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No-alchohol beer – He likes it, he really likes it!

Disclaimer: This is NOT the final answer, but it has become a clear option for IPA consumption for me!  IPAs are my favorite and can have up to 8% alcohol, which can put me in the shitter, quickly!

One of my favorite things to do when traveling is trying the local beer. There are microbreweries in every city, so I can try them during my visits and have done so over the years.  Honestly, I never really considered NA beer until trying them and realizing how good they are and better yet, how they don’t make me feel.  

I get the same feeling of drinking a beer while watching the game, with no hangovers or questionable decisions.  Talk about a win-win-win!

I have tried quite a few NA IPAs, and I will share my thoughts in this post in hopes that you give them a chance.  One of the first IPAs on my market that I remember is Lagunitas.  

These have put me under the table more times than I would like to admit, and I quit drinking them years ago.

It wasn’t hard to dig up an old Lagunitas picture, I did ding all, including my liver (LOL). The Lagunitas India Pale Ale (6.2% alc): 190 calories per 12 fl oz 🤪

The next picture was the first time I tried a similar NA version, and what an amazing surprise.  Here is the description from their website, and you can find more information by clicking here:

“With the rising need for more near-beer, and with Hazys taking over beer fridges, our clever brewers did the math and put the two and two together and gave you .05% and 60 calories. Enter Hazy IPNA, a flavorfully juicy non-alc option that’s packed with passionfruit flavor. It’s bright and hoppy like our IPNA, only this time we went crazy hazy and tropically hoppy. It’s everything you want in a refreshingly satisfying IPA…It has all of the juicy flavor, all of the haze, and none of the compromise.”

 I have tried other brands and find myself at Total Wine package store looking for new ones, Google and here is a “Top 10” and “Top 12” I found to during my research to try to keep this momentum.

The next on my list of favorites is Guinness NA.  I have also had a few of the original, including tasting them right from the Brewery in Dublin, Ireland, where I acquired the unique taste.  This NA tastes almost the same, and it was a staple for me during the Edmonton Oilers’ run during the hockey playoffs in 2025.

The secret to keeping this trend going is finding different flavors in the fridge to avoid a beer run. 

My first serious attempt was spending ~$80, which is basically the same price as regular beer. 😐

The winners in this order were Guinness, which I already mentioned, Partake IPA, Sober Carpenter IPA, Athletic IPA, and then the far right Athletic, which was ok with a lime but watered down version of beer.  It did taste great with Clamato, which was a win to keep around.

This is when I knew I was onto something awesome!  I then started researching the best IPAs and found Go Brewing, and they delivered right to my front door for FREE.  Below is $96 in NA beer with 20% off promo, which worked out to under $2 a beer. They had the best rating on IPAs, but unfortunately, they were not as good as Lagunitas, but glad I ordered them as I now have a legitimate favorite.

I have had some people congratulate me on switching to NA beer, while others ask, “What’s the Point?”.

Well, after taking a break from real beer, here is how it helped me so far:

1. I have been to the gym/spa almost every day for the last two months.

(Steam, sauna, cold plunge, hot tub on repeat for 2-3 hours)

2. I set up my cardio at home and work out every morning before the gym.

3. I have not had a hangover for the last two months.

(I haven’t been back to Mexico since, but I have already packed a NA cooler). 😐

4. The best of all, I feel fantastic, and people are starting to notice my weight loss.

Admittedly, I have always been a fad person my whole life, and this may be no different.

I have lost/gained many times over the years, which is something that does not stick long term.  It has to be a lifestyle change, and a routine takes a lot longer than two months to show 100% commitment. The first thing I mentioned in this blog is that it is not a replacement but an alternative that has been working for me.  

Another good reason is to let you know that I am headed to Mexico soon and Oktoberfest in two months, which will be a good test of this fad.  A German friend told me that they do sell NA beer in Munich and there is a NA tequila that I will take to Mexico in my cooler of hope, but I will have real beer there in moderation.

 Other than Margaritas and the odd Bloody Mary/Caesar, I do not drink alcohol, but you can see that there are NA options, including Ritual and Free Spirits brands.  Ritual is the number 1 seller of “Mocktail” replacements, as they use it in bars, from my understanding. Here is a YouTube video I found, and making a mocktail margarita:

If this is something that has piqued your interest, I found another company that creates fancy Mocktails.  Some are even premade as testers and their website can be found here:

I will update my blog after Mexico and Oktoberfest, as I often do with my blogs.

Here are the NA beers I have tried with links, and I will also continue to update.

Athletic Brewing 

Lagunitas Hazy IPA

Sober Carpenter

Guinness 0.0

Go Brewing

Partake Brewing

Sierra Nevada Brewing

What is your favorite NA feel-good beer so I can add it to my list?

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Hawaiian vibes – I miss you and see you soon!! 🤙🏻

I have been fortunate enough to go to Hawaii several times and live there for four months at the end of 2022 into 2023. I was at the end of my rope with my job and took my show on the road incognito.

I have visited almost every island except Kauai and Molokai.

Each Island had its vibe for me.  Expensive, touristy, inexpensive, better food, and of course, fishing.  I do not need to go back to Maui or Lanai, as there was not much there for me.  Maui is super expensive, and Lanai is a dot on the map that is extinct since they took the Dole farmers market and moved it to Oahu near the North Shore.

My choices come down to two: Oahu, as it is the least expensive, and the local transportation, and Kona for the fishing and friends.  These are the two I spent the most time on, including my incongnito work trips.

