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. Some perennial favorites topped the ballots again this year, but they were joined by many new honorees.
Check below or Click here to view the winners and runners-up in our 2025 Parent Choice Awards.
Best Dance Studio:
Winner: Beck Center for the Arts
Beck Center’s dance education program is one of the most comprehensive and well-respected in Northeast Ohio. Programming is available for early childhood students, youth, teens and adults. Beck Center offers age-appropriate early childhood classes in preschool dance, pre-ballet and kids ‘n dance, which foster a love of movement and build confidence, coordination and creativity.
— beckcenter.org
Second Place: Cleveland City Dance. — clevelandcitydance.com
Third Place: Fairmount Center for the Arts — fairmountcenter.org
Best Library:
Winner: Hudson Library and Historical Society
The Hudson Library is renowned for its educational and cultural events. Children, birth through teens, develop a love for reading and learning through the many story time offerings, Tail-Waggin’ Tutors, Born to Play, book clubs and STEM-related materials and activities including Minecraft and basic coding. Ongoing programs include childrens’ theater, magic shows, puppets, Touch-a-Truck and college testing prep by the Princeton Review. —hudsonlibrary.org
Second Place: Beachwood Branch of the Cuyahoga County Library — cuyahogalibrary.org/branches/beachwood
Third Place: Lakewood Public Library — lakewoodpubliclibrary.org
Best Place for Parent and Me Activity/Class:
Winner: The Music Settlement
Arts for the Young programs at The Music Settlement emphasizes play-based music learning through songs, rhythms, instruments and movement. Children five and younger can participate with a parent or caregiver in fun, interactive mixed ages classes. Older children can participate in the Rhythm Kids classes with or without a parent. Rhythm Kids incorporates drumming, rhythm patterns of many cultures and games into the musical fun.
— themusicsettlement.org
Second Place: Beck Center for the Arts- beckcenter.org
Third Place: Goldfish Swim School – goldfishswimschool.com
Best Place for Cheerleading:
Winner: World Elite Kids
World Elite Cheer, part of World Elite Kids, is a premier cheerleading program in Northeast Ohio. It offers a range of programs including Full Year Cheer, Mid-Season Cheer, and Cheer“abilities” —a special needs cheer program called “Idols” designed to provide all children the opportunity to participate in all-star cheerleading. World Elite Cheer isn’t just a program – it’s a family where athletes grow from age 3 through high school, building lasting friendships and achieving competitive excellence together.
— worldelitekids.com
Second Place: Top Gun Training Center – topgunohio.com
Best Place for Children to Explore Music
Winner: The Music Settlement
The Music Settlement provides award-winning music lessons, ensembles, and group classes for aspiring musicians of all ages and skill levels — children, teens and adults. It offer music instruction in most solo, band, and orchestral instruments and in a variety of musical styles. Its accomplished faculty provides personal instruction specially-designed for success in achieving musical goals. Lessons are offered at University Circle and Ohio City campuses.
—themusicsettlement.org
Second Place: Beck Center for the Arts — beckcenter.org
Third Place: Fairmount Center for the Arts — fairmountcenter.org
Best Place for Gymnastics
Winner: World Elite Kids
World Elite Kids has spent the last two decades building a gym that kids look forward to returning to. Its instructors focus on fun, helping kids explore their athletic passions, learn discipline, and be part of a team. Whether your child is 2 or 12, the staff is there to help your child cultivate lifelong skills. In fact, your child may uncover a passion you didn’t even realize they had.
—worldelitekids.com
Second Place: Little Gym — thelittlegym.com
Third Place: Chalk It Up — chalkitupgymnastics.com
Best Place for Kids’ Swimming Lessons
Winner: Goldfish Swim School
Goldfish Swim School provides state-of-the-art aquatic swimming facilities that are dedicated to indoor children’s swim lessons and programs for children ages 4 months and up. Goldfish Swim School offers a wide variety of available program options, including infant and toddler swim lessons and shiver-free pools that are a pleasant 90 degrees all year long. Goldfish Swim School has locations in Hudson, Warrensville Heights, Strongsville and Fairview Park.
