Home
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

Mathnasium Wins ‘Best Tutoring/Learning Enrichment Service’ 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 is the winner in the “best tutoring/learning enrichment service” category. ...
Read more 0

World Elite Kids Wins ‘Best Summer Camp/Program’ 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 summer camp/program” category. ...
Read more 0

The Nest Schools Wins ‘Best Daycare/Preschool’ 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 daycare/preschool” category. ...
Read more 0

Rising Star Coffee Roasters Wins ‘Best Locally-Owned Place to Get Coffee/Tea’ 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 locally-owned place to get coffee/tea” category. ...
Read more 0

World Elite Kids Wins ‘Best Place for Cheerleading’ 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 place for cheerleading” category. ...
Read more 0

Lakewood Public Library Wins ‘Best Library’ 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 library” category. ...
Read more 0

Once Upon a Child Wins ‘Best Thrift/Consignment for Children’s Clothing’ 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 thrift/consignment for children’s clothing” category. ...
Read more 0

Yours Truly Wins ‘Best Locally-Owned, Family-Friendly Restaurant’ 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 locally-owned, family-friendly restaurant” category. ...
Read more 0

Kids Empire Wins ‘Best Indoor Play Place’ 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 indoor play place” category. ...
Read more 0

Lakewood Park Wins ‘Best Playground’ 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 playground” category. ...
Read more 0