Lemonade’s State Guide
State by State: Must-Try Summer Fun in Our Remote Work Locations
At Lemonade, after COVID we made the decision to go 100% remote. It keeps us agile, it gives us a greater diversity of perspective, and it ensures we can truly hire the best people out there, not just the ones who are close by.
But it also means that, wherever you are in the country (and beyond), chances are you are not too far from one of us since we are most everywhere. And boy, do we have some opinions about where we live.
Now, just in time for summer travel, we are letting our colleagues tell you all about it, offering a rundown of the best summer fun to be found in nine of our remote work locations.
You will notice some commonalities (we all really like food and think our town’s is the best, ditto for drinking) and some pretty big differences (Phoenix, Arizona is VERY hot this time of year and activities should remain indoors!). And you will also notice that people at Lemonade work hard, but they sure know how to have a good time.
Join us as we jump around the country to see the many places our Lemons grow!
Atlanta, Georgia
Did you know that Atlanta has become one of the filming capitals of the country? Owing to favorable tax breaks and predictable weather, movies and TV shows film in the city all the time, and it stands in for many other American cities (sometimes more convincingly than others). This means that you can take tours of TV sets, including Stranger Things, The Walking Dead and the Vampire Diaries.
Atlanta also has a first rate zoo and aquarium, but we suggest heading over in the morning to avoid summer crowds.
It’s hard to go wrong with food in Atlanta, especially if you are in the mood for some soul food. Head over Twisted Soul Cookhouse and Pours for an elevated, fresh take on soul food. Or, if you prefer things the good old fashioned way, hit up the Busy Bee Cafe, which has been making its fried chicken the same way since the 1940s (marinated for 12 hours, hand breaded…). Like we said, you can’t go wrong.
End the day with a show at the historic Fox Theater, where headliners from around the world perform in an intimate art deco space—a classic theater with modern vibes
Savannah, Georgia
Start your day by renting bicycles and riding to Forsyth Park, Savannah’s oldest and largest public park. Go ahead and get lost in the shade under the majestic canopy of live oak trees, a great place for your morning cup of coffee.
But…let’s not bury the lede here: Savannah is an open container city, meaning that you can get a to-go cup from any bar north of Victory Drive. We suggest hitting up Starland Yard, a beer and food truck yard made of shipping containers. The food is delicious, the people are cool, and the vibe is just right.
Savannah also has a local baseball team, the Savannah Bananas. But here, it is only 10% baseball and 90% pure entertainment. Seriously, the cheerleaders are the Savannah Nanas, and yes, they are all grandmothers. Fun for the entire family, even the odd baseball enthusiast.
From there, head just south of the city to get dinner at the Wyld. Consider this your immersion into the low country (you will figure out what that means). From there, end the evening with a nightcap craft cocktail at the Artillery Bar. With a name like that, you know the drinks are going to be strong.
San Antonio, Texas
First thing’s first, you can’t go to San Antonio and not have breakfast tacos. It’s like going to Germany and not having beer. And here’s the best part: All the breakfast tacos are delicious. Go anywhere you like, you will see them on the menu. Order them. Trust.
Since we’re already talking about food, BBQ is life in Texas, and San Antonio is no exception. Check out the Smoke Shack BBQ, where you absolutely have to get the Brisket Grilled Cheese. It started as a food truck, then turned into a meat market, and now they’re the best BBQ in the city.
And now that you are two meals in already, let’s get you entertained! In the summer, look no further than the San Antonio Missions—or the Flying Chanclas as they are popularly known—San Antonio’s minor league baseball team.
End the night with some live indie music at the Paper Tiger, wake up the next morning, grab some breakfast tacos again. Rinse and Repeat.
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Spend the morning fasting (you will be eating a lot!) and gathering your strength. Then hit up Three Fires Pizza, Fort Wayne’s best wood fired pizza with an array of vegan options (we suggest trying the Thai Pizza). They also have a great selection of local beer and wine.
Digest your pizza while perusing Summit Comics & Games. Buy some comics, check out some board games, and even watch some real-time game play. From there, keep the art theme going (yes, comic books are art!) by heading to the Fort Wayne Museum of Art. It’s not your typical stuffy museum–it has amazingly unique exhibits like The Art of The Skateboard, or collected works by Alphonse Mucha.
With a comic in your hands and art on your mind, you should finally have some room in your stomach, so head over to Welch’s Ale House for the best burger in the city and incredible cozy vibes (careful, you might want to nap!).
Finish the day with some locally owned ice cream at the fantastically retro Sweets on Main. The Sundays are big, the milkshakes are bigger, and it’s a nice throwback to old fashioned, small town Main Streets.
Denver, Colorado
Up and at ‘em. If you are going to see the best Denver has to offer, you have to get an early start! So get on the road around sunrise and head to Lily Mountain in Estes Park, one hour outside of Denver. Hike to the top to enjoy 360 degrees of breathtaking views of the Rocky Mountains. And here’s the best part: Since Lily Mountain is outside the Rocky Mountain National Park, it’s free and waaaaaaaay less crowded than hikes inside the Park.
