Ludington Seeks Your Vote In Its Quest To Be 'America's Best Town'

After edging out Grand Marias, MN to win Outside magazine's 'Best Beach Town' title, Ludington now challenges Billings MT in the semi-finals of the 'America's Best Town' bracket. Vote early, vote often to make it happen.

Like most Lake Michigan beach towns, Ludington offers wide beaches, a harbor for boaters, and the prerequisite lighthouse. But what is it that sets Ludington apart from the rest?

According to Outside it's the length of beach front that impresses, seven miles to be precise, and the Pere Marquette River's added quality of fishing and kayaking that lifts it past the others. Not to mention the tight-knit community and the annual Freedom Festival.

So if you're a former Oriole, or just a fan of Michigan beaches, get your butt over to the voting page and give Ludington some help.

“The contest has been running for more than 30 years, but now has a recent twist to it,” said Jonah Ogles, senior editor for Outside Magazine recently told the Ludington Daily News.

The contest this year put the towns into divisions and ran them off against each other in a tournament similar to March Madness. Readers advanced Ludington past other beach towns like Cape May, New Jeresy; Bayfield, Wisconsin and Bellingham, WA.

It's current challenger in the Best Town compeition, Billings, won the River Town category. The other tow towns in the Final Four are Jackson, WY, the Mountain Town winner, and Seattle, WA, who outlasted the competition to win the title of Culture Town.

“It’s fun and puts each town’s pride up against each other,” said Ogles.

The voting in this round lasts until Thursday, and Ludington currently trails Billings by about 500 votes, so get on it.