Dreamy Destinations for a ‘Slow Living’ Lifestyle in the Midwest

Over the past few years, a subtle trend has been happening all across the United States. It’s not a viral challenge or a trending app. The trend is a surprising one: that people are chasing for a “slow living” lifestyle. 

This slow living lifestyle is on trend because of the peace and freedom it offers to people. To know more about the lifestyle and places where you can access it, let’s go along the rest of this article. 

What Is Slow Living and Why Are People Choosing It?

This “slow living” lifestyle is exactly as it sounds like: it refers to exchanging the busy and bustling city life for a more peaceful, calm, and intentional life that’s just connected to your own world, apart from unnecessary noises. It’s like, you are choosing farmer markets over your daily food delivery apps. Choosing more front porches, and fewer commutes. And you have neighbors whom you actually know by their names.  

Slow living not only offers you a slow and peaceful lifestyle, it also takes you closer to yourself. Getting away from all the chaos and busyness, you can avail more time for yourself. You get back your energy, and you get the opportunity to live around only the people who matter for you, away from all the formalities. Eventually it improves your mental health.

With remote work being more and more normalized day by day, it has now become easier for people to access the slow living they have always desired. This is why people who love peace and serenity are choosing slow living now more than ever. 

Top 5 Destinations for Slow Living Lifestyle in the Midwest

While coastal towns across the country are offering this lifestyle, the Midwest is also getting stronger with its slow living appeal recently. Clean lakes, beautiful small towns, rolling farmland, and a great sense of community: you find them all in the midwest, that too at a very affordable cost. Here are 5 destinations that would match your desired slow-living perfectly.

1. Galena, Illinois

Built along the Galena River, this historic downtown looks like it’s still in the 1800s. The truth is that the town and its people are very serious about the city’s architectural heritage, and as a result you get to experience one of the most beautifully-preserved streets in the United States.

Slow living lovers here enjoy the weekend antiquing, hiking, wine tasting, and enjoying the evenings with their favorite ones at beautiful local restaurants. With a population of only around 3,000 people, you get to know all your neighbors quite soon. Overall, whether you are craving for the peace of living all by yourself or looking for a friendly neighborhood: Galena has an answer for you.

2. Lake Geneva, Wisconsin

Lake Geneva is one of the most pristine lakes in the midwest. The town also is a walkable, small, and lovely one. Here you will find tree-lined streets, beautiful waterfront restaurants, independent bookshops, and a community that’s really friendly and co-operative.

For people who love slow living, Lake Geneva might seem like the perfect spot. In the summer mornings, you can spend your time by kayaking and paddleboarding. In the fall, the landscape around turns into something that seems as pretty as a painting. Winter comes with the cozy evenings, a peaceful silence, and the warmth of winter markets. In spring, you’ll enjoy fresh air, wildflowers, and farmers markets. In a sentence, the community will make you feel like leaving the city was your best decision ever!

If you are thinking about getting into this market, it will be wise to first explore the available homes for sale in 53147. By browsing through these Lake Geneva, WI zip code 53147 housing listings, you will get a better idea about the nature and prices of properties in the heart of the area, which will make the decision-making process much easier.

3. Traverse City, Michigan

Many people agree that the presence of water around makes the vision of slow living stronger. If you think the same, then Traverse City is for you. 

You’ll find Traverse City surrounded by water, beautiful cherry orchards, and some excellent wine country. The popularity of the town is going upwards over the past few years, but still it remains a community-first, unhurried character that feels like a genuinely amazing place to settle down. 

Even the outdoor lifestyle is amazing here. You can go sailing, kayaking, cycling through a forested shoreline, or skiing in the winter. You have a lot to do here, but nothing would actually make you feel rushed. Farm-to-table restaurants along with a fast growing farmers market enriches the local food scene, ensuring you can access healthy food easily.

4. Bayfield, Wisconsin

If you want to enjoy your slow living around nature, you will hardly find a better option than Bayfield. With a population of just over 400, this tiny town is a gateway to the Apostle Islands Lakeshore, a spectacular collection of 21 islands with lighthouses, sea caves, and more attractions. 

Bayfield runs on art and apples. You’ll find some of the finest apples in the surrounding orchards, and the town’s vibrant art scene attracts people who love slow living but with some proper entertainment opportunities. Life is quiet and beautiful here, and pretty much affordable too. This is a kind of place where people come on vacations and plan to stay afterwards.

5. Hermann, Missouri

Hermann offers you an European-influenced charm that is rooted in their wine culture and a cinematic feeling. 

Germans founded this city back in 1800 with the intention of rescuing its culture, and the spirit is still alive today. You will find many working wineries here, along with historic architecture and year-long festivals. Between all the tourist moments, at the end of the day it’s a quiet and welcoming river town where life is slow and the scenery doesn’t get old.

Final Thoughts

One of the common misconceptions regarding slow living is that you must sacrifice enjoyment opportunities if you want to pursue it. The Midwest towns mentioned in this article just break this myth. Here, you will enjoy great food, friendly community, amazing natural scenery, and a great sense of belonging. And you get all these within an affordable cost.