An hour away from the hustle and bustle of Orlando, youll find Mount Dora, where relaxation is the name of the game. Its also known for being the sponge capital of the world, and visitors can learn about the long history of sponge diving here. We threw a lot of criteria at this one in order to get the best, most complete results possible. The best places to live in the Sunshine State span the beaches, coasts, farmland and tourism centers. There are many things to do around Gulfport such as parasailing, jet skiing, shopping, and strolling through the artistic streets. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau was 9,080. The Sunshine State brims with history and mysteries of the past making it both the perfect educational vacation spot with more than enough things to stack your itinerary. This is the place to escape any season whenever you want to forget about high rises, big taxes and the hectic life of a city. Antique shops along the downtown area offer a glimpse into yesteryear. Obviously the biggest hippie draw to this town is going to be the Joshua Tree National Park where you can explore the desert and commune with nature, but there's one other place in town that every self-respecting hippie needs to visit. This destination was chosen as the Sunshine State's most hippie town: Cassadaga! And one of the greatest things to do while youre in town, is to enjoy the Chipola River. Non-members are still allowed to shop here, and you'll find all the ingredients you need to create a hippie, vegan feast before you head into the desert! 2 | Fernandina Beach | The history of Fernandina Beach is so complex that it is commonly known as the Isle of eight flags in reference to its rule under the French, Spanish, English, Spanish again, Patriots, Spanish for a third time, Mexicans, Confederates, and finally Americans. Key Largo is home to the worlds largest artificial reef and is sometimes referred to as the dive capital of the world. Located just north of LakePontchartrain, Abita Springs is a small town of 2000 but with major hippie heart. Aviles is the oldest street in the nation and the early home to St. Augustine's arts district. This site commemorates the largest civil war battle in Florida, where over ten thousand troops battled for five hours in a pine forest. They also have lodging and camping facilities on the property. Sixty different structures all qualify as historic buildings, including churches, homes, and a train depot. Music, radio and podcasts, all free. A lot of these towns are located just over the Georgia state line, making a trip to the area an easy one to make! A post shared by Visit Venice Florida (@visitingvenicefl). During the day youll find amazing views of the Gulf, and at night take in the beautiful night sky. Check out the best cities to live in Florida. Hippie Havens - Hip Planet The community may have an aging population, but the grown-up hippies here are still as wild as they were in the '60s! A group of volunteers and train enthusiasts run a 24-gauge train at Veterans Memorial Park. No visit to Cortez is complete without a visit to the Florida Maritime Museum, which is located inside a former schoolhouse from 1912. The scenery has a lot to offer nature lovers as well. 5 | Jacksonville | Floridas biggest city is also full of history. It was created on March 1, 2005. Country inns, local shops, lakes, and fun dining options make Mount Dora a nice getaway. Residents enjoy their progressive politics, organic produce, public nudity, and WOW do they love them some marijuana. Exciting things are headed your way soon! However, Boulder is more than just college students getting highthe city actually has a long history with the hippies, including the "hippie invasion" of 1968. BHI is about 20 minutes driving distance away from Miami International Airport, and it is situated between the larger cities of Aventura and Miami Beach. Home of Floridas oldest college, Stetson University, DeLand is full of historic buildings and beautiful murals. 16 | Everglades City | Locate southeast of Naples, Everglades City is known as the gateway to Ten Thousand Islands. For a good coffee and kava experience visit Serenity Coffee Kava. Cheapest Cities to Live in Still Under the Radar - Thrillist In the past, Makanda, Illinoiswas a railroad town struggling to survive. But if you're looking to avoid the crowds and still have a great hippie experience, Abita Springs, Louisiana might be a better fit for you. Not only is it located near multiple state and national parks, but it is the self-proclaimed Dive Capital of the World surrounded by white sand beaches all, A post shared by Visit Islamorada (@visit_islamorada). A post shared by Leslie Homelore Library (@homelorelibrary). The arts culture alone is enough to include the whole town on our Kentucky State Bucket List. Its known as the Sportfishing Capital of the World, so its the perfect place to catch the big one! You can still see the remnants of the beautiful towns beginnings almost 200 years later. If you want a Big Mac, you'll have to go one town over (South Burlington) to get yourfix. We are not responsible for content on external web sites linked from ours, including linked resources, an external blog post, any partner site, hotel property sites, or affiliate sites. This website uses cookies to improve your digital experience. Using the Google Places API, the Censuss 2010-2014 American Community Survey, and Voter Registration data, this is the criteria we used: Note: For the sake of getting reliable numbers, we counted places within a ~4.5 mile radius of a citys center. Yoga Studios Per 1,000 People: 5.33Organic Markets Per 1,000 People: 1.45Pet Adoption Centers Per 1,000 People: 0.97Vegan Restaurants Per 1,000 People: 2.58Thrift Stores Per 1,000 People: 3.55West Miami is a city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. Located between the Gulf of Mexico and peninsular Florida, not far from Bradenton, youll find the barrier island of Anna Maria. But thats not because it isnt awesome! Punk music fans should time their visit around The Fest, an annual October music festival. Then check out the quaint communities of Martin County. You dont have to be a hippie to appreciate a hippie town. You know, those delightful little towns full of friendly people and lots of art, music, and opportunities for laid-back fun? Miramar Beach is also close to other beautiful beach towns like Rosemary Beach, Sandestin, and Inlet Beach. As is common for many cities on this list, Arcata earns the designation of "college town" with nearby Humboldt State's enrollment equal to almost half of the city's population. A post shared by C Thomas Self (@buckar008), 6 | Micanopy | As the oldest non-coastal town in Florida, the nickname the little town that time forgot is an apt description. And while this tiny unincorporated region might not be teeming with hippies, you'll find them all congregating just outside of town on The Farm. The first is Fanning Springs State Park, a beautiful park along the shores of the Suwannee River. Anna Maria island, Sanibel, The towns in Pine island and Cedar key (these last two if a beach isn't a must), Venice, Amelia island maybe? 