Carolina Parent Announces the 2019 Readers' Favorites Award Winners

Here are our readers' favorite places to visit, dine, shop and explore

We asked you, our readers, to select your favorite destinations and businesses throughout the Triangle, and you answered! Here are our 2019 Readers’ Favorites. These awards recognize Triangle families’ favorite places to visit, dine, shop and explore. Congratulations to all of our winners! Winners can now download our 2019 Readers' Favorite seal and a certificate announcing their award.

GOING PLACES

Annual Festival: Got to Be NC Festival
Honorable mention: Lazy Daze Arts & Crafts Festival 

Museum: Museum of Life and Science
Honorable mention: North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences

Rainy Day Outing: Marbles Kids Museum
Honorable mention: North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences

Family Sports Event: Durham Bulls
Honorable mention: Carolina Hurricanes

Place to Take Visitors: Sarah P. Duke Gardens
Honorable mention: Pullen Park

Free Activity or Place: North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
Honorable mention: Sarah P. Duke Gardens

Day Trip: North Carolina Zoo
​Honorable mention: Wilmington, North Carolina

Performing Arts: Durham Performing Arts Center
Honorable mention: Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts

The Durham Performing Arts Center was voted by our readers as their favorite place to see a performance. 

Photo courtesy of Huth Photo

DINING

Family Restaurant: Red Robin Gourmet Burgers and Brews and Carolina Ale House (tie)
Honorable mention: Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar

Nonchain Family Restaurant: The Pit Authentic Barbecue
Honorable mention: Elmo’s Diner

National Chain Family Restaurant: Red Robin Gourmet Burgers and Brews
Honorable mention: Chick-fil-A

Ethnic Eatery: Sassool
Honorable mention: Neomonde

Pizza Place: Mellow Mushroom
Honorable mention: Blaze Pizza and Lilly’s Pizza (tie)

Sweet or Frozen Treats: Goodberry’s Frozen Custard
Honorable mention: Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt

Kids-Eat-Free Deal: Moe’s Southwest Grill
Honorable mention: Neomonde

Place for a Picnic: Pullen Park
Honorable mention: Sarah P. Duke Gardens

Farmers Market: State Farmers Market (in Raleigh)
Honorable mention: Durham Farmers’ Market

Brewery: Fortnight Brewing
Honorable mention: Fullsteam Brewery

Winery: Chatham Hill Winery
Honorable mention: Duplin Winery

Goodberry’s Frozen Custard, winner of our readers' favorite place to enjoy a sweet or frozen treat, opened its first store in North Raleigh in 1988.

Photo courtesy of Goodberry's Frozen Custard

GET MOVING

Place to Ride Bikes: American Tobacco Trail
Honorable mention: Town of Cary Greenways

Place to Walk or Hike: William B. Umstead State Park
Honorable mention: Fred G. Bond Metro Park

Place to Enjoy Water Activities: Jordan Lake State Recreation Area
Honorable mention: Buffaloe Road Aquatic Center

Park or Playground: Pullen Park
Honorable mention: Duke Park and Harold D. Ritter Park (tie)

Family Fitness Facility: Life Time
Honorable mention: Triangle Rock Club

Pullen Park is our readers' favorite park or playground.

Photo courtesy of the City of Raleigh Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department

CAMPS

Sports Leagues or Clubs: Durham Bulls Youth Athletic League and i9 Sports (tie)
Honorable mention: YMCAs of the Triangle

Summer Day Camp: Chestnut Ridge Camp and Retreat Center and Triangle Rock Club (tie)
Honorable mention: YMCAs of the Triangle

Track-Out Camp: Triangle Rock Club
Honorable mention: YMCAs of the Triangle and Chestnut Ridge Camp and Retreat Center (tie)

Residential Camp: Chestnut Ridge Camp and Retreat Center
Honorable mention: Camp Kanata

The Durham Bulls Youth Athletic League tied with i9 Sports for our readers' favorite sports league or club. (The minor leauge team is show in the photo.)

Photo courtesy of Andrea Catenaro/Shutterstock.com

PARTIES

Party Entertainer: Cotton the Clown
Honorable mention: Dan the Animal Man

Party Facility: Triangle Rock Club
Honorable mention: BounceU of Apex

Birthday Cake or Treat: Nothing Bundt Cakes and Once in a Blue Moon Bakery & Cafe (tie)
Honorable mention: Publix

Triangle Rock Club is our readers' favorite party facility and track-out camp.

PHOTO COURTESY OF BETH SHUGG

SHOPPING AND SERVICES

Day Care Facility: Primrose Schools
Honorable mention: Bright Horizons

OB-GYN or Midwifery: Kamm McKenzie OB/GYN
Honorable mention: Cary OB/GYN

Pediatrician: Jeffers, Mann & Artman Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, P.A.
Honorable mention: Durham Pediatrics

Family Dentist: Riccobene Associates Family Dentistry
Honorable mention: Triangle Family Dentistry

Orthodontist: Ritter & Brogden Orthodontics
Honorable mention: Brier Creek Orthodontics

Veterinary Services: Quail Corners Animal Hospital
Honorable mention: Banfield Pet Hospital

Kids Haircut: Great Clips and Sharkey’s Cuts for Kids (tie)
Honorable mention: JJ’s Kids Cuts

Local Toy Store: Learning Express Toys
Honorable mention: Science Safari

Consignment Store: Once Upon A Child
Honorable mention: Dorcas Ministries

Mall: The Streets at Southpoint
Honorable Mention: Crabtree Valley Mall

The Streets at Southpoint is our readers' favorite mall.

See who our 2018 Readers' Favorites winners were.