ASSATEAGUE — Assateague Island State Park is still in the running for the USA Today’s Readers Choice Top 10 state parks in the country, but the clock is ticking on the expiration date for the contest.
The USA Today is currently in the process of conducting its annual Reader’s Choice Top 10 contests for the favorites around the country in several categories including favorite state park. Assateague State Park made the short list of 20 of the most impressive state parks in the country, but currently lags around the middle of the pack. By mid-day on Thursday, Assateague State Park stood in eighth place among the 20 finalists.
Letchworth State Park in New York was first, Porcupine Mountains Wilderness Park in Michigan was in second and Watkin’s Glen State Park in New York currently sits in third. Just ahead of Assateague State Park in the current standings as of Tuesday afternoon was Custer State Park in South Dakota.
While catching the leaders appears to be a longshot, there is still time to improve Assateague State Park’s place in the standings. The voting is open until noon next Monday, March 31. Local residents and visitors who love Assateague State Park can vote each day for Maryland’s only oceanfront state park. The link is http://www.10best.com/awards/travel/best-state-park/
Assateague State Park shares the northern end of the barrier island with the federal Assateague Island National Seashore. The scenic seaside park offers two miles of ocean beaches perfect for swimming, sunning and collection shells as well as kayaking and canoeing. Its bayside coves and marshes offer opportunities to sport waterfowl, deer, and of course, the island’s famed wild horses.