There's a book out there called "Colleges that will change your life." I think it would be a good read for you -- it gives more weight to the personality and philosophy of the school, and less to largely-meaningless statistics. Other than that, I would suggest that you apply to Eugene Lang in NYC, but that's based on my very vague knowledge of what you're into.
And sorry, but I have to join in the dogpile here. Liberal towns in the South are very, very liberal -- like more yoga studios than gas stations liberal.