Let’s start with my favorite, hands down, Kona!  I was lucky enough to meet first mate Sue my first week there, who introduced me to her fishing crew, and I never looked back.  They were some of the most fun traveling days of my life to date out on that boat catching my dream fish, a 338 Marlin!  The weight changes with each story, as it was such an EPIC day, and the official weight was 334 lbs, and we smoked it at Captain Tom’s.  

It tasted like fishy, spicy jerky, and it was unforgettable, as you can see from my smile while reeling it in that day.

I was also able to find great, inexpensive food and happy hours.  There was the big hotel on Ali Drive where I would crush local IPAs and Kona ahi tuna nachos.  The Kona Brewery, where I could try all of their beers on tap and take a growler home.  Willie’s Chicken Place serves the best chicken tendies (my favorite), and Da Shark Shack is a local dive bar where they’d show Oilers games for me and serve my favorite fish, Ono.  I also take the free trolley around town.

Other than fishing and friends, here are just some of my favorites that keep me coming back to Kona.

No mistakes can be made visiting any of the Hawaiian Islands except saving a few bucks here and there. It all comes down to choice.  I know people who love Maui, too.  The road to Hana is stunning, but it was one and done for me, especially after Lahaina burned down and the politics and conspiracy theories that followed.

The historic town of Lahaina, the former capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii, was damaged beyond recognition in the weeklong series of fires. A community plagued by a housing crisis and power struggles with the tourism industry were among the issues tested in the aftermath of the wildfire.  Oddly enough, Oprah’s properties were untouched by the fires.

The island that fits me best is Oahu.  I have an Airbnb that I have stayed at several times for $35 a night or $1000 a month.  I am able to catch the bus to Waikiki or the North Shore for $2 and find all of the GEMs.

My favorites ways to kill a day are to take the bus to Waikiki or the North shore and wing it. Foodland poke from the deli, Yard house happy hour, and stopping in at the ABC store on the way to the beach with my hammock.  Cost-wise, this plan cannot be beat as a solo traveler, and I plan to keep it in my routine.

I would not be able to keep returning to paradise without cutting a few corners along the way.  

Let me know if you need help saving a buck or two!!

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Solo travel – don’t knock it until you try it!

I rarely had good experiences traveling with other people and, yes, I know that I am the common denominator here.  To make it fair, I am unsure how others managed to travel with them, too!  Perhaps they are accustomed to arguing, which is something I have experienced and still witness frequently.

I was told I needed to change or adapt, or I would travel along forever. Well, looky here, it’s working for me, and you’re probably still arguing over where to go for dinner!

So many people cannot even go out for dinner themselves, let alone visit another Country!  

I learned this skill (yes, I think it is a skill) while traveling for work for many years. If you never went out, you sat in the hotel or apartment every night, which was no fun.  I would even go to the movies myself. 

How cool is it not to have to share the popcorn?  You know you always want the last little bit, so don’t be judging me. 😁

I found an article on Hostelworld.com that inspired me to write about my hostel experiences.  As of this blog, I have stayed in Hostels in Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam, London, Austria, United Arab Emirates, and on my favorite Hawaiian Island, Oahu, in Kona.

The Hostelworld articles dig in a lot deeper; their blogs can be found here: 

Solo Traveller Hostel Blog – Hostelworld Travel Blog

I am just going to use a bunch of their fancy data and compare it to my travels in this blog.

First off, how cool is it that the top solo travel Country is Japan? I have booked a trip there in February 2026 for a month, and then off to South Korea for another month.  I honestly had no idea how popular it was while traveling SE Asia, and I cannot wait!

I have been to ten of the sixteen on the list below! I will knock out four more on my next two trips!

That leaves New Zealand and Iceland at the top of my bucket list according to the experts! 😎

Let’s look at some of the stats of solo travelers from this blog.

I know what you have been thinking since you started reading this blog, and I have been told the same thing. Aren’t you a bit old to be staying in Hostels?  You would be surprised by some of my experiences.

I 100% agree, as I do not want to make anyone feel uncomfortable during their travels.  There are a few personal rules that I try to follow when booking a hostel. First, I will book a studio instead of a dorm, so I have my own space. Secondly, I will only book a dorm room if a studio is not available or the price is just too high for my budget.  A single bunk bed in some Countries can cost over $50, so you can imagine the cost of studios or hotels.

I have also noticed that I am not the only traveler who is older, especially in Europe, where I often see older couples staying in a studio or even a one-bedroom if available.

Another stigma with hostels and travel in general is the general safety and comfort aspects.

I had only had an issue once staying in a hostel, and that was in Orange County California.  I will NEVER again trust a hostel in in California, as it was a BRUTAL experience.  

How many of you can say you also had a brutal stay at a higher-dollar hotel? It happens!

If you’re a solo traveler, I really hope some of this information helps you try it at least once!  I would love to hear from you via the homepage contacts if you need any advice as well.  Make it unforgettable! 🤙🏻

 Some of my worst vacations have been spent with others, while some of the best times of my life have been solo.  

Take it for what you will, but watching people bicker nonstop just does not look fun. I have been there and seen it happen too many times. Imagine getting yelled at like a puppy dog in public! HELL NO!!

There can be a lot of reasons to travel solo, but here are the top three that fall in line with mine:

Hostel travel makes it so much more affordable and easy to meet like-minded people, too!

You’ll save a lot of money on accommodations, and food and drinks will be cheaper. You’ll get all the knowledge needed to plan your days right there.  There are often discounted excursions that can be booked too.