Real Estate Blog - Step Right Up! The 'TOP 5' Contest is Underway!~UPDATED DAILY

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Step Right Up! The 'TOP 5' Contest is Underway!~UPDATED DAILY

Ahhh, summer. What could be finer?
Lazy days spent by the lakeshore gazing at the rippling water. Starry nights where the velvet sky is endless in it's vast and lonely depths.
Garden parties and festivals in the open air with a thousand white, folding chairs lined up in a row while bands play on an open stage and feet everywhere keep time with the tune.
It's almost summer, glorious summer!

This is the season for tourists and festivals and beaches and camping and outings to historical sites and outdoor concerts and hikes to places of un-imaginable beauty.

Everywhere, absolutely everywhere, there are places that should be seen at least once.
We, the residents and business people of each community, have the opportunity to write about these places and let the newcomers or visitors to our areas in on the best places to see or things to do.
What better place to do this than with our blogs?

As announced in an earlier post, the Localism Success and Accountability Group is into it's 7th month now and with the advent of summer and tourism season, it's time our group hosted it's first contest!

The TOP 5 contest is an opportunity for you to write a post about the TOP 5 places to visit or things to do when visiting your little corner of the world.

Perhaps there is a beautiful beach or archaeological feature where you live that everyone should see when they come to your region.
Perhaps it's a historical site or a natural feature such as a waterfall.
Perhaps it's a man-made theme park or zoo or waterpark. It's up to you!

What are the TOP 5 attractions that a visitor or newcomer to your region should see and why?

Guidelines:

1. Your post must be entirely your own writing and there is no limit on length.

2. Your post must be posted to the Localism Success and Accountability Group and to Localism in your area.

3. At the end of the contest, each entrant will be given a list of all entries and asked to rate them; hence each entrant will also be a judge for the contest.
You will not be rating your own, however.
I have asked Carole Provenzale to assist me in compiling the final results and only she and I will see the ratings that each entry is given.

4. Your post must include 5 of the TOP things to do/see in your area.

5. The title of your post must include the words 'The TOP 5' or 'The Best'.

6. The contest will run from June 13th to the end of the day June 30th.

7. Your post may be used towards your Localism Success and Accountability Group goals if you are participating in the group and will fall into whichever goal period it is posted under.

8. You must be a member of the Localism Success and Accountability Group in order to participate. Group membership is open to all Active Rain members.

9. Prizes will be awarded as follows:

1500 Points~ First Place
1000 Points~ Second Place
750 Points~ Third Place
200 points ~ For all other entries (over and above the 200 standard post points. Please note that you may enter as many entries as you wish, however you will only receive the 200 additional points for one of your entries).

Each winning entry will be featured in the Localism Success and Accountability Group for 7 consecutive days

AND, IN ADDITION

the TOP 7 posts will be featured in a SPECIAL EDITION of the Active Rain Newsletter !!
The newsletter, produced by Active Rain, will be sent out to all Active Rain members within a week of the contest closing date.
Hats off to Active Rain for this brilliant idea that gives even greater exposure to the winning entries!

I will keep a running list of entries at the bottom of this post, so check back often.
If you post an entry and don't see it on the list, please let me know by email or in the comments section of this post so I can be sure to add it to the list.

The best of luck to all of those who enter !

Edited: Here is an ongoing summary of all entries to date. Drop by each one and read about the best of the best from each area of our wonderful members! :

Top 5 Things to Do in Gilbert, AZ, Even in the Summer!!
Elena Thurston, Family Real Estate Specialist

THE TOP 5 THINGS YOU GOTTA DO AND SEE IN SUNNY MIAMI!!!
SONIA CORDOVES

Top 5 Things to Do in Costa Mesa with Young Kids
Christine Donovan Costa Mesa Real Estate (Broker/Attorney)

The BEST THINGS to Do While Visiting the Hawaiian Islands!!
Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman (RA), Hawaii Real Estate & Hawaii Relocation

Best of Bucks County. Top five things to see and do when you visit.
GITA BANTWAL, REALTOR BUCKS COUNTY, PA HOMES

'The TOP 5' Things to DO and SEE in Lake Arrowhead, California
Kathy "Kat" DeLong, REALTOR

The Top 5 Things to Do in the D.C. Metro Area according to Local REALTOR Brian Block
Brian Block -- Northern Virginia & D.C. Real Estate

