10 Best Places for Staycations & Workations

People have been blending work and play for years, but the rise of digital workers and a remote workforce has made it more accessible than ever. Studies show that 99% of workers want remote work and travel programs flexibility. In addition, recent surveys found that 67% of Americans took a workation to recharge their mental and emotional batteries, and 94% plan to go again.

You're likely to be embraced by the digital workation and traveling community, visiting some of the best places to work and play. Here are some things to consider and the best places for staycations and workations.

What is a Staycation?

A staycation offers a vacation state of mind without leaving your home city. Some people choose to get a luxury hotel or Airbnb in a trendy neighborhood to make the most of their staycation. However, most staycations are focused on participating in leisure areas you've never done much of before.

What is a Workation?

If you're dying to get out of town but can't take time off of work, a workation may be the ideal setup for you. A workation is the art of blending a vacation and work simultaneously. The setup can be a win for digital workers who have the flexibility to enjoy a new area, get work done during the day, and explore their destination after hours or over the weekend.

Things to Consider on Workations

Before you pack up for a workation, consider a few things to make your experience seamless.

Wi-Fi Connection

Without a reliable Wi-Fi connection, you can't get work done. Check your accommodations to ensure you have a Wi-Fi connection at your short-term rental or hotel. Have a few back-ups, like a coffee shop or library with free wireless.

Time Zones

The timezone of your workation destination and your clients' time zones are important to consider when choosing your destination. For example, if all of your clients are on the East coast, a trip to Hawaii will require some flexibility. They stay on standard time all year. So, if it's April and you sprung forward, you'll need to adjust your work schedule.

Work Setup

Some digital workers can settle anywhere there's a flat surface to work. Whether they're in a pool chair or floor, they're good to go. Other people need more privacy, quietness, and a more professional work setup to focus. Neither option is better; it's just a personal preference.

If your accommodations don't have a viable work setup, look around your destination for coworking spaces or coffee shops that are digital worker-friendly. Upgrading your accommodations to include a small office space or workstation may also be worth the expense.

Budget

Your workation requires creative budgeting to balance work and fun. Accommodations will eat up most of your budget, so consider staying on the outskirts of town. However, there are usually tons of free attractions, events, and outdoor spots to enjoy for free or at a low cost. Cooking in a short-term rental or temporary sublet can also help reduce expenses.

10 Best Places for Staycations & Workations

Now that you know what to consider, it's time to choose the best places for your staycation and workation experience.

1. Miami, FL

• Population: 442,241
• Median 2-Bedroom Apartment Rent: $2,140
• Median Household Income: $44,268
• Walk Score: 77
• Transit Score: 57
• Bike Score: 64

Miami, Florida workations blend beachfront living with great food and culture. You can take your laptop to work in a coffee shop like Bebitos, Grown, or Pasion del Cielo. There's also a Miami WeWork space if you need dedicated desk space.

In the afternoons, hit South Beach to join locals and tourists. The pedestrian-friendly Lincoln Road Mall offers around 200 restaurants, cafes, and art galleries for shopping. Miami's nightlife is thriving with clubs like E11even. Cocktails are around every corner at stops like Sweet Liberty Drinks.

Miami is a short drive to the Everglades National Park and a day trip to Key West to get off the screen and outdoors. Miami also has its share of neighborhoods worthy of a sightseeing adventure. Try Bayfront Park or Little Havana.

2. Sonoma, CA

• Population: 488,86
• Median Household Income: $86,173
• Walk Score: 93
• Transit Score: n/a
• Bike Score: 67

Wine lovers need to workation in Sonoma, California, and savor the most significant wine producers in Northern California. You'll find wireless at most casual eateries, like Starbucks and Duch Bros Coffee. The library also has WiFi hotspots, including outdoor access.

A workation in Sonoma is all about the wine tastings at hotspots, including Donum Estate and Gundlach Bundschu. However, some areas, like the Sonoma Valley, offer hiking trails, paddle boarding, and kayaking. Sonoma Coast State Beach is also a must-see with rocky bluffs and sandy beaches. Fort Ross State Historic Park features the remains of a former imperial Russian settlement and fur trading outpost.

While you can certainly continue sipping wine into the night, Sonoma is also home to dive bars, live music, and nightlife. Locals Tasting Room and Crooked Goat Brewing are a few places to meet up with other workation crowds or digital nomads passing through.

3. Austin, TX

• Population: 961,855
• Median 2-Bedroom Apartment Rent: $1,860
• Median Household Income: $75,752
• Walk Score: 42
• Transit Score: 35
• Bike Score: 54

Austin, Texas, is rapidly evolving into a playground for digital workers, nomadic travelers, and workation enthusiasts. There's always a coffee shop to work from, including Summer Moon Coffee and the trendy Mañana. Or you can check out the rates at WeWork or Vuka for coworking space in the heart of Austin.

