Ludington still a contender for Outside Magazine “Best Town in America” poll.

LUDINGTON  – Ludington is getting national recognition in a recent online voting competition to name Outside Magazine’s “Best Town in America.” However, today is the last day to vote and Ludington is falling behind in votes. Polling closes at midnight for a shot in the final four. Currently, Ludington is in the top eight.

Voting can take place at www.outsideonline.com/2056761/best-towns-2016.

Ludington was one of 60 towns selected by Outside Magazine editors and four Wild Card Entries, grouped into the beach category that was one of four key categories: Beach, river, mountain and culture. In the first four weeks of the six-week contest ending May 27, Ludington bested fellow beach towns Cape May, N.J.; Bayfield, Wis.; and Bellingham, Wash. It now goes toe-to-toe with Grand Marais, Minn., until May 14, the last two Midwest cities in the poll.

“We’re pretty pumped to be on this list and see Ludington advance against other cities with bigger name recognition,” said Kathy Maclean, executive director for the Ludington Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. “We’d love to challenge all Michiganders to get behind Ludington and help take us to the Semifinals. But no matter the outcome, we already know we have a winning town with Ludington.”

Billed as “America’s leading active and adventure lifestyle brand,” Outside Magazine has covered travel, sports, adventure, health, and fitness, as well as the personalities, the environment, and the style and culture of the world since 1977. Outside Magazine defines the Best Town in America as “the kind of place with top-notch restaurants, vibrant farmers’ markets, friendly neighborhoods, and unparalleled access to hiking and biking trails. In short, the perfect jumping-off point for adventure.”

The magazine will feature the final 16 towns in its September 2016 issue, including Ludington.  Below is a list of the initial 60 cities nominated for Outside’s Best Towns 2016 Competition:

• BEACH: Bolinas, Calif.; Los Angeles, Calif.; Bellingham, Wash.; Cape May, N.J.; Wilmington, N.C.; Ketchikan, Ala.; Ludington, Mich.; Miami, Fla.; Milwaukee, Wis.; Duxbury, Mass.; Islamorada, Fla.; Fairhope, Ala.; Yachats, Ore.; Bayfield, Wis.; Pacific Grove, Calif.; Grand Marais, Minn.

• RIVER: Milford, Ohio; Phillipsburg, Mont.; St. Louis, Mo.; Portland, Ore.; Salida, Colo.; New Orleans, La.; Nevada City, Calif.; Livingston, Mont.; Boise, Idaho; Bend, Ore.; Gunnison, Colo.; Charlotte, N.C.; Leavenworth, Wash.; Sioux Falls, S.D.; Harper’s Ferry, W.Va.; Billings, Mont.

• MOUNTAIN: Silver City, N.M.; Salt Lake City, Utah; Durango, Colo.; Jackson, Wyo.; Sun Valley, Idaho; Steamboat Springs, Colo.; Sedona, Ariz.; Tucson, Ariz.; Bishop, Calif.; Waynesville, N.C.; Waterbury, Vt.; Marquette, Mich.; Jim Thorpe, Pa.; Staunton, Va.; Talkeetna, Alaska; Mammoth Lakes, Calif.

• CULTURE: Cleveland, Ohio; Ojai, Calif.; Taos, N.M.; Atlanta, Ga.; Princeton, N.J.; Austin, Texas; Seattle, Wash.; Denver, Colo.; Amherst, Mass.; Chapel Hill, N.C.; Brunswick, Maine; Hanalei, Hawaii; Aspen, Colo.; Savannah, Ga.; Beacon, N.Y.; Imperial Beach, Calif.