The TOP 5 (The Best!) Things To See and Do In The Temecula Valley
Tom Plant - Murrieta Real Estate Expert - Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage

Top 5 in Chattanooga - Events and Places in the Scenic City
Richard Smith

Top 5 Things to do in North San Diego County
Deborah Burroughs, Agent/Loan Officer

The Top 5 Thing to Do When You're in Prince William County, VA
Chris Ann Cleland, GRI

Vero Beach, Florida, 5 Top Things To Do
Barbara Martino-Sliva, Vero Beach Real Estate, Homes for Sale

The Top Five-Things You Most do While Visiting the DC Area
Cindy Jones-Offering Real Estate Service for the 21st Century in Northern VA

Top 5 Things to Do in the Triangle Area of North Carolina
Tracy Santrock - Cary NC Real Estate

Sunday Morning New Hampshire~#13~My Favorite Top Five Spots In Concord, New Hampshire
Joan Mirantz- Concord New Hampshire Realtor

The Top 5 Things To Do In The Charlottesville, Virginia Area
Pam Dent -Charlottesville, Albemarle,VA horse farms, residential, country homes

The Top 5 Things to do in the Phoenix, Arizona Area
Kathy Anderson - Sun City Grand Real Estate

The Top 5 Things to Do & See in Lower/Middle Westchester, NY
Ruthmarie Hicks

The Top 5 (Bestest in the Westest!) Things to Do in Chilliwack & The Surrounding Area, B.C. this Summer
Liz Moras, Re/Max Associate Broker Chilliwack (Vancouver), B.C.

Maui Wedding Anniversary - the top 5 things to do
Georgina Hunter Maui Realtor

Jo-Anne Smith, B.Sc.
Sales Representative
Royal Lepage ProAlliance Realty, Brokerage
Belleville, Ontario
613-922-5978 Direct
613-966-6060 Office/Pager

Jo-Anne Smith, the author of this article, is a REALTOR® with Royal Lepage ProAlliance Realty, Brokerage, in Belleville, Ontario and welcomes your real estate inquiries. To contact her, visit www.QuinteRegionRealEstate.com

Posted by Jo-Anne Smith- Oakville, Burlington and Mississauga Region Real Estate, Ont on 06/13/2008 06:36 AM

Comments (77)

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Originally posted at: Transitions-Burlington and Oakville Real Estate Blog: Step Right Up! The 'TOP 5' Contest is Underway!~UPDATED DAILY

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77 Comments on Step Right Up! The 'TOP 5' Contest is Underway!~UPDATED DAILY

JUN

2008

great post

Jo, what a great idea for a contest! I'll definitely be writing a post for this contest as it something that we should all be writing about anyways. Thanks for the inspiration.

Jo,

This should be a great way of compiling a list of 'places to visit'...when gas prices fall...!!! Thanks, Fran

Jo, Thank you for your trust. I can't think of a better contest to have right now, wonderful to "get your name out there" in your area---and it will show client's how much you really know about your area. Although i can't enter, I can post and my problem would be deciding which five are my favorite, I have so many places I just love here! Thanks for your dedication to your group.

JO: this is an awesome contest. COUNT ME IN!

Jo-Anne,

Now I have to think over the Father's Day weekend...UGH....let me see what I can come up with.

Great idea ... wondering about Florida in the summer, though ...although there are great places to visit besides Disney here in Central Florida.

Ann Hutchens, MDIV, CRTS

Senior Move Manager

Creating Divine Order

Casselberry, FL

www.creatingdivineorder.com

Great idea. Thank you for organizing this contest. I will write about my area and will go to take fresh photos of it.

Thanks for the contest. I love Top 5 lists!! My favorite post was a Top 5 list. :) I'm glad I found this group and this contest.

Jo - Glad this got featured in the AR daily email - I've been so busy I haven't had time to check all the groups lately, but now I will add this to my "to do" list!

What a great contest.......but in my little neck of the woods I will definatly have to think about that as I travel down to Savannah to take the hubby for fathers day.

Marie

Hi Jo,

Another great idea. With so many creative folks in the Rain this should be a great way to spotlight many of the communities.

What a great incentive to get us contributing!

Tahnks!!!!!