After work, hit the Bullock Texas State History Museum or Austin Aquarium. Austin offers everything from vintage clothes to rare vinyl at SOCO (South Congress Avenue) and the 2nd Street District for shopping.

Austin is known for its fitness-focused community with bike trails, yoga and climbing gyms, nearby hiking, and the spring-fed Barton Springs and Deep Eddy Pools. After wrapping up your work, bike through Lady Bird Lake and Bike Trail or explore the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

Join the crowds of locals and tourists at Congress Bridge to see resident bats in the evening before heading out to The Continental for live music. Cheer Up Charlies is the go-to for the LGBTAQ+ community, and Antone's is the home of musical legends.

4. Scottsdale, AZ

• Population: 241,361
• Median 2-Bedroom Apartment Rent: $2,040
• Median Household Income: $91,042
• Walk Score: 32
• Transit Score: 23
• Bike Score: 56

Scottsdale, Arizona, is welcoming to digital nomads and anyone on a workation looking to make the most of the city. Settle into work at Schmooze Workspace and Cafe, Berdenas, or Cartel Coffee Lab. Workuity also offers options to settle in for a few weeks or months.

Arizona is all about the great outdoors, and Scottsdale is home to the 3,169-elevated Pinnacle Peak and McDowell Sonoran Preserve with 30,000 acres of desert beauty. Be a tourist for a day at stops like Taliesin West, a living exhibit, or McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park. Or learn more about the legendary Lewis and Clark and their expeditions through the West.

For an evening pub crawl, Old Town Scottsdale caters to tourists and 20-somethings looking to blow off steam after work. Citizen Public House or Rusty Spur Saloon to meet the locals.

5. Charleston, SC

• Population: 150,227
• Median 2-Bedroom Apartment Rent: $1,700
• Median Household Income: $72,071
• Walk Score: 40
• Transit Score: 24
• Bike Score: 50

Charleston, South Carolina, is home to stunning southern mansions, tree-lined streets, charming locals, and incredible food. You're also along the coastline and never far from a beach for after-work relaxation. Boot up your laptop from the Orange Spot Coffeehouse, Harbinger Cafe and Bakery, or Muddy Waters Coffee Bar. Longer-term coworking spaces include The Exchange and Office Evolution.

Charleston is known for its food and hospitality. The iconic Bertha's Restaurant has incredible soul food, and Rodney Scott's BBQ serves smoky pulled pork and ribeye sandwiches. Jackrabbit Filly serves options like fried rice with ham and pineapple for Japanese comfort food with an American twist.

Try Handcraft Kitchen & Cocktails or Bourbon N' Bubbles for cocktails or hit The Tattooed Moose for inexpensive beers and duck fat fries.

It's easy to find things to do outdoors in Charleston. Kayaking, paddling, biking, birding, and tennis are available in town and nearby Seabrook Island. You can also go paddleboarding in the wetlands to look for dolphins and herons.

6. San Diego, CA

• Population: 1,386,932
• Median 2-Bedroom Apartment Rent: $2,520
• Median Household Income: $83,454
• Walk Score: 53
• Transit Score: 37
• Bike Score: 43

San Diego, California, is attractive to remote workers for its beaches and urban amenities. For a quick wireless stop, Lestat's Coffee House is open 24-hours. The city is also a hotspot for digital nomads working in spots like WeWork and Downtown Works. If you're staying in San Diego for a while, you're less than an hour's drive from Tijuana, where you can find great tequila and racetracks.

Torrey Pines State Nature Reserve offers sparkling ocean views and sand-wind formations during downtime. You can get outdoors and shop at the same time at stops like the Gaslamp Quarter and Headquarters at Seaport Village.

To meet other workation visitors, you'll need to pad your budget to dive into the bar and restaurant scene. Captain Keno offers cheap eats and drinks and meets the local barflies. Or play pinball and enjoy a draft beer or tiki-inspired cocktails at High Dive Bar and Grill.

7. Maui, HI

• Population: 164,754
• Median Household Income: $84,363
• Walk Score: n/a
• Transit Score: n/a
• Bike Score: 6

Maui, Hawaii, is an attractive place for workation enthusiasts and remote workers looking for a paradise location. Hotels also lure digital workers with packages for work and play featuring rooftop workspace. Free WiFi can also be found at local coffee shops, including Coffee Attic and Sip Me. Or you can join the local Cohana coworking space.

