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Parent Choice Awards

Parent Choice Awards

Each year, we ask our readers and online followers to weigh in on their favorite family-friendly spots — local businesses, attractions, family services and more — in the Northeast Ohio Parent Choice Awards.

For our 11th annual contest, parents voiced their opinions during the nomination and voting period in spring. We had some new categories this year, too!

Some perennial favorites topped the ballots again this year, but they were joined by many new honorees. Here they are: the winners and runners-up in our 2026 Parent Choice Awards.

Click on a link below to go directly to that category; or scroll through all categories listed below and on subsequent pages:

Best town to raise a family
Best splash pad
Best sensory-friendly outing
Best playground
Best family water adventure
Best museum to visit with your family
Best live theater experience for kids
Best indoor play place
Best animal encounter
Best Ohio weekend getaway
Best park to explore nature
Best parents’ night out destination
Best birthday party entertainment
Best kid-friendly shopping destination
Best professional sports outing for the family
Best thrift/consignment for children’s clothing
Favorite Northeast Ohio professional athlete (currently active)
Best locally-owned family-friendly restaurant
Best locally-owned place to get coffee/tea
Best place to get pizza
Best place to get ice cream
 Best library
Best place for ice skating
Best dance studio
Best place for cheerleading
Best place for gymnastics
Best place for kids’ swim lessons
Best place for a kid’s haircut
Best place to have a birthday party
Best place for family fitness
Best place for children to explore music
Best daycare/preschool
Best summer camp/program
Best tutoring/learning enrichment service
Best Spa
Best dermatology practice
Best hospital in a child emergency
Best hospital to have a baby
Best kid-friendly dental practice
Best orthodontics practice
Best pediatrics practice
Best pregnancy/postpartum care for moms and families
Best Northeast Ohio parenting blog/influencer

Parent Choice Awards 2026 Assets

By Northeast Ohio Parent Staff Writers
20 days ago
Is your business a category winner or finalist in the 2026 Northeast Ohio Parent Choice Awards? We want to help you promote this achievement! ...
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Winners and Runners-Up Announced in 2026 Parent Choice Awards

By Northeast Ohio Parent Staff Writers
20 days ago
Each year, we ask our readers and online followers to weigh in on their favorite family-friendly spots — local businesses, attractions, family services and more — in the Northeast Ohio Parent Choice Awards. The wait is over, as we announce the winners and runners-up in our 11th annual contest. ...
Read more 0

Cleveland Clinic, Hillcrest Wins ‘Best Hospital to Have a Baby’ in 2026 Parent Choice Awards

By Northeast Ohio Parent Staff Writers
24 days ago
The annual Northeast Ohio Parent Choice Awards seeks to gather the opinions of local parents on everything family-friendly in the region. Our readers and online followers voted for their favorite businesses, attractions, family services and more. Here are the winner and runners-up in the “best hospital to have a baby” category. ...
Read more 0

Weiss & Tor Orthodontics Wins ‘Best Orthodontics Practice’ in 2026 Parent Choice Awards

By Northeast Ohio Parent Staff Writers
24 days ago
The annual Northeast Ohio Parent Choice Awards seeks to gather the opinions of local parents on everything family-friendly in the region. Our readers and online followers voted for their favorite businesses, attractions, family services and more. Weiss & Tor Orthodontics took top honors in the “best orthodontics practice” category. ...
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Apex Skin Wins ‘Best Dermatology Practice’ in 2026 Parent Choice Awards

By Northeast Ohio Parent Staff Writers
24 days ago
The annual Northeast Ohio Parent Choice Awards seeks to gather the opinions of local parents on everything family-friendly in the region. Our readers and online followers voted for their favorite businesses, attractions, family services and more. Here are the winner and runners-up in the “best dermatology practice” category. ...
Read more 0

Akron Children’s Hospital Wins ‘Best Hospital in a Child Emergency’ in 2026 Parent Choice Awards

By Northeast Ohio Parent Staff Writers
24 days ago
The annual Northeast Ohio Parent Choice Awards seeks to gather the opinions of local parents on everything family-friendly in the region. Our readers and online followers voted for their favorite businesses, attractions, family services and more. Here are the winner and runners-up in the “best hospital in a child emergency” category. ...
Read more 0

World Elite Kids Wins ‘Best Place to Have a Birthday Party’ in 2026 Parent Choice Awards

By Northeast Ohio Parent Staff Writers
24 days ago
The annual Northeast Ohio Parent Choice Awards seeks to gather the opinions of local parents on everything family-friendly in the region. Our readers and online followers voted for their favorite businesses, attractions, family services and more. Here are the winner and runners-up in the “best place to have a birthday party” category. ...
Read more 0

CLE With Kids Wins ‘Best Northeast Ohio Parenting Blog/Influencer’ in 2026 Parent Choice Awards

By Northeast Ohio Parent Staff Writers
24 days ago
The annual Northeast Ohio Parent Choice Awards seeks to gather the opinions of local parents on everything family-friendly in the region. Our readers and online followers voted for their favorite businesses, attractions, family services and more. Here are the winner and runner-up in the “best Northeast Ohio parenting blog/influencer” category. ...
Read more 0

Winterhurst Ice Arena Wins ‘Best Place for Ice Skating’ in 2026 Parent Choice Awards

By Northeast Ohio Parent Staff Writers
24 days ago
The annual Northeast Ohio Parent Choice Awards seeks to gather the opinions of local parents on everything family-friendly in the region. Our readers and online followers voted for their favorite businesses, attractions, family services and more. Here are the winner and runners-up in the “best place for ice skating” category. ...
Read more 0

World Elite Kids Wins ‘Best Place for Gymnastics’ in 2026 Parent Choice Awards

By Northeast Ohio Parent Staff Writers
24 days ago
The annual Northeast Ohio Parent Choice Awards seeks to gather the opinions of local parents on everything family-friendly in the region. Our readers and online followers voted for their favorite businesses, attractions, family services and more. Here are the winner and runners-up in the “best place for gymnastics” category. ...
Read more 0