Home of the Ivy League Antioch College, head shops, hemp and Earth Friendly clothing and jewelry stores, several music stores (one specializing in hand made drums) and several specialty gift stores.
Yellow Springs, Ohio
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Las Vegas, Nevada
Yes, even the neon tribute to tinseled affluence is a hippie hangout. The area adjacent to UNLV is “loaded” with shops, pubs and music stores. A Las Vegas staple: “Legends” caters to the deadhead crowd, as well as the “Hard Rock Hotel”, a must see while in Las Vegas. A major head shop, Tobacco Road, is always worth a visit. Finally, the Las Vegas Ski and Snowboard Resort hosts a blues festival in the summer which is great up at 7,500 feet.
Now that Nevada has legal pot, the entire scene has changed. They even have same sex marriages available at the wedding chapels. What a difference a decade or two makes, when I lived there it was a felony to possess cannabis, now it is everywhere.
Taos, New Mexico
Taos is a wonderful, laid back place. Local attractions include the ancient Taos Pueblo, and the nearby Taos Ski Valley. There’s a certain energy in this place you don’t find elsewhere. The sacredness and spiritual qualities of the area can touch the soul.
“I went to Taos, New Mexico last summer and found the place swarming with beautiful people. There are a few communes right outside of town… where Easy Rider was filmed. Lots of freaks around and so much to learn from each other… ecstacy. A bit touristy, but not yet too corrupt with society.”
Silver City, New Mexico
Silver City is a small hippy mecca. They have lsome herbal stores in the city with “classes” on locating and identifying local herbs. Their co-op bulletin board is loaded with new age info. The annual Blues Festival brings out the most hippies. They have drum circles and a number of communes within 25 miles of the city, some better than others. Don’t forget to ask about the hot springs.
Las Cruces, New Mexico
In southern New Mexico, very different from the northern part of the state, very easy going without the worries of inflated costs of living. We are surrounded by the organ mountains and within a hours drive of the Lincoln and the Gila Mountains as well as White Sands National Monument. A large sized co-op is available along with herb shops and many friendly faces. Las Cruces is a very kind place to live without the annoyance of trust fund artists like Santa Fe!
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha is a pretty phun li’l town. Pretty good family. There are NO CLUBS there, so those annoying clubkids are not even present (woo-hoo!). They’ll introduce you to a real rave, which everyone should experience. Omaha also has the oldmarket which is downtown and a fun place to hang out day and night with a park to the east, the Big Slides (extreme amounts of child-like fun) on the north, the abandoned warehouses are also right near where the parties rage at night. Lots of grassroots organizations are sprouting up. Definitely worth checking out if you’re traveling through to Boulder or somewhere.
Westport, Missouri
Missouri has more then two hippy hangouts (gasp!). Westport’s a very cool place. It has head shops, VW buses, and lots of drugs.
Westport is a section in Kansas City.
Midtown-Westport is an eclectic area, known for the Westport entertainment area, with festive brewpubs, DJ bars and retro-chic diners serving American comfort food. During the day, the scene centers on trendy fashion boutiques. Neighboring Midtown has historic buildings like the Thomas Hart Benton Home, with tours of the painter’s studio and gardens. Trails wind through nearby Roanoke Park, encircled by bluffs.
Columbia, Missouri
Downtown Peace Park and Peace Nook (book store).
On May 5th 1971, around 1,500 people gathered in McAlester Park and marched together for peace. Businesses closed in honor. They ended back in the park for a re-dedication ceremony: naming the space “Peace Park.” It included speeches, a rally, and then an all-night rock concert in the park. “It’s dedicated to a concept that’s not that foreign – a simple but elusive notion of peace.”
Cape Girardeau, Missouri
Very cool riverfront nights, locals are kind, small communes everywhere very green year round, local music scene is huge.
Wikipedia notes: “The town of Cape Girardeau was incorporated in 1808, prior to Missouri statehood. It was reincorporated as a city in 1843. The advent of the steamboat in 1835 and related river trade stimulated the development of Cape Girardeau as the biggest port on the Mississippi River between St. Louis, Missouri and Memphis, Tennessee.”
Saugatuck, Michigan
Wikipedia says:
Originally a lumber town and port, Saugatuck, along with the adjacent city of Douglas, became a noted art colony and tourist destination in the Arts and Crafts movement of the late 19th century. In the early 20th century, Saugatuck was home to the famous Big Pavilion, a large dance hall that attracted bands and visitors from across the Midwest. The building was a popular destination on Lake Michigan from its construction in 1909 until it burned down on May 6, 1960.
Today, tourists are drawn to the art galleries, harbor, marinas, scenery, unusual stores, the view from atop Mount Baldhead, and tourist attractions as well as Oval Beach on Lake Michigan, which enjoys a worldwide reputation. Nearby are Saugatuck Dunes State Park and Allegan State Game Area as is the city of Holland.
Our Hip Reviewer notes:
This is truly a hip community, located along the shores of beautiful Lake Michigan, surrounded by picturesque sand dunes. Saugatuck is the epicenter of many western Michigan coastal communities offering a very laid-back chilled atmosphere, and amongst the population you will find an immense multitude of artists and a majority of open-minded people. The downtown is very eclectic, with many far-out shops, including the popular Shakedown Street, offering a variety of Grateful Dead and hippy-related merchandise. Coffee shops are also quite abundant here. There’s also a lot of very cool natural attractions, such as Mt. Baldhead and Oval Beach. The entire scene here reeks of peace. I must say that this town is the ultimate chill-spot.