CITIES CLOSE TO POINT REYES SEASHORE HOW TO

Population: 5,038 Nearest City: Colorado Springs, 6 miles Now, the signposts up and down Xenia Avenue are covered with knitted 'graffiti.' One day, knitting appeared wrapped around a tree downtown, and soon passersby were bringing yarn to add to it. Public art has taken on a new meaning in the town, as well. Across town, the Yellow Springs Dharma Center, a Buddhist retreat draped in Tibetan prayer flags, holds meditation and chanting sessions (502 Livermore St., 937/767-9919, ). No Common Scents sells more than 250 varieties of herbs and spices from across the globe (1525 Xenia Ave., 937/767-4261, ), and Clemente Ullmer's shop, La Llama Place, is stocked with crafts from South America (224 Xenia Ave., 937/767-8650, lallama). 'You can breathe here and feel very comfortable expressing yourself,' says Kim Korkan, co-owner of The Winds Cafe & Bakery, which serves dishes using ingredients mostly from local farms (215 Xenia Ave., 937/767-1144,, rhubarb halibut $24).Īlthough the college was forced to close this summer because of financial problems, Yellow Springs is thriving: The main drag, Xenia Avenue, is lined with shops, cafés, restaurants, and galleries. Yellow Springs has been a beacon for artists, activists, and creative thinkers since progressive Antioch College opened in 1852. Yellow Springs, Ohio Population: 3,675 Nearest City: Dayton, 21 miles

CITIES CLOSE TO POINT REYES SEASHORE HOW TO

Ask politely and the staff might tell you how to get to the clothing-optional Mazo Beach-or Bare-Ass Beach, as it's known among some in town. You can buy Wisconsin-made souvenirs at Walter's General Store (34 Brodhead St., 608/795-4455) stay at the Walking Iron B&B, an 1865 Italianate house (21 State St., 877/572-9877,, from $90) and rent bicycles at ProCycle (30 Brodhead St., 608/795-0019, procycle). Even the Wall Street Gallery & Bistro exhibits artwork (14 Brodhead St., 608/576-6694,, pastas from $15).īut there's more to life than art. Along with galleries, Mazo boasts the Mazomanie Historic Arts Center (103 Crescent St., 608/575-9390, ) and Mazomanie Movement Arts Center, a dance studio with a circus camp (2 Brodhead St., 608/795-0014, ). 'You can't swing a stick in these hills without hitting an artist,' says Brumley.

Mazo (may-zoh) is chockablock with artists, many of whom were drawn here by the historic downtown and cheap real estate. The co-op began in 2006 with five artists and now has 18-as well as a café, A Better Buzz. 'I got tired of driving through a ghost town,' says Bob Brumley when asked why he founded his artists' co-op, the Iron Horse Gallery (18 E. Population: 1,522 Nearest City: Madison, 24 miles > See available real estate in the coolest small towns 'After my first visit after college, I spent the rest of my life figuring out how to live here,' Manarik says. The beautiful scenery may make you want to put down roots. Eat them where locals do-up the road at The Marshall Store (19225 Hwy. The bay's oysters, it must be said, are the best around. When you're ready to experience some nature, Chicago native Laurie Manarik leads hiking trips to see seal pups and conducts nighttime kayaking excursions to check out bioluminescence in nearby Tomales Bay ( Point Reyes Outdoors, 11401 Hwy. Nearby, Cowgirl Creamery produces excellent soft-ripened cheeses, such as the Pierce Point, which is made from organic whole milk, washed in organic Riesling, and rolled in herbs (80 Fourth St., 415/663-9335, ). Also inside, the baristas at Toby's CoffeeBar pour cappuccinos with rippled hearts in the foam (11250 Hwy.

At Toby's Feed Barn, second-generation owner Christian Giacomini runs a farmers market, gallery, and yoga studio, while still selling hay and salt licks. The dilemma in Point Reyes Station is what to do first: explore Point Reyes National Seashore (415/464-5100, nps.gov/pore) or just wander around and eat.

Cities close to point reyes seashore