The struggle for first place in Budget Travel's "Coolest Small Town" contest is a heated one! When voting opened three weeks ago for the second and final round, Hammondsport, NY, became the forerunner among the top ten. For the majority of the time, Weaverville, CA, has been trailing closely behind. However, in the last week, Beaufort, NC, has risen substantially in the ranks and has been giving Hammondsport a run for its money. As of Friday morning, Hammondsport had 30.1 percent of the vote, while Beaufort had 30.0 percent. Weaverville holds third place with 18.7 percent.

Although a record 647 small towns across the country were nominated in round one, Hammondsport pulled out on top, with two other Finger Lakes towns, Penn Yan and Naples, trailing closely behind. Hammondsport is the only New York town in the final top ten, which is why it's important to remember that a vote for Hammondsport is a vote for the Finger Lakes, and New York State as a whole. Of the more than 230,000 votes as of Friday, Hammondsport has earned just over 69,000.

Voting is permitted every 24 hours, so remember to return and vote again! Voting ends January 31. http://www.corningfingerlakes.com/about/hammondsport

The Steuben County Conference & Visitors Bureau, along with Finger Lakes Wine Country Tourism Marketing Association, has decided to sweeten the deal with a contest of their own. Vote for Hammondsport and enter to win a weekend getaway to our cool small town! The getaway includes two nights and Black Sheep Inn, dinner for two at Union Block Italian Bistro, two passes to the Glenn H. Curtiss Museum, two wine tasting passes to Heron Hill Winery, and two wine tasting passes to Bully Hill Vineyards, along with lunch for two at Bully Hill Restaurant. The getaway is for a Friday/Saturday or Saturday/Sunday stay, depending on availability. To enter the sweepstakes, visit bit.ly/winhammondsport. The sweepstakes also ends January 31.

"Watching everyone rally behind Hammondsport has been very exciting," said Peggy Coleman, President of the Steuben County Conference & Visitors Bureau. "It's a close race, but Hammondsport supporters from across the country are continuing to cast their vote each day, and are making sure their friends are doing so, too. We're trying to keep the momentum up during this final week of voting, and we're hoping our new contest will do the trick."

Along with Hammondsport, towns in the running for the title include: Beaufort, NC, Cape May, NJ, Cooke City, MT, Damascus, VA, Jerome, AZ, Nashville, IN, Port Townsend, WA, St. Genevieve, MO, and Weaverville, CA. Hammondsport received 8,036 votes in the initial round. The next highest contender was Weaverville with 999 votes, followed by Beaufort with 468.

In order to be considered for "Coolest Small Town," there were a few requirements. Population had to be below 10,000, and the town had to have "that indescribable 'something'," according to the tourism-promoting site. "In other words, cool doesn't necessarily mean quaint: We want towns with an edge and a heart."

They say home is where the heart is – and Hammondsport certainly has ways of capturing the hearts of all who visit there. Located at the head of Keuka Lake in the heart of Finger Lakes Wine Country, Hammondsport possesses a certain old-world charm, wrapped in exquisite beauty. With deep roots in both wine and aviation, its history is unparalleled. Whether you're a history buff, an adventure seeker, an art lover or a wine enthusiast, Hammondsport has something for you. So much beauty and adventure packed into a pulsating community of warm and friendly people makes Hammondsport one very cool place.

"To have Hammondsport included in the running for Budget Travel's Coolest Small Town in America is great for Finger Lakes Wine Country as a whole," commented Morgen McLaughlin, President and CEO of Finger Lakes Wine Country Tourism Marketing Association. "Finger Lakes Wine Country continues to be recognized on a national and international level and this is another wonderful opportunity to showcase our beautiful region, ultimately driving interest and visitation."

During the first round of voting, both the Steuben County Conference & Visitors Bureau and Finger Lakes Wine Country Tourism Marketing Association created a video to showcase Hammondsport's cool factor. The video appears on the Budget Travel website.

"We are very happy here in Hammondsport to be one of the Top Ten for this honor and the only town in New York!" said Marybeth Haar, manager of the Hammondsport Chamber of Commerce. "We only have 8 days left in the competition, so please make sure to go the website every day and cast your vote for Hammondsport, the Finger Lakes & New York State!"

The town deemed the "coolest" will be featured in the 2012 September/October issue of Budget Travel magazine.

http://www.budgettravel.com/contest/americas-coolest-small-towns-2012,11/

The Steuben County Conference & Visitors Bureau was established in 1994. As Steuben County's official tourism marketing agency, our mission is to aggressively promote the visitor industry year-round and thereby stimulate economic growth.

Finger Lakes Wine Country is the most affordable and beautiful wine country destination in North America with four wine trails; over 100 wineries and over 400 unique things to do including shopping and dining experiences, world-class museums, and a local culture that is both warm and welcoming. For further information on this year-round destination visit www.FingerLakesWineCountry.com, www.Facebook.com/FingerLakesWineCountry, www.Twitter.com/FLWineCountry, or call 800.813.2958. Download the free Finger Lakes Wine Country mobile travel app at www.FLWC.mobi.

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