2026 Best of the Mountains Awards

2027 Best of the Mountains Awards

Submit your nominations for the finest in the Blue Ridge today!

It’s time to vote in our Best of the Mountains Readers’ Choice Awards!

From the Best Events & Festivals, to the Best Stays and Plays; the Best of the Outdoors, to the best in Food & Drink – we need YOUR help to identify and honor the very finest in the Blue Ridge mountains. Here’s how it works!

ROUND 1 – Nomination Round (now through May 31, 2026)

Vote for your favorites from the nominees listed on the ballot, or write in your own picks to get them in the running. Every write-in nomination also counts as your vote in that category during this round! 

ROUND 2 – Finalist Round (June 10 – July 12, 2026)

Based on your votes in the first round the top nominees will advance to the finals and all write-in activity will be closed, leaving the best of the best to go head-to-head and determine the ultimate winners!

Voting is broken up into three regions: Upper Blue Ridge (VA, WVA and KY), Central Blue Ridge (NC and TN) and the Lower Blue Ridge (SC and GA) – you can vote is as many or as few regions as you like!  

The Nomination /Voting period has ended. Please look for the results posted in the November/December 2026 issue.

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Ten years after this poll’s inaugural launch, we once again turned to our knowledgeable readers for their picks. The results? A brand-new collection of 71 exceptional Blue Ridge communities that excel at bringing big smiles to the faces of both residents and visitors.
Happiest Towns in the Blue Ridge Mountains contest

2026 Happiest Towns Contest

Win a $2,500 Luxury Cabin Getaway!

Win a $2,500 Luxury Cabin Getaway

Contest Ends at Midnight on April 30, 2023
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Happiest Towns in the Mountains: Our Readers Have Spoken, with a Smile

Here are the results of reader voting for the towns with the biggest smiles-in three population categories.