How To Stay Sober In A Party Town

Asheville, along with a handful of other cities across the nation, has been nicknamed “Beertown, USA” for the number of breweries they have in the area. As of 2020, the greater Asheville area had a whopping 48 breweries and is now considered a “party town”! Though Asheville has gone from a small, quiet town to a bustling downtown, it is still surprising to learn that 48 breweries call this relatively small area home. 

Once a sleepy mountain town, Asheville, North Carolina is now a rapidly developing city and tourist hotspot. Asheville attracts over 10 million visitors a year, who come from all over to soak in the magic of the Blue Ridge Mountains and to, perhaps, visit some of Asheville’s many breweries. As of 2020, there were an astounding 48 breweries in the greater Asheville area. Asheville’s nickname is “Beertown, USA” for a reason! 

On any given weekend, you can see groups gathering on the patios of breweries downtown or along the French Broad River. In the heart of downtown, you may also catch a glimpse of what appears to be a bar on wheels, being peddled by a group of individuals drinking as they ride down the road. These “cycle bars” have been popular in certain cities. Often, they offer brewery or pub tours around the town. 

So all of this to say– Asheville is a party town. Whether visiting for a few days or living in the area, how does one stay sober in a party town like Asheville? Keep reading to learn more about sober activities in Asheville, and where to get help getting or staying sober if you or a loved one needs it. 

Sober Activities In Asheville

If you are concerned about being bored in Asheville if you don’t drink or do drugs, have no fear— Asheville has so much more to offer than dozens of breweries. The most obvious and most popular offering of Asheville is the abundance of outdoor activities available. 

The mountains around Asheville host thousands of well-maintained, extensive trail systems, which offer a seemingly infinite number of hiking trails! Ranging from easy, to moderate, to difficult and very difficult, there are hikes for every level of experience. You could hike to a waterfall or a summit with sweeping views—or sometimes both in the same hike. There are a number of campgrounds, as well as opportunities for backcountry camping and backpacking all around. 

If you’re here during the summer and are looking to cool off, there are also plenty of swimming holes in the mountains, though be warned: that water is cold. The French Broad River, which flows right through Asheville, is a popular place to spend the day tubing, kayaking, paddle boarding, and more. There are easy-to-locate drop-in and drop-off points, and also plenty of local services to give you a ride. 

Of course, downtown Asheville also has plenty to do besides drink alcohol. There are several locally-owned movie theaters in the area, such as Grail Moviehouse and the Fine Arts Theatre. If you’re a museum lover, check out the Asheville Art Museum, or for an interactive experience, the Asheville Pinball Museum. 

Downtown Asheville is also home to a multitude of award-winning restaurants, delicious coffee shops, locally-owned bookstores, and tons of interesting local boutiques. Market pop-ups happen often in the city squares, offering more opportunities to explore local vendors. There are frequent festivals and live music events in the squares as well, many of which are free of charge. 

The bottom line is: there are tons of activities for people to enjoy while staying sober in Asheville. 

Staying Sober In Asheville 

If you find yourself in Asheville and are wanting to stay sober, but having a hard time, fear not! Though Asheville is a party town, it also has a great and extensive recovery community. There are 12 step meetings, such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous, all times of day and into the night. Meetings are held in all parts of the city, so no matter where you are in Asheville, you won’t be far from finding a group of people who understand your situation.

You can find a list of all the meetings, with addresses and details, online. Asheville also has other recovery meetings, such as Dharma Recovery and SMART Recovery meetings, and the information for these is also available through a quick Google search. And of course, if you have access to the internet, you can join a virtual meeting, anywhere and anytime. 

If you have just moved to Asheville and are wondering how to stay sober, getting connected and involved with a recovery community can be the most important next step you take. These people can help you navigate living in a new place and staying sober, especially if you don’t know anyone yet. Having other people in your life who are sober and you can call if you are struggling, or feeling lonely, is crucial.

As they say, “the opposite of addiction is connection.” Attending recovery meetings is the easiest and quickest way to start making these connections. Asheville also has a number of top-notch treatment centers available for those seeking treatment for their addiction.

If you are in Asheville and are struggling to stay sober, it is also a good idea to avoid going into bars or breweries that might tempt you to pick up a drink. Instead, pick one of the activities listed above. It might also be helpful to reach out to a friend who is sober, to receive support and talk it through. 

If you are in the planning stages of a trip to Asheville and thinking ahead of how to stay sober while there, now is a great time to develop a game plan. You may create itineraries of things to do and see and lists of recovery meetings around the area that you may want to attend. It’s also a good idea to let someone you trust know the situation and set up check in’s or give them a heads up that if you call, you may need support.

Though all the planning in the world may not stop you from craving a drink at some point during your trip, having resources and plans in place to better take care of yourself can make a huge difference— meaning, it may be the difference between thinking about a drink and taking that drink.  

Get Addiction Help In Asheville 

If you are struggling to stay sober in Asheville, North Carolina, we are here at Asheville Recovery Center to help you. At Asheville Recovery Center, we provide individuals with the resources and tools they need to identify the cause of addiction and establish new, healthy behaviors. We believe that anyone can become free from their addictions, even you! To learn more about addiction treatment and how we can help you get and stay sober, call Asheville Recovery Center today. We’re eager to answer any questions you may have.