In the exciting age of innovative technology both within and outside of the workplace, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that more and more employers are beginning to reevaluate what it means to clock in. While the traditional office culture isn’t going anywhere, and no sign of quite so dramatic a change on the horizon, it’s still amazing what a determined mind can do to be productive whether they’re seated at or away from the desk. Networking doesn’t begin and end within office perimeters, after all. The whole point of professional meetings and conferences suggest that casting a wider net of potential connections and perspectives ultimately prove beneficial for any business or organization.
However, there’s another element to the changing attitudes around work culture—the idea that peace and quiet, combined with a change of scenery, can work wonders for productivity. Everyone who has ever worked a traditional 9 to 5 is familiar with the motivational slump that will accompany days upon weeks upon months of the same old routine. Of course, if you like that sort of thing, more power to you—but not everyone feels the same way, and it’s starting to show with the rise of professional trends such as the “workcation,” which means pretty much what you think it does. Instead of putting travel plans on hold, you agree to work remotely during your time away, be it short-term or long-term. Another adjacent term is “bleisure,” made from yet another fun combination of words that diametrically oppose each other: business and leisure.
The terminology may be new, but the phenomenon certainly isn’t. Imagine you are sent out of town for a couple days to attend a work-related function. Provided your schedule isn’t completely inundated with team building or workshops, you may be tempted to utilize the gaps in between sessions to explore your surroundings. You might as well, if you have the time! Or, if the location is an especially exciting one, you may be afforded the option to extend your trip for a day or two just to make the most of it.
While Carson Valley may not leap to the top of anyone’s list of prime destinations for professionals abroad, it is perhaps that very aspect which makes it sort of ingenious. Positioned almost perfectly adjacent to the likes of Lake Tahoe and Carson City, with Reno (not to mention its airport) not far beyond, yet removed enough for an overall feeling of charming tranquility reserved for small towns, the four communities that make up the valley have enough versatility to serve almost all of your bleisurely needs.
Work on the Go
Digital nomads aren’t likely to question their work-from-anywhere set up so long as a couple key provisions are met. Room for their gadgets, adapters, and such. A well-lit, clean and comfortable workspace that has a decent internet connection for peak productivity (and a nice view wouldn’t go amiss).
While the thought of venturing anywhere without excellent wi-fi is nigh unthinkable to the traveling professional, there’s no two ways about it: whether you see it as part of Carson Valley’s appeal or as its Achilles’ heel, the rural expanse of wide open space surrounding its more populous hubs never counted cellular connectivity as its most reliable amenity.
Carson Valley Inn has a dedicated Business Center, and excellent Wi-Fi connectivity throughout the property.
Luckily, there are ample hot spots situated throughout the valley at the local businesses, where the cost of utilizing the available network is usually just a cup of coffee or a snack and a friendly greeting. Coffee shops like DST in Downtown Gardnerville have a warm and welcoming atmosphere conducive to a productive session of remote work (not to mention a fantastic selection of drinks and treats!). The same could be said for Blind Dog Coffee Lab in Minden or Flutter and Buzz in Genoa. Or, if you’re already staying in town, you can rest easy knowing all of the local lodging properties provide free internet access to its guests as a matter of course, with some locations (including Holiday Inn Express in Minden, Carson Valley Inn, and Topaz Lodge) offering dedicated business centers on their properties.
But if for some reason the internet proves unreliable in the middle of a task and you have no choice but to cut your losses and spend the rest of your day on the slopes or on the golf course, who would ever blame you? (For legal reasons, that was a joke).
Well-Equipped Venues
If you’re looking for a place to stage your next professional conference, you’re in luck. It may come as a surprise that Carson Valley has an assortment of potential venues to choose from, depending on just how large your group is.
Town of Genoa has several facilities available to rent for events, including the Town Hall.
A prime example would be the Carson Valley Inn & Casino, which has 5,000 square feet of flexible meeting space and is no stranger to hosting conferences, providing comprehensive amenities from food to lodging. Or there’s the nearby Minden Mercantile Company, as utterly gorgeous inside as it is practical for hosting work events. There are also rentable rooms and facilities available in the Douglas County Community and Senior Center, as well as in the Town of Genoa.
Carson Valley wouldn’t be Carson Valley without its rural charms, and the agricultural roots of the area lend themselves to interesting integration when it comes to corporate events. Historic ranches like Corley Ranch, Jacobs Berry Farm, or Twisting T-Bar Ranch have dedicated event space to host presentations, conferences, company picnics, and demonstrations, expanding on the versatility of a rustic setting. If you’re looking to schedule a small retreat, Sierra Shadows Lavender & Honey Farm has been known to offer a serene backdrop for a variety of teambuilding activities that encourage creativity and relaxation.
All of these options are within an easy driving distance of Carson Valley’s best lodging properties, which serve as the perfect basecamp for exploring the wide and wonderful Reno-Tahoe region.
Refresh and Recharge
We move on to perhaps the best reason to choose Carson Valley as your next work-away-from-work destination: when it’s time for a break, you can truly break. As in, break away to pursue some of the most sought-after outdoor recreational activities in The West.
When you’re not hard at work, be sure to explore some of Carson Valley’s incredible trails.
Whether your perfect afternoon consists of hiking, soaring, fishing, golfing, or skiing, there’s something here for everyone, with the overall climate of the region often creating optimal conditions for seasonal adventures. The Carson Valley trail system consists of 66 miles and counting of scenic, explore-worthy terrain—a good deal of which you don’t necessarily have to traverse strictly on foot. The well-maintained mixed-use paths can accommodate bicycles, skates, and even on some trails, horses (Bader Ranch Trail Co offers guided horseback trail riding experiences)! That’s to say nothing of the highly acclaimed local off-highway vehicle (OHV) trails, especially when renting the right equipment to tour them is certainly no obstacle.
If you’re less of an adventurer and more into seeking time for relaxation when you’re off the clock, there’s no shortage of ways to slow down, freshen up, and take in the natural beauty of Carson Valley’s majestic Sierra surroundings. An easy stroll through historic Downtown Minden or Genoa is a perfect way to see the sights and learn all about the local history, and the shops along Main Street Gardnerville are fun to peruse for keepsakes to bring home. A relatively short drive will find you on the shore of Topaz Lake, where the recreational area is more often than not free of noise and crowds—idyllic for those who want to try their skills at kayaking, yes, but also for a picnic or an afternoon reading by the water. Up for a little more excitement? Try your luck gaming at Carson Valley Inn Casino in Minden, Sharkey’s Casino in Gardnerville, or at Topaz Lodge Casino in Topaz Lake.
At the end of a long day at work or play (or maybe a healthy combination of the two), wind down with a soak in the famous mineral hot spring tubs at David Walley’s or enjoy a delicious meal at one of the many well-regarded local eateries, where in the warm weather months you can also often hear live music played in the evenings. Then head back to your lodging property for a restful night’s sleep to greet the next morning recharged and ready to hop on that Zoom meeting or manage those emails.
Whatever your remote work set-up looks like, or however your company prefers to host retreats or conferences, consider Carson Valley for your next temporary headquarters!