Carolina Parent Announces the 2019 Readers' Favorites Award Winners
Here are our readers' favorite places to visit, dine, shop and explore
A young museum visitor explores the Magic Wings Butterfly House at the Museum of Life in Science in Durham, winner of our Readers' Favorite Museum.
Photo courtesy of Joshua Steadman
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.