Of course, people head to Maui for the beach and views. You can hike to a volcanic crater, hike the Waihee Ridge Trail, and watch the sunrise at Haleakala. There are plenty of beaches to fill up your time on your workation, like Olowalu, Hamoa Beach, and Wai'anapanapa State Park.

Maui doesn't have an expansive nightlife scene, but there are options like The Dirty Monkey in Lahaina and "Aloha Friday" for historic small town parties. For bar hopping and dancing, Paia town and Mauis' North Shore throw happy hours every day of the week.

8. Palm Springs, CA

• Population: 44,575
• Median 2-Bedroom Apartment Rent: $2,051
• Median Household Income: $57,916
• Walk Score: 59
• Transit Score: 38
• Bike Score: 56

Take a workation in Palm Springs, California, for a resort-like setting. The scenery and access to desert wildlife offer a unique experience where lizards are your coworkers. Work from cafes like Koffi in Palm Springs, Ernest Coffee, or Cartel Coffee Lab. The Hive Coworking is a popular spot for people on a workation or digital nomads for a dedicated workspace.

Get your work done early to enjoy the beauty of Palm Springs. There's always a place to hike or mountain bike, including Indian Canyons, San Jacinto Mountain, or the Coachella Valley Preserve. During Coachella, you can make the 35-minute drive from Palm Springs for live music and art.

When the sun sets, soak up the funky decor of blowfish light fixtures and velvet paintings from Bootlegger tiki. Cocktails are the main draw with daily happy hours. The Tonga Hut features bowl drinks and island-inspired favorites with replicas of wood carvings and Polynesian art. Or enjoy urban and mountain views at High Bar, the valley's only rooftop pool bar.

9. Sarasota, FL

• Population: 54,842
• Median 2-Bedroom Apartment Rent: $2,180
• Median Household Income: $56,093
• Walk Score: 52
• Transit Score: 32
• Bike Score: 60

Sarasota, Florida, is so friendly to digital workers and nomads that the city’s CoCoHub has thousands of digital nomad and remote work members. The community for digital workers helps you connect with others, network, mingle, and have fun. In addition, you can work remotely from spots like Buddy Brew Coffee or Clever Cup Coffee Shop.

Beyond the beach, Sarasota offers shopping, culture, and world-class attractions with waterfront views. The city is renowned for its outdoor shopping at stops like St. Armands Circle and Gulf Gate. Or you can explore the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art complex that features the State Art Museum of Florida, Circus Museum, Ca' d'Zan mansion, and Bayfront Gardens.

Get outdoors and see more of the greater Sarasota area and its natural wonders. Camp, hike, and horseback ride at Myakka River State Park, or enjoy the flowers at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens. Nearby Siesta Beach, and Lido Beach Park, are perfect for beach dwellers and anyone looking to shell, swim, and meet the locals.

10. Portland, OR

• Population: 652,503
• Median 2-Bedroom Apartment Rent: $1,410
• Median Household Income: $73,159
• Walk Score: 81
• Transit Score: 80
• Bike Score: 92

Portland, Oregon, has a growing remote workforce and newcomers who pack up and move to this Pacific Northwest gem. The city welcomes digital workers with free WiFi at Bipartisan Cafe, Coffee Time Portland, and Sisters Coffee Company. Heart. Multnomah County Library has plenty of private nooks and crannies with free WiFi. Check out Collective Agency for coworking space if you're staying for a while.

Portland is bike-friendly and highly walkable with robust public transportation. After work, head out to the International Rose Test Garden, Portland Japanese Garden, or bike through the city to stop by the boutiques, book shops, and funky galleries. You can find shopping around Washington Square Mall, Bridgeport Village, Multnomah Village, Alberta Arts District, and the Hawthorne District.

You're never far from microbrews or bespoke cocktails in Portland. Meet up with your new workation friends at Bit House Saloon and choose from a long old-fashioned list.

Multnomah Whiskey Library has the most varied selection of whiskeys in the state, from vintage scotches to Japanese brands. Try Perch Bar & Grill or Joe's Cellar, a quintessential dive bar for cheap drinks and chats with the locals.

Portland is also known for its great outdoors with access to Mount Hood, the stunning Columbia River Gorge, and the Oregon Coast. Or you can stay in the city and kayak the Willamette River through the downtown area. In addition, the 5,200-acre Forest Park offers 80 miles of trails and over two dozen trailheads.

Final Thoughts

A workation or staycation keeps you travel-inspired without the need to take time off work or spend a fortune. Need a short-term rental to turn your workation into a reality? Sign-up with Apartment List to find your next place to stay.