ASSATEAGUE– Berlin might be America’s coolest small town, but is another area locale the Best U.S. Island?
Assateague Island was recently nominated by USA Today editors as one of 20 islands up for consideration as the “10 Best.”
“Assateague Island is where lucky visitors find themselves sharing 37 miles of pristine beaches: not with other tourists, but with the island’s famed herds of wild ponies,” the article read. “This rare stretch of undeveloped Mid-Atlantic Coast is also home to the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge and Assateague Island National Seashore, both on the Atlantic Flyway, making it a prime island destination for birdwatchers.”
Criteria for nomination included beauty, accessibility, variety of terrain, things to do, wildlife, local culture and popularity.
Evelyn Shotwell, Executive Director of the Chincoteague Chamber of Commerce, said she heard about the nomination after receiving an email from Libby McMillan, Content Manager and Senior Editor of 10Best, which is a division of USA Today Travel Media Group.
A Facebook and Twitter campaign has been initiated to get out the vote, as well as an email campaign directed at chamber members, festival attendees and “folks requesting general information on the area,” Shotwell said. Radio and newspaper campaigns are also underway.
Shotwell and Historic Main Street Merchants president Carla Landolt are in the process of scheduling a meeting with Berlin town officials to “compare notes on the coolest and happiest towns in America.”
“We were also nominated in February by Coastal Living as one of ‘Top 10 Happiest Seaside Towns in the U.S’ – that was a voting contest as well,” Shotwell said. “We have also been voted ‘#2 Travelers Choice Island in the U.S.’ by TripAdvisor. This makes the third significant honor in 2014 for Chincoteague Island.”
Based on the criteria listed for nominees Shotwell thinks Assateague has an excellent chance at winning.
“Choices were made based on beauty, accessibility, variety of terrain, things to do, wildlife, local culture, and popularity,” she said. “We certainly meet all these criteria, so I don’t see why our chances would not be fantastic!
“Any nationwide publicity of this magnitude is an economic stimulus to any area,” Shotwell continued. “Being voted in the top 10 would be great for media attention, which would increase event attendance and visitation in general. Increased visitation means increased revenues to individual businesses.”
Voters have until noon on June 2 to vote on all of the nominees. Winners will be announced on June 4. Visit www.10best.com/awards/travel/best-u-s-island to vote.
Assateague Island was recently nominated by USA Today editors as one of 20 islands up for consideration as the “10 Best.”
“Assateague Island is where lucky visitors find themselves sharing 37 miles of pristine beaches: not with other tourists, but with the island’s famed herds of wild ponies,” the article read. “This rare stretch of undeveloped Mid-Atlantic Coast is also home to the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge and Assateague Island National Seashore, both on the Atlantic Flyway, making it a prime island destination for birdwatchers.”
Criteria for nomination included beauty, accessibility, variety of terrain, things to do, wildlife, local culture and popularity.
Evelyn Shotwell, Executive Director of the Chincoteague Chamber of Commerce, said she heard about the nomination after receiving an email from Libby McMillan, Content Manager and Senior Editor of 10Best, which is a division of USA Today Travel Media Group.
A Facebook and Twitter campaign has been initiated to get out the vote, as well as an email campaign directed at chamber members, festival attendees and “folks requesting general information on the area,” Shotwell said. Radio and newspaper campaigns are also underway.
Shotwell and Historic Main Street Merchants president Carla Landolt are in the process of scheduling a meeting with Berlin town officials to “compare notes on the coolest and happiest towns in America.”
“We were also nominated in February by Coastal Living as one of ‘Top 10 Happiest Seaside Towns in the U.S’ – that was a voting contest as well,” Shotwell said. “We have also been voted ‘#2 Travelers Choice Island in the U.S.’ by TripAdvisor. This makes the third significant honor in 2014 for Chincoteague Island.”
Based on the criteria listed for nominees Shotwell thinks Assateague has an excellent chance at winning.
“Choices were made based on beauty, accessibility, variety of terrain, things to do, wildlife, local culture, and popularity,” she said. “We certainly meet all these criteria, so I don’t see why our chances would not be fantastic!
“Any nationwide publicity of this magnitude is an economic stimulus to any area,” Shotwell continued. “Being voted in the top 10 would be great for media attention, which would increase event attendance and visitation in general. Increased visitation means increased revenues to individual businesses.”
Voters have until noon on June 2 to vote on all of the nominees. Winners will be announced on June 4. Visit www.10best.com/awards/travel/best-u-s-island to vote.