Friday, June 03, 2011

'Best of the Road' finalists include friendly, fun, beautiful, patriotic and 'best for food' rural spots

Several rural towns are among the 30 finalists in the "Best of the Road" contest sponsored by USA Today and map firm Rand McNally. The contest has five categories.

The "Most Beautiful" category includes Baker City, Ore.; Pacifica, Calif; Sandpoint, Idaho; and Franklin, Tenn., which has kept much of its county-seat charm while being swallowed by metropolitan Nashville.

"Friendliest" could be Walla Walla, Wash.; Woodward, Okla.; Nacogdoches, Tex.; or Mount Airy, N.C., which has adopted the Mayberry identity created by native son Andy Griffith.

The "Most Fun" category includes Yellow Springs, Ohio; Vacaville, Calif.; Glenwood Springs, Colo.; and Santa Claus, Ind., home of a popular amusement park, Holiday World & Splashin' Safari, formerly Santa Claus Land.

"Most Patriotic" includes Emporia, Kan.; Rapid City, S.D.; and Williamsburg, Va. And "Best for Food" includes Addison, W.Va., better known as Webster Springs. The USA Today story is here.

No comments: