FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Allegany County Office of Tourism
701 Kelly Road
Cumberland, MD 21502
aworkman@alleganygov.org
www.mdmountainside.com
Allegany County Nominated by USA Today as ‘Best Place to Visit for Fall’
The county is among a list of national destinations recognized by USA Today’s 10Best
August 13, 2024 - CUMBERLAND, MD – USA Today 10Best travel editors have once again bestowed national recognition on Allegany County, the Mountain Side of Maryland. The destination has been nominated as one of the best places in the United States to visit during fall by USA Today’s 10Best. The travel awards contest and online voting launched for “Best Places to Visit for Fall” this week and will continue through Monday, September 9th at 11:59 am EDT. The top 10 winners, as ranked by USA TODAY 10Best readers, will be announced on Wednesday, September 18th at noon EDT.
“Given our extensive outdoor recreation and natural assets, the foliage alone tends to be a driver of fall travel,” said Ashli Workman, Director of Tourism. “Anytime our destination is recognized at a national level is a positive for the tourism industry. Nominations are made by travel experts, so being included on this list for two years in a row is quite an honor.”
With scenic overlooks, world-class bike trail systems such as the Great Allegheny Passage and C&O Canal Towpath, 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.
USA Today editors worked with a panel of travel experts to nominate the best destinations for fall, as part of USA Today’s annual 10Best list. “These 20 places have been nominated by an expert panel 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 website states.
The other nominated destinations include: Asheville, NC; Bar Harbor, ME; Bayfield, WI; Branson, MO; Cody, WY; Columbus, OH; Door County, WI; Estes Park, CO; Galveston, TX; Gatlinburg, TN; Greenville, SC; Hamilton County, IN; Ithaca, NY; Lafayette, LA; Loudoun County, VA; Mackinac Island, MI; Saratoga County, NY; Stowe, VT; and Taos, NM.
No stranger to the USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards, Allegany County was named the #2 “Best Place to Visit for Fall,” in 2023. Community partners and attractions also featured this past year include “Best Small College Town” (Frostburg, MD, ranked #3); “Best Recreational Trails in the US” (Great Allegheny Passage ranked #4); “Best Outdoor Concert Series” (Levitt Amp Cumberland Music Series ranked #4); “Best Scenic Train Ride” (Western Maryland Scenic Railroad ranked #7) and “Best Historic Small Town” (Cumberland, MD, ranked #8).
The top 10 “Best Places to Visit for Fall” will be narrowed down by public voting. You can vote for Allegany County, Maryland, by visiting 10Best Readers' Choice Awards, once per day until polls close on Monday, September 9 at noon EDT.
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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