Bing Headquarters in Yellow Springs, Ohio

Creative work can take place anywhere. Some people insist that brilliance hits them in the shower, right when they wake up, or during a morning run. We’re lucky enough to work our magic in two of the “Coolest Small Towns in America” – according to Yahoo! Travel and Budget Travel.

In this recent online article, Yahoo! and Budget Travel identified Manitou Springs, Colorado and Yellow Springs, Ohio as the top two and three coolest small towns in America, respectively.

Our workplaces. Our playgrounds.

Manitou is located just six miles outside of Colorado Springs (and Bing West). I visit Manitou at least once a week to hike the incline – a one-mile trail that climbs 2,000 feet. (It’s been voted the “best illegal hike in Colorado Springs”.) The base of Pike’s Peak is in Manitou, as well as the depot for the cog train that goes to the top. I recommend taking the trip. There are donuts at the top.

The small town is filled with great food and unique shops – and an old-fashioned arcade. I occasionally visit Manitou on the weekends for a round of skee-ball. One of my favorite shops, The Whickerbill, is also in Manitou. And when I stopped there a few weeks ago there was a letter on the door that said something to the effect of:

As you may know, I am not a morning person. Please consider my hours tentative, and very tentative depending on the weather. If you’re here and I’m not, I encourage you to have a cup of coffee at the shop across the street.

When my husband and I read that we said “that is sooo Yellow Springs.” In fact, when describing Manitou to Ohioans, I usually say “It’s like Yellow Springs, but with mountains.”

Yahoo!, it seems, agrees.

Yellow Springs ranked for its restaurants, shops and galleries. The article didn’t mention its proximity to Glen Helen and John Bryan State Park – which I would also consider benefits of the small town. Your “office with a view” may look onto a parking lot or busy street. We see trees and wildlife – and have enough open space surrounding our office to make snow angels in the winter.

So, is it a coincidence that an agency would locate itself in these small towns?

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