Remote work’s last hurrah
Consider making one of these 6 spots your summer office
Those who’ve been able to work from home over the past year have had to get creative about their workstations, setting up makeshift offices on balconies, couches or even kitchen counters. Some temporarily relocated to new cities and towns early in the pandemic.
But a new convergence of factors in the United States — easier access to vaccinations, loosening domestic restrictions, falling coronavirus cases and good weather — has led to a golden opportunity for those tempted to take their work on the road after a year of staying put.
Whether you hope to try out a new city for a permanent move or just want to take advantage of the last few months outside the office, here are six cities or towns to consider for remote work this summer.
If you like the beach … Honolulu:
Sarah Sheu, 29, a product lead for the travel app Hopper, has been working from her parents’ home in Honolulu since mid-May. At first, she thought the time difference between Hawaii and the East Coast, where many of her colleagues are based, would make it difficult to communicate with them. But it has worked out, she said, and her early start — she logs on around 5:30 a.m. — leaves her afternoons free to explore Honolulu.
On your off time, Sheu recommends bicycling to and around Diamond Head, a state park with a large crater at its center that has well-marked bike lanes and stellar coastal views. You might also go surfing at Waikiki Beach or stand-up paddleboarding at Ala Moana.
If you want to be in wine country … Petaluma, California:
When Joanna Faltys, 31, moved to Petaluma from Boston in 2015, it felt like the perfect compromise between her desire to be in Sonoma County, where she’d grown up, and her husband Brian’s need to be close to the San Francisco Bay for his work in the boating industry.
“It was only once we moved here that we realized what a perfect fit it was for our lifestyle as well,”
said Faltys. “Petaluma really offers everything we love: beautiful scenery, proximity to outdoor activities, great restaurants and coffee shops, and good entertainment options.”
The city also lends itself to remote work, she said, with two centrally located coworking spaces and several coffee shops with Wi-Fi, while offering access to San Francisco, some of the region’s most popular vineyards and its beautiful coast.
If you want a manageable city … Topeka, Kansas:
For a city with a spirit of social justice and an array of cultural offerings, try
Topeka. The city opened Evergy Plaza in 2020, a central hub with free Wi-Fi where people can work or enjoy a monthly concert series, complete with food trucks and pop-up beer gardens.
As home of the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case Brown v. Board of Education, Topeka has a strong undercurrent of social justice, said Bob Ross, a spokesman for Choose Topeka. One of his recommendations for long-term stays is Liberty House, an Airbnb rental which puts profits toward supporting LGBTQ youth in the Midwest.
During their off time, people can explore the North Topeka Arts District, known as NOTO, which was restored in 2008 to include murals, galleries and restaurants housed in historic buildings.
If you’re a foodie … Tucson, Arizona:
Named a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy in 2015 for its heritage foods and dishes that draw from its Mexican and Indigenous history and location in the Sonoran Desert, Tucson is ideal for culinary enthusiasts.
Visitors can explore the city’s Best 23 Miles of Mexican Food, a trail of restaurants and food trucks featuring Mexican cuisine, or local favorites like Barrio Bread, known for its bread made of Sonoran wheat.
If you want a twofer … Bath and Brunswick, Maine:
Bath and Brunswick, neighboring towns along the coast of Maine, are distinct, but their proximity to each other — about 8 miles — by car or a river trail makes it easy to explore both during an extended stay.
Brunswick, the home of Bowdoin College, has a thriving downtown and, before 2020, had a steady stream of international visitors drawn to the college and the town’s rich arts scene. Bath is on the Kennebec River, has lots of green space and is a more community-driven town, according to Nate Wildes, executive director of Live + Work in Maine.
“The culture and the feel together is really well balanced,” he said, though the towns are “very distinct and different.”
If you like nature … Ithaca, New York:
For nature lovers, travel blogger Gerry Isabelle, who asked to be identified by her first and middle name to protect her privacy, recommends this city in the lush region in upstate New York. “There’s a little bit of everything,” she said.
The Finger Lakes, named for its 11 long, narrow lakes, is home to a number of colleges and universities, state parks and wine trails. And Ithaca’s central location at the foot of Cayuga Lake offers easy access to urban amenities as well as many of the region’s towns and attractions.
“You won’t just be working from home,” Isabelle said. “You’d literally be working with views of the lake from your window.”
Watkins Glen State
Park and the Finger Lakes National Forest are within 30 minutes of Ithaca, and Buttermilk Falls State Park’s stunning water falls and trails are only a 10-minute drive away.