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Congratulations to all of our Family Favorites 2009 winners, and thanks to the many parents who told us their favorite places so we could share them with all of you.
Kids Menu
At Red Robin, diners 10 and younger find the standard kids menu choices, but they can also opt for a chicken, turkey, veggie or Boca burger or grilled chick-n-parmesan noodles. Healthy side items include apple slices, mandarin oranges, baby carrots, melon or side salad. (Apex, Cary, Durham, Raleigh and Wake Forest; www.redrobin.com)
Honorable Mentions: Chick-fil-A, Chili’s
Family Chain Restaurant
Red Robin also is a favorite family chain restaurant, along with Chick-fil-A, where providing good nutrition and healthy values is part of the mission. Kids meal prizes are touted by the company as being educational, interactive and character-building. (www.chick-fil-a.com)
Honorable Mentions: Golden Corral, Carraba’s
Non-Chain Family Restaurant
Elmo’s Diner offers a wide selection of menu choices, including veggie and turkey burgers for kids and adults. Kids can choose from applesauce, carrot sticks, raisins or the standard fries as sides. Check for weekly specials; breakfast is served all day. Both restaurants donate a portion of proceeds on first Tuesday of the month to a local school. (777 Ninth St., Durham, and 200 N. Greensboro St., Carrboro; www.elmosdiner.com)
Honorable Mentions: Daniel’s in Apex, Mama Dipp’s, N.C. State Farmer’s Market
Ethnic Eatery
Parents feel welcome at the Moe’s Southwest Grill locations around the Triangle, where they find tacos, quesadillas, nachos, fajitas and a kids menu. (www.moes.com) Buffets at Sitar Indian Cuisine help parents introduce kids to different foods. The restaurant also offers a la carte meals. (3630 Durham Chapel Hill Blvd., Durham; www.sitarindianpalace.net)
Honorable Mentions: Fiesta Grill, La Cosina Mexican, Torrero’s
Pizza Place
At Cici’s, families can find classic pizza options like pepperoni and cheese, but also signature pizza creations such as spinach alfredo, Mexican-style olé and buffalo chicken on the pizza, pasta, salad and dessert buffet. (www.cicispizza.com)
Honorable Mentions: Mellow Mushroom, Tomato Jakes, Pizza Hut, Papa Johns
Ice Cream/Treats
Part of a local dairy farm, Maple View offers fresh ice cream, including special monthly flavors. Fresh milk and butter also are available at the Country Store: 6900 Rocky Ridge Rd., Hillsborough. Two other locations sell the delicious ice cream. (525-A Hampton Pointe Blvd., Hillsborough; 100 E. Weaver St., Carrboro; www.mapleviewfarm.com)
Find Goodberry’s frozen custard in Cary, Garner, Raleigh and Wake Forest. (Vacationers at Myrtle Beach can get their Carolina Concrete fix there, too.) Check on the flavor of the day at www.goodberrys.com or rely on the standbys of vanilla or chocolate for your mix-in concoction.
Honorable Mentions: Coldstone Creamery, LocoPops, Dairy Queen
Place for a Picnic
Pullen Park, with its kid-friendly diversions of a train, carousel, boats and playground, is a top location for family dining al fresco. Note that the rides are expected to close the end of 2009 for an overhaul of the area. (520 Ashe Ave., Raleigh; www.raleighnc.gov)
With its grassy expanses, shady areas and blooming surroundings, Duke Gardens is another top place for picnicking in the Triangle. Special activities for kids and families increase its family-friendly appeal. (Parking off Anderson Street, Durham; www.hr.duke.edu/dukegardens)
Honorable Mentions: Bond Park, Harris Lake Park
Annual Festival/Event
Triangle families are not alone in thinking the N.C. State Fair is a top event. Southern Living readers named it No. 2 in the best fair or festival category for 2008. Get the latest on coming attractions and news about this year’s fair, Oct. 15-25, 2009, by following the official blog, Deep Fried @ the N.C. State Fair. (1025 Blue Ridge Rd., Raleigh; www.ncstatefair.org)
Honorable Mentions: Apex PeakFest, Eno River Festival, Hillsborough Hog Day
Area Museum
Families can spend hours at the Museum of Life and Science, exploring its 70-plus acres of indoor and outdoor exhibits that include a butterfly conservatory, nature park, radio-controlled sailboat pond, outdoor play area, farmyard and new Dinosaur Trail, opening July 25. Indoor exhibits focus on sound and movement, health, wildlife and insects. Young children have a special area just for them. (433 W. Murray Ave., Durham; www.ncmls.org)
Honorable Mentions: Marbles Kids Museum, N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences
Rainy Day Outing
When the weather’s bad, families turn to Marbles Kids Museum with hands-on, interactive exhibits designed for children ages 10 and younger in five areas. With an IMAX theater, it’s doubly popular on a rainy day, since going to the movies is also a big hit for families who can’t go outside to play. (201 E. Hargett St., Raleigh; www.marbleskidsmuseum.org)
Honorable Mentions: N.C. Museum Life & Science, Triangle Town Center Play Area, Monkey Joe’s, Morehead Planetarium
Sports Event for Families
Durham Bulls baseball comes in first for family Triangle sporting events. Games in and a free playground for the under-5 crowd help make this a popular family sports spot. (Durham Bulls Athletic Park; www.dbulls.com)
Honorable Mentions: Carolina Hurricanes, Carolina Mudcats Baseball, UNC games
Place to Take Visitors
Readers like to take visitors to Duke Gardens and the Museum of Life and Science in Durham. (See Places for a Picnic and Area Museum.)