4 | Quincy | The town of Quincy, named after the sixth American president, John Quincy Adams, gained its fame as a prosperous center for the then-booming tobacco industry. Today, Marianna is best known as the site of a small but important battle in the American Civil War. Village Square At Trading Post - Narcity The town is home to lots of mediums and healers, but you can also take care of all your hippie shopping needs at the local crystal and esoterica shops. The 45 minute tour is a wonder to experience. Read on below to learn more about what its like to live in hippie central. (Brian Stansberry, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; RJ Matthews, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons). Despite the natural beauty of its location, Florida's second oldest town (after St. Augustine, of course) has avoided too much commercial development. Artistic Hippie Town In North Florida Will Give You All The - Narcity Some travelers are content to lie in the sun with a mojito or margarita in hand, while others live for the moment they can watch their kids faces light up at the sight of Mickey Mouse or the world of Harry Potter. While in town, you're definitely going to want to make a visit to the Abita Mystery House which is an odd place filled to the brim with thousands of pieces of folk art. We love to sleep outside. At Matlacha, locals live in island time whether having a cocktail on the dock of a restaurant or paddling through the canals. Several of our trips are also compensated by the respective tourism boards for the city or state we are visiting. And there's plenty of far-out fun to be had here! Hiking, canoeing, kayaking, cave diving, tubing, birding, fishing, and horseback riding are just some of the activities that make Marianna an adventurers world class paradise! 7 | Apalachicola | If you find yourself in North Floridas Forgotten Coast, stop by the small fishing village of Apalachicola. 48 | Tarpon Springs | Unlike the Spanish influence found in most of Florida, Tarpon Springs is known for its Greek heritage. Quincys downtown square, which centers around the historic Gadsden County Courthouse, is home to a variety of old buildings, including a classic drug store. The average city in America is about 18 square miles. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 11,632. It's time to collect another Florida postcard that will remind you why you live in the Sunshine State. You can tell that they do things just a little bit differently in Homer right from the moment you hear the town's nicknamethe Cosmic Hamlet by the Sea. A quiet day in a beautiful town, shopping, checking out art, and all with the friendliest people around? After analyzing all cities with a decent amount of people in them, we came up with this list of the 10 best cities for hippies in Florida: Read on below to see where your town ranked, young flower child. Yoga Studios Per 1,000 People: 3.04Organic Markets Per 1,000 People: 2.24Pet Adoption Centers Per 1,000 People: 1.76Vegan Restaurants Per 1,000 People: 1.76Thrift Stores Per 1,000 People: 6.09, Yoga Studios Per 1,000 People: 3.86Organic Markets Per 1,000 People: 1.13Pet Adoption Centers Per 1,000 People: 1.29Vegan Restaurants Per 1,000 People: 3.22Thrift Stores Per 1,000 People: 4.98. The beaches here are so amazingly clean and perfect, theyve won awards. However, don't just expect to pop in for a visitthe community only invites in people who are interested in living there full-time, and even then, your presence is put to a vote by the other members. A post shared by Amoray Dive Center (@amoray.divers), 43 | Key Largo | Classic film buffs might recognize this town as the titular setting of the 1948 noir film starring Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall, but this gorgeous Key island has lots more to offer than film history. This never impacts how we share the destination with you opinions are always our own and we pride ourselves on that. Is it any surprise that the town is also home to Hempfest? This track was built on a former airbase in 1950 and hosted the 1959 Formula One United States Grand Prix. Top 10 Colleges for Hippies - College Magazine And hey, who could blame you? If you're still not convinced of Ithaca's hippie cred, consider thisin 2008, the town found fame for officially creating the world's largest human peace sign. Yes, please! A wide variety of wildlife lives in the area, which also offers some of the best fishing in the state. Whether youre looking for a relaxing day shopping, a day at the beach, or outdoor adventures galore youll find what youre looking for in one of these amazing small towns! A place where creatives feel free and the hippie soul expressive. Six years later, it officially became a part of Florida. * Westgate Resorts is in no way affiliated with the attractions featured in this article. Dont even ask. Cedar Key has been named one of the 10 coolest towns in America and is often compared to a Key West a half century ago. For more information on how we rank, read the Best Places to Live methodology. Plus, if you're looking for a great artistic experience, Ashland is home to the annual and iconic Oregon Shakespeare Festival. The 10 Best Small Towns in Florida - Travel + Leisure Read More: 21+ Relaxing Things To Do In Beautiful Marathon, FL. It's known for the Cedar Key National Wildlife Refuge, a group of small islands with walking trails and wildlife. Yoga Studios Per 1,000 People: 1.64Organic Markets Per 1,000 People: 0.34Pet Adoption Centers Per 1,000 People: 0.48Vegan Restaurants Per 1,000 People: 1.3Thrift Stores Per 1,000 People: 1.92West Park, officially the City of West Park, is a municipality in Broward County, Florida, United States.