FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Allegany County Office of Tourism
701 Kelly Road
Cumberland, MD 21502
aworkman@alleganygov.org
www.mdmountainside.com
Allegany County, MD, Named one of USA Today’s Top 10 Places to Visit for Fall
The county is among a list of national destinations recognized by USA Today’s 10Best
September 19, 2024 - CUMBERLAND, MD – A recently released vote in the 10Best Places to Visit for Fall list ranked Allegany County, the Mountain Side of Maryland, affectionately known as ‘Mountain Maryland,’ third for the best place to visit for the upcoming fall season.
A panel of travel experts partnered with USA Today's 10Best editors to select the initial 20 nominees, which included Allegany County. “These 10 destinations have been selected by an expert panel and voted by our readers as the best places to visit in the U.S. during fall for their beautiful scenery, fantastic weather, and wealth of seasonal activities and events,” the USA Today 10Best website states.
Ultimately, the public had the final say, voting on the ‘best fall destinations’ from the top 20 during a four-week online voting contest, and the mountainside was honored with breaking not only the top ten, but top five.
“This award is a testament to the work, investments, and experiences our region and our partners are elevating,” said Ashli Workman, Director of Tourism for Allegany County. “Fall in Mountain Maryland has always been a popular season, with the fall foliage alone being a driver of travel. We are honored and continue to work hard to inspire others to see and experience the beauty of our region.”
The top ten winners in this category are as follows:
- Gatlinburg, Tennessee
- Mackinac Island, Michigan
- Allegany County, Maryland
- Lafayette, Louisiana
- Estes Park, Colorado
- Saratoga County, New York
- Loudoun County, Virginia
- Columbus, Ohio
- Cody, Wyoming
- Branson, Missouri
With scenic overlooks, world-class bike trails systems such as the Great Allegheny Passage (a USA Today 10Best Recreational Trail 2024 recipient) and C&O Canal Towpath, the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad excursions (a USA Today 10Best Scenic Train Ride 2024 recipient), tree-lined scenic byways through some of the area's historic towns, and 70,000 acres of public land, there are plenty of opportunities and reasons to experience fall in Mountain Maryland.
Forecasters predict signs of fall as soon as this weekend in higher elevations of the county, with widespread peak foliage the week of October 12-20, 2024. Allegany County Tourism has packaged a list of places to visit to experience the best fall foliage throughout the county, as well as a bucket list of fall experiences, road trips, and fall festivals and events, on their website - www.mdmountainside.com/startshere.
10Best.com provides users with original, unbiased, and experiential travel content of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world. Their contributing staff is made up of a collection of local travel experts that specialize in the region or city they write about.
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Allegany County Tourism
Allegany County Tourism is the official tourism office for Allegany County, Maryland. Allegany County Tourism enhances the quality of life in Allegany County, Maryland, and strengthens destination awareness through promotion, development, and services that attract visitors to stay longer and spend more in our community. A comprehensive listing of area attractions, lodging options, and community events can be found at www.mdmountainside.com. Tourism supports 3,600 jobs in Allegany County, generating $168 million in visitor spending and $48 million in tourism tax revenues annually. Source: Tourism Economics