Travel Trends: Is "Dry-Tripping" In Your Future?

translate into zero-proof cocktails today.

“Research shows that Americans of the Millennial and Gen Z ages are embracing this movement the most.”

How Do The Drinks Compare?

The drinks often look the same, and the taste is similar, just non-alcoholic.

I remember a few years ago you could get a “Virgin” Strawberry Daiquiri at a few places. Now, most have multiple offerings. Last week at the Tempo by Hilton in Times Square during Happy Hour, their signature restaurant, Highball, offered a list of cocktails and a matching list of “Free” spirited drinks reimagined to resemble their cocktail counterpart.

For comparison purposes, I had one of each - a cocktail and a mocktail. I ordered the “Lady in Rouge.” The spirited cocktail included Rose Vodka. The “Free” spirited included Fever Tree Club Soda.

The photo shows a comparison of the two. They look similar.

During some recent press trips, I tried a variety of “Dry” drinks, and all were delicious.

Where You Can Get Fabulous “Dry” Drinks

Besides the Tempo by Hilton in NYC, the following are some fabulous places to enjoy alcohol-free drinks.

Knoxville, Tennessee, serves up fun mocktails at restaurants around the city. There’s even a zero-proof bar. Enjoy Knoxville’s sober nightlife at The Boocherie, where you’ll find an eclectic atmosphere and delicious, zero-proof drinks.

Montana’s Resort at Paws Up is a family-owned luxury resort and working cattle ranch in Greenough, Montana. Restaurant Beverage Manager Jake Satterlee had this to say about their dry drinks, “Currently, we have four mocktails on the menu listed; however, when building menus, we use recipes that can be interchanged to either exclude the liquor or to purposefully use N/A spirits. Our true offerings for the current menu would be more like eight to ten options.”

Even in the heart of Key West’s famed party scene, locals and tourists alike can find “dry” drinks. The Four Flamingos: A Richard Blais Key West Kitchen in Key West, Florida, offers the Watermelon Mint Refresher.

Located on Chicago’s iconic Magnificent Mile, Michael Jordan’s Steakhouse offers guests an extensive non-alcoholic cocktail list year-round. The bar provides an elevated ‘sports bar’ atmosphere where sober/sober curious travelers can get excited to watch their favorite games without the pressure to drink.

The historic Amway Grand Plaza Curio Collection in Grand Rapids, Michigan, has seven bars and restaurants. Each offers mocktails, non-alcoholic beers, and a non-alcoholic wine.

This English-inspired Deer Path Inn on the outskirts of Chicago has a celebrated cocktail program helmed by the Chief Spirits Officer— and just this year, he designed programming for the sober-conscious traveler. The new zero-proof programming includes a bookable “Zero-Proof” hotel package featuring in-suite DIY mocktail mixology kits, a private mocktail mixology lesson with the inn’s Chief Spirits Officer, and a take-home gift for at-home mocktail making.

Maui’s most stunning restaurant, Merriman’s Kapalua, features a selection of quench-worthy, carefully crafted, zero-proof cocktails found nowhere else on the Island.

Hotel ZaZa is a luxury boutique hotel brand with properties in Austin, Dallas, and Houston, offering a ‘Healthy You’ package to help guests become their healthiest selves while they stay. Guests booking overnight accommodations can add the ‘Healthy You’ package, including mocktail credit each evening.

Kissimmee, known for its diverse culinary scene and vibrant entertainment, has much to offer those looking for “Dry-Tripping” deals.

International Drive is a hub for tempting selections. Café Tu Tu Tango serves non-spirited frescos, tango mango teas, and the refreshing Lichenstein Lemonade. Fogo de Chao offers options like the Clean Cucumber Martini and the Brazilian Limonada.

Off Highway 192, Salt & Cellar promises an unparalleled mocktail experience crafted by the cocktail professor, Jarl de Vries.

Every palette will find a drink specially shaken and stirred just for them at Aveline, a mezzanine bar within the Kimpton Shane Hotel in Atlanta, GA.

Baltimore’s vibrant dining scene is buzzing with a burgeoning zero-proof movement, offering exquisite mocktails that entice your taste buds without the alcohol. They are also home to the Hopscotch Bottle Shop, the first non-alcoholic bottle shop in the state. It is a retail destination and a community hub for tastings, classes, and events educating those who are sober-curious or “sober-serious,” about an alcohol-free lifestyle.

Whether you’re embracing a teetotaler lifestyle or simply eager to explore the world of exciting zero-proof beverages, Greater Fort Lauderdale has you covered. Various restaurants and bars offer “Dry” options, creating a Mocktail Heaven.

I visited and enjoyed a restaurant, Casa Sensei, on Los Olas Boulevard, which offers waterfront dining with fruity mocktails like Tropical Fusion and Casa Sunrise.

Philadelphia also embraces the “Dry Culture” trend with restaurants like Bolo, offering mocktails to full-fledged dry bars like The Volstead. They also have a growing community centered around booze-free living evident in a surge of events like the recent Dry Vibes sober festival at Location 215.

As someone who enjoys “Mocktails,” it is great to know that adult and elevated beverages can still be delicious and accessible for everyone.

The Vinoy Resort and Golf Club, located in the heart of Downtown St. Petersburg, has four restaurants serving non-alcoholic beverages and elevated mocktails throughout the resort.

Shown: Crimson Zest

Photo submitted by The Vinoy Resort & Golf Club