After your hike, you’ve earned some restful entertainment, so head over to Coors Field for an afternoon ballgame, complete with a hot dog and a local IPA. Who knows, the Rockies might even win (no promises!)
After the game, walk a few blocks to Urban Farmer Steakhouse, where you can get some great farm-to-table fare including amazing steaks and some dangerously strong drinks. Take your moderate buzz to Twist and Shout Records afterwards for the largest selection of new and used vinyl you have ever seen in your life (that is a promise!).
Phoenix, Arizona
For afternoon entertainment, first you have to ask yourself if you are willing to brave the heat—there is no shame in prioritizing air conditioning in Arizona, we promise. If you are feeling bold, check out the Desert Botanical Garden, with thousands of native cacti (including the awe-inspiring Saguaro), flowers, and trees spread across 55 acres.
But if you’d rather keep yourself in the protective embrace of air conditioning, the Phoenix Art Museum has some remarkable work, and what is known to be the best air conditioning in the city. Seriously, they have a state-of-the art air conditioning system. They’re really proud of it.
For dinner, Pizzeria Bianco is a non-negotiable, absolute must. Look, when you have the chance to eat at the top-rated pizzeria in the entire country, you simply cannot pass it up. We shouldn’t really have to say anything else about this.
When you are done with your pizza, we highly recommend Bar 1912, an elegant if simple place with uniquely-Sonoran craft cocktails.
Long Beach, California
The birthplace of Snoop Dogg, Sublime, and Jenni Rivera, Long Beach breeds a certain kind of contented chill. So, whatever you are doing in Long Beach, don’t rush. Just relax.
When you’re ready to get moving, grab a to-go lunchbox from Heritage (every town says it has the best sandwich shop in the country, only in Long Beach it’s actually true) and take it to the Colorado Lagoon, a legitimate urban treasure. In addition to being among the prettiest and cleanest spots in the city, the Lagoon is always a party mode with people arriving early in the morning to claim a spot for grilling, dancing, swimming, and all kinds of public fun. It’s seriously the only thing you have to wake up early for.
If you feel like being mobile we suggest finding some wheels—skateboard, scooter, bike, roller skates, unicycles, whatever really—and cruising down the boardwalk, where it’s all about seeing and being seen at your leisurely best. There is no rushing along the boardwalk.
Finally, spend the evening doing some thrift store shopping on Retro Row, a veritable hipster paradise replete with thrift shops, thrift boutiques, plant stores, plant boutiques, craft cocktail bars, coffee roasters, and no small amount of irony.
San Jose, California
Known as Silicon Valley’s bedroom, San Jose has a rich cultural history and some really (really) great food. Start with breakfast at The Breakfast Club in Midtown. No, you don’t have to be a member, and no you don’t have to be in the Brat Pack. Order literally anything on the menu, you will be happy.
Spend the afternoon at Santana Row, with shops, restaurants, bars, and fun for family members of all ages. They occasionally have outdoor live music in the summer—if that’s the case, be sure to grab ice cream from Smitten (the vegan fudge bar is to die for) and sit back and enjoy the show.
Next, grab a to-go sandwich from Zanotto's Family Market and take it to the city’s Rose Garden for a lovely picnic lunch. Feel free to take a nap at this point (we would) or push on to the Egyptian Museum for some educational fun.
Finally (and most importantly!) you must visit San Pedro Square, a food hall with something for everybody. The Farmer’s Union in particular is fantastic, and for dessert you can’t go wrong with one (or a dozen) Mochinuts.
San Diego, California
San Diego has the best weather in the country. This isn’t one employee’s opinion, it is scientific fact. So whatever you are doing in San Diego, make sure it’s outside!
First: Located a stone’s throw away from the world famous Chicano Park, Las Cuatro Milpas has a legitimate claim to being the best Mexican food in the entire country. Established in 1933, the restaurant serves only handmade food, but you really must arrive early. There will already be a line around the block and the restaurant closes every day when they run out of food.
From the restaurant, head west to the Coronado Bridge and cross to Coronado Island, where a relatively quieter and more relaxed beach town shares the island with the naval facility (where parts of Top Gun was filmed!). Grab a drink at the iconic Hotel Del before heading back to the mainland.
Take a walk through—or just a giant rest in—Balboa Park (larger than New York’s Central Park), and head over to the appropriately famous San Diego Zoo. All we will say is that there's a reason people travel from all over the world to go to the San Diego Zoo.
Spend the evening and night walking around between North Park (the city’s craft brewery capital) and Hillcrest (the city’s historic gay district). We recommend checking out Martinis Above Fourth, where the martinis are plentiful and strong, and you are likely to be serenaded by some local talent. If you have any energy remaining, finish the night in the Gaslamp Quarter for some historic bars and nightclubs.
