When Charles Dickens brought to life his now (in)famous Scrooge, he undoubtedly created the holiday season’s original buzzkill. But, in his defense, the old man did have to work during Christmas. Nowadays, if you absolutely must log in and put in the work throughout the most wonderful time of the year, there’s no need for a dramatic visit from the three spirits to awaken that warm and fuzzy feeling. In fact, if you happen to be a remote worker, it’s possible that all you need this month is a change of scenery.
Plus, due to the rise of remote and flexible work, we’re now in the best possible position to combine business and leisure and turn the proverbial work/life balance into a reality. Especially during the holiday season, being able to work from anywhere means that you don’t have to stay home alone while family and friends go skiing in Aspen or lay in the sun in Miami Beach.
That said, when it comes to professional endeavors, some places offer better conditions than others. With that in mind, we set out to determine the top holiday destinations across the U.S. that are perfect for remote workers or freelancers who are looking to deck other halls than just the familiar ones at home. Specifically, we looked at key metrics, such as the number of leisure and restaurant establishments in more than 300 cities, as well as the coworking spaces they provide and the price of goods and housing in the area.
So, without further ado, let’s explore the top 15 holiday destinations (plus a festive bonus) that are perfect for working remotely this year.
#1 Fort Lauderdale, FL
Work or no work, it’s hard to be a Grinch in sunny Fort Lauderdale. And, while a white Christmas might be some people’s cup of hot cocoa, basking in the sun in between Zoom meetings is certainly a dream come true for many others. As the undisputed champion of our list, Fort Lauderdale checks the highest number of both leisure and restaurant establishments per 10,000 residents among all of the cities we analyzed. What’s more, remote workers who choose Fort Lauderdale as their holiday destination are sure to enjoy a multitude of fun activities after hours, from multiple Christmas festivals to parties, winter wonderlands, exhibitions, beach celebrations, and the famous Winterfest Boat Parade. (Yes, leave it to Florida to host a festive boat parade).
#2 Greenville, SC
If Hallmark holiday movies are your thing and you’re dreaming of some quality time in a friendly place with small-town vibes, Greenville is the perfect location for you. Bustling with restaurants and leisure establishments, this scenic South Carolina city is the second-best destination in our ranking. While the weather here is quite mild compared to other winter favorites, Greenville still nurtures that holiday spirit through an abundance of festivities: you can go ice skating on Main Street, shop at the winter farmers’ market, or simply enjoy an evening walk among the countless holiday lights displays. There are also a variety of themed parties and shows in Greenville during the winter festivities. Alternatively, remote workers looking to stretch their legs after a day spent in front of their laptops can also take a winter hike near Greenville or even go skiing or snow tubing.
#3 Boca Raton, FL
The perfect family holiday destination, Boca Raton is known for its gorgeous beaches, countless golf courses, and many restaurants and entertainment centers. This Florida gem also has a high number of leisure establishments per 10,000 residents, including art, entertainment and recreation centers. Along with the many options in terms of restaurants, that places it in the third position among the best holiday destinations. Not only that, but remote workers who decide to exchange the cold for sandy beaches can also benefit from one of the highest numbers of coworking spaces on our list: Boca Raton has more flexible workspaces than the average among the top 15 cities. Therefore, as a remote worker here, you can always book a professional workspace or desk to ensure that you do your best during working hours. Then, you can truly enjoy the most wonderful time of the year during your time off.
#4 Miami, FL
A favorite among spring breakers, Miami can do winter just right, too. Unsurprisingly, Miami scores high when it comes to restaurants and bars, as well as entertainment, arts and recreation establishments. At the same time, the city is also known for its flourishing business scene, so coworking spaces are also a part of Miami’s offerings to remote workers. While the winter holidays in Miami can be anything but traditional, there are plenty of exciting activities to enjoy during this time of year. For example, there’s a holiday tree lighting at Bayfront Park; Santa’s Drive-Thru Village; or Santa’s Enchanted Forest, which also happens to be the world’s largest holiday theme park.
#5 Atlanta, GA
Despite not scoring nearly as high as the previous holiday destinations in terms of restaurants and entertainment, Atlanta takes the #5 position due to the value brought about by its coworking spaces. Here, remote workers visiting during the holidays can benefit from more flexible workspaces than Fort Lauderdale, Miami or Greenville. That may be especially important when it’s too distracting to work next to friends or family. What’s more, Atlanta is the perfect spot for anyone looking to enjoy the season without freezing in a big city environment that literally shines: Atlanta’s Botanical Garden Lights are one of the most popular attractions during winter, in addition to its ice-skating rinks and German Christmas market.
#6 Orlando, FL
Not straying away from Florida for too long, Orlando marks the Sunshine State’s fourth entry on our list. This is primarily due to its high scores for restaurants and their generous distribution per capita. And, while you’re sure to enjoy delicious food and drinks at any given time in Orlando, the city is also a great holiday destination for remote workers who are looking to balance out Zoom meetings with a fun afternoon at a world-famous theme park. As a matter of fact, during the winter season, the “theme park capital of the world” ensures the best weather for staying active, even while working. Meanwhile, the city also claimed the best score in terms of prices among the destinations in our ranking. That means that goods, housing and rent here are more reasonably priced than they are in other areas.
#7 Wilmington, DE
Moving north, remote workers who are dreaming of a white Christmas could give the cozy city of Wilmington a chance. Its urban-suburban mixed feel means that the holidays here check off the best of both worlds: you get small-town vibes, but also big-city amenities and activities. Perhaps surprisingly, Wilmington ranks third in terms of leisure establishments among the top 15 cities in our top. As such, arts, recreation and entertainment centers — as well as spas — are widely available here. Clearly, remote workers who choose Wilmington this holiday season can surely find the right place to relax after a hard day’s work. That said, they can also enjoy one of the many winter festivities that take place here, from lighting festivals to holiday parades and even a Fire & Ice festival on the beach.
