SKOKIE, Ill., May 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The second annual Best of the Road® campaign, announced by Rand McNally and USA TODAY, only has two weeks left to nominate and vote for your town. More than 450 towns have been nominated by locals, businesses and CVB members to compete for a spot on the Best of the Road® Rally routes. Thirty finalist towns will compete in five categories to be named Most Beautiful, Most Patriotic, Friendliest, Most Fun or Best for Food.

The campaign is more than a contest. It draws awareness to lesser-known tourism gems across America and supports small town economic growth.

"There's a greater awareness of the locally-owned restaurants and the chefs in the area and what a valued resource that is. It's helped people appreciate what they do and it gives visitors a reason to come," Kelly Strenge, PR & Special Projects Manager Lafayette Convention and Visitors Commission, expressed passionately.

"It's not just about the contest; it's about economic vitality. We're not a timber town anymore; we're a visitor town. We have the best of both worlds and the town was ready to grow up and become a media highlight. [Best of the Road®] helped our small businesses stay in business," said Kate McAlister, Sandpoint Chamber President.

Murray, KY, Bardstown, KY, Denton, TX, Mandan, ND and Burnsville, MN are leading the voting for 2012 in Friendliest, Most Beautiful, Most Fun, Most Patriotic and Best for Food.

To enter your town nomination with a review, visit www.bestoftheroad.com now till May 15. Share your nomination on Facebook, Twitter, and forward to friends and family to boost your entry's chances of winning. Get the whole community involved!

Press Contacts:

Weber Shandwick for Rand McNally
Jessica Parker, jparker@webershandwick.com, 212-445-8263       
Maggie Johnson, mjohnson@webershandwick.com, 212 -445-8153

SOURCE Rand McNally

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