Havre de Grace, MD

Situated at the intersection of the Susquehanna river and the top of the Chesapeake Bay, the self-proclaimed “Decoy Capitol of the World” was burned to the ground in 1812 and is now rich in American history and once lured many visitors to it’s famed horse racing track.

Today the old town has a very relaxed atmosphere and is home to many nice restaurants, coffee shops, old book stores antique shops, Bed and Breakfasts, and a natural products market. Oh, can’t I can’t leave out all the friendly open minded intellectuals that live here.

The lovely promanade adjacent to the lighthouse is perfect for a summer evening stroll.

The week of the 4th of July the town holds a huge carnival with fireworks on saturday in Tydings Park by the water.
A lovely place to visit or take residence if you like small town living by the water.

Vashon Island, Washington

Vashon Island is in the Puget Sound next to Seattle. No bridges to the island, just a ferry that takes you there. If you want the closeness and convenience of Seattle, but you don’t like the high pace nature of Seattle, then Vashon Island is the place to be. It’s more slow paced, and plenty of hippies live there, both old-timers, and young. The only drawback, is the jets that fly overheard from Sea-Tac International Airport a few miles away.

Crestone, Colorado

Located in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, elevation 8,000 feet. .Talk about a hippie haven, you will not find another town like this one. I think the term “far out” describes this place the best. Besides lots of hippies, Crestone has many Spiritual and Healing centers, Environmental activities, Human potential organizations and the annual Crestone Music Festival is held every August. Located nearby is Valley View Hot Springs, another hippie haven of it’s own!

Eureka Springs, Arkansas

A haven for people of all kinds especially the counterculture, artists, gay people and anyone else you can think of. In the heart of the Ozark Mts, it makes it living off of the tourists that come to see the Victorian houses and shop in historical downtown. Not your typical Arkansas community. Fresh air and water. Eureka is known for it “healing springs”. There are 90 or so in the city limits. Pop. aprox. 2000

Independence, Oregon

This is a great little river town. You can hear live R&B and old time rock every Wednesday and on the weekend coming from the local night clubs,and the river is a great place to spend the day hiking fishing swiming boating and horse back riding. Then spend the night partying at Lenora’s Ghost.

Madison, Wisconsin

A beautiful downtown, with a beautiful university right on the lake, lots of housing co-ops, and really friendly and nice people. People from Wisconsin tend to be slightly dingy, and Madison is considered to be the craziest town in the state (it’s also the state capital) – but it’s the right kind of crazy, in my opinion. The only drawback is that it gets a little cold there in winter.

Madison is a VERY groovy place, and state street is chock full of head shops/coffee shops/every shop that deviates from the norm that you can think of……there is even a Nepali restaurant that I loved….also loads of interesting people throughout the town. I couldn’t believe how many street performers I saw, there were devil-sticks flying everywhere and lone saxophonists filling up the empty alleyways, soothing your mind like a mental Halls cough drop.”

Ashland, Wisconsin

It’s a small town of about 8,000 people. There’s an Environmental Liberal Arts college there called Northland College. There’s also a vegan coffeehouse called The BlackCat that is totally vegan and it’s like the best environment for poetry and reading, or homework even-plus great organic food. Right next door there’s a natural food co-op. All the college students are way nice and there are no cliques. It’s like one huge family there.

They have this community program with “Sunshine Bikes.” It’s to stop pollution and all and give people a better taste of community and sharing. It’s a great place that has changed my life and it could for others!