The five best small towns in America: 2012

— -- One month and nearly 30,000 miles after they set off from Washington, D.C., en route to Seattle, five teams competing in the Best of the Road contest — sponsored by Rand McNally in collaboration with USA TODAY — have turned in their maps and car keys, consulted with a panel of judges and come up with the winners: five small American towns full of friendly people, great scenery, terrific food, patriotic fervor and just plain fun.

Selected from 30 nominees (each team visited the six in their category), the winners were announced Tuesday at the Destination Marketing Association International's annual meeting in Seattle.

For more on the winning towns, the worthy runners-up and the teams that visited, check out bestoftheroad.com— and tune in July 25 at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT for a Best of the Road recap on the Travel Channel hosted by Bert Kreischer.

Most beautiful

Bardstown, Ky.

Team that visited: Nikki and Dusty Green ("Two for the Road") from Spicewood, Texas, who were also the winning team.

What made it stand out: "Bourbon is Bardstown's history and tradition and the countryside is beautiful, but we probably got fewer scenic shots in Bardstown than anywhere else," admit the Greens about their visit to central Kentucky's Bluegrass Country. Instead, they say, "the people turned us around. We realized maybe we're not just here to see mountains and rivers, maybe there's something else. Our hearts are still in this place."

Don't miss: "Definitely the distilleries," the Greens say, where visitors can "learn about the history and heritage of bourbon, and the pride and love that goes into making Kentucky's signature spirit." Another high point: My Old Kentucky Home State Park, site of a former plantation built in 1795. The mansion was the supposed inspiration for the official state song, "My Old Kentucky Home," sung every year before the running of the Kentucky Derby.

Biggest surprise: "The town itself," the Greens say. "We'd never heard of it and honestly didn't expect to find much there," but were smitten by downtown's "classic Norman Rockwell" look and feel.

More information: visitbardstown.com; 800-638-4877

Category runners-up:

•Baker City, Ore.

•Danville, Ky.

•Jim Thorpe, Pa.

•Sedona, Ariz.

•Tybee Island, Ga.

Most patriotic

Gainesville, Texas

Team that visited: Sandra McKenna of Palm Harbor, Fla. and Rick Griffin of Jonesboro, Ga. ("MidLife Road Trip")

What made it stand out: This North Texas town, with its restored, late-19th-century downtown, "changed our definition of patriotism," the team says. "It's not just the number of flags or monuments, memorials or programs; it's not even just for the people who serve. It's how you care for the people who were fought for."

Don't miss: Antique shopping and lunch at Sarah's on the Square for "contemporary comfort food," and a stop at the intimate, 30-acre Frank Buck Zoo to feed giraffes or mingle with flamingos. The Shady Lady, a former saloon and brothel in the heart of downtown, is now a B&B with such unique furnishings as a six-foot copper tub.

Biggest surprise: Gainesville is the USA's only "Medal of Honor Host City," and their annual spring celebration — conceived in 2001 as a way to honor veterans —draws Congressional Medal of Honor recipients from around the country, with volunteer donations covering recipients' travel and food expenses.