This Is The Most Hippie Town In Texas And You Need To Visit

If you thought Austin was the most hippie town in Texas, you're in for a surprise. It's actually San Marcos! From its progressive history to its art scene and eclectic coffee shops, this city is much more than just a college town, and it would be a perfect part of a Texas road trip. Here's why:

When we think about San Marcos, two things immediately come to mind: summer days spent tubing on the river with good friends, music blasting, and a couple of cold beers...

...and Texas State University, home of the mighty Bobcats. However, you'd be surprised to hear the city's history. It was a major hub for hippies back in the '60s and '70s, serving as a big influence in the marijuana legalization movement. Many of the free spirits who moved there decades ago still remain.

The hippie vibe is evident in various aspects of San Marcos life, including the thriving art scene.

Every second Saturday of the month from March-December, the Art League holds an event on the historic courthouse lawn called Art Squared. It's an open-air market where vendors sell all sorts of items from paintings to jewelry and everything in between. There's also live music, free yoga and kids' crafts, and a farmers market.

No hippie town would be complete without a zen, eclectic coffee shop, which is exactly what Tantra is.

In addition to serving some of the highest quality joe around, it's also a full-scale restaurant with delicious food like tacos and Banh Mi. Vegan and vegetarian options are available, of course (because that's kind of a requirement for any hippie establishment).

Tantra isn't just a place for eating and drinking, either - they also have an outdoor music venue and art gallery!

Dance the night away to everything from bluegrass to rock-n-roll, and browse some amazing pieces of work made by the city's finest artists. Pretty groovy, right? Tantra is located at 217 Hopkins Street, San Marcos, TX 78666.

A little bit of randomness is essential to creating a hippie atmosphere, and it doesn't get much weirder than dinosaurs in a candy shop.

The Candy Wraptor Dinosaur Cafe and Candy Store had prehistoric beasts scattered all over the restaurant. There was even a hidden dinosaur for you to hunt for. Plus, if you took your picture with Val the Velociraptor, you'd get a free treat! The café had a full menu with sandwiches, pizza, burgers, and salads, as well as a separate vegan menu and a plethora of sweets. Of course, the food items were named appropriately - would you care for a "Three Horn" pizza? Or perhaps a "Mega Raptor" burger? (Editor’s Note: Unfortunately, The Candy Wraptor has permanently closed)

Have you been to any of these places in San Marcos? What are some other hippie towns in Texas? Let us know in the comments. Don't forget to visit Hippie Hollow, the most unique beach in Texas!