Coffee as a travel destination
Does life begin with coffee for you? Yup. Me too. And not due to a decade of PacNorthwest livin’ either. Also, not necessarily as an artist, although there does seem to be a gravitational pull to comfy coffee-induced spaces for creative types. Coffeeshops are life-affirming communal alcoves for you, your friends, your family, and your chosen family. A place to be wrapped in love and warmth, filled with caffeine and confection, to share love, joy, hope, dreams, and the rich undercurrents of life, which connect us to each other.
LK & Steph relish time together:
Nothing beats morning chats with besties over sips of coffee.
For August, when travel and epic road-trips and hosting visitors or squeezing in a final trip before school begins, remains suspended at the tippy top of our to-do lists, I want to share with you my easy go-to plans when hosting and traveling. When friends and family visit wherever I happen to be calling home, the first stop is my favorite local coffee shop or bakery. In fact, when I experience a location for the first time I visit one, errrr more accurately, ALL the local bakeries and ummm yep ALL the coffee spots.
Why? Easy! It's in my Southern blood to find treats baked with a certain secret ingredient we all enjoy most in life. Wink, wink to all the bakers out there! I enjoy the immersion into communities that savoring a brew from locally roasted beans and noshing on local flavors provides. To observe, to learn, to sense the essence of a place, a culture, a people. You do too. I promise you, that curiosity swirls in your blood! Even if you don’t know it yet. We all search for a community that fits us like our favorite freshly warmed sweater or cutest summer outfit.
The inner draw towards these special cornerstones of communities all started for me as a child; my green eyes of envy scanned a case of sparkling sugary confections in admiration while my mother placed our annual Easter egg order with a baker. How to describe those monstrosities?! Southerners take dessert seriously. As one should. These were no disgusting Cadbury horrors, but rather a massive delight requiring a fork and a week's worth of stamina to indulge in the peanut butter filled soft chocolate covered egg. The anticipation of seeing my name looping, curling white icing style across the top made wearing an itchy crinoline under my Sunday dress through an extra long Baptist sermon WORTH it. Y’ALL! My mouth salivates by conjuring this memory. Mmmm peanut butter and chocolate—the only marriage to transcend time. Pure delight!
Apparently, it’s time for a visit back to Georgia since this childhood secret, sacred bakery still exists. It still remains within the original tiny cabin somehow hidden despite living off a busy street near a busy intersection in my childhood hometown. Maybe that childhood experience is a bit of what I seek everywhere I travel? I’m not referring to the sugar content. My implications are when a baker creates, they do so with a snippet of their soul and when we taste-test their treats we experience the essence of life endemic to that locale. So yes, when I seek out coffee shops and bakeries I am truthfully searching for the heart of a community.
Let’s delve into a few of my favorite love spots across the United States. If my memory remains, I share with you a specific treat each location is known for and where my memory wanes…you’ll receive a trip through the photographs seared in my brain instead. But first, fix yourself a cuppa and get cozy. You may even want to take notes of your own memories and places because I want you to share your faves too. I can’t wait to discover your hidden gems!
My fave coffee shops:
🐦⬛ Blackbird Coffee - Milledgeville, GA
Everyone recalls their first sip vividly. Well, the first sip they savored and not the first strong sip they sputtered out while their parents raised an eyebrow in response. Your OWN first taste. My college town received the gift of coffee when a roastery opened my second year into undergrad. Mainly gifted for me. Back then my sweet tooth indulged in frappé after frappé afterrr ok, once in a while it was cool enough outside to enjoy a latte. You get the idea of what I find tastiest at Blackbird though. Summers are sweeter when meandering downtown with a frappé in hand. Oh, and that logo on a pottery mug! I still admire mine regularly as my fingers curl around it possessively. I mean as my fingers warm up patiently. It’s perfectly shaped for small hands. Side note: I utilized dancer terminology for “to strike” as in ice stricken into a frozen concoction swirled with caffeinated pleasure. I don’t recall what term Blackbird uses in this instance for “frappé.”
🐒 Bongo Java - Nashville, TN
The feeling of sharing a place is as much a treat as the iced coffee and bagel. That was not a quote from anyone amidst my Roommate Gang in Nashvegas although it certainly conjures up the delight in each other’s company we enjoyed constantly. I doubt there has ever been a group of dancers to laugh so heartily and pose for cameras so adroitly. We carefully crafted layers of bodies in odd assortments of balancing poses across the courtyard of Bongo Java while expertly sipping coffee and stage whispering to each other how Ben Folds lives next door. Did he? Wouldn’t doubt it but you’ll have to indulge in some iced coffee to find out!
