It’s no secret that the past year and a half has shifted our daily lives. With the transition of office workspaces shifting to fully remote working, there have certainly been pros and cons of the change. The lack of coworker camaraderie is surely a bummer, but the freedom to adjust your workflow with all of the amenities of your own home has really opened people’s eyes to the joys of working remotely. So much so, that some companies are now going fully remote - and some employees are even leaving jobs that are starting to require in-office attendance. 

If you’re one of the lucky ones who gets to operate within their own home office, the world is truly your oyster. It’s caused a lot of folks to even pack up and move to new cities and states where they can thrive working from home, and also get out and explore places they’ve never seen before. If this sounds like you, but you aren’t sure where in the U.S. is a good fit for you, look no further. We’ll tell you about some of the best places to work remotely across the U.S. that are filled with rich culture and sprawling natural wonderlands.

North East: North Conway, NH

Noted as one of the most livable hiking towns, in the middle of New Hampshire’s White Mountains is North Conway - a small (ish) town with a humble population of 2,300 residents. It boasts over 700,000 acres of protected natural forest that’s open to the public year round. Right in your backyard, it’s got nearly 70 miles of local trails with almost 40 different options to choose from. 

It’s a charming, quaint little town that has the fixings of things you like about bustling downtown epicenters, but on a smaller scale. The best part? There’s no shortage of places to paddle that are a short drive away. Some noteworthy spots include: Echo Lake State Park, White Lake State Park, Jericho Mountain State Park and Ellacoya State Park. 

South East: Asheville, NC

Not only is Asheville a busy metropolis, but it’s deemed one of the best places to live if you fancy all things outdoors. It’s the perfect mix for those who want to embrace the outdoor lifestyle while getting the booming city experience. Between the Pisgah and Nantahala National State Parks, as well as Great Smoky Mountains National Park, you’ve got 3,000 miles and winding singletrack trails. Not to mention the iconic Blue Ridge Mountains!

With the large population, you’re also sure to meet plenty of like-minded folks who know their way around like the back of their hand. Did we mention there’s no shortage of breweries? Yep, Asheville has more breweries per capita than any other place in the country. There’s also no shortage of places to paddle: French Broad River, the Green River, Lake Julian, Lake Lure, Lake James and Lake Fontana are just a handful.

Midwest: Dayton, OH

To many, Dayton is coined as the Outdoor adventure capital of the midwest. With the decline and shutdown of their General Motors facility and the local economy scrambling to recover, the city saw this as a perfect opportunity to rebrand itself. Now, it boasts over 50 local trails spanning over 60 miles - and hundreds more nearby. The city’s rebirth as an outdoor oasis can be attributed to the stunning sights and natural beauty of the area, with breathtaking hikes, trails and endless waterways ripe for exploration. 

If you’re a bicyclist, then you’ll be in heaven, as it’s been designated as a Bicycle-Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists. Featuring 30 miles of city trails that connect to over 300 bike lanes and paths, you’ll always have a new route to explore. 

Paddling highlights in the area include: Mad River, Great Miami Creek, Eastwood Blue Lake and Eastwood Lagoon. 

South West: Durango, CO

Everyone knows that Colorado is chock full of trails, rivers and mountains galore, and Durango puts you within reach of all this without being mixed into the hyped up Denver area. It has a population of just under 20,000 and about 50 local hikes with over 115 miles of trails just outside the town. 

It’s a perfect town to work remotely if you like having a taste of the town life with the great outdoors in your backyard. In the winter, Purgatory Ski Resort is just outside of town and features night skiing. It’s also a mountain bikers haven, with one of the friendliest biking trail networks in the country - it’s where they even hosted the Mountain Bike World Championship in 1990!

We know you just want to paddle though, so here’s your list of must-hit waters: Animas River, Electra Lake, Twilight Lake and Lake Nighthorse. 

North West: Boise, ID

If you thought we were going to say Seattle or Portland, guess again. Fixed between stunning, iconic mountain ranges and beautiful winding rivers rests Boise, Idaho. While it retains the charm of its reputation as a sleepy western farming community, it’s still a great town with plenty to do. Boasting 157 local area trails, Boise adds up to about 340 of picturesque singletrack trails - and the variety of experiences on all of the different trails is insane.

Biking and pets are allowed on nearly every single trail as well. Pets are guaranteed if you’re on the Ridge 2 Rivers system - a vast expanse of trails suited for a wide range of accessibility, even including some e-Bikes and motorized vehicles! In Winter, Bogus Basin Ski Resort features 10 different lift options with tons of exciting slopes and terrain. 

For all your paddling needs, look to: Quinn’s Pond & Esther Simplot Park, the Boise River, the Payette River, Lake Cascade and Little Payette Lake.

The best part, if you have a K-Pak Folding Kayak you can hop from one to the other without having to leave your boat! It packs into a backpack that is easy to throw into the trunk of your car, or to check at the airport. Happy travelling!