The new buzzword in travel is “workcation” — a new way destinations are suggesting we visit during these pandemic times.
The premise: You’re working from home; your kids may be learning from home as well. Why not take advantage and head to a lovely spot to do your work or school and fit in some play?
This intrigued me. Since late February, I’ve been sleeping, eating, doing laundry, cooking meals — all at my “office.”
While I’m blessed to have a job, this work from home thing has been a bit stifling. So, I thought: Why not try a workcation? I could choose a place relatively close to home (living in Massachusetts means a wealth of destinations are within a quick car ride) and avoid the COVID-19 travel issues.
So I booked in at the famed Chatham Bars Inn (chathambarsinn.com) and, along with my husband, headed to the Cape to put workcations to the test:
Can a trip away that includes your workday be worth it?
I’m sold. Two days in a new, lovely setting — even while working — renewed my spirit, amped up my energy and yes, made my work days a bit brighter.
The Chatham Bars Inn (297 Shore Road, Chatham) is a great choice. Tucked into quaint Chatham, the inn began as a rich man’s hunting lodge just after the turn of the 20th century.
CBI has grown since then, taking over just about all the waterfront properties around it.
We settled into one of those properties, a beachside cottage called “Land’s End,” from which I could gaze out at the beach, the rolling waves in the Atlantic beyond the bay, fishing boats bobbing on moorings and the beauty that is the New England coast.
Our cottage gave us space to spread out. I set up at a table next to a fireplace (and it was a cool enough day to warrant a fire), where I was comfortable, had room for all my work materials and the oceanside sun was beaming in on me.
The inn offered to help me with set up: A printer could be brought to my room if need be, the Wi-Fi is strong and my in-suite Nespresso would keep me fueled.
There’s a funny thing about a “workcation” — what might be considered distractions morph into a reward for a good day’s work.
Work hard enough and earn a beach walk as a break. Dig deep to finish a stressful story and the spa is ready to treat me to a massage, facial and other pampering moments. Have some time to transition between work projects? Carve out break time for a pool dip, tennis game, some golf or to just plain sit on my cottage deck and breathe.
A side note on visiting the Chatham Bars Inn during this pandemic: They’re doing it right. The resort has cut back on the number of guests and creatively rearranged furniture in their many banquet, library and lounge rooms to create social distancing spaces.
At Stars, their lovely bar and dining room, the bar area is famed for mixology. Normally, you belly up to the bar and learn while you sip. Since that’s not doable, now you sit at comfortable couches and tables; and the mixologist rolls a cart up to you and creates concoctions and teaches you about them right there.
With a majority of the inn’s lodging having their own entrances, it’s easy to find your own space. And with their creative dining options, it’s also easy to choose all kinds of different meal settings, all feeling spaced correctly, safe and still lovely.
Although we were expecting to feel alone on the huge property, the place felt very much alive. On a Monday in September, guests were soaking up what Cape locals call “second summer,” that time of year when tourists are gone, and those who live closer to the area arrive to savor these last weeks of semi-warm weather.
I worked all morning Monday and then treated myself to a seaside lunch at the Beach House Grill. Looking out on the sparkling bay as I sipped iced tea and dined on fresh scallops was just the reward I needed to keep going.
Back in my suite, I worked more until I felt I’d earned a break, which included a beach walk and watching some folks play tennis.
The next morning I chose to meander around Chatham a bit. The shopping, lighthouse and beach seals never disappoint me, and since it’s about a two-minute jaunt from the inn, it was easy to fit into my work day. (We drove ourselves, but the inn will take you via Lexus SUVs to wherever you want).
They’ll even pack you a picnic — in a real picnic basket — to enjoy on their beach, outside your room or anywhere in the area you choose to go.
That afternoon I wrapped up two huge work projects. And instead of dreaming of some day going some place special, I just got up from my workcation desk, walked out the door and I was there.
I’ll be doing this again, and you should too. Getting away from your home office — even to another “office” — may be, as it was for me, just the break you need.
"work" - Google News
September 27, 2020 at 04:41PM
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Work meets play at Cape’s Chatham Bars Inn - Boston Herald
"work" - Google News
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