One of America’s Top ‘Hippie Hideouts’ is in Illinois

I'm not a hippie but I enjoy The Grateful Dead.  Wait, what does that mean?

Do hippies still listen to that band or what? Ugh, as you can tell I am unsure of what a hippie is in 2023 but apparently there are still havens, burghs, and towns devoted to living the hippie lifestyle.

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Before I go any further, in case you are unaware of what an actual hippie is in 2023, here's the definition according to Merriam-Webster:

A usually young person who rejects the mores of established society (as by dressing unconventionally or favoring communal living) and advocates a nonviolent ethic

That doesn't necessarily mean hippies need to be young.

OK so now that we got that out of the way, here's a town Travel Alot says is keeping hippies happy.

Their list of 30 of America's Hippie Hideouts includes Makanda.

No, not Wauconda, but Makanda. It sounds like a commune that's an actual town.

Travel Alot:

In the past, Makanda, Illinois was a railroad town struggling to survive. However, in the 1960s, a unique bunch of hippies decided to make Makanda their permanent home. Since then, it's become a haven for all sorts of artistic types who want to live in the midwest.

I don't know of any hippies any longer and it's probably because Makanda is actually many hours from where I live but I know plenty of people who went through that "hippie stage" in life.

You know, peace signs, tie-dye shirts, hacky sacks, those burlap sweatshirts, and plenty of other things that most likely used to be illegal or maybe still are.

Either way, whether the hippie lifestyle is just a phase or something you're considering forever, Makanda is your spot.