#8 Santa Monica, CA
The famous Santa Monica pier may not be the first place that comes to mind when thinking of the winter holidays, but it certainly is a good destination for those looking to hide from the cold — and also get some work done in between festivities. Here, you can literally go ice skating under the palm trees. Plus, you don’t have to break the bank to have a good time, as the pier guarantees many free entertainment options. Best of all, remote workers who need to work late hours can still enjoy the best of what Santa Monica has to offer, as the rides are open late during the winter break.
#9 Newport Beach, CA
Christmas boat parades are not exclusive to Florida: in Newport Beach, this tradition celebrates its 114th anniversary this winter and is officially considered the event of the season. Aside from that, shutting down your laptop and immediately finding yourself on a luxurious sandy beach, with swimming, surfing and many other exciting activities at your disposal — now that might be a Christmas wish come true for many. Granted, Newport Beach’s status as the home of some of the richest neighborhoods in Southern California is also reflected in the prices here. Fortunately, remote workers can find a healthy supply of coworking spaces in the event that they need to work in an organized and professional environment during their time away from home.
#10 Miami Beach, FL
With a lot in common with Miami (but a different location in and of itself), Miami Beach is yet another slice of paradise for fans of a slightly less traditional Christmas. Despite its higher prices in terms of goods and housing, the city scores high in our ranking due to its large number of restaurants, bars and other food service options that cater to the high influx of travelers in this area. And, with its unique architectural style, fine dining and vibrant nightlife, Miami Beach is sure to offer plenty of entertainment options for after-work hours. Finally, although the city has a lower-than-average share of coworking spaces, remote workers are likely to find a comfortable spot in the sunny outdoors to set up shop.
#11 Fort Myers, FL
Also boasting a large number of delicious restaurants and exciting bars while benefiting from more affordable prices than other Florida hotspots, Fort Myers is a perfect holiday destination for beach-lovers. But, it’s also a gateway to a stretch of islands that guarantee plenty of fun activities, even in the midst of winter. Here again, in true Florida fashion, the city organizes a beach Christmas boat parade during the holiday season. However, there are many other activities to enjoy here after work hours, from concerts to Christmas auctions, holiday-themed trivia nights, parties and even a Murder Mystery Dinner Train.
#12 West Palm Beach, FL
Known for being a winter playground for the wealthy, West Palm Beach is the place to be this season if you not only want to escape the cold, but also to relish some of Florida’s best entertainment, cultural attractions, nightlife and even fishing. Of course, the overall prices and the cost of living are slightly higher here than they are in other holiday destinations. Even so, remote workers in West Palm Beach can benefit from one of the modern and comfortable coworking spaces that the city has to offer, in addition to enjoying the diverse number of restaurants.
#13 St. Louis, MO
Judy Garland sure knew a thing or two about why meeting in St. Louis during the winter is a great idea, and the city’s spot in our ranking only proves that. Though not exactly on the affordable side, St. Louis makes up for it through a high number of restaurants and bars per 10,000 residents, which is the main factor that pushes the city up in our ranking. So, if you choose to work from “the Gateway to the West” this holiday season, know that you can spend your free time enjoying the city’s Winterfest, the festival of lights and various festive performances for both kids and adults.
#14 Boulder, CO
Also making its way into the top holiday destinations for remote workers (mostly due to its world-renowned restaurants and their wide availability), Boulder is the ideal spot for active, outdoorsy workers. Situated at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, Boulder is an established destination for all things winter — from hiking to skiing, snowboarding, sledding and everything in between. With such a perfect setting for this time of year, spending the holidays here guarantees a jolly good time for the entire family. That’s especially true if you decide to take a break in between meetings to enjoy the Christmas lights in downtown Boulder or those on its famous Pearl Street.
#15 Asheville, NC
Coworking spaces might be a little tight here as the city only has 0.5 flexible workspaces per 10,000 residents. That said, if you find a comfortable and quiet place to log those work hours, Asheville has a lot to offer in terms of entertainment and leisure. To that end, this holiday hotspot with a small-town feel, natural wonders and great food could be exactly what you’re looking for if you want to unwind this season. Plus, because it’s protected by surrounding mountains, winters in Asheville are actually quite mild. As a result, outdoor activities — like hiking, skiing or watching the light displays around town — won’t leave you freezing.
Holiday Bonus!
#16 Salt Lake City, UT
It might be easy to exchange regular snow for warm, sandy beaches, but the “greatest snow on Earth”? That’s an offer that few can refuse, and Salt Lake City has the ideal conditions for all winter sports and activities. Residents and tourists here can enjoy the picture-perfect Wasatch Mountain backdrop and all of the exciting pastimes that this area offers, like skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing and more. While coworking spaces in this area are still rather sparse (only 0.6 per capita), remote workers can opt to work from one of the many restaurants, bars, or coffee shops and stay warm before or after an exciting day outside.
Methodology:
- To compile this study, we used data from U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis and CommercialEdge.
- The cities in our ranking have a population of over 70,000 residents.
- Leasure venues include: performing art companies, spectator sports, museums, historical sites, amusement parks and arcades, other recreation industries, other personal care services such as spas
- The numbers regarding restaurant establishments per 10k residents encompass food services and bars with alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
- We included the number of coworking spaces per capita, to determine the availability of flexible workspaces among residents and tourists.
- The regional price parity (RPP) is expressed as a percentage of the overall national price level. All items RPPs cover all consumption goods and services, including housing rents. Areas with high/low RPPs typically correspond to areas with high/low price levels for rent.
