Maryland Town Voted 'America's Coolest Small Town'

Does spring fever have you planning a trip to the Eastern Shore to stroll the Ocean City boardwalk or glimpse the wild ponies on Assateague Island?

Maybe you should consider visiting Berlin, Md., population 4,563, voted "America's Coolest Small Town" by Budget Travel.

"We just had no idea we had so many friends," Berlin Mayor Gee Williams told WBAL-AM 1090. "We are absolutely delighted, especially because this started out as an unbelievable outpouring of pride and friendship initiated by our citizens, but what allowed us to win was this pride, this friendship extended well beyond this town's borders."

The results were announced Feb. 25.

Here’s how the travel site describes Berlin, in part:

“Berlin … (is) a truly spectacular place to visit or put down roots. Like the beautiful backdrops in the films Tuck Everlasting and The Runaway Bride? Thank Berlin, where both movies were shot. Ready for a getaway that includes Maryland's awesome Ocean City beach and boardwalk and gorgeous Assateague Island? They're just a few miles from Berlin's downtown (a National Register Historic District), which plays host to fun events all year long, from the regular farmers market to one-of-a-kind bashes like the Berlin Fiddlers Convention, New Year's fireworks, Victorian Christmas (complete with horse-drawn carriages), and even bathtub races! Whether you're a beach lover, hiker, kayaker, bird watcher, or history aficionado, put Berlin on your list of small-town must-sees.”

The top 10 Coolest Small Towns in the contest were:

1. Berlin, Md.

2. Cazenovia, N.Y.

3. Buckhannon, W.Va.

4. Travelers Rest, S.C.

5. Mathews, Va.

6. Nevada City, Calif.

7. Rockport, Texas

8. Estes Park, Colo.

9. Galena, Ill.

10. Elkin, N.C.