Talk about your tough choices. Let's face it, this category is -- hands down -- the most difficult one, in terms of having to make close calls. When you live amid the verdant splendor of Western North Carolina, how do you choose the one best outdoor spot to (fill in the blank)? It's like trying to choose the best beach in Hawaii -- or maybe the most telling presidential quote. (Hint: "You're doin' a heckuva job, Brownie!")

Our intrepid voters have voiced their opinions, but some of you obviously didn't read the category name. Despite the unambiguous title of Best Outdoor Place to ..., this year's winners in the Best Place to Swim category are, in order: The YMCA, the Jewish Community Center and the YWCA. (Evidently, you like your chlorine.)

But other voters kept on task and reminded us that we are indeed lucky to have access to places such as Bent Creek for mountain biking, running and dog walking; the Blue Ridge Parkway for hiking, cycling and picnicking; and downtown for walking and skateboarding.

And let's not forget that sometimes we get snow during winter. But when Momma Nature gets stingy with the white stuff, the good folks over at Hall of Fame winner Wolf Laurel Resort will pump out man-made snow to please local skiers, who once again gave it the nod for best place to snowboard and ski.

One result will surely please local environmentalists: The French Broad river, once ignored as a polluted waterway, won first place for best place to paddle/kayak -- and that's an easy enough choice to make.

-- Brian Sarzynski

Bike Ride: Mountain

1. Bent Creek - Hall of fame

2. Blue Ridge Parkway

3. Mount Pisgah

Bike Ride: Road

1. Blue Ridge Parkway

2. (Tie) Riverside Drive

2. Town Mountain

3. Montford

Place To Hike

1. Blue Ridge Parkway

2. Mount Pisgah

3. Graveyard Fields

Place to Paddle/Kayak

1. French Broad River

2. Nantahala

3. Green River

Place To Picnic

1. Blue Ridge Parkway

2. Craggy Gardens

3. French Broad River

Place to Play Basketball

1. YMCA

Various locations, Asheville, 251-5909

2. Weaver Park

3. Montford Park

Place To Play Golf

1. Grove Park Inn

2. Asheville Country Club

3. Asheville Municipal

Place to Play Tennis

1. Aston Park

2. Weaver Park

3. Montford Park

Place to Skateboard

1. Food Lion Skate Park

2. Downtown

3. Zero Gravity

Place to Ski/Snowboard

1. Wolf Laurel -- Hall of fame

2. Sugar Mountain

3. Cataloochee

Place To Swim

1. YMCA

Various locations, Asheville, 251-5909

2. Jewish Community Center

236 Charlotte St., Asheville, 253-0701

3. YWCA

185 S. French Broad Ave., Asheville, 254-7206

Place To Walk/Run

1. Beaver Lake

2. Downtown

3. Bent Creek

Place To Walk Your Dog

1. Dog Park at the French Broad River Park

2. Beaver Lake

3. Bent Creek