Iconic Old-School Towns In The U.S. That Will Transport You Back To The 1960s

Between the pandemic, political unrest, economic turmoil, and a polarized culture, it's a wild time in the United States. However, so were the 1960s. During this time — appropriately nicknamed "the Swinging Sixties" — life ran the gamut, ranging from the Civil Rights Movement to counterculture and beyond. The era saw notable times, including the Summer of Love, the Space Race, and the Black rights riots.

Although it'll take you more than a few pages to reach the '60s in history books, the decade is alive and well in some U.S. cities. In these spots, the era lives on through food co-ops, classic car shows, punk-rock flea markets, and marijuana festivals, making it feel like you could pop on a miniskirt or bell-bottom jeans and fit right in. By visiting these places, you can get a taste of what this iconic time was like for those who lived it — all with a smartphone in hand.

We've all jammed out to Bruce Springsteen songs like "Born To Run." But they wouldn't have been written without Asbury Park's 1960s spunk. It was during the era in this New Jersey city, about an hour's drive from Trenton, where Springsteen found his inspiration to write songs. Today, Asbury Park doesn't look that different.

Asbury Park Convention Hall appears just as it did when it hosted musicians like the Beach Boys, Led Zeppelin, and The Doors in the '60s. It even still has a throwback neon "Greetings from Asbury Park" sign. The venue continues to host events and concerts today. It's all located along one of the best boardwalk beaches at the Jersey Shore. For more vintage entertainment, head to the annual Asbury Park Punk Rock Flea Market at the historic Berkeley Oceanfront Hotel. Reminiscent of '60s punk rock, the market offers records, throwback memorabilia, and more.

That's far from the only thing that's nostalgic in this hip beach town. Further down the boardwalk is the Silverball Retro Arcade, which features more than 150 pinball and video games that date back to the '60s and beyond. A few favorites from the decade include Flipper Cowboy from 1962 and King & Queens from 1965. "There is so much arcade history packed into one small storefront," wrote one past visitor on Tripadvisor. "Each vintage machine has a plaque detailing its history and fun facts about it, making it nostalgia heaven for anyone who spent their childhood in arcades."

The '60s were about peace and love, and it doesn't get more Zen than the Dalai Lama. In Bloomington, Indiana, which is about an hour's drive from Indianapolis, the Dalai Lama's brother founded the Tibetan Mongolian Buddhist Cultural Center. He founded it in 1979 after Tibetans fled their country beginning in the late 1950s. At this monastery, people of all faiths can receive blessings and hang prayer flags.

Also inspired by the '60s upheaval in Bloomington is the People's Park, which was established following a racist attack on a city store. After a shop was firebombed in 1968, it was converted into the park. It continues to be a gathering place for the creative masses, showcasing public art and free concerts. Bloomington was musical in the '60s, too, and had a thriving jazz and folk scene. It has a jazz organization called B'Town Jazz.

If you want to see more public art in Bloomington, you won't have to venture far. The city is home to more than 50 works. Those include the Garage Guitar, emblematic of the city's love for tunes, and the colorful and imaginative O.T. 987 statue. Visitors can also hear and see Bloomington's creative spirit through its many theaters and galleries. One that dates back to the '60s is the Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art at Indiana University. It began during that decade as the school's fine arts building before expanding into a 47,000-piece museum.

During the '60s, many hippies lived in communes, had one-for-all lifestyles, and worshipped the arts. If you visit Brattleboro, Vermont, today, you'll think they never left. A 35-minute drive from Green Mountain National Forest, the hippie mindset lives on in this quirky Vermont town that makes for the perfect New England getaway. 

The town has a food co-op with a market, cooking classroom, commissary kitchen, and apartments, all with environmentally conscious elements. It has over 9,000 members. Some of them were part of the hippie communes that thrived in Brattleboro during the '60s. Those include Tree Frog Farm, which is now the home of the Kopkind Colony, a haven for writers. Brattleboro also has no shortage of literary geniuses. It has been visited by acclaimed writers like Rudyard Kipling and Robert Frost.

Plus, the town has plenty of bookstores, demonstrating it as a haven for the arts and counterculture, like Everyone's Books. This bookstore is known for its collection focusing on the environment and social progress, founded by two peace-loving bookworms. "In this day and age of book banning, it was great to come across such a progressive bookstore," wrote one past visitor on Tripadvisor. "Was able to find a couple of books I'd been seeking for a while." Visitors can also take Brattleboro's hippie spirit home with them thanks to shops like Beadniks, which sells a large array of colorful beads perfect for crafting.

If you ask anyone for an example of what they would consider a hippie town reminiscent of the '60s, we bet that you'll hear one answer repeatedly: Burlington, Vermont. They wouldn't be the only ones. Purportedly, Vermont has more hippies than any other U.S. state, and Burlington is the most hippie town in the state. Since it's a 45-minute drive from Stowe, you won't need to venture far to see why.

Just meander through the pedestrian-only Church Street Marketplace, which is home to yoga, live music, and plenty of bohemian shops and cafés. One favorite is the psychedelic Cosmic Grind Coffee Shop, which offers organic coffee made using environmentally friendly methods. Or, head to Moon Child, which sells handmade dreamcatchers and jewelry, all thoughtfully created using gems, each with its own vibe.

