Even by the standards of modern British politics, it’s been a tough week for freedom-minded types. Reports that the Government may soon ban smoking in pub gardens will have had many libertarians fearing for the future of personal choice.
While it may be a small relief, one of the pleasures of travel is to revel in some of the freedoms that have been curtailed at home. Whether it’s smoking indoors or al fresco drinking, escaping the clutches of the nanny state can make a good holiday even better.
So where can liberty lovers head to for their next break? The Nanny State Index, compiled by the economist Christopher Snowdon, is a good place to start, although it only covers Europe. It’s a shame there isn’t an equivalent for the United States, given the fluctuations from one state to the next.
As someone who has visited more than 20 US states, I like to maintain my own mental liberty index of which of them are the most freedom-loving. And the answers aren’t always as obvious as you might expect.
Take Kentucky, for example, a rugged “red state” which prides itself on keeping the government off one’s back. Yet while it may be very hands off for gun rights, much of the southern parts of the state are still burdened with strict, Baptist-inspired alcohol restrictions, with some counties forbidding its sale entirely.
Similarly, the state of Texas has long enjoyed a reputation for cowboy-style individualism. Yet head to any of its otherwise brilliant major cities (Houston, Dallas, Austin) and you’ll likely encounter the same irritating restrictions on smoking, as well as the same snobbish attitudes, as you would in most European cities.
Indeed, these days the Lone Star State seems to be losing ground to Florida, which combines punchy libertarianism with an impressive appetite for eccentricity. Though you might have to get away from the theme park stronghold of Orlando if you want a taste of real, Republican Florida.
“Florida’s Gulf Coast is highly underrated,” says Dave Seminara, a writer and former diplomat living in St Petersburg (Florida). “I’d certainly much rather visit here than mix it up with the posers in Miami. We have the epic sunsets, the state’s best beaches and a far more relaxed vacation vibe than the Atlantic coast.”
For the ultimate libertarian getaway I’d recommend a trip to the Sausage Castle (a low-budget version of the Playboy Mansion) or the Daytona Beach Bike Week (a booze-soaked biker rally where riding without a helmet is perfectly legal). Both should be bucket-list items for anyone who likes their holidays to be larger than life.