5 vacation hotspots

If you absolutely, positively have to stay connected to the network, the office or just the Internet while you're on vacation, there's no reason why you can't pick a vacation spot that's still fun to visit.

Instead of looking for a hotel that has a hot spot, how about looking for a true "hot spot" in terms of fun, relaxation, etc., yet still has the amenities (network connection!) that you're looking for in order to stay connected?

Here's our suggestions on some out-of-the-way places that are still connected to the grid:

5) Miami Beach
While the promised city-wide Wi-Fi coverage is still being worked on, there's plenty of places to connect wirelessly while near or on the beach, including the very nice Fountainbleau Hotel (Our travel coordinator has never booked us there, but we've heard very nice things about it). If you do try to download your e-mail while you're on the beach, make sure you don't get sand in the equipment. Also, carrying a big laptop around while you're trying to look impressive on the beach isn't really a good combination.

Wi-Fi locations: Miami Beach | Florida

4) Hermosa Beach, California
In Phase I of the Hermosa Beach Internet signal deployment, 9 access point/nodes will be placed up and down Pier Ave with coverage extending to 35% of the land area in the city, allowing users with line of sight of these elevated antenna locations to access service. Those outside this initial area can also tap into the signal if they have line of sight to City Hall. The commercial areas of Pier Ave, along with City Hall and the Library will be “lit up.”

3) Chateau de Versailles, France
It's kind of odd to think that a historical location would be teeming with technology, but the palace where King Louis XIV lived is now rumored to have Wi-Fi access. However, we're not completely sure whether the Wi-Fi covers the entire grounds of the palace or just in specific buildings. If you're a French history buff and you still need to check on server availability, be assured that you'll be able to connect from somewhere at the palace.

2) Mt. Buller, Australia
There's something about taking a ski trip in June or July, so we were pretty excited to see that Mt. Buller in Australia (248kms northeast of Melbourne) now has wireless capabilities on its mountain. SnowSports Interactive is delivering mountain-wide wireless broadband Internet to the resort. The Whispar service lets resort guests have access to the Internet from any 802.11b/g computer, PDA or device. Visitors can "relax on the mountain while still maintaining an active link with the rest of the world."

1) Summit County, Colorado
World-famous mountain-biking and nearly all of it has cell phone coverage. You can make a phone call at 9,000-feet deep in the White River National Forest, or check your BlackBerry while sitting on a chair lift for a day of downhill biking at one of the area's ski resorts.

Summit County, Colorado is home to ski resorts Breckenridge, Copper Mountain, Keystone and Arapaho Basin and countless back-country mountain trails, but due to its high tourist population and its terrain -- peaks on all sides -- it manages to have cell phone coverage just about everywhere even in areas that feel completely remote. You can be mountain biking on the Peak to Peak, which runs between Keystone ski resort and Breckenridge surrounded by nothing but trees and low-and-behold, your cell phone will ring. Or you can be sitting on a chair lift, heading up the mountain with your mountain bike (or without) in tow, and use the time to check your e-mail via your cell or Blackberry.