— goldfishswimschool.com
Second Place: YMCA – ymca.org
Third Place: Liquid Lifestyles — liquidlifestyles.com
Best Daycare/Preschool
Winner: The Nest
The Nest supports young preschoolers and their need to be challenged, engaged and encouraged in their learning and personal interests. Its preschool classrooms have been carefully crafted to provide children with a high-quality learning experience. The individual learning environments in these classrooms invite children in to explore, create, wonder and question the world around them. All of this is done with the belief that children learn best through play. — thenestschool.com
Second Place: The Music Settlement — themusicsettlement.org
Third Place: Sweet Kiddles — sweetkiddles.com
Best Tutoring/Learning Enrichment Service
Winner: Mathnasium
For decades, the Mathnasium Method has transformed the way kids learn math. It builds a foundation for math mastery through deep understanding by starting with what they already know, addressing any learning gaps, expanding their mathematical thinking, and adding new concepts in sequence. This proprietary method works for kids of all ages and skill levels. —mathnasium.com
Second Place: Momentum Tutoring — momentuumcle.com
Third Place: Kumon —kumon.com
Best Kids Eat Free Place
Winner: Bob Evans
Kids eat free on Tuesdays at Bob Evans. Enjoy a free kids meal when you order an entree at Bob Evans using the Bob Evans app. Max of 3 kids meals per 3 entrees. —bobevans.com
Second Place: Texas Roadhouse — texasroadhouse.com
Third Place: Burntwood Tavern — burntwoodtavern.com
Best Locally-Owned Family-Friendly Restaurant
Winner: Yours Truly
Yours Truly Restaurants, a family-owned chain founded by the Shibley siblings in 1981, has grown from its original 31-seat diner in Beachwood, to nine locations across Northeast Ohio. The restaurants are known for their all-day breakfast and classic American fare and family-friendly setting.— ytr.com
Second Place: Tommy’s Restaurant — tommyscoventry.com
Third Place: Winking Lizard — winkinglizard.com
Best Locally-Owned Place to Get Coffee or Tea
Winner: Rising Star Coffee Roasters
With multiple locations on the east and west sides of Cleveland, each Rising Star Coffee Roasters café offers a unique atmosphere, serving expertly crafted drinks and seasonal specialties.
— risingstarcoffee.com
Second Place: Heartwood Coffee Roasters — heartwoodroastery.com
Third Place: Phoenix Coffee Co. — phoenixcoffee.com
Best Place to Get Ice Cream
Winner: Mitchell’s Ice Cream
Mitchell’s crafts its ice creams in small batches using local, organic and fair-trade ingredients, and offers a variety of flavors and season specialties. The flagship store, located in the historic Rialto Theater in Ohio City, serves as both a retail shop and production kitchen, allowing customers to observe the ice cream-making process firsthand. — mitchellshomemade.com
Second Place: Handels — handelsicecream.com
Third Place: Honey Hut — gohoneyhut.com
Best Place to Get Pizza
Winner: Dewey’s Pizza
Located in the heart of downtown Lakewood, Dewey’s Pizza offers a casual vibe where guests can watch their pizzas being made from scratch. The menu features fan favorites like the Green Lantern and the Edgar Allan Poe, along with fresh salads, calzones and craft beer. It’s a go-to place for both families and pizza lovers alike.— deweyspizza.com
Second Place: Boom’s Pizza — boomspizza.com
Third Place: IL Rione — ilrionepizzeria.com
Best Animal Encounter
Winner: Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
Connect with wildlife from around the world. From the Australian Adventure to the African Savanna, Northern Wilderness Trek, The Primate, Cat & Aquatics Building and Asian Highlands, the zoo provides unique, up-close animal encounters. With engaging programs and a focus on sustainability, it inspires visitors of all ages to care for the natural world.—clevelandmetroparks.com/zoo
Second Place: Akron Zoo — akronzoo.org
Third Place: Majestic Meadows Alpacas and Boutique — majesticmeadowsalpacas.com
Best Family Water Adventure
Winner: Kalahari
Ohio weather can be unpredictable, but it’s always 84 degrees and sunny at Kalahari in Sandusky. With over 250,000 square feet of waterpark fun, dining options for every craving, and endless entertainment at every turn, the ultimate adventure awaits. — kalahariresorts.com
Second Place: Great Wolf Lodge —greatwolf.com
Third Place: Cedar Point Shores Waterpark — cedarpoint.com/cedar-point-shores
Best Indoor Play Place
Winner: Kids Empire
Kids Empire is the perfect place for kids of all ages to let out all that great kid energy and play big. The indoor play place features climbing structures, slides, large building blocks, dance floor and more. The tots play area gives small children the ability to discover new ways to climb up, down, and all around using age-appropriate soft structures that are made just for them. Kids Empire has three locations in Northeast Ohio: Solon, North Olmsted and Strongsville. — kidsempire.com
Second Place: SkyZone — skyzone.com
Third Place: Play Day Café. — playdaycafe.com
Best Live Theater Experience for Kids
Winner: Playhouse Square
Each year, the Children’s Theater series brings enchanting, kid-approved shows to the stage—each packed with music, laughter, and life lessons. This year’s lineup includes The Magic School Bus: Lost in the Solar System, Sugar Skull: A Día de Muertos Musical Adventure, Billy Goats Gruff & Other Tales and The Adventure of Tortoise & the Hare: The Next Gen. With every show at just about an hour long, they are the perfect length for young attention spans (and grown-up schedules). playhousesquare.org
Second Place. Beck Center for the Arts combines professional theater with arts education in Northeast Ohio. It creates arts experiences for all ages and abilities as individual as the people it serves. Its Youth Theater is one of the longest continuously running programs in the country, with more than 75 years of performances.— beckcenter.org
Third Place: Cleveland Play House — clevelandplayhouse.com
Best Museum to Visit with Your Family
Winner: Cleveland Museum of Natural History
In December 2024, the Cleveland Museum of Natural History unveiled the most sweeping transformation in its history. With more than 375,000 square feet of new and expanded spaces and more than 2 acres of outdoor visitor areas, its reimagined campus presents a bold model for natural history museums around the world.— cmnh.org
Second Place: Great Lakes Science Center — greatscience.com
Third Place: Cleveland Museum of Art — clevelandart.org
Best Ohio Weekend Getaway
Winner: Hocking Hills
Located in Southeastern Ohio, Hocking Hills State Park is a national and internationally acclaimed State Park. Stunning in every season, Hocking Hills features beautiful towering cliffs, thrilling waterfalls and deep, hemlock-shaded gorges. Bring the whole family to stay in a cabin or enjoy a romantic getaway in a tiny home, treehouse or even a Geodome for a night under the stars.— hockinghills.com
Second Place: Cedar Point — cedarpoint.com
Third Place: Ohio Amish Country — visitamishcountry.com
Best Parents’ Night Out Destination
Winner: Playhouse Square
Entertainment is at the heart of Playhouse Square in Cleveland. Whether you are coming to unwind with a meal or cocktail, delight in the energy of live entertainment or gaze at the largest outdoor chandelier in North America —the GE Chandelier —Playhouse Square stands as a premier destination in one of the world’s leading arts districts. — playhousesquare.org
Second Place: Ohio City – ohiocity.org
Third Place: Marble Room – marbleroomcle.com
Best Park or Place to Explore Nature
Winner: Rocky River Reservation
Long and narrow, this reservation follows the winding course of the Rocky River from Berea almost to Lake Erie. The stream cuts deeply through the soft shales of the valley, carving a picturesque gorge. The reservation includes a nature center, marina, stables and three golf courses. Wildlife is common in the valley and visitors can expect to see numerous bird species and some common Ohio mammals year-round.— clevelandmetroparks.com
Second Place: North Chagrin Reservation — clevelandmetroparks.com
Third Place: Holden Arboretum —holdenfg.org
Best Place for Ice Skating
Winner: Winterhurst Arena
Winterhurst Ice Arena is a premier ice sports facility located in Lakewood. Winterhurst has been a cornerstone for the community, offering a wide range of ice skating activities and programs for all ages and skill levels. The arena features two full-size ice rinks, providing ample space for public skating, figure skating, hockey leagues and private rentals.—winterhurstice.com
Second Place: The Pond Ice Rink & Sports Complex — ilovethepond.com
Third Place: Thornton Park Ice Arena — shakerheightsoh.gov
Best Place for Tween/Teen Adventure
Winner: Adrenaline Monkey
If your kids love to watch the show “American Ninja Warrior” or generally like climbing structures or playing in a high energy environment, it might be time to visit this indoor adventure park. Families with kids of all ages can enjoy the Ninja Warrior Obstacle Courses, rock climbing walls and aerial ropes course. Also, they can get game time by playing basketball or at the arcade. — adrenalinemonkeyfun.com