🍵 Red Cat Coffee House - Birmingham, AL
Full disclosure: I don’t recall much since it was more than two lifetimes ago that I danced for Alabama Ballet where my dance partner and I would steal away during breaks by sneaking across the railroad tracks to Pepper Place for a latte and a cheese danish. Shhhh! Our director would have been appalled. I do recall the attractive brick and industrial vibe. And I also recollect our shared laughter.
🧚Forest Fairy Bakery - Issaquah, WA
After frolicking up and over the Issy Alps with my sweet, wild Holly dog I would stop in for a weekly loaf of bread. Or pie. Or multiple delights. This bakery feels hidden deep within a fairy forest despite being along the main strip of town. Pick up your favorite bakery item then walk to the park to enjoy it with your picnic along Issaquah creek. Or nibble while crossing the railroad tracks and amble along the artists markets. Or save it to savor on the summit of one of the local mountains. Maybe these Forest Fairy treats will help you become more nimble on the downhill. Maybe?
⛰️ Issaquah Coffee Company - Issaquah, WA
With a specialty latte list offering styles for each local mountain in Issaquah, there is something for each personality that visits. I used to order the corresponding mountain that I climbed that day just for funsies. And on the rare day I didn’t hit the trails, I always ordered a Squak Mountain latte. Named for the brooding badass mountain least visited of the three local legends, it includes an ingredient that tingles my taste buds ever sooo perfectly that it feels like a secret created just for me. Maybe that’s why the actual mountain was my favorite to tread as well. If you’re the rambunctious adventurous type you may want to order the Tiger Mountain latte and if you’re a social butterfly then the Cougar Mountain latte is destined for you. Don’t forget to climb your mountain while you’re in town too!
🍩 Sluys - Poulsbo, WA
Viking cup. Need I write more? Nope. Dramatic sigh. Of course, I will indulge you though. The only thing better than a cinnamon roll is a cinnamon roll with a gigantic dollop of cream cheese icing on top. There you have it, I needn’t have shared more info and the secret has expired. For extra credit, walk across the street for your coffee at Hot Shots Java.
☕ Nirvana - Barnstable, MA
During my performance career I was extremely fortunate to dance on the Cape during the holiday season. That’s Cape Cod to the Washashores (Pronounced wash-a-showuahs. Ehh ish. You kinda have to hear it a couple times but valiant effort.) This quaint coffee shop holds the sweetest spot in my heart. It truly felt like Nirvana. Oh, how I relished drinking a latte while walking around admiring the haunted houses all dressed up with twinkling Christmas lights! Then, I would relay the ghost stories to my dance partner and only let him respond in a Boston accent. Heehee! I adored that magical place. And if you visit, you simply must pahk the cahh and walk down the yahd to visit Kevin’s pottery shop! He makes lovely mugs for Nirvana so after you purchase the one that speaks to your soul, please make sure to pet his basset hound on my behalf.
🍪 Les Madeleines - Salt Lake City, UT
Known for their Kouign Amann, which on their website is described as “Our pièce de résistance…, a rich buttery pastry from Brittany, France that was named 2012 Pastry of the Year by Food & Wine. Try it once and you’ll find yourself craving it again and again.” Unfortunately, you’ve missed out on trying these on set but you can still order them. Also, try their macarons. My one regret while writing my thesis is that I didn’t indulge at Les Madeleines more often. I wouldn’t have been less stressed but I certainly would’ve cared about the workload a little less.
🏜️ Kiva Koffeehouse on the way to adventure in UT
Can you keep a secret? Well, I can, so pardonez moi—hmm, that’s the kouign amann still talking *cough to clear throat* —you’ll have to do a bit of sleuthing here but Kiva truthfully is not as hidden as it seems. Trust me, you WANT to feel like you were the first to stumble upon this intriguing space suspended in desert rock. The hippie treats are delightful and fulfilling, which is precisely what you need to fuel your adventures. P.S.: You can even stay the night (but probably need to book in advance). Bonus points: Read The Monkeywrench Gang by Edward Abbey while road-tripping to Kiva and the southern Utah desert.
📚 Atticus - Park City, UT
I wrote the vast majority of my grad thesis sipping on Mexican Hot Chocolate (superior to all the rest) while the snow swirled outside. This bookstore coffee and tea shop combo is cozy and warm. Perfect for lounging snow bunnies. Idyllic. Other notable mentions are the vegan chili and the Boo Radley bars. My partner in all things life couldn’t resist purchasing one of their extra large black coffee mugs. Maybe that’s why we eloped in Park City after all.
