Outside Magazine and American Rivers (the nation’s leading river conservation organization) just completed a contest to determine the top 10 river towns in the nation. Those named were Hood River, Oregon; Nevada City, California; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Asheville, North Carolina; Nashville, Tennessee; Boise, Idaho; Missoula, Montana; Durango, Colorado; Ithaca, New York; and Richmond, Virginia.
Now the public is being asked to help select the best one from a pool of 10 finalists in the Best Town Ever Facebook app. According to a press release, “The contest, sponsored by Good N Natural, will launch on June 12, 2012 at https://www.facebook.com/outsidemagazine and will run through July 10, 2012.” Criteria for the finalists included quality of living and “an active recreational engagement with nearby waterways — kayaking, fishing, boating, walking and bike paths, and riverfront parks — and a positive environmental story.”
The press release states that the winning town receives the official honor of Outside’s “Best River Town in America” and will be featured on the October 2012 magazine cover, Outside Online, and an exclusive segment on Outside Television.
The press release from Outside:
Santa Fe, NM– Outside, America’s leading active-lifestyle brand, announced today their search to determine the best Outside town in America through a three week competition that will be held exclusively on Facebook. The contest sponsored by Good ‘N Natural, launched on June 12, 2012 at https://www.facebook.com/outsidemagazine and will run through July 10, 2012.
Each year, Outside searches for those dream cities that offer a balance of great culture, perfect scenery, stress-free and reasonable cost of living, and, of course, easy access to the outdoors. This year, for its 35th anniversary issue in October, Outside teamed up with the environmental non-profit American Rivers to identify the top 10 river towns in the U.S. and is now calling on the public to help select the best one ever from a pool of ten finalists in our Best Town Ever Facebook app.
The winning town will receive the official honor of Outside’s “Best Town in America” and will be featured on the October 2012 magazine cover, Outside Online, and an exclusive segment on Outside Television.
To select the finalists, Outside and American Rivers scoured the nation for burgs that have both the usual dreamy quality-of-living criteria and also an active recreational engagement with nearby waterways—kayaking, fishing, boating, walking and bike paths, and riverfront parks—and a positive environmental story. After several rounds of vetting by Outside and American Rivers, the following towns were selected: Hood River, Oregon; Nevada City, California; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Asheville, North Carolina; Nashville, Tennessee; Boise, Idaho; Missoula, Montana; Durango, Colorado; Ithaca, New York; and Richmond, Virginia.
“This year’s list of Best Towns finalists is our most competitive yet,” says Outside’s editor Christopher Keyes, “Not only do each of these places offer amazing quality of life and fantastic opportunities for recreation, they also recognize the vital importance of their local waterways and have each made outstanding commitments to protect these resources. I can’t wait to see which town wins.”
“Good ‘N Natural Bars were inspired by the people and the healthy active lifestyle of Sun Valley, Idaho ” Sarah Walker, Co-Founder Good ‘N Natural.
As part of the contest, the public can vote, submit photos, video and comments backing up their selection; content that will have a chance to appear in the Outside magazine and on Outside Television. All voters will have a chance to win a five-day adventure to one of the top ten towns. The winning town will be determined through a combination of total votes; overall support as a result of content submitted; and creativity.
About Outside
Outside is America¹s leading active lifestyle brand. For more than 30 years, Outside has covered travel, sports, adventure, health, and fitness, as well as the personalities, the environment, and the style and culture of the world Outside. The Outside family includes Outside magazine, the only magazine to win three consecutive National Magazine Awards for General Excellence, The Outside Buyer’s Guides, Outside Online, Outside Television, Outside Events, Outside+ tablet edition, and Outside Books. Visit us online and on Facebook.About Good ‘N Natural®
Good ‘N Natural® bars were founded by Sarah Walker and Ann Scales in Sun Valley, Idaho. Sarah and Ann are now its brand ambassadors. Good N Natural® bars are part of the NBTY family of wellness brands.
Chattanooga would top Asheville immediately. I would have to vote for Boise or Missoula though. Also Missoula is about the most chilled town I’ve ever been to.
Why would Chattanooga top Asheville?
“Two kayakers were going down the French Broad, bumming out that they didn’t have any money for beer. One of them fishes an empty beer bottle out of the water, & starts to dry it off, & suddenly, *bing!* there’s a Genie!! Genie says,
“You get one free wish for releasing me.”
The first boater raises his hand & says, “I want you to turn this whole river into beer!!”
Sure enough, *bing!* – the Genie snaps his fingers, & the whole French Broad River turns into beer.
The second boater says, “Why did you do that, you moron? Now we’ll have to piss in the boats!!”