Burlington is also the former home of some of the most famous hippies of today. Phish, a jam band with a fanatical hippie following, started garnering its massive fanbase at music venue Nectar's. Plus, Ben & Jerry's, known for its inclusive ice cream and commitment to social progress, was founded in Burlington in 1978. People can still live the lifestyle that hippies did in Burlington in the 1960s. The city has a half-dozen co-op housing communities, where residents work together to make their house a home. It also has co-op food markets like the Onion River Co-Op.

"The Andy Griffith Show," set in the fictional town of Mayberry, was an iconic television show that audiences enjoyed throughout the 1960s. Although the era is long past, viewers can still enjoy '60s-style Mayberry in Granville, Tennessee, which is about an hour-and-a-half drive from Nashville. Dubbed "Tennessee's Mayberry Town," Granville has tons of throwback destinations, like a general store, a classic car museum, and an "I Love Lucy" museum. "The residents of Granville have done a fantastic job to make visitors feel as if they are stepping back in time and experiencing what a little Mayberry would be like," wrote one past visitor on Tripadvisor.

At the T.B. Sutton General Store, visitors can enjoy the same indulgences that people did during the '60s, like nostalgic candy and ice cream floats. They can also see cars from the '60s at the Antique Car and Transportation Museum. Besides "The Andy Griffith Show," another iconic mid-century show was "I Love Lucy" — and Granville worships that, too. The "I Love Lucy Museum" features artifacts and memorabilia from both shows for $7 per adult and $5 per child. Plus, the town hosts a two-day festival every year honoring both television shows with actor and artist impersonators. But you won't need to visit the museum or the festival to get a taste of "The Andy Griffith Show" here. A replica squad car, as well as character cutouts, line the streets.

Without the creative souls that defined the 1960s, Jerome, Arizona, might not even be here today, let alone be as vibrant. Once a massive mining town named for a mine investor, it was nearly abandoned in the 1950s when the mines closed. But artists and musicians moved in during the 1960s, painting Jerome's then-blank canvas and transforming its derelict structures. Some, enmeshed in the peace and love movement, were eager to get away from the racial unrest in big cities and buy cheap property. The town, which is a National Historic Landmark, continues to be home to tons of artisan shops and art galleries. There's not a franchise in sight. It's all just a 35-minute drive from Sedona.

It's overwhelming to navigate all of Jerome's artsy destinations, but visitors can do so via the Jerome Art & Wine Walk. Held on the first Saturday of each month, the walk offers a firsthand look inside Jerome's one-of-a-kind studios and galleries. You could hop on the free shuttle if the walk is daunting. One spot to see much of the local artwork at once is the Raku Gallery, which displays everything from sculptures to clocks. "Upstairs and down this work is well curated and beautifully crafted [sic]," wrote one past visitor on Tripadvisor. "Tables with inlay to tiny glass birds, leather furniture to snowy owl faces, there is a wide variety of fine crafts here. I could've easily spent $30k, but settled for $100. Best gallery in town!"

In one West Coast town, you can see what the '60s were like across the pond. Leavenworth, Washington, which is about an hour's drive from Chelan, is a blast from the past of mid-century Bavaria, Germany. It's a huge tourist spot — which is how it was designed in the 1960s after the former railroad town went into a slump. The downfall was inevitable once the Great Northern Railway began a new route that left Leavenworth out in the cold. So, the town decided to rebrand and redesign itself as a Bavaria lookalike. Considering that it's surrounded by mountains that don't look so different from the Bavarian Alps, it wasn't the most outlandish plan. Today, the quaint town's main street is still free of car traffic and is surrounded by colorful, A-line buildings that look like they're straight out of Europe. It even has German-themed festivals like Oktoberfest and Christkindlmarkt.

Leavenworth's shops feel just as authentic. It's easy to spend an entire day wandering the nostalgic stores here, like The Cheesemonger's Shop with more than 90 types of cheese and the Gingerbread Factory sweet shop. You can also find plenty of giant German soft pretzels on every corner. One popular spot to get them is the Leavenworth Sausage Garten, which makes sausages using local ingredients. "The brats were delicious, the pretzels prefect and that cheese dip is amazing. Will definitely be back again!" wrote one past visitor on Tripadvisor.

It's hard to believe that less than a 40-minute drive from bustling Cincinnati is Lebanon, Ohio, a quaint town that's like a snapshot from mid-century America. One of the spots that showcases this is the Golden Lamb, which is the oldest business in the state. This inn and dining destination has been the hangout for bigwigs throughout history, ranging from a dozen U.S. presidents to Ke$ha. "If you like older historical hotels, this is perfect!" wrote one past visitor on Tripadvisor. "The restaurant was amazing – high quality food and drinks. Also, didn't expect Lebanon to be such a cool town – tons of antique and art shops, boutiques, nice cafes and restaurants. Already planning a return visit!"