🥐 Saboteur - Bremerton, WA
Early to rise and you’ll be rewarded since Saboteur closes as soon as they sell out, which is typically by 8 or 9 am. Their savory offerings are as tasty as their sweet ones. Coming from me, that means a lot because it’s extremely rare for me to give a savory bakery item a try when sweet is on the menu. I have to keep up my “sweet as a Georgia peach” vibe somehow. Anyhoo, even if you miss the goods Manette is a cute neighborhood so do a little walkabout and enjoy the views.
🌄 Rise - Driggs, ID (Give Wydaho Roasters Coffee House some love too!)
I came for the Bees Knees but I left with a Million Dollar Cowboy Bar melting on my tongue. Busted, yes that was my decision and it was worth the second one. Eat a third and I’ll be charmed for life, right? Every meal deserves its own dessert so if you’re fueling up with a tasty black bean burrito before you hit the slopes then it’s only fair to pick up an almond croissant too. There are no bad choices here, just too many to make it easy.
🥁 Drum - Missoula, MT
While stuck in Missoula for a brutally cold week, my generous friend wrote a list of coffee shops for me to explore. If you could have seen how her eyes lit up when describing how the drummer of the Fitz and the Tantrums is the responsible party for Drum, you would’ve driven there immediately too. This coffee shop is small and funky and the exact neighborhood spot you want in your life.
🐦⬛ Cafe Corvo - Bremerton, WA
This joint single-handedly revived Callow Ave, the seedy side of a military town that has never not been seedy. Smirk. Impressive, right? Yep, coffee can do that. Now, there’s actually a community and reasons not to avoid this little strip through West Bremerton. Also, art. Lots of it. Thank you, Corvo!
☔ Caffé Perfetto - Bremerton, WA
I would be remiss to skip how incredible the owner of this coffee stand is and how much the Dirty Turtle Running Group that meets here means to me. I’ve already highlighted the Bridge Loop but I haven’t mentioned how kind, generous and all out fun to be with these people are. Join them for the Noonicorn on Fridays or Church service (how many miles is that?) on Sundays too and enjoy the jokes, the hills, and the confetti from the sky together.
Because I’m thoughtful, my ultimate adventure buddy, Trail Name: TAJ, gets a vote. He’s a bit of a rebel so of course he adores Jack Mormon Coffee in SLC and Alpha Coffee at the base of Big Cottonwood Canyon. They are as irresistible as he is. #truth
Coffee fuels us. Fuels our physicality, our mentality, our creativity, and awakens our senses. A place, a feeling, a moment in time that connects us. My hope, no my goal, no my dream, ok well all of those…my point is (deep breath, let it out) all I want to do is build a community of people who inspire and encourage each other to feel better about themselves. Who share ideas with each other about how to do exactly that: share their gifts unabashedly with the world. Whether it’s tips and tricks of how to build growth and abundance mindsets or success stories of planning adventures and career upskilling or how to sit with yourself when you’re heart broken and overwhelmed with the bittersweet side of life. All of it is to be shared. Not to be felt alone. I want this space to exist for you. For us. For the experiences that life affords us.
Over the years as an educator, I’ve practiced creating an atmosphere of security and calmness for my students in hopes they take risks on the dance floor sans judgment. I feel the pull to open that gift up to the world. To you. I’ll swirl my personal stories into the interwebs to shake out any meaningful tidbits of wisdom you can decipher. Mostly, I’m sharing as a “You aren’t alone! I experienced these sensations too!” and because my friends have been pressuring me to write my experiences down for years. [Insert sweat emoji here.] Maybe you only want to kick back and read. I hope you do. And if you don’t – that’s ok too.
However, I really hope you feel comfy enough to share your stories too. Now is the time to speak up and out. To become loud. To roar. And if not, then at least 2024 feels like an auspicious year to flail and fail. So maybe you’ll at least want to attempt that together? More awkward giggling? As the bakers at Sluys would say, “Uffda!”
Well, why discuss coffee? Why sweet bakery treats as an important travel “must” while adventuring together? In a way, it offers a hint of home. A special something to be shared. Here’s my chance to prove myself as the ultimate hostess steeped in Southern hospitality where all are welcome (but you must bring gossip to share, wink). Please join my cozy “coffeeshop” while I pour you some sweet tea and pull my buttermilk biscuits from the oven. Let’s chat about how exploring our world enlivens our souls…
For when visiting different parts of the world, aren’t we still searching for the concept of community? To experience that essence of humanity everywhere we go? And when we visit a local bakery we can taste the secret ingredient of that specific home land we are choosing to visit. No matter what style of pastry, biscuit, cookie, sweet or savory treat we choose, we all experience a distillation of these ideas which connect us all. And doesn’t it taste precisely identical to love?
Written with love and gratitude for you and our interactions.
~ Stay wild, Sprite 🧚🏼♀️