Best for Families WINNERS 2007

Annual Readers’ Choice Awards

The results are in . . . your choices of the region’s best – merchants, restaurants, venues and organizations. We’ve tabulated the entries from thousands of regional families and included votes from across the US and even a few from around the globe. You’ve told us where you shop, relax, and dine. Your favorite doctors. The best parks to explore. Where you go to get away. Rainy day favorites and quick cuisine locations. There is so much in this area that is worth trying. Here is what our readers consider “The Best.”

The leader in each category is listed in bold, with other top nominees listed below in alphabetical order. For a listing of more nominees, please visit us online at www.theFAMILYmagazine.com. Please vote again next year, so we can continue to offer the most current listing of the area’s “BEST FOR FAMILIES”.

*Being voted “The Best” by our readers is not a public endorsement by FAMILY™ Magazine. It’s just an opportunity for us to recognize those businesses, services, and products deemed best overall by our readers.

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Places

BEST Beach
Bethany
Cape May • Chincoteague • Dewey • Duck Head • Emerald Island • Hilton Head • Hollywood • JekyII Island • Lewes • Kaanapali Alii • Myrtle Beach • Nags Head • Rehoboth • Sand Bridge • South Padre Island • Spring Lake • St. Johns • Outer Bank • Ocean City • Virginia Beach • Hawaii • Waikiki

BEST Birthing Center
Reston Hospital
Alexandria Hospital • Arlington Hospital • Bethesda Hospital • Fair Oaks Hospital • Glen Burnie Medical Center • Potomac Hospital • Sibley Medical Center • The Birthing Inn

BEST Community for Families
Vienna
Ashburn • Alexandria • Arlington • Bethesda • Baltimore County • Burke • Centreville • Clarendon • Clifton • Cross Pointe • Fairfax • Falls Church • Great Falls • Hampton Forest • Haymarker • Lala Mancenas • Long Beach • Kingstown • Mantua • McLean • Reston • Rockville • Rutherford • Oakton • Somerset • Silver Spring

BEST Hospital
Inova Fairfax Hospital
Alexandria Hospital • Arlington Hospital • Animal Hospital • Fair Oaks Hospital • Glen Burnie Medical Center • Georgetown Hospital • Holy Cross Hospital • Latrobe Hospital • Loudoun Hospital • Morristown Hospital • Memorial Hospital • Reston Hospital • Sibley Medical Center • St. Joseph Hospital

BEST Ice Skating or Roller Skating Rink
Reston Town Center
Ashburn • Ballston Mall • Boston Garden • Fairfax Ice Rink • Manassas • Mt Vernon • National Sculpture Garden • Skate Quest • Skate N Fun Zone

BEST Indoor Play Facility for Children
Lifetime Fitness Center
Dulles Sports Plex • Chuck E Cheese’s • Fair Oaks Mall • Gymboree • Hoop Magic • IW Tumbles • Kids N Motion • McDonalds • Mc Lean Community Center • My Gym

BEST Family Vacation
Disney World
Aruba • Atlanta • Bahamas • Busch Gardens • The Beach • Cope Cod • Caribbean Cruise • Disney Land • Dude Ranch • Dutch Wonderland • Emerald Island • Grand Canyon • Greatwold Lodge • Hawaii • Hilton Head • Italy • Kennedy Center • Kings Dominion • Lake of Ozarks • Outer Banks • Paris • Puerto Rico • Rehoboth • Some Place Sunny and Far • Texas • Williamsburg • Wintergreen • Zoo

BEST Museum
Air & Space Museum
American Indian Museum • Air & Space Museum • Baltimore • Building Museum • Capitol Children’s Museum • Hillwood Museum • Lincoln Memorial • Mt Vernon • Marine Corps Museum • Natural History Museum • National Gallery Of Art • Ohio • Smithsonian • Spy Museum

BEST Place to Work
Let’s Dish
A Class Act • Armands • Best Buy • Cisco Systems • Coldstone Creamery • CASET • Dental Office • Fairfax County Public Schools • George Mason University • The Government • Home • Main Street Bank • McDonalds • REI • Rock Star • Reston • Reptiles Alive • Safeway • SRA International • Sunrise Senior Living • Starbucks • Tiny Dancers • Wegmans

BEST Playground for Children
Play N Learn
Annies Playground • Castle Park • Clemontix • Clifton • Dorothy Lane Park • Gringe Rutherford • The Park • Van Dyke Park

BEST Romantic Get-Away for Mom & Dad
Charlottesville
Any Where Warm • The Beach • Bermuda • B&B • Cancun • Cruise • Greenbrier-Homestead Hotel in Fairfax • Hilton Head • Italy • La Auberge • Lake Gaston • Lansdowne • The Inn at Little Washington • Middleburg • Motel 6 • New York City • Not With Kids • The Poconos • Reston Ritz • San Diego • St Michael’s • St. Thomas • Tides Inn • Las Vegas • Williamsburg • Wintergreen

BEST Swimming Pool/Water Park
Splash Down
Army/Navy Country Club • Cameron Run • Canterbury • Cub Run • Freedom Center • Great Wolf Lodge • Great Adventure • Home Pool • King’s Dominion • Lansdowne • Martin Luther King Pool • Oak Marr • Poplar Heights • Sea World • Sideburn • Water Country • The Water Mine • YMCA

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Education & Activities

BEST Art Program
The Art League
A Class Act • Abrakadoodle • Arlington • Black Rock Center • DaVinci’s Attic • Little Picasso • J Art Studio • Mrs. Bolster • NOVA Manassas • Robinson High School • Torpedo Factory • West Springfield

