When you’re traveling in an RV, you’ve got an easy way to prepare a cup of coffee just the way you like it. Forget those $5 frappuccino’s at Starbucks, right?
On second thought, what’s a better way to kick start your day in a new city than by checking out a new-to-you coffee shop? There are a lot of fun and delicious cafes spread throughout the country worth a stop for a cup (and perhaps some free Wi-Fi and live music too). Listed below, you’ll find five great places to get your next coffee fix in the U.S.
No. 5: Dandelion Communitea Cafe, Orlando, Fla.
This quirky organic, celiac-friendly vegan cafe features colorful artwork and a mix of indoor and outdoor tables. Your drink selections include organic loose leaf tea, fair-trade organic coffee, microbrews, wines and more.
The cafe frequently hosts artists of all types, offering gallery space and special performances weekly. The menu ranges from nachos to salads and it’s all delicious—you won’t miss the meat or cheese.
No. 4: Tranquil Buzz Coffee, Silver City, N.M.
To be fair, Silver City, New Mexico has lots of cute coffee shops worth a stop. But you’ll find that Tranquil Buzz features a friendly and thoughtful owner whose coffee shop is more of a mission than a business: here, coffee and tea are taken seriously and the tiny and charming cafe is a site well-suited for meditation or conversation. When I stopped in, they were hoping to start offering church services on Sundays as one of their live music offerings.
No. 3: Alleycat Coffee House, Fort Collins, Colo.
You’ve gotta love a 24/7 coffeehouse! Especially when it’s locally owned. Alleycat strives to offer delicious coffee and food with great service and a creative atmosphere. Use their free Wi-Fi and play their in-house guitar at all hours of the night. They’ve got great locally made coffee and steamers, but their chai receives high praise too. Pro tip: Try a chai shake. Their menu also includes a lot of vegetarian and gluten-free food options.
No. 2: True Brew Barista, Concord, N.H.
This is the place in downtown Concord to visit for a delicious coffee or tea. Stop by the bar when you’re ready to unwind, and enjoy their weekly live music performances. They’ve got a tasty menu, featuring a specialty snack option known as “barista balls”—a donut-hole size combination of peanut butter, honey, protein powder and gluten-free organic rice krispies. You can also feast on their sandwiches, salads, and—at their location in Gibson’s bookstore—crepes.
Need a late night hangout? There are 25 beers on tap at the bar and 100 percent of their cover charge, when applicable, goes to the musicians. They’re also open later than almost everything else downtown.
No. 1: Emack & Bolio’s, Albany, N.Y.
The coolest place to get coffee, in my book, is a place with amazing homemade ice cream and live music. You can find all of that here, as well as micro-brewed soda, quirky gifts, smoothies, fudge, and something they call “ice cream pizza.”
Emack & Bolio’s is fantastic. Grab an iced coffee and a cone or cup of their delicious ice cream. Although I personally recommend their Albany shop, you’ll find them in several states across the country, as well as internationally.
If you’re getting ready to plan your next road trip, head here to find an RV rental to make your trip even easier. If you enjoyed these suggestions, maybe you’d also enjoy some tips on five fun things to do at Acadia National Park, or this post on visiting Mammoth Cave National Park.
