Get Out of Your Hotel Room and Discover Where You Are!   

It dawned on me today that I have officially been a road warrior for ten years. That means that approximately half of my past decade has been spent away from home, not sleeping in my own bed.

Road warriors take on many forms and come from different backgrounds but we share one thing typically, that we are busy. For me, I struggle with a temptation to hibernate in my hotel room with my laptop appropriately on my lap while waiting for room service to bring me things.

This, however, makes for a boring and unhealthy existence. It’s taken me some time figure out the balance between work and pleasure while on a business trip, but ultimately, my passion for supporting local businesses has driven me out of hibernation.

I feel very fortunate that at this point in my life I have seen much of the United States.  In each destination that I’ve visited, I have set a goal for myself to uncover the character of that place — and that task ranges in difficulty, depending on the location. The sad truth is that much of America looks exactly the same with the same, generic, big box stores and restaurants all around. I’ve always been passionate about supporting the local businesses in my own community and it’s been a joy taking this philosophy on the road.

So with that, here are some of my favorites local haunts that I have discovered in my travels….

Fashionista, New Haven, CT: I stumbled across his gem of a place while on a business trip to my home state of Connecticut.  My motivation for the visit was to find some sort of getup to wear for an upcoming work costume party with a Miami Vice theme.  Not only did this vintage shop have everything I needed, but also offered helpful staff who enjoyed accessorizing me. There’s lots to explore here, even if you just pop in for the character and the service.

The Yoga Hive, Pittsburgh PA: One of my favorite things to do while on the road is visit yoga studios. I am somewhat addicted to yoga because it keeps me in check (and helps me to balance out all of the things that I enjoy that are really bad for me!). There’s just something about walking through the streets of Pittsburgh to get here and the teachers are friendly and welcoming. I always leave refreshed and ready to tackle more work when I get back to my hotel room.

Ditch Plains, New York, NY: One of my worst professional days ever was when my computer just died right in the middle of a presentation. (I had gotten cocky and didn’t back up my slides. Result: I was stuck winging it. And that was just the first client visit of my trip.

After an unproductive visit to the Apple Store (and let me tell you, you haven’t lived until you’ve gone to the one in Grand Central), I headed to a bar, Ditch Plains, by myself. This place features excellent cocktails, good food, and a kind and friendly bartender who listened to my sorrows.

Cafe Lemont, State College, PA: Ever since visiting Australia years ago, I am a sucker for good coffee and local coffee shops. I seek these out wherever I go. This one is a bit off the beaten path and features quirky décor, really good coffee, and yummy food. And there is plenty of space, plus they don’t seem to mind you sitting there for an hour or two mooching their wi-fi! And the best part is that they use real dishes and cups, so yay for rejecting our disposable society!

So there you have it. Those are my just a few of my favorite places that helped me to see the character in the places that I visit.  But before I wrap-up, I’d like to mention some of the best places near my home in Massachusetts that keep me happy and healthy and show the great character of my community.

• • • Angel’s Cafe:  My morning coffee stop with friendly baristas who know my name and what I drink. Simply the best coffee that the area has to offer, served with style.
    • Bikram Yoga Natick:  There is nothing quite like a Bikram class (yoga conducted at high temperatures). While controversial due to the founder of the method, I simply have not found anything that makes me feel better than getting in there and sweating it all out. This studio has the kindest owners and a strong sense of community that keeps me coming back. The yoga itself helps me recover from time on the road and stay balanced.
    • Absolute Yoga: Because a girl can’t live on Bikram alone. This is my weekend stop for a more traditional class that puts me in a good frame of mind for Saturday chores. There is absolutely no pretense at the studio, just good teachers and good classes.
    • Water Fresh Farm:  This is my source for good local foods that nourish my body, which is key to balance out the junk that I sometimes indulge in while traveling. I discovered the joy of shopping here after our local independent grocery store was pushed out of business by a large chain. Now I do almost all of my shopping here with a philosophy of “If they don’t have it, I probably don’t need it.”