One of those restaurants that dates back to the '60s is the Village Parlor, an ice cream shop and restaurant that was one of the reasons Lebanon saw the boom that it did decades ago. The historic eatery continues to be a family-run business. Or, head to Whit's Frozen Custard for your sweet treats, which sports retro red-and-white stripes. Another vintage spot is Lebanon Candy and Sports Cards, which sells throwback sports cards and collectibles ranging from juke boxes to comic books. For a real taste of the past, visit Lebanon during the summer, when it hosts its annual Route 42 Car Show. A massive car show with judges and prizes, it features cars from the '60s and beyond. Prize categories include the best hot rod and best custom paint.

During the 1960s, Madison, Wisconsin, was an epicenter of the counterculture movement, especially within the University of Wisconsin campus in town. Here, students protested against nuclear testing, the Vietnam War, the draft, a company that made napalm, racism, and more. It's no surprise that Madison is one of the best Midwest cities for history buffs to add to their bucket list. Today, Madison remains just as committed to peace and love, and has plenty of hippie hangouts and events to prove it. The city is a mere 20-minute drive from Middleton, Wisconsin.

Madison is home to Sunshine Daydream, a smoke shop that also sells tie-dye apparel. Smokers also clamor for the Great Midwest Hemp Fest, an annual marijuana festival that includes live music, THC drinks, a hot box, and craft vendors. In true Madison style, it hosts the more-than half-century-old Great Midwest Marijuana Harvest Protest to make THC more available in the state. It's the most storied cannabis protest in America.

Those in Madison with a hippie spirit also love the Willy Street Grocery Co-Op, which has four locations in town. Both members and visitors can choose from organic and natural food items in a tradition that dates back to 1974. "Good healthy food with a funky vibe of people from all walks of life come together to share good eating and togetherness," wrote one past visitor on Tripadvisor.

One of the "it" films of the mid-century was "Giant," which starred major faces of the day like Rock Hudson, Elizabeth Taylor, and James Dean. The tale of a cattle rancher, the movie was filmed in Marfa, Texas, mostly at a ranch called Reata. Today, visitors can still see the remnants of Reata in Marfa, as well as public artwork honoring the movie. The funky city in Western Texas that's 20 minutes from Fort Davis has plenty of other iconic artwork, too. Art galleries and studios fill Marfa, including the Judd Foundation and the Chinati Foundation, which were created by artist Donald Judd. To see all of the Chinati Foundation's creativity for free, head here in October, when an annual weekend-long festival brings the public and artists together.

Marfa's other claim to fame with mid-century roots is glider aviation. Gliders have flocked to Marfa since the 1960s for its ideal soaring conditions, helping it become the home of the World Soaring Championship. People can experience soaring for themselves with Marfa Glider Rides & Sailplane Flights, which offers gliders, sailplanes, gliding, and soaring with a master flight instructor.

When publications evaluate the most hippie town in every state, this Washington choice is heavily favored. Olympia, which is about 60 miles from Seattle, is one of the most underrated cities in the Northern U.S. worth visiting. It also has a college that doesn't issue grades. Public liberal arts school Evergreen State College leaves out traditional elements like class rankings, letter grades, and majors to help students explore their creativity and pave their own learning journeys. It remains popular among students drawn to the hippie lifestyle.

Olympia is also home to lots of hippie stores such as Mary Jane's House of Glass. This two-decade-plus head shop sells cannabis as well as locally-blown and ethically-sourced glass, helping to keep the Washington cannabis community thriving. Another shop that hippies will love is Traditions Fair Trade, a women-owned eatery and community gathering place that sells food and hosts plenty of events. Just a few of its events have included a tea leaf session and a ukulele song circle. "Lots of homemade, organic, natural, vegan – you name it!" wrote one past visitor on Tripadvisor. "Folksy atmosphere – where the locals eat. Awesome one-of-a-kind gift shop with it."

Shoppers should also check out Earthbound Trading Co. It offers a massive array of hippie and boho items like beanies, kantha throws, windchimes, crystals, incense burners, and more. The woman-owned store is committed to inclusivity, creativity, sustainability, and giving back to others.

Yellow Springs, Ohio, which is 30 minutes from Dayton, doesn't just look like a hippie town, but bears the nickname "The Most Hippie Town of Ohio." It's also one of the most underrated small towns in America that is worth visiting. Decades ago, it was a socialist commune, made up of over 100 families. Although the community didn't last long, its legacy remained in Yellow Springs, and locals continued to support progressive politics. Yellow Springs also banned sexual orientation discrimination early on, and was a stop on the Underground Railroad. Major leaders of progressive movements also lived here, like Mary Loritz of the Young People's Socialist League.

Today, that vibe continues colorfully, literally. Many of the local shops and restaurants — and even the telephone poles and benches — are covered in pastel colors. One spot that has color inside and out is The Village Artisans Co-Op. This art gallery and store displays everything from quilts to pottery, all made by local artisans. Another independent store in town — one of the 50 that call Yellow Springs home — is Urban Handmade. It sells items made by more than 70 artists, such as T-shirts with phrases like "Wake Up and Smell the Tyranny" and "Get the Elephant Out of the Womb."