Hi all, from sunny and historic Fredericksburg, Virginia! One of the best perks of working from home is that your “office” can be anywhere. When my husband had a conference here, I didn’t hesitate to join him and bring my work along for the trip.

Working and researching on the road takes a bit of planning if you want things to run smoothly. I could have spent the week in our hotel room, but that gets cramped (and a little claustrophobic) pretty quickly. So I started looking at other options. As with any good search, I had clear criteria: a place where I could sit for a while, reliable Wi-Fi, an electrical outlet, and access to a public restroom.

My first search was for a local coffee shop, and I found the wonderful Agora Downtown Coffee Shop. It’s located in a building dating back to 1787, which has served as a private home, blacksmith shop, mercantile, and barber shop over the years. What a place to do genealogy research! Coffee shops are always a solid choice—they typically offer free Wi-Fi, outlets, restrooms, and (of course) good food and coffee.

Since I knew I’d be working into the evening, I also needed locations with extended hours. Libraries are perfect for this and checked all my boxes. I spent a day at the Simpson Library on the University of Mary Washington campus. University and college libraries are especially helpful—they usually have strong Wi-Fi, comfortable seating, and later hours than many public libraries.

And here’s one you might not expect: check the local supermarket. I’m currently working from a Wegman’s café area, which is open from early morning until midnight and meets all my requirements.

Of course, no genealogist would pass up the chance to visit a local FamilySearch Research Center. At these centers, you can access all of the digital FamilySearch records that are normally locked. You’ll know them by this icon:

You may also connect with other genealogists who have valuable knowledge about the area. FamilySearch centers are like clubhouses for genealogists, where everyone speaks your language!

Pro tip: while most centers have a limited number of public computers, you can usually bring your own laptop and connect to their Wi-Fi. That way, you can access the records without taking up one of the shared machines.

Whenever I’m researching away from home, there are a few essentials I always pack: a laptop lock, water bottle, headphones, and notebook. Depending on the venue, I may also pack a few snacks. Genealogy research is always better with a little chocolate.

I also make sure to use a VPN when working online, since most public Wi-Fi networks are not secure. Next week, I’ll go deeper into what a VPN is, how to choose one and when to use it.

What are your favorite spots to research away from home?