Amazing Places to Work Remotely in Maryland

Recently, my husband Joe and I both changed jobs, enabling us to work from home full-time. This arrangement has afforded us both much-needed work-life balance. We see each other more often, and our dogs love the extra attention.

But there are still days when I get tired of my office, and I am already scouting places we can go for a work/vacation combo. Here are a handful of amazing places to work remotely in Maryland.

The Mountains

After our visit to Deep Creek Lake a few summers ago, I have been looking for the opportunity to return. A prime vacation spot surrounded by gorgeous lake and mountain scenery, Deep Creek would also be a peaceful place to log some online hours. Plus, once your working day is done, you can hit the slopes or have a sail, depending on the season.

Wisp Resort would make a perfect home base, where you can work either from your room or in one of their many cafes. Or you could select an Airbnb in the area — a good solution for people whose families will be joining them on their work-cation. Two very unique rentals in Deep Creek are this ski cabin, where you can fish from their trout brook, bird watch, or star gaze once you’ve logged off for the day, and this chalet, where your down-time activities can include playing pool, soaking in the hot tub, and marveling at the lake view.

Coffee shops are always popular spots to check email, and Deep Creek’s Traders Coffee House offers both indoor and outdoor seating, along with free wifi and delicious brew. If you need quiet to take a phone call, the Oakland Library is a short drive from the lake area and has meeting rooms you can schedule ahead of time. 

For a bite and a beer, check out either Mountain State Brewing Company (opens at noon seven days a week) or The Vagabond Taproom (opens at 11 every day except Sunday and Monday). Both offer craft beverages, tasty meals, and free wifi, so you can fill your stomach while writing your report. But these spots will also feature music that could be distracting, so plan accordingly.

The City

Baltimore is a remote worker’s dream. With thousands of businesses in town and a rising percentage of employees who can work remotely at least part of the time, Charm City is overflowing with places to plug in and log a few hours of work. 

If you aren’t a local, you’ll need a place to stay, which can double as your office. The options are limitless: a Four Diamond hotel with luxury amenities to pamper you, a historic 1840s rowhouse in hip Fell’s Point with a courtyard for outdoor work, a luxury loft with skyline views from the rooftop pool, or how about a houseboat?

The city is full of coworking spaces, where you can pay by the day or become a member. The vibe of each space is different, with some, like Impact Hub Baltimore, feeling industrial,  while others, like Co-Balt Workspace and Spark Coworking Baltimore, are more homey. With coffee shops on nearly every corner, you can pick your neighborhood and have a hook-up for both your computer and your caffeine addiction.

If an inspiring environment is a high priority, try the George Peabody Library, which is open to the public and free for everyone. With its five tiers of ornamental cast-iron balconies and soaring dramatic skylights, it may end up being the most beautiful place you’ve ever worked.

However, the Baltimore Museum of Art begs to differ. This museum offers free admission, and both its Sculpture Gardens and its in-house restaurant, Gertrude’s Chesapeake Kitchen, are popular remote work spots. When you need a break from the screen, wander through the galleries and enjoy artwork by the masters. The nearby Walters Art Museum also offers free admission, free wifi, and a delightful coffee shop if you need a quiet space to prep for your next meeting.

The Beach

Waves crashing, gulls calling, the smell of Thrasher’s French fries…. A vacation to Ocean City is a must for nearly every Marylander. But what if you wanted to work downy oshun? (That’s “down at the ocean” for the uninitiated.) No problem.

Your first remote office option is, once again, your overnight accommodations, whether it’s a hotel, a rental, or your best friend’s condo. If you have to spend your time working instead of surfing, I recommend an ocean-view balcony so you can at least enjoy the view. But I advocate you consider working from your beach chair, because why was a cellular hotspot even invented if not for working on the beach?!

Coffee shop options include The Muze Café, which has shaded outdoor seating and out-of-this-world crepes, and the Coffee Beanery and Rise Up Coffee, both with indoor seating, pastries, fresh fruit, and breakfast sandwiches. 

Because Ocean City is a town focused on family fun, it is something of a challenge to find quiet spots. The Ocean City branch of the Worcester County Library may be your best bet, as it seems the coworking-space movement hasn’t made it to the beach just yet. Hotel lobbies are also a good place to settle down with your laptop, as long as you aren’t bothered by the noise of people coming and going.

Try the Princess Royale Oceanfront Resort, the Holiday Inn and Suites, or the Hilton Ocean City Oceanfront Suites.

The Bay

Maryland has thousands of miles of shoreline along the Chesapeake Bay, so spending time on the Bay first involves a decision on where, exactly, you want to go. On my bucket list is a trip to Cambridge and St. Michael’s, only about 30 minutes from each other. I’m eyeing a stay at one of St. Michael’s charming B&Bs or at the Inn at Perry Cabin, where I can work from an Adirondack Chair perched on the shore of the Miles River. 

Blue Heron Coffee and Eat Sprout St. Michaels are both small eateries where you can hunker down and focus on your to-do list with sides of food and coffee. If it is the other kind of brew you are craving, try Eastern Shore Brewing, open Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays beginning at noon. 

You could also head to St. Michael’s Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, where you can settle in on the veranda or at a picnic bench under the lighthouse. You’ll have to pay the museum’s $17 admission fee, but you will gain access to their exhibits, their wifi, and a scenic spot to work. Sounds like a deal to me!

If you find yourself in Cambridge, check out Black Water Breakfast & Bakery, Bay Country Bakery, or RAR Brewing, where you can work with a beverage in hand. 

Cambridge also has two coworking spaces you could use: Harbor ShareSpace and the Eastern Shore Innovation Center. These are both great options if you need a quiet spot for that board video conference.

When quitting time rolls around, both St. Michael’s and Cambridge offer a wealth of fun, too. Be sure to check out the area’s history, soak in natural beauty, get out on the water, and eat your fill of seafood.

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Lead Photo Credit: Hilton Ocean City Oceanfront Suites