Activity/Place That’s Free
The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences is the favorite for free fun. Its permanent and special exhibits, programs and films appeal to all ages. Special exhibits usually have an admission fee, but with nine exhibit halls, there’s plenty to do that’s free. (11 W. Jones St., Raleigh; www.naturalsciences.org)
Honorable Mentions: Pullen Park, Downtown Raleigh, Southpoint Mall
Day Trip Outside the Triangle
For a day trip, Triangle families head to the North Carolina Zoo for encounters with more than 1,000 animals from two continents. Kids can play and meet animals up-close in the KidZone. (4401 Zoo Pkwy., Asheboro; www.nczoo.org)
Honorable Mentions: Wilmington, Emerald Pointe, Wrightsville Beach, Greensboro Children’s Museum
Weekend Getaway
North Carolina beaches rank high for weekend getaways. Families have a variety of favorites, stretching from the Outer Banks to the South Carolina state line. Close to several beaches, Wilmington also is a popular weekend destination where families can check out the Battleship North Carolina, Children’s Museum of Wilmington, Cape Fear Museum of History & Science, ghost and pirate walks, and much more. (www.capefearcoast.com)
Honorable Mentions: Myrtle Beach, Asheville
Place to Walk
The paved, scenic two-mile trail around Shelley Lake was voted the most popular place to walk (but lots of other good options abound and are listed online). Added bonuses are workout stations, a playground and, of course, the lake. (1400 W. Millbrook Rd., Raleigh; www.raleighnc.gov)
Honorable Mentions: American Tobacco Trail, Lake Johnson, Apex Community Park
Place to Ride Bikes
With more than 20 miles crossing through Durham, Chatham and Wake counties, readers head to the American Tobacco Trail with their bikes. While not all sections of the rails-to-trails project are connected, the stretches are more than enough for a family outing. Some places are gravel; others are paved. (www.triangletrails.org)
Honorable Mentions: Umstead State Park, Bond Park
Park/Playground
Pullen Park (See Place for a Picnic) ranks tops for a park or playground right along with Kids Together Playground at Marla Dorrel Park in Cary where kids of all physical and mental ability levels can play in the two-acre accessible playground. (111 Thurston Dr., Cary; www.kidstogethercary.org)
Honorable Mentions: Chapel Hill Community Center, Kids Towne/Kelly Road Park (Apex), Main Street Park (Rolesville)
Family Fitness Facility
With locations around the Triangle and programs for various ages, readers say YMCAs help families fit in fitness (www.ymcatriangle.org). Lifetime Fitness is also a top favorite. (1700 Regency Pkwy., Cary; www.lifetimefitness.com)
Honorable Mentions: SportsPlex (Hillsborough)
Story Time
Our readers reliably turn to a local library for a good storytime. (Check the following Web sites to find the closest location: www.durhamcountylibrary.org, ww.chapelhillpubliclibrary.org, www.co.orange.nc.us/library, www.wakegov.com/county/libraries). Barnes & Noble also has a regular following. (www.barnesandnoble.com)
Hands-On Activity/Place
For hands-on fun for kids, families voted Marbles Kids Museum as their No. 1 favorite. (See Rainy Day Outing.)
Honorable Mention: N.C. Museum of Life and Science, Kidzu Children’s Museum, Planet Child, The Scrap Exchange
Class/Program for Ages 0-4
Wee ones and their parents enjoy the active programs at Little Gym locations around the Triangle. (Cary, Clayton, Durham, Holly Springs, Knightdale, Raleigh; www.thelittlegym.com). Kindermusik, which incorporates music in classes for newborn through 7, is also a top favorite. (Apex, Cary, Chapel Hill, Clayton, Durham, Knightdale, Raleigh; www.kindermusik.com)
Honorable Mention: Raleigh Parks & Recreations, My Gym, Jammin’ Baby
School-Age Classes
Parents turn to the YMCA as a favorite place for programs and classes for school-age kids. (See Family Fitness Facility.)
Honorable Mentions: Raleigh Parks & Recreation, N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences
Program and Place for Teens/Tweens
Parents also think the YMCA is a top spot for tweens and teens. (See Family Fitness Facility.)
