I’m not saying Richmond definitely won Outside Magazine’s “Best Town Ever” contest — the winner will be featured on the front of the October issue — but I know this: The world’s leading outdoor lifestyle mag sent a writer and a photographer here for three and four days each a couple of weeks ago. That seems like a lot of effort and money to put in to featuring a city that didn’t win the big prize. We won’t know for sure until some time in September, when the winning city will be notified, but if I had to bet, I’d put my money on the RVA.

In the meantime, there’s another contest outdoor lovers in the area need to gear up for. Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine has opened voting in three categories: “Best Small Mountain Town,” “Best Mid-Size Mountain Town,” and “Best Outdoor City.” Richmond is currently in second behind Chattanooga in the last category, but we have a lot of ground to make up. Richmond currently has 640 votes to Chattanooga’s 1,826. That’s okay, though. There’s plenty of time to make up the shortfall. Tell your friends and neighbors and get voting!