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"Dr. Evermor" Forevertron is considered the largest scrap metal sculpture in the world. - Mary Bergin

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Whenever there's an election, you hope for fair play. No stuffing of the ballot box, no heavy-handed grandstanding, no bullying to sway the results.

Earlier this spring, a committee of Wisconsin travel writers -- plus the state's first lady, Jessica Doyle -- asked readers to vote for your favorite small towns (population less than 15,000) in 20 categories at www.wondersofwisconsin.com. We'd wince when hearing rumors that one community or another was out to blitz the system, but that's not how the results appear.

Thousands of you have expressed your preferences, and now we have 18 winners. Here they are, just in time for summer vacation planning. We added thoughts about what to check out when visiting.

Best galleries and arts scene: Egg Harbor, www.eggharbor-wi.com, 920-868-3717. Pretty Door County inspires artists of many types, and a series of arts festivals continues through summer, www.doorcounty.com, 800-52-RELAX.

Best theater and entertainment: Spring Green, www.springgreen.com, 800-588-2042. Nothing matches a summer picnic and short uphill hike to the open-air American Players Theatre for a little Shakespeare, www.playinthewoods.org, 608-588-2361.

Best ethnic getaway: New Glarus, www.swisstown.com, 800-527-6838. Visit the New Glarus Bakery, where almond horns and other Old World recipes stay authentic, www.newglarusbakery.com, 866-805-5536.

Most beautiful: Mineral Point, www.mineralpoint.com, 888-764-6894. Check out the wide range of art classes at Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts, which occupies a cluster of restored 19th century buildings, www.shakeragalley.com, 608-987-3292. Mineral Point also earned the title of Best historic town in our poll.

Best festival weekend: Warrens Cranberry Festival, www.cranfest.com, 608-378-4200. Expect more than three miles of arts & crafts booths, food and antiques on the weekend of Sept. 26-28. Also check out the town's Cranberry Discovery Center, in an old cranberry warehouse, www.discovercranberries.com, 608-378-4878.

Best dining: It's a tie between Lake Geneva (www.lakegenevawi.com, 800-345-1020) and Sister Bay (www.sisterbaytourism.com, 920-854-2812). Both provide plenty of ways to gleefully add calories. The finest of dining choices includes Gilbert's Restaurant in Lake Geneva (www.gilbertsrestaurant.com, 262-248-6680) and the Inn at Kristofer's in Sister Bay (www.innatkristofers.com, 920-854-9419).

Most distinctive architecture: Cedarburg, www.ozaukeetourism.com, 800-237-2874. A prime stop in the quaint, historic downtown is Cedar Creek Settlement, an 1864 woolen mill that today houses about 25 boutiques, www.cedarcreeksettlement.com, 866-377-4788. The town also captured the Best shopping title.

Best fishing: Minocqua, www.minocqua.org, 800-44-NORTH. This year, Field & Stream dubbed it one of the top 20 places to fish in America. Among the plethora of accommodations are cozy condo units at the Beacons of Minocqua, www.thebeacons.com, 800-236-3225.

Best biking: Sparta, www.spartawisconsin.org, 800-354-BIKE. The area is best known for the 32-mile Elroy-Sparta State Trail, where riders pass through three tunnels (one three-quarters of a mile long), www.elroy-sparta-trail.com.

Best boating: Pepin, www.pepinwisconsin.com, 800-442-3011. Stop for lunch or dinner at the Harbor View Caf , which overlooks the water, www.harborviewpepin.com, 715-442-3893.

Best snowmobiling: Eagle River, www.eagleriver.org, 800-359-6315. Long touted as the Snowmobile Capital of the World, there are 500 miles of trails, www.snowmobileeagleriver.com, 715-479-5185.

Best cross-country skiing: Blue Mounds, population 800, earns raves for trails at Blue Mound State Park, www.dnr.state.wi.us, 608-437-5711. Also nearby: Cave of the Mounds, a national natural landmark; www.caveofthemounds.com, 608-437-3038.

Best town for folk/outsider art: Baraboo is the winner, because Tom "Dr. Evermor" Every's Forevertron is considered the largest scrap metal sculpture in the world. It is 50 feet high and 120 feet wide. This piece of art is no longer easy to see, but other sculptures by the self-taught artist can be seen along U.S. 12, near Devil's Lake.

Best town on a lake: Port Washington, www.portwashingtontourism.com, 800-719-4881. Strolling along the Lake Michigan waterfront is one of the true delights of summer. Listen for the foghorn.

Best town on a river: Trempealeau, www.ruralexperiences.com, 800-927-5339. Watch the Mississippi River traffic and currents while savoring a walnut burger at the historic Trempealeau Hotel, www.trempealeauhotel, 608-534-6898.

Most romantic: Bayfield, www.travelbayfieldcounty.com, 800-472-6338. Book a room at the Old Rittenhouse Inn, where accommodations are cozy and dinner is a leisurely, gourmet delight. www.rittenhouseinn.com, 888-611-4667. Bayfield also earned the Most scenic beauty in the surrounding area title. The town's biggest gem is the 21-island Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, accessible by kayak or excursion boat, http://www.nps.gov/apis/, 715-779-3925.

Best town for a family weekend: Wisconsin Dells, www.wisdells.com, 800-223-3557. The nation's waterpark capital makes a big splash in all seasons, with an abundance of family-friendly options.