Sandusky named best coastal small town

SANDUSKY — The people have spoken, and Sandusky is the best coastal small town in America.In USA Today's Readers' Choice Best Coastal Small Town contest, voters nationwide collectively decided Sandusky is the country's predominant waterfront city, offering diverse amenities and one-of-a-kind recreational opportunities to both residents and guestsThe contest featured 20 cities, but, for most of the voting period, Sandusky and Rockport, Texas, engaged in a back-and-forth battle for the top spot. Though, in the end, Sandusky emerged as the best.Sandusky's title of Best Coastal Small Town reaffirms what many people already know — and, just as importantly, validates the hard work that's gone into revitalizing the city during the past decade."Sandusky has come a long way over the years, and that's because we have a community that believes in itself and puts the work in to be better," city manager Eric Wobser said. "A vote like this shows the pride we have in our community."Members of the local community celebrate Friday at Daly's Pub in downtown Sandusky after learning their city won first place in USA Today's Readers' Choice Best Coastal Small Town contest.The city, the local tourism bureau Lake Erie Shores & Islands and Daly's Pub hosted a live watch party Friday at the Columbus Avenue restaurant. The Register filmed the reveal, which is available for demand viewing on sanduskyregister.com or on its YouTube channel.The restaurant was packed with people who showed up to see if Sandusky would come out on top."Sandusky is this gem of a city," said Shannon Thomas, the owner of Open Way Yoga on West Water Street. "It's the gem of Ohio for sure, and everybody should know about it. It's this amazing city on the bay."Abbey Bemis, the Erie County Economic Development Corp.'s executive director, holds up her cellphone to record a live video feed, which showed Sandusky winning first place in USA Today's Readers' Choice Best Coastal Small Town contest. A watch party attended by many community members took place Friday at Daly's Pub in downtown Sandusky.She wasn't the only business represented at the watch party. Representatives from Firelands Regional Medical Center, the Erie County Economic Development Corp., Sandusky Segwave, H2 Properties, Lake Erie Shores & Islands and more were all in attendance.The room erupted in cheers as the results came across the screen at noon with some people, like city housing development specialist Debi Eversole, being moved to tears of joy."I've worked for the city for three-and-a-half years and have watched all the great developments taking place," Eversole said. "It's just a great feeling to know it counts, and it's an honor to be a member of the best coastal small town."Ryan Whaley, center, a local entrepreneur who runs Noble Axes and Volstead Bar in downtown Sandusky, holds up his cellphone to record a live video feed, which showed Sandusky winning first place in USA Today's Readers' Choice Best Coastal Small Town contest. A watch party attended by many community members took place Friday at Daly's Pub in downtown Sandusky.Sandusky has miles of shore along the lake, a revitalized downtown, unique shopping and a variety of dining options and entertainment venues you couldn't find anywhere else.The city is home to Cedar Point — the second-oldest and arguably the best amusement park in the country — which offers a world-record 72 rides.The first-place finish is the result of years of hard work to turn the town into a great community to live in and the best destination on Lake Erie, but the city won't be resting on its laurels."If we keep this momentum going there's nothing we can't achieve in Sandusky and the surrounding Lake Erie Shores and Island region," Wobser said.The city is preparing to move into a new City Hall in the downtown, which is the result of a more than a year of renovations and an $11.5 million investment.That's only a portion of the $300 million being invested in the city by new businesses, building renovations and construction across Sandusky.The Boy with the Boot statue in Washington Park in downtown Sandusky on May 23, 2018. City standingsHere's where each city competing in USA Today's Readers' Choice Best Coastal Small Town contest ranks after people across the nation submitted votes during a month-long balloting process:1. Sandusky, Ohio2. Rockport, Texas3. Chincoteague, Virginia4. Georgetown, South Carolina5. Bay St. Louis, Mississippi6. Gulf Shores, Alabama7. Southport, North Carolina8. St. Simons Island, Georgia9. Saugatuck, Michigan10. Bayfield, WisconsinMembers of the local community gathered for a watch party Friday at Daly's Pub in downtown Sandusky for the results of USA Today's Readers' Choice Best Coastal Small Town contest. Sandusky placed first in the contest.Reach reporter Michael Harrington at michaelharrington@sanduskyregister.com, follow the Register at Facebook.com/SanduskyRegisterMembers of the local community gathered for a watch party Friday at Daly's Pub in downtown Sandusky for the results of USA Today's Readers' Choice Best Coastal Small Town contest. Sandusky placed first in the contest.Members of the local community gathered for a watch party Friday at Daly's Pub in downtown Sandusky for the results of USA USA Today's Readers' Choice Best Coastal Small Town contest. Sandusky placed first in the contest.