Sober Travel

Global Travel

What Tiger Sharks Taught Me About Facing Fear

Floating cageless in the open ocean with 20 sharks taught me something that 19 years of sobriety already knew: you don't have to face your fears alone.

May 21, 2026

Why Adventure-Based Recovery Works - Zac Spowart | Nomadic Addictt Sober Travel

Sober Companion

Why Adventure-Based Recovery Works

Sitting in a circle talking about your feelings has its place. But there's something that happens when you push your body to its edge in nature that no therapy room can replicate.

May 18, 2026

Who Are You When Recovery Isn't the Main Plot - Zac Spowart | Nomadic Addictt Sober Travel

Mental Wellness

Who Are You When Recovery Isn't the Main Plot

After years sober, the recovery story starts to fade. What fills the space when sobriety stops being your whole identity?

May 13, 2026

Standing on Living Earth: Hiking Kilauea Volcano in Hawaii - Zac Spowart | Nomadic Addictt Sober Travel

Global Travel

Standing on Living Earth: Hiking Kilauea Volcano in Hawaii

The Big Island is still growing. Standing at the edge of Kilauea at night, lava glowing below and stars overhead, reminded me how sobriety lets you actually feel the world.

May 11, 2026

The Compound Effect of Just Showing Up - Zac Spowart | Nomadic Addictt Sober Travel

Mental Wellness

The Compound Effect of Just Showing Up

The big moments in sobriety aren't the dramatic ones. They're the quiet, compounding result of showing up again and again when nobody's watching.

May 6, 2026

When Showing Up Leads to Swimming with Pilot Whales - Zac Spowart | Nomadic Addictt Sober Travel

Global Travel

When Showing Up Leads to Swimming with Pilot Whales

Three days ago I was in Bali. Today I'm floating off the Big Island of Hawaii with twenty pilot whales gliding past me. None of this happens without sobriety.

May 4, 2026

What a Sober Companion Actually Does and Why It Matters - Zac Spowart | Nomadic Addictt Sober Travel

Sober Companion

What a Sober Companion Actually Does and Why It Matters

A sober companion isn't just someone who tags along on trips. Here's what the work actually looks like and why it changes lives.

April 29, 2026

Dry vs Sober: Why Removing the Substance Isn't Enough - Zac Spowart | Nomadic Addictt Sober Travel

Mental Wellness

Dry vs Sober: Why Removing the Substance Isn't Enough

Putting down the drink or drug doesn't mean you're free. Here's the honest difference between being dry and actually recovering.

April 27, 2026

Hiring a Sober Companion for a Family Member: What You Should Know - Zac Spowart | Nomadic Addictt Sober Travel

Sober Companion

Hiring a Sober Companion for a Family Member: What You Should Know

When someone you love is struggling, hiring a sober companion can feel like the right move. Here's how to know if it is, and what to look for before writing a check.

April 24, 2026

Whale Sharks in Isla Mujeres: The Leap That Changed Everything - Zac Spowart | Nomadic Addictt Sober Travel

Global Travel

Whale Sharks in Isla Mujeres: The Leap That Changed Everything

I jumped into the open ocean off Isla Mujeres with yellow fins and zero experience. What happened next shaped the rest of my life.

April 22, 2026

How Sobriety Changed My Relationship With Fear - Zac Spowart | Nomadic Addictt Sober Travel

Mental Wellness

How Sobriety Changed My Relationship With Fear

Fear kept me small for years. Sobriety didn't remove it, but it changed everything about how I move through it.

April 20, 2026

Why Bali Became My Sober Home Base - Zac Spowart | Nomadic Addictt Sober Travel

Global Travel

Why Bali Became My Sober Home Base

Bali didn't just become a place I lived. It became a mirror. Here's what 19 years sober and a life on the road taught me about coming home to yourself.

April 16, 2026

Finding Freedom in Sobriety Without Losing Your Edge - Zac Spowart | Nomadic Addictt Sober Travel

Mental Wellness

Finding Freedom in Sobriety Without Losing Your Edge

Think sobriety means playing it safe? I've swum with whales, hit 50+ countries, and found my edge got sharper without drink or drug.

April 14, 2026

How to Travel Internationally in Early Sobriety - Zac Spowart | Nomadic Addictt Sober Travel

Sober Companion

How to Travel Internationally in Early Sobriety

International travel in early recovery sounds risky. It doesn't have to be. Here's how to navigate airports, foreign cultures, and your own mind while staying grounded.

April 10, 2026

What to Expect on a Sober Companion Trip - Zac Spowart | Nomadic Addictt Sober Travel

Sober Companion

What to Expect on a Sober Companion Trip

You've decided to invest in a sober companion trip. Now what? Here's what the experience actually looks like from day one to the final goodbye.

March 31, 2026

Discover the Hidden Benefits of Sober Travel for Deeper Connections and Fun - Zac Spowart | Nomadic Addictt Sober Travel

Global Travel

Discover the Hidden Benefits of Sober Travel for Deeper Connections and Fun

Travel often brings to mind images of lively parties, clinking glasses, and late-night celebrations. Many people believe that without alcohol, travel loses its excitement. So the question I always hear becomes, 'Is sober travel fun?'

