Categories include "best air show," "best small town for shopping," "best safari park," and more!
Every year, USA Today puts out its Readers' Choice 10Best Lists to encourage travel throughout the nation. Virginia has snagged an astonishing seven nominations for 2020, proving once again what a great destination the Commonwealth is for a getaway. However, the final winners are determined by online voting. Lucky for you, we've compiled all the categories that have Virginia nominees to make it super-easy for you to help each one rise to the top!
Please note: You can only vote once per category per day.
Check them out below:
Best Historic Small Town
Nominee: Williamsburg
From 10Best website: "The USA has a rich and exciting history, and visiting the places which most affected it is so much more fun than reading about it. These 20 nominees for Best Historic Small Town have big histories and small populations – fewer than 35,000 people as of the last census – making them fun and affordable ways to dive into our nation's past. We need you to help us choose a winner by voting for your favorite once per day until Monday, June 29, at noon ET. The 10 winning small towns will be announced on Friday, July 10. Read the official Readers' Choice rules here."
Williamsburg is up against Abilene, TX; Valparaiso, IN; and Mackinac Island, MI, among others. Vote for Williamsburg here.
Best Coastal Small Town
Nominee: Chincoteague
From 10Best website: "Our 20 nominees for Best Coastal Small Town – each with a population of fewer than 25,000 people as of the last census – offer uncrowded, unpretentious and affordable seaside fun in small packages that prove bigger isn't always better. Vote for your favorite once per day until polls close on Monday, June 29 at noon ET. The 10 winning small towns will be announced on Friday, July 10. Read the official Readers' Choice rules here."
Chincoteague is up against Venice, FL; Georgetown, SC; and more. Vote for Chincoteague here.
Best Small Town Food Scene
Nominee: Abingdon
From 10Best website: "Tasty things sometimes come in very small packages. These 20 small towns – each with a population of under 25,000 – have big food scenes with chef-driven restaurants, local flavors and plenty of variety, especially given their small size. Which is your favorite? Vote once per day until the poll closes on Monday, June 29at noon ET. The 10 winning small towns, as determined by your vote, will be announced on Friday, July 10. Read the official Readers' Choice rules here."
Abingdon is up against Oxford, MS; Newport, RI; and more. Vote for Abingdon here.
Best Small Town Cultural Scene
Nominee: Staunton
From 10Best website: "Bigger isn't always better, especially when it comes to these 20 small towns, each with a population of fewer than 30,000 people (as of the last census). What each lacks in size it makes up for with a big cultural punch – museums, art galleries, performing arts and busy event calendars. Vote for your favorite once per day until voting ends on Monday, June 29 at noon ET. The 10 winning small towns will be revealed on Friday, July 10. Read the official Readers' Choice rules here."
Staunton is up against Sheridan, WY; Chautauqua, NY; and more. Vote for Staunton here.
Best Small Town for Shopping
Nominee: Middleburg
From 10Best website: "Eclectic boutiques, art galleries, antiques stores and farmers markets – these small towns with populations of less than 25,000 are perfect destinations for some retail therapy. Vote for your favorite once per day until polls close on Monday, June 29 at noon ET. The winning small towns will be announced on 10Best.com on Friday, July 10."
Middleburg is up against Berlin, MD; Montpelier, VT; and Highlands, NC, among others. Vote for Middleburg here.
Best Safari Park
Nominee: Virginia Safari Park in Natural Bridge
From 10Best website: "You don't have to fly to Africa to go on safari! At these 20 safari and wildlife parks, nominated as the best in the U.S., visitors get up close and personal with exotic and endangered animals from around the country and the world. Many of the facilities are accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and have a focus on conservation as well as education. Vote for your favorite once per day until polls close on Monday, July 6 at noon ET. The 10 parks that receive the most reader votes will be announced on Friday, July 17. Read the official Readers' Choice rules here."
The Virginia Safari Park is up against safari parks at Yellowstone National Park, Disney's Animal Kingdom, and more. Vote for the Virginia Safari Park here.
Best Air Show
Nominee: NAS Oceana Air Show in Virginia Beach
From 10Best website: "From late spring through mid-autumn, skies across the United States play host to some of summer's highest octane events: air shows. Attending one of these 20 American air shows, a selection of the best in the nation, lets aviation enthusiasts get up close to a variety of flying machines while watching stunt teams and pilots show off their skills high in the sky. And you don't have to be an enthusiast to have a good time either. Vote for your favorite air show once per day until voting ends on Monday, July 6 at noon ET. The winning events as determined by your vote will be announced on 10Best.com on July 17. Read the official Readers' Choice rules here."
The NAS Oceana Air Show in Virginia Beach is up against air shows in Cleveland, Fort Worth, San Diego, and many more. Vote for Virginia Beach's show here.
Do you agree with all these nominations? Will you be voting every day? Tell us in the comments!