What a fabulous idea!! I can't wait to tell all the wonderful parts of Palm Springs.

Only 5?! I'll get to work narrowing down my faves right now! Thanks!!

Thanks Fernando, I hope to see an entry from you.

Brian,

I'm really looking forward to reading your post and learning about the TOP 5 things to do/see in your area. This will be a great reference when taking a trip cross-country.

Fran,

It certainly will be....maybe everyone will have to switch over to a hybrid vehicle as I don't see gas prices falling anytime soon and it would be a shame to miss all the great things to see and do in the summer months.

thanks for visiting this post!

Jo - What an outstanding idea for a contest. i have so many things to write about where I live. I'll get on it!!!

Howdy Jo-Anne

This is a really fine sounding contest to enter, and write about places to see, and things for folk's to do in our own areas. Thank you for coming with the idea of it. ( Can do ).

God Bless The U.S.A.

I am definitely going to be working on this one. What a great idea! I've got some work to do.

Awesome Jo Anne! I just finished doing a 6 part series on 110 Things to Do in Chilliwack and the Surrounding Area ..........so now I get to pick through and find the Top 5 Bestest from all the Restest! :-) Fun!

Jo-Anne, I would not be a former English teacher, if I did not ask.... "Don't you mean July?" Ok, I am sorry, at least I didn't pull out a red pen (and I do still have some of those around.)

Now, to the point, this sounds like fun! I may have to actually enter a contest on ActiveRain... don't tell anyone, I don't think I ever have in the past and I still might chicken out...

OK - you've got my brain started on this, now there's no stopping.

OK.....this is right up my street.... I'll be working on this one. That's for sure!

Jo,

This localism thing is turning me into a camera nerd. My wife and children (grown) are calling me a tourist.

I walk around with a camera.

I have never, ever worried about taking pictures. Now we have to stop and wait because I see something.

This contest is not going to help my new problem. :>

Richard

JUN

2008

Only 5? There are so many great things to do in Costa Mesa and Newport Beach, never mind the rest of Orange County. I'm going to have to think hard to narrow them down.

Good morning Carole!
Thank you for agreeing to help out with the final tallying of this contest...I greatly appreciate it. It certainly will bring greater exposure for our many fine Active Rain agents and I'm looking forward to reading about all of the beautiful areas and their attractions.

Jo

Hi Kat!
I'm so glad you're going to enter and I look forward to reading your entry!

Jo

Dan, Don't think too hard...just take the family on some outings to local attractions and take a lot of pictures! Then come back and blog about it.

((-:
Jo

Ann~ I'm looking forward to hearing about the other attractions in Central Florida...mostly we only hear about Disney.

Irina~ I look forward to reading your post and seeing your pictures!

Hi Elena,

Very funny TOP 5 list! thanks for stoping by,

Penny,
I haven't yet seen it in the AR daily mail...for some reason I don't get all of the newsletters. Perhaps it's something with the new servers.
Thanks for your nice comment and I look forward to your entry!

hi Marie,
Enjoy your trip to Savannah and I'm looking forward to seeing what you come up...

Good morning Lynda,

Yes, it certainly will give great insight into what's to see and do in many of the beautiful areas we live in. An AR travel guide!

Mary Ellen~ Thank you. I look forward to reading your entry!

Ronnie~I'm looking forward to hearing all about Palm Springs. Thanks for your thoughtful comment.

Jo

Crista~ I look forward to hearing about the Top 5 in your region.

Tom P~ Thanks! I know your post will be filled with wonderful photos of your area....

Jo

Dale~ I'm looking forward to reading your entry and learning more about your area as viewed through your eyes!

The Muldowney Team~I'm looking forward to seeing what you come up with!

Awesome Idea for Localism Jo-Anne - Hopefully I can put one together before the 30th!!!

Sincerely,

Grace

Jo - once agin you are on the forefront here. What an excellent boost for the localism group. The only problem I have wuill be finding the time with all that is going on right now. All the best to those who do have the time to enter.

WoW, Liz!
It sounds like you've got quite the list to choose from...I'm looking forward to seeing which you've decided are the top 5.

Jo

Stephen,
Don't chicken out...the post you write will be very useful to many folks visiting your area and to newcomers. Perhaps even some people who have lived in your area forever will get use out of it!

