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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 10th 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 2025 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 museum to visit with your family
Best live theater experience for kids
Best playground
Best park or place to explore nature
Best splash pad
Best family water adventure
Best place for family fitness
Best indoor play place
Best animal encounter
Best place for tween/teen adventure
Best sensory-friendly outing (special needs)
Best locally-owned place to get coffee/tea
Best library
Best thrift/consignment for children’s clothing
Best kid-friendly shopping destination
Best parents’ night out destination
Best Ohio weekend getaway
Best birthday party
entertainment
Best place to get a pizza
Best place to get ice cream
Best place kids eat free
Best locally-owned family-friendly restaurant		 Best local, independent store to buy toys, games & learning products
Best place for kids’ swim lessons
Best place for gymnastics
Best dance studio
Best Daycare/Preschool
Best place for ice skating
Best place for children to explore music
Best place for a parent and me activity/class
Best place for cheerleading 
Best place to have a birthday party
Best place for a kid’s haircut
Best kid-friendly dental practice
Best orthodontics practice
Best pediatrics practice
Best hospital in a child emergency
Best hospital to have a baby
Best pregnancy/postpartum care for moms and families
Best dermatology practice
Best Spa
Best orthodontics pratice
Best daycare/preschool
Best tutoring/learning enrichment service
Best Professional Sports Outing for the Family
Favorite Northeast Ohio Professional Athlete (currently active)
Best nonprofit that helps families and children

Senders Pediatrics Wins ‘Best Pediatrics Practice’ in 2025 Parent Choice Awards

By Northeast Ohio Parent Staff Writers
June 9, 2025
The annual Northeast Ohio Parent Choice Awards seeks to gather the opinions of local parents on everything family-friendly in the region. Here are the winner and runners-up in the “Best pediatrics practice" category. ...
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YMCA Wins ‘Best Place for Family Fitness’ in 2025 Parent Choice Awards

By Northeast Ohio Parent Staff Writers
June 9, 2025
The annual Northeast Ohio Parent Choice Awards seeks to gather the opinions of local parents on everything family-friendly in the region. Here are the winner and runners-up in the “Best place for family fitness" category. ...
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The Centers Wins ‘Best Nonprofit that Helps Families and Children’ in 2025 Parent Choice Awards

By Northeast Ohio Parent Staff Writers
June 9, 2025
The annual Northeast Ohio Parent Choice Awards seeks to gather the opinions of local parents on everything family-friendly in the region. Here are the winner and runners-up in the “Best nonprofit that helps families and children" category. ...
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Cleveland Clinic Hillcrest Hospital Wins ‘Best Hospital to Have a Baby’ in 2025 Parent Choice Awards

By Northeast Ohio Parent Staff Writers
June 9, 2025
The annual Northeast Ohio Parent Choice Awards seeks to gather the opinions of local parents on everything family-friendly in the region. Here are the winner and runners-up in the “Best hospital to have a baby" category. ...
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Cleveland Clinic Children’s Emergency Department at Hillcrest Hospital Wins ‘Best hospital in a child emergency’ in 2025 Parent Choice Awards

By Northeast Ohio Parent Staff Writers
June 9, 2025
The annual Northeast Ohio Parent Choice Awards seeks to gather the opinions of local parents on everything family-friendly in the region. Here are the winner and runners-up in the “Best hospital in a child emergency" category. ...
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Apex Skin Wins ‘Best Dermatology Practice’ in 2025 Parent Choice Awards

By Northeast Ohio Parent Staff Writers
June 9, 2025
The annual Northeast Ohio Parent Choice Awards seeks to gather the opinions of local parents on everything family-friendly in the region. Here are the winner and runners-up in the “Best dermatology practice" category. ...
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City of Aurora Wins ‘Best Splash Pad’ in 2025 Parent Choice Awards

By Northeast Ohio Parent Staff Writers
June 9, 2025
The annual Northeast Ohio Parent Choice Awards seeks to gather the opinions of local parents on everything family-friendly in the region. Here are the winner and runners-up in the “Best splash pad" category. ...
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Yours Truly Wins ‘Best Locally Owned Family-Friendly Restaurant’ in the 2025 Parent Choice Awards

By Northeast Ohio Parent Staff Writers
June 9, 2025
The annual Northeast Ohio Parent Choice Awards seeks to gather the opinions of local parents on everything family-friendly in the region. Here are the winner and runners-up in the Best Locally Owned Family-Friendly Restaurant category.  ...
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Weiss & Tor Orthodontics Wins ‘Best Orthodontics Practice’ in 2025 Parent Choice Awards

By Northeast Ohio Parent Staff Writers
June 9, 2025
The annual Northeast Ohio Parent Choice Awards seeks to gather the opinions of local parents on everything family-friendly in the region. Here are the winner and runners-up in the “Best orthodontics practice" category. ...
Read more 0

Great Beginnings Pediatric Dentistry Wins ‘Best Kid-Friendly Dental Practice’ in 2025 Parent Choice Awards

By Northeast Ohio Parent Staff Writers
June 9, 2025
The annual Northeast Ohio Parent Choice Awards seeks to gather the opinions of local parents on everything family-friendly in the region.Here are the winner and runners-up in the “Best kid-friendly dental practice" category ...
Read more 0