Second Place: Urban Air — urbanair.com
Third Place: Cedar Point — cedarpoint.com
Best Playground
Winner: Lakewood Park
It’s not difficult to see why this is a family favorite. The park, at the intersection of Belle and Lake avenues has something for everyone. Kids Cove Playground area has plenty of climbing structures, slides for all different ages to play in the fenced in area. Families also can enjoy a picnic in the pavilion close to the playground. The park also has a splash pad, summer concerts, scenic views of the lake, sports fields and a skatepark. — lakewoodoh.gov
Second Place: City of Beachwood Playground — beachwoodohio.com
Third Place: Preston’s H.O.P.E. Playground — prestonshope.com
Best Professional Sports Outing for the Family
Winner: Cleveland Guardians
The Cleveland Guardians — a Major League Baseball American League Central team — leaves a lot of room to take full advantage of its family-friendly atmosphere, where everyone can enjoy what’s going on down on the field. It’s a great place for kids with options such as Kids Clubhouse play area, Guardians Kids Club, Kids Fun Day (kids get to run the bases) and a variety of theme nights and promotions. Also, look for its Family Value and other special ticket offerings. — mlb.com/guardians
Second Place: Akron RubberDucks — milb.com/akron
Third Place: Cleveland Monsters — clevelandmonsters.com
Best Sensory-Friendly Outing (special needs)
Winner: Beck Center for the Arts
For all ages and abilities, Beck Center for the Arts in Lakewood offers people with special needs an opportunity to dive into the arts through all the senses. In its Creative Arts Therapies department, from early childhood to adult, participants can take adapted music, art, dance and theater in a group session or individual lessons. The supportive certified therapists are there to create a welcoming environment and enrich the lives of individuals with special needs through the arts programming. — beckcenter.org
Second Place: We Rock the Spectrum — werockthespectrumcleveland.com
Third Place: Preston’s H.O.P.E Playground — prestonshope.com
Best Splash Pad
Winner: Aurora
The 2,100-square-foot splash pad (free to visitors) is located in Kiwanis-Moore Park and was opened in 2021. Children of all ages and abilities can enjoy the ground level and above ground water feature on the colorful pad. In addition to the splash pad, families can take advantage of the park’s playground and have a picnic after the water play. —auroraoh.com
Second Place: Crocker Park — crockerpark.com
Third Place: City of Lyndhurst Brainard Park Spray Park — lyndhurstohio.gov
Best Town to Raise a Family
Winner Lakewood
For the second year in a row, Lakewood has won this honor from readers. The city’s innovation of its community programs, resources and activities provides residents and visitors alike a sense of a welcoming environment. The walkable city has plenty of restaurants, parks and scenic views for everyone. For families, the city has choices of education and entertainment — including schools, arts centers, early childhood programs, libraries and events. The city is also actively working to support residents with special needs with programs such as Blue Envelope Program and Autism Safety Roster. —lakewoodoh.gov
Second Place: Solon — solonohio.gov
Third Place: Hudson —hudson.oh.us
Best Dermatology Practice
Apex Skin
The importance of full skin care doesn’t go unnoticed at Apex Skin. With multiple locations around Northeast Ohio, it provides services for all ages and genders. From its acne clinic, pediatric dermatology, full body skin cancer screening and surgical care to cosmetic and aesthetic dermatology. Besides providing excellence in skin care, they have served the greater community by providing free skin checks and scar treatments to veterans. — apexskin.com
Second Place: Haber Dermatology — haberderm.com
Third Place: Allied Dermatology — alliedderm.com
Best hospital in a child emergency
Cleveland Clinic Children’s Emergency Department at Hillcrest Hospital
One of the scariest moments in a parent’s life is when their child is having an emergency. Cleveland Clinic’s Hillcrest Hospital in Mayfield Heights features a 24-hour pediatric emergency department. The providers are specially trained clinicians to help young patients and provide support to parents. They will explain best treatment options and have pediatric-only treatment rooms and equipment to make everyone feel at ease. — my.clevelandclinic.org
