Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park has taken home the top honors in the USA Today/10best.com Reader’s Choice poll for Best Sculpture Park the last two years, and has once again been nominate as a finalist. As Meijer Gardens seeks a three-peat, here’s what 10best had to say: “Spanning 158 acres in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park hosts outdoor gardens and a five-floor, 15,000-square-foot tropical conservatory. The permanent sculpture collection features more than 200 works, many of which are displayed in the sculpture park.” Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park has welcomed more than 15 million visitors since it opened in 1995 and it sees close to 785,000 visitors each year. Some popular times to visit are during the Butterflies are Blooming exhibit or during one of the summer concerts.

This year Meijer Gardens is the only Michigan finalist. It faces some tough competition from Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park (North Carolina), Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park (Ohio), Grounds for Sculpture (New Jersey), Brookgreen Gardens (South Carolina), and others.

Our favorite things to see when we visit are the Japanese Gardens, the Tropical Conservatory, the Wege Nature Trail, The American Horse sculpture, the Figure on a Trunk sculpture, and the collection of Marshall Fredericks bronze sculptures.

You can vote for Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park once per day now through February 17th.

In another contest, there are two Michigan finalists for Best Small Town Arts Scene. Saugatuck is nominated because it “beckons art lovers to tour its many local galleries, attend annual art festivals, and check out the public art. Some of the more notable public installations include the “Smile! You’re in Saugatuck” mural on Water Street, the “Family of Man IV” sculpture in Coghlin Park, and the “Girl With Puppet” statue in Village Square Park.” Frankenmuth is also nominated this year, with 10best saying: “Because many local artists work in iron, Frankenmuth Arts Council holds an annual Fire Arts Festival in September and other related events, allowing visitors to learn about and experience the artistry of blacksmithing. Frankenmuth offers year-round classes for adults and kids in disciplines like pottery and painting.” Saugatuck was in fourth place as we write this and Frankenmuth was in 13th, you can cast a vote once per day up until February 17th.