The Mid-Atlantic and Southeast boast many towns with vibrant outdoor scenes and access to world-class adventure. In August, readers of Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine will select their favorites to ultimately crown the region’s best towns for outdoor adventure.
The Magazine’s staff narrowed the field to 100 contenders for the 14th annual Top Adventure Towns Contest. They are prime mountain biking destinations, whitewater oases, climbing paradises, hiking havens, thriving craft beer hubs, and vibrant live music spots.
Starting August 5th, readers will select the top outdoor town in four categories: large town (population 75,001+), medium town (population 16,001 – 75,000), small town (population 3,001 – 16,000), and tiny town (population less than 3,000).
- Round 1- August 5 – 18
- Round 2- August 19 – 25
- Round 3- August 26 – 31
The four winning towns will be featured in the November issue of Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine. Last year’s winners include Roanoke, Va. (large town), Boone, N.C. (medium town), Bedford, Va. (small town), and Blowing Rock, N.C. (tiny town).
“There are many towns in the Blue Ridge with stellar access to recreation and vibrant cultural scenes created around the outdoors,” says editor-in-chief Jedd Ferris. “Every year we look forward to our readers helping us spotlight the region’s best adventure destinations.”
Vote for your favorite adventure towns starting August 5th by visiting: https://www.blueridgeoutdoors.com/toptowns
For more information, contact associate publisher Katie Hartwell at 434-817-2755 x 25 / katie@blueridgeoutdoors.com or editor-in-chief Jedd Ferris at jedd@blueridgeoutdoors.
The 100 finalists in the Adventure Towns contest include:
TINY
- Berkeley Springs, W.Va.
- Blowing Rock, N.C.
- Bryson City, N.C.
- Burnsville, N.C.
- Cape Charles, Va.
- Cherokee, N.C.
- Damascus, Va.
- Davis, W.Va.
- Elijay, Ga.
- Elkton, Va.
- Fayetteville, W.Va.
- Floyd, Va.
- Halifax, Va.
- Helen, Ga.
- Hot Springs, Va.
- Lake Lure, N.C.
- Marlinton, W.Va.
- McHenry, Md.
- Old Fort, N.C.
- Park City, Ky.
- Shepherdstown, W.Va.
- Spruce Pine, N.C.
- St. Paul, Va.
- Sylva, N.C.
- Townsend, Tenn.
SMALL
- Abingdon, Va.
- Bedford, Va.
- Belmont, N.C.
- Boonsboro, Md.
- Brevard, N.C.
- Clifton Forge, Va.
- Dahlonega, Ga.
- Dawsonville, Ga.
- Elizabethton, Tenn.
- Galax, Va.
- Gatlinburg, Tenn.
- Hendersonville, N.C.
- Lewisburg, W.Va.
- Lexington, Va.
- Marion, Va.
- Pickens, S.C.
- Prestonsburg, Ky.
- Somerset, Ky.
- Somerset, Pa.
- Summersville, W.Va.
- Travelers Rest, S.C.
- Walhalla, S.C.
- Waynesville, N.C.
- Woodstock, Va.
- Wytheville, Va.
MEDIUM
- Alpharetta, Ga.
- Annapolis, Md.
- Beckley, W.Va.
- Boone, N.C.
- Bristol, Va./Tenn.
- Charlottesville, Va.
- Clemson, S.C.
- Cumberland, Md.
- Danville, Va.
- Frankfort, Ky.
- Fredericksburg, Va.
- Greenville, S.C.
- Harrisonburg, Va.
- Johnson City, Tenn.
- Maryville, Tenn.
- Moncks Corner, S.C.
- Morganton, N.C.
- Morgantown, W.Va.
- Sevierville, Tenn.
- State College, Pa.
- Staunton, Va.
- Waynesboro, Va.
- Winchester, Ky.
- Winchester, Va.
- Woodstock, Ga.
LARGE
- Alexandria, Va.
- Asheville, N.C.
- Augusta, Ga.
- Bowling Green, Ky.
- Charleston, S.C.
- Charlotte, N.C.
- Chattanooga, Tenn.
- Chesapeake, Va.
- Clarksville, Tenn.
- Columbia, S.C.
- Columbus, Ga.
- Frederick, Md.
- Hampton, Va.
- Knoxville, Tenn.
- Lexington, Ky.
- Lynchburg, Va.
- Philadelphia, Pa.
- Pittsburgh, Pa.
- Raleigh, N.C.
- Richmond, Va.
- Roanoke, Va.
- Roswell, Ga.
- Virginia Beach, Va.
- Wilmington, N.C.
- Winston-Salem, N.C.