March 25, 2026

Sober Companion vs. Sober Coach vs. Sponsor: What's the Difference? - Zac Spowart | Nomadic Addictt Sober Travel

Sober Companion

Sober Companion vs. Sober Coach vs. Sponsor: What's the Difference?

People throw these terms around interchangeably, but they're not the same thing. Here's what actually separates a sober companion, a sober coach, and a sponsor.

March 17, 2026

Top Destinations for Sober and Drug-Free Travelers Seeking Adventure - Zac Spowart | Nomadic Addictt Sober Travel

Global Travel

Top Destinations for Sober and Drug-Free Travelers Seeking Adventure

Finding yourself alcohol/drug free? Awesome! Traveling without alcohol or drugs can be a refreshing way to explore the world with clarity and purpose, but it can also be challenging to know which is the best spot.

March 12, 2026

How to Stay Sober While Traveling: Tips for Alcohol-Free Holiday Adventures - Zac Spowart | Nomadic Addictt Sober Travel

Global Travel

How to Stay Sober While Traveling: Tips for Alcohol-Free Holiday Adventures

The holiday season often stirs up a variety of emotions. For those dedicated to sobriety, it can feel like navigating a tightrope lined with spiked eggnog and champagne toasts. This guide will help serve as your travel companion.

December 5, 2024

The Art of Traveling Sober - Zac Spowart | Nomadic Addictt Sober Travel

Global Travel

The Art of Traveling Sober

It's funny, I've been traveling solo and sober for over a decade now, and I realize as I created this page and started blogging, that I sort of take that for granted. For a sober travel blogging website, I think it's safe to say I'm doing a poor job there. So, let's fix that now.

November 26, 2023

Navigating Life's Good and Bad: Life is in Session - Zac Spowart | Nomadic Addictt Sober Travel

Mental Wellness

Navigating Life's Good and Bad: Life is in Session

It's important to note, and I feel called to share for whoever is out there who may need to hear it, that social media photos and videos are always people's highlights. Rarely do they offer the full story or picture.

March 2, 2023

To Compare Is To Despair: You vs. You, Our Only Competition - Zac Spowart | Nomadic Addictt Sober Travel

Mental Wellness

To Compare Is To Despair: You vs. You, Our Only Competition

I've often found myself questioning why I, at times, feel uncomfortable, unsettled, or even frustrated by others' success around me. Did they do anything to me? No. Then why the uncomfortable feeling?

February 21, 2023

A Balanced Life: Is it Possible? - Zac Spowart | Nomadic Addictt Sober Travel

Mental Wellness

A Balanced Life: Is it Possible?

One question I get asked a lot is 'How do you have energy for all this? All your travels?' The answer lives in understanding what balance actually means for you specifically.

February 12, 2023

Travel Planning: To Plan or Not to Plan - Zac Spowart | Nomadic Addictt Sober Travel

Global Travel

Travel Planning: To Plan or Not to Plan

To Plan or Not to Plan? That is the Question. We all know someone that is super detail-oriented and has their entire trip planned before they even get on the plane. Whatever works for you, there isn't necessarily a 'right' way.

January 6, 2023

Travel and Money: How Can I Travel and Not Go Broke? - Zac Spowart | Nomadic Addictt Sober Travel

Global Travel

Travel and Money: How Can I Travel and Not Go Broke?

One of the most common questions when planning any trip is 'How can I afford to travel?'. The key is to find a balance that works for you and maximize your opportunities.

December 1, 2022

I AM: Affirmations and The Power of The Mind - Zac Spowart | Nomadic Addictt Sober Travel

Mental Wellness

I AM: Affirmations and The Power of The Mind

Selfish. Narcissistic. Spoiled. Entitled. Do you ever find yourself or others labeling you with names like these? What I tell myself is what I am, what I become.

July 16, 2022

Is it Safe to Dive with Tiger Sharks? - Zac Spowart | Nomadic Addictt Sober Travel

Global Travel

Is it Safe to Dive with Tiger Sharks?

Have you ever found yourself snorkeling, diving, or swimming in the ocean where you look around feeling like something is watching you? Since Jaws debuted in 1975, many of us have been captivated with the presence of sharks.

July 10, 2022

Tips and Tricks for Traveling: How Do I Get Started and Why Do I Want to? - Zac Spowart | Nomadic Addictt Sober Travel

Global Travel

Tips and Tricks for Traveling: How Do I Get Started and Why Do I Want to?

Getting started can feel like you're looking up at a large mountain. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Fear not my friends, the view is always best after the climb.

April 4, 2022

Sober Vacation Travel Tips - Zac Spowart | Nomadic Addictt Sober Travel

Guest Blogs

Sober Vacation Travel Tips

Maureen Coulter of the sober travel blog The Temperate Traveler offers some advice for folks who are interested in sober vacation tips, whether you are in recovery, sober-curious or just not a fan of alcohol.

August 4, 2023

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