Second Place: Cleveland Clinic Children’s Emergency Department at Fairview Hospital — my.clevelandclinic.org
Third Place: Akron Children’s Hospital — akronchildrens.org
Best Hospital to Have a Baby
Cleveland Clinic Hillcrest Hospital
Hillcrest’s Family Maternity Center provides care for a variety of delivery plans. They work closely with your private obstetrician and/or midwife. Families can feel comfortable in the private rooms with support from labor and lactation services and a Level III NICU. — my.clevelandclinic.org
Second Place: Clinic Clinic Fairview Hospital —my.clevelandclinic.org
Third Place: MetroHealth — metrohealth.org
Best Kid-Friendly Dental Practice
Winner: Great Beginnings Pediatric Dentistry
This practice understands the importance of helping kids get comfortable at the dentist office. Families not only get state-of-the-art dental technology and prevention-focused care, but also a kid-friendly environment, with movie screens above each chair, minimally-invasive dental treatments and low radiation x-rays. Also, from seeing infants from their first tooth to tongue/lip tie evaluations, they provide total oral health care. —greatbeginningspd.com
Second Place: Dentistry 4 Kids — dentist4kidz.com
Third Place: Solon Pediatric Dentistry — solonpediatricdentistry.com
Best Orthodontics Practice
Winner: Weiss & Tor Orthodontics
Weiss and Tor Orthodontics supports teens and adults through their orthodontic journey, offering services such as braces and corrective care treatments for bad bites, jaw bone abnormalities and malocclusion. They also specialize in airway-focused orthodontics. The whole team provides supportive care to help you with treatment plan decisions that best fit your needs.
Second Place: Success Orthodontics — brace4success.com
Best Pediatrics Practice
Winner: Senders Pediatrics
Families can rely on the practice for comprehensive care from birth to young adulthood (age 26), which includes services such as well visits, behavioral health, educational testing and newborn care. They also help parents with coaching with groups, classes and breastfeeding medicine. Senders has been a leader on studying new medicines and vaccines through clinic research projects; including recently for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and Infectious Mononucleosis (mono). Also, they are certified as a patient-centered medical home, which gives families the assurance that all of their medical needs can be managed under one roof. — senderspediatrics.com
Second Place: Neighborhood Pediatrics — neighborhoodpedslakewood.com
Third Place: Zest Pediatrics — zestpeds.com
Best Place for a Kid’s Haircut
Winner: Cuts N Curls
For a child’s first haircut, the expert, patient staff at Cuts N Curls helps everyone feel comfortable in a family-friendly environment. Kids can choose from colorful, car-shaped chairs, each with a movie screen or Nintendo Switch, and enjoy bubbles, books and snacks to help calm little nerves. The salon is equipped to serve the whole family, including children with special needs, tweens, teens, parents and grandparents. This summer, don’t miss “Snowcone Sundays” offering free snow cones to families. Cuts N Curls isn’t just a hair salon, drop in and check out the Paint Splatter Room, host a birthday party and more.
—cutsncurls.net
Second Place: Snip-its, Hudson — local.snipits.com/hudson-oh
Third Place: Cookie Cutters Haircuts for Kids —haircutsarefun.com
Best Place for Family Fitness
Winner: YMCA
Across Northeast Ohio, YMCA offers a place for families to go for all types of family wellness activities and classes. From swim lessons and group classes to sports like basketball and karate, as well as personal training, the Y has something for everyone. Attend camps, Adventure Guides programs and events like Healthy Kids Day. For your littlest ones, there are options for everyone to do together or for your children to learn how to have independent play. Wellness happens with the whole family, so parents, tweens and teens have plenty of options to work on their mind, body and spirit. — ymca.org
Second Place: Life Time —lifetime.life
Third Place: Mandel JCC — mandeljcc.org
Best Pregnancy/Postpartum Care for Moms and Families
Winner: Breastfeeding Medicine of Northeast Ohio
Breastfeeding Medicine of Northeast Ohio (BFMEDNEO) offers support for moms throughout the breastfeeding journey: education and resources on milk supply, engorgement, newborn latching, tongue-tie evaluations, treating breastfeeding complications: prenatal and postnatal programs, support groups, milk donation services and more.
