After a five-week long battle for votes, Grand Marais, Minn., has won Budget Travel Magazine's 10th Annual America's Coolest Small Town Contest.  Fifteen cool small towns from across the United States competed for the title, with the stiffest competition coming from Chincoteague, Virginia. However, Grand Marais supporters met the challenge by garnering 30 percent of the vote.  Voting closed at 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, March 4.

“Supporters genuinely believe Grand Marais is America's coolest small town,” says Linda Kratt, executive director of Visit Cook County.  “There isn't any other small town in the Midwest that has mountains and views of Lake Superior, the Gunflint Trail/Boundary Waters Canoeing Area gateway, as well as great dining, shopping, arts and music.  Our visitors, generations of families and friends truly understand the unique character of our quaint harbor village.  We thank you for your sustained support.”

“Budget Travel loves the way Grand Marais residents and visitors have this amazing enthusiasm for outdoor sports and the rugged wilderness and also a real appreciation and cultivation of the arts, from guitar-making to plein air painting. It is truly a uniquely cool community!” says Robert Firpo-Cappiello, editor in chief of Budget Travel magazine (budgettravel.com).