Best of the Road: Most Fun Town

Still in the running

The votes have been counted and Yellow Springs has been selected as one of six towns competing in the category of Most Fun in the first ever Best of the Road contest sponsored by USA TODAY and Rand McNally.

Thirty U.S. towns have been selected by popular vote and editors' input from more than 600 nominated communities. The categories include most beautiful, most patriotic, friendliest, most fun and best for food.

Yellow Springs competition for Most Fun is Vacaville, California; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; Santa Claus, Indiana; Glenwood Springs, Colorado and Sioux City, Iowa. Based upon voter comment, Yellow Springs is a strong competitor. "No chain stores and (many) independent restaurants. Always something going on; on a sunny day you find street musicians or artists,” “Friendly, fun and festive... a small town with a big heart!” and “I'd vote for Yellow Springs in every category if I could. I make the hour drive there at least every other week in the summer.”

On June 23, five teams of travelers will hit the road from New York City, getting into Los Angeles on July 15. Along the way, each team will visit six towns in an assigned category as well as points of interest en route. Team assignments and schedules have not been given to the communities yet but Yellow Springs is expecting their team to stop sometime from June 26-29.

The Best of the Road teams will be capturing their three-week adventure via videos, photos and updates at bestoftheroad.com. At the end, each team will choose the No. 1 town in each of their respective categories (to be announced July 22). The towns will be highlighted on the Rand McNally website and in the 2013 Rand McNally Road Atlas, as well as on USA TODAY's Travel site.

For more information, contact the Yellow Springs Chamber of Commerce at 937.767.2686. For information about Yellow Springs, visit www.DestinationYellowSprings.com.

Update: Jules & Joan alert!

"TravelingJules and TravelingJoan" will be leaving SC on Monday morning meaning they'll get here late on Monday. They'll be here all day Tuesday and Wednesday morning. There will be a lot going on downtown all day Tuesday; it will be like a week-end day- live music, chalk art, perhaps a flash mob, juggling and just general fun. On Tuesday night there will be some live music and perhaps a flashmob or dance group. I think Soul Fire will also be performing. A lot of the evening activities will be at the "Art Park" at 100 Corry St. Come on downtown if you can to join in the fun.

There will be a welcome to town Tuesday morning at 10 at the Train Station that everyone is invited to.