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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

Beck Center for the Arts Wins ‘Best Sensory-Friendly Outing (special needs)’ 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 sensory-friendly outing (special needs)"category. ...
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Winterhurst Arena Wins ‘Best Place for Ice Skating’ 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. Check out the winner and runners-up in the “Best Place for Ice Skating” category. ...
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Rocky River Reservation Wins ‘Best Park or Place to Explore Nature’ 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. Check out the winner and runners-up in the “Best Park or Place to Explore Nature” category. ...
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Playhouse Square Wins ‘Best Parents’ Night Out Destination’ 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. Check out the winner and runners-up in the “Best Parents’ Night Out Destination” category. ...
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Hocking Hills Wins ‘Best Ohio Weekend Getaway’ 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. Check out the winner and runners-up in the “Best Ohio Weekend Getaway” category. ...
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Cleveland Museum of Natural History Wins ‘Best Museum to Visit With Your Family’ 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. Check out the winner and runners-up in the “Best Museum to Visit With Your Family” category. ...
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Playhouse Square Wins ‘Best Live Theater Experience for Kids’ 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. Check out the winner and runners-up in the “best live theater experience for kids” category. ...
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Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Wins ‘Best Animal Encounter’ 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. Check out the winner and runners-up in the “Best Animal Encounter” category. ...
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Dewey’s in Lakewood Wins ‘Best Place to Get Pizza’ 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. Check out the winner and runners-up in the Best Place to Get Pizza category.  ...
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Mitchell’s Ice Cream Wins ‘Best Place to Get Ice Cream’ 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. Check out the winner and runners-up in the Best Place to Get Ice Cream category.  ...
Read more 0