Honorable Mentions: Frankie’s Fun Park, It’s All About Me (Clayton)
Day Camp
Chestnut Ridge, a year-round environmental education center in Efland, is a favorite for day camp. Along with traditional camp activities, there’s a focus on worship, the environment and tending to a community farm. (www.campchestnutridge.org)
The YMCA is also a top family favorite for day camp.
Honorable Mention: Grace Church Summer Camp (Cary)
Overnight Camp
Chestnut Ridge also gets top marks for overnight camp.
Honorable Mentions: Camp Kanata, Girl Scout Camp
Track-out Camp
Families with children on year-round school schedules vote the YMCA as their favorite for track-out camp.
Honorable Mentions: Hoops City U, Impact Gym, Primrose School of West Cary, Noah’s Ark, Bright Horizons
Drop-in Child Care
Need a couple of child-free hours? Screamin’ Mimi’s Kid’s Place and RightTime Kids are popular spots for hourly drop-in child care. Ages 18 months to 12 years are welcome at Screamin’ Mimi’s in Clayton and Raleigh (www.screaminmimiskidsplace.com). RightTime Kids welcomes ages 12 months (and walking) to 12 years in Cary and Morrisville and 18 months to 12 years at the Raleigh location (www.righttimekids.com). A Garner location is opening soon.
Honorable Mention: My Play Place
Party Entertainer
Ted Rabalais of Ted’s Twisted Balloons and Magic was voted the top family party entertainer. He has twisted and turned balloons (as many as 100 for one sculpture!) for more than five years, adding magic tricks along the way. (www.tedstwistedballoons.com)
Honorable Mentions: Stacy Clearman, Sandbox Band
Party Facility
The most popular places to hold a children’s party are Pump It Up in Raleigh, with private areas with giant inflatables and party rooms (www.pumpitupparty.com), and Monkey Joe’s in Cary and Raleigh, with its inflatable slides, jumps and obstacle courses. (www.monkeyjoesnc.com)
Honorable Mentions: Chuck E. Cheese, BounceU, Jumpin’ Beans, Jelly Beans, Paint it Red Café (Clayton)
Party Place for Teens/Tweens
When planning parties, parents of older kids opt for the go-karts, bumper boats, rides, laser tag, batting cages, arcade and mini golf at Frankie’s Fun Park (11190 Fun Park Dr., Raleigh; www.frankiesfunpark.com) or the salon and spa options at Sweet and Sassy. (1105 Walnut St., Ste. 8808, Cary; www.sweetandsassy.com)
Honorable Mentions: Jellybean’s, It’s all About Me, BounceU
Birthday Cake/Treat
Need a birthday cake? Harris Teeter is tops with our readers. (www.harristeeter.com)
Honorable Mentions: Once in a Blue Moon Bakery, Sam’s Club, Baskin Robbins
School Supply Store
Check out Stone’s Education Superstore (3800 Tryon Rd., Raleigh; www.stones-education.com) and A Sea of Learning (7001 Fayetteville Rd., Durham; www.aseaoflearning.com) for special school supplies.
Honorable Mention: The Teach Me Store (Raleigh)
Place to Buy Children’s Clothing
When kids need new clothes, families head to the Triangle’s Target stores. (www.target.com)
Honorable Mentions: Children’s Place, Old Navy
Place to Buy Children’s Shoes
Stride Rite is the shoe-in for children’s shoes with our readers. (www.striderite.com)
Honorable Mentions: Target, Pay Less, Mobley’s
Place to Buy Maternity Wear
Motherhood Maternity, with five Triangle locations, is most popular with expecting mothers. (www.motherhood.com)
Honorable Mentions: Target, A Pea in the Pod
Place to Buy Teacher Gifts
Target stores get top grades for teacher gifts. (www.target.com)
Honorable Mentions: Hallmark, Barnes & Noble
Consignment Store
Readers looking to purchase items at a reduced cost (or make some money from unneeded items) favor Kid to Kid (1059 Beaver Creek Commons Dr., Apex; 430 Crossroads Blvd., Cary; www.kidtokid.com) or Children’s Orchard (2865 Jones Franklin Rd., Raleigh; www.childrensorchard.com) for consignment.
Honorable Mention: Once Upon a Child
Certificates Available
Carolina Parent will provide a personalized certificate to all of our Family Favorites top vote-getters and honorable mentions. Call 919-956-2430 or e-mail info@carolinaparent.com to request one.
Prize Winners
A few lucky voters were chosen at random to win the following giveaway prizes: BounceU Birthday Party Package to Teresa Bozzano, Holly Springs; $100 Northgate Mall Gift Certificate to Felicia Willems, Raleigh; $100 Ecko Home Furnishings Gift Certificate to Dene’ Almeida, Raleigh; and $25 A Sea of Learning Gift Certificate to Brenda Cash-Hamlin, Durham.
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