Travel and modern technology converge to allow travelers who wander as far as Alaska to stay connected -- to home, home teams and homepages -- and to post awesome pictures of the trip and make everyone back home totally jealous!
Anchorage is as wired as Alaska is wild, and finding free Wi-Fi hotspots around town is as easy as seeing a mountain. If a place serves coffee and baked goods, it probably offers Wi-Fi. Some even serve sandwiches and bigger snacks. (Heck, many Anchorage bars and taverns even have Wi-Fi, so you can even get a martini while you multitask, if you prefer).
Bring your laptop or set your smartphone to these sure-shot cafe hotspots where you can relax in comfy surroundings, check your email, check your BFF's Facebook status, and have a coffee and a snack on the side:
DOWNTOWN ANCHORAGE:
Dark Horse Coffee (646 F St., www.darkhorsecoffee .com): It's tiny, but the great deck, sweet baked goods and killer coffee make it worth a stop.
Kaladi Brothers Coffee, Downtown (621 W. Sixth Ave., www.kaladi.com): Attached to the Performing Arts Center in the heart of downtown, this is the perfect place to fuel up for a day downtown, meet local politicians and businessmen, or just relax with a warm drink.
Snow City Cafe (1034 W. Fourth Ave., www.snowcity.com): More hip diner than coffeehouse, this downtown spot has great breakfast and lunch menus to match its caffeinated pours.
EAST ANCHORAGE:
Kaladi Brothers Coffee, Tudor (6901 E. Tudor Road, www.kaladi.com): At the foothills of the Chugach Mountains and the curve of Tudor and Muldoon roads, this is a popular place to sip a morning drink and watch the sun rise over the mountains or relax after a visit to the nearby Alaska Botanical Garden or Hillside trails.
MIDTOWN ANCHORAGE:
Café del Mundo (341 E. Benson Blvd., cafedelmundo.com): One of Anchorage's best-kept coffeehouse secrets, its interior is bright and the coffee is right.
Middle Way Cafe (1200 W. Northern Lights Blvd., Suite C) and Kaladi Brothers Coffee (1340 W. Northern Lights Blvd., Suite 409, www.kaladi.com): Two hip favorites are set in the same busy strip mall as REI and Title Wave Books -- both are often bustling, but always nice retail respites. Middle Way also offers full breakfast and lunch menus.
SOUTH ANCHORAGE:
Kaladi Brothers Coffee, Brayton (6921 Brayton Drive, www.kaladi.com): The original Kaladi cafe is a welcome caffeine pit stop along the busy Seward Highway.
Kaladi Brothers Coffee, Huffman (12350 Industry Way, www.kaladi.com): Hidden away from a busy block, this Kaladi is small but quiet and even quirky.
Kaladi Brothers Coffee, Southside (9900 Old Seward Highway, www.kaladi.com): With its fireplace, spacious room and menu, this is the jewel of the Kaladi chain.
SteamDot (10950 O'Malley Centre, Suite E, www.steamdot.com): Coffee doesn't get much fresher or diverse than the lineup at this clean and classy spot.
EAGLE RIVER:
Jitters (11401 Old Glenn Highway, www.jitterseagleriver.com): A friendly neighborhood vibe, cozy chairs and crackling fireplace make this a must-stop if you cruise to Eagle River.
GIRDWOOD:
The Grind (236 Hightower Road, www.girdwoodgrind.com): Escape the busy mountain scene, and the pretentious corporate coffee scene, at this locals' favorite.
Java Haus (Inside the Alyeska Resort Day Lodge, girdwoodjava.com): At the base of Mount Alyeska, your adventures can begin or end with drinks and snacks here.