—bfmedneo.com
Second Place: CLEBaby — clebaby.com
Third Place: The Womb Wellness Center— thewombwellnesscenter.com
Best Spa
Winner: Spa Walden, Aurora
Feel the peace and serenity when you book an appointment at Spa Walden. Whether you are taking some much needed “me” time or having a special treat with friends for a one-day or three-day retreat — the spa provides services such as massages, facials, body scubs and wrap treatments, pedicures and manicures that will leave you feeling refreshed and relaxed in a beautiful, luxurious setting.
— yourwalden.com
Second Place: Woodhouse Spa — woodhousespas.com
Third Place: Sacred Hour —sacredhour.com
Best Birthday Party Entertainment
Winner: Mr. Jeff
A musician, preschool teacher, songwriter and YouTuber, Mr. Jeff, who resides in Cuyahoga Falls, can be seen around Northeast Ohio in his interactive shows that leave his audience captivated and engaged. This summer, look for his “Loud in the Library Tour 2025” at many local libraries and are attractions.
— mrjeffisfun.com
Second Place: Jungle Terry — jungleterryandfriends.com
Third Place: Rick Smith Jr. — ricksmithjr.com
Best Kid-Friendly Shopping Destination
Winner: Crocker Park
This outdoor destination spanning 20 city blocks in Westlake is filled with events, food and shopping. For family-friendly fun, check out the splash pad to shops like LEGO, Urban Air Adventure Park, Leaning Express Toys and Barnes and Noble. Also, don’t forget the food and a variety of events from farmer’s market, seasonal fun such as music and movies in the park. Explore experiences, including the Express Train, Wishing Fountain, Checkers Park, Fitness Loop and more!
Second Place: Summit Mall — simon.com/mall/summit-mall
Third Place: SouthPark Mall —shoppingsouthparkmall.com
Best Local, Independent Store to Buy Toys, Games & Learning Products
Winner: PlayMatters
— playmatterstoys.com
Second Place: Once Upon A Time Toys — onceuponatimetoys.com
Third Place: Apple Jax Toys, Lakewood — facebook.com/applejaxtoys
Best Place to Have a Birthday Party
Winner: Sky Zone
Let’s jump for joy to celebrate a birthday at Skyzone. There are so many ways for your little ones to jump, climb or dodge at this trampoline park, which offers birthday parties and activities for all ages and abilities. Parents can either watch or join in the fun. — skyzone.com
Second Place: Goldfish Swim School — goldfishswimschool.com
Third Place: World Elite Kids — worldelitekids.com
Best Thrift/Consignment for Children’s Clothing
Winner: Once Upon a Child
Once Upon A Child makes it easy to support local while shopping sustainably and affordably. Bring in your kids’ gently used clothing, shoes, toys and baby gear, and walk out with money in your pocket. There are several locations in Northeast Ohio including Westlake, Stow, Sagamore Hills, Mentor and Canton.
— onceuponachild.com
Second Place: Revolve Kids – revolvekids.com
Third Place: Savers – savers.com
Best Nonprofit that Helps Families and Children
Winner: The Centers
The Centers provides community services and support through wellness, behavioral health, head start, learning and family support and workforce development programs. The Centers are transforming the former Cleveland Christian Home into the H.O.P.E. Campus (Healing, Opportunities, Partnership, and Empowerment), which serves youth residential services. It will provide trauma-informed care, educational support, and innovative programming designed to help children build brighter futures.
—thecentersohio.org
Second Place: The Music Settlement — themusicsettlement.org
Third Place: Providence House — provhouse.org
Favorite Northeast Ohio Professional Athlete (currently active)
Winner: Donovan Mitchell
Donovan Mitchell, #45, is a guard for the Cleveland Cavaliers who can do everything. A fan favorite, he’s been with the team for three seasons. He is ranked fifth for most three pointers in the NBA since 2017-18. Mitchell has a positive impact on the team’s play, the fans and is always ready to go to work each season.
Second Place: Cleveland Guardians Steven Kwan —mlb.com/guardians
Third Place: Cleveland Guardians José Ramírez— mlb.com/guardians