Jo

Georgina,
I'm looking forward to seeing what stops your brain makes along the way in determining the top 5 attractions in your region. thanks for stopping by!

Ruthmarie, Great! Can't wait to read your post...

Jo

Richard,

Thanks for the evening smiles...I am just picturing all of the AR members going around with their cameras forever at the ready. It's a good thing your family are such good sports about it!

Jo

I'll be sure to get something going....ah...for the love of a Localism post :)

JUN

2008

Jo,

I'm in! You just gave an excellent excuse to play hookie :)

Alright! I'm in. Nova Scotia at it's best! I better warm-up the camera and get shooting!

Christine,
It sounds like Orange County is definitely a place to aim to visit. I'm looking forward to reading your TOP 5 choices!

Hi Jeff and Grace,

I'm really looking forward to reading your TOP 5 list, especially since I may be passing through your area in late July or mid August and would like to view the best attractions your area has to offer! I'll be sure and let you know when I'm passing through as I'd love to meet you both in person.

((-:
Jo

Hi Kathy,

Maybe Barrie can help you out with a TOP 5 post? I'd really love to see what your TOP 5 picks are for the Uxbridge area...then I'll know which places to make a point of visiting next time I'm up your way. Plus, I'd love to read a post written by you on this!

((-:
Jo

Hi Sally,

Your TOP 5 post is one I'm really looking forward to reading...it must be hard to narrow it down with so many beautiful natural features in your region. It could be a compilation of many of the blogs you've done previously on local attractions....beautiful pics and videos, not to mention history.

Jo

I was just wondering about that and I was going to ask you!!!! That's great. Now I can get busy :)

JUN

2008

Hi Jo,

Sorry this comment has nothing to do with your great contest. I just want to say I love the new background!

Marzena,

Hookey away!! I look forward to reading your TOP 5 post....

Jo

hi Paul,

I was hoping you would enter! I want to visit Halifax area again sometime in the next few years and I plan on using your blogs as guidelines on the best things to see and do when I go.

((-:
Jo

Sally,
I can't wait to see what you come up with....I know one thing for sure, I'll be using your blog as a guide when I'm able to visit Hawaii one day.

Jo

Thanks Trace!
I appreciate you dropping by to say that. The heading image is a picture I took at North Beach Provincial Park one of our local beaches and the background image is the Bay Bridge here in Belleville.

Jo

JUN

2008

Thanks for giving me the inspiration to do this. I enjoyed it.

Jo-Anne this contest is starting to hit the big time! It looks like a number of people are already jumping in feet first! I need to get started on mine. Jo-Anne, I think we all owe you a big thanks for bringing such a strong emphasis to Localism and just how important these posts are.

Jo-Anne Thank you for the contest. I have submitted my post about Bucks County.

Hi Christine,

I'm looking forward to reading your post!
Jo

Stephen,

Thanks kindly. I'll watch for your post!

jo

Hi Gita,

It was nice talking on the phone with you! I've added your entry to the others and wish you the best of luck...

Jo

JUN

2008

Jo, I've just added my entry: The Top 5 Things to Do in the D.C. Metro Area according to Local REALTOR Brian Block

Thanks for the motivation to write this post -- I fell like a tour guide and I'm always happy to show off everything that the D.C. area has to offer.

Good morning Brian!
I'm looking forward to reading your post (off to do that right after I leave this comment) and very glad to hear you had fun writing it! good luck in the contest.

((-:
Jo

JUN

2008

Jo - I love this contest! You got me off my *ss.

JUN

2008

((((-: You're cute, Tom.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading your 'TOP 5' post and of all the areas in the USA, your's is one of the ones I would like most to visit. This is a result of reading all of the posts you've written about your region and viewing the lovely photos you've taken. Good luck in the contest!

Jo

JUN

2008

Shucks - it looks like I have more homework ahead of me for the evening.

OK - I did it, just under the wire.... I was away all weekend and thought I would combine my weekend experience into a post... since I had a lot of good pictures, and it was a great getaway!

Read about the Maui Prince Resort....

Hi, I'm new to this, but I just posted mine as well....I'm really cutting it close!

Well Jo - here's my Top Five just under the wire...:-) Top Five things to do in Chilliwack & Surrounding area...Thanks for putting together this contest.......It was fun reading all the entries!