BEST Ballet or Dance Studio
Tiny Dancers
Adagio Ballet • Arlington Dance Studio • Baby Ballerina • Balance Ballet • Center for Ballet Arts • Center Stage • Cuppett • Dance Zone Performing Arts Center • Fairfax Ballet • Joy of Motion • Ravel • Reston Conservatory Ballet • Savare Art • Towson VI • Washington Ballet

BEST Childbirth Class
Reston Hospital
Any at Fairfax Hospital • The Baby Duck • Gym • Lamaze

BEST Child Care Center
Children In The Shoe
A Class Act • Appletree • Childtime • Clara Barton • Fairfax County Employee Childcare • Laurel Learning Center • Kiddie Country • Fairfax County SACC • St. Leo’s Extended Day

BEST Children’s Theatre or Drama Instruction
Imagination Stage
A Class Act • Classika • Tiny Dancers • Wolf Trap

BEST Day Camp
Pinecrest School
A Class Act • Alliance Theatre • Appletree • Camp Greenway • Congressional Schools • Discovery Creek • Flint Hill • Hemlock • Langley • Madeira • Nova JCC • Potomac • St. Steven’s • Summer’s Best Two Weeks • Summer Safari • Tiny Dancers • YMCA

BEST Fitness/Activity Center
Curves
A Class Act • Burke Swim and Racquet Club • Bally’s • Dahn Yoga • Freedom Center • Gold’s Gym • Jazzercise • Jungle’s Gym • Lifetime Fitness • The Little Gym • Mt. Vernon REC Center • Olympus Gym • Powerhouse Gym • Skyline • South Run Recreation • Sun & Moon Yoga • Tysons Sport • Vantage Fitness • World Gym • Woman’s Club • YMCA

BEST Gymnastics Instruction or Gym
Silver Stars
Allstar Legacy • Barcroft • Capital Gymnastics • Cardinal • Fairfax Gymnastics Academy • Gymnini Gymnastics Club • Gold’s Gym • Little Gym • Lifetime Fitness • My Gym • Top Flight

BEST Internet Site for Kids
Webkins
Addicting Games.com • Askjeeves • Brain Pop • Busbie.com • Club Penquin • Crayola.com • Disney.com • Everything Girl • Funbrain.com • Google.com • Kidsnewsroom.com • Noggin.com • Nickjr • Neo pets • PBSKids.org • Preschooltime.com • Popcap • ReptilesAlive.com • Thomas the Train • Yahoohgans

Martial Arts Instruction
Tiger Den Mt. Kim
Black Belt Academy • Jeff Smith • Deitrick’s • Jhoon Rhee • Top Kick • US Tae Kwon Do • YMCA • Yums Anne, VA

BEST Music Instruction
Lopez Studios
Adria Hoffman • Allegro Music • Barry Ward • Carol Barry • Dan Perriello • Foxes • Hearts in Motion • Jacqua Yeomans • Karen Christensen • Kindermusik • Laurie Harris • Levine School of Music • Maddy Music Together • Music & Arts Center • Piano at Home • Suzuki Method • Twinbrook Music

BEST Overnight Camp
Camp Rim Rock
Burke Lake Park • Capital Camps • Camp Conral Weisrer • Camp Friendship • Camp Varsity • Camp Seagull/Seafarer • FONZ Nature Camp • Girl Scouts • Madeira • Nock A Mixon • Sandy Hill • Sunrise • YMCA

BEST Parent Support Group
Mom’s Club
Dr. Ciardi • Local Church • Mops (Mothers of Preschoolers) • Mother’s First in Georgetown • Mothers of Multiples • Parents R US • PACE • Tenderhearts

BEST Place to Buy Musical Instruments
Guitar Center
Chantilly Music Center • Fox’s Music • Kitts Music • Melody Music • Music & Arts Center • Online • Twinbrook Music

BEST Preschool Program
Chesterbrook Academy
Accotink Academy • Appletree • Andrew Capel • Boyd School • Clara Barton • Christ Presbyterian • Christ Lutheran • Children’s House Montessori • Falls Church Montessori • Faith Lutheran • Good Shepherd on Olley Lane • Haymarket Baptist • Knollwood • Jewish Community Center • Lake Manassas Academy • Langley • Laurel Learning • Kiddie Country • Montessori • Mount Oliver • Mulford School • Nysmith • Pender UMC Preschool • Pinecrest School • Silver Spring Day School • Sleepy Hollow Preschool • Sully Station • St. Paul’s • St. Leo the Great • The Compass School • Tiny Dancers • Vienna Baptist • Village Green • Wesley Preschool

BEST Private School (K–12)
Nysmith
Appletree • Boyd School • Bishop O’ Connell • Fair Oaks Academy • Flint Hill • Friends • Gonzaga • ISA • Langley • National Cathedral School • Northern Virginia Friends School • Pinecrest School • Sidwell Friends • St. Leo the Great • St. Veronica • St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes

BEST Public School (K–12)
Flint Hill Elementary School
Arlington Science Focus • Barley’s Elementary School • Bryant • Buckland Mills • Canterbury Woods • Chantilly High School • Cherry Run • Colin Powell Elementary School • Colvin Run Elementary School • Eagle View Elementary School • Fairfax County Schools • Floris Elementary School • Hunters Woods • George Mason High • Keene Mill Elementary School • Lake Braddock • Lemon Road • Mary Ellen • Mantua • Navy Elementary School • Nokesville • Oakton High School • Prince William County Schools • Rodgers Forge • Robinson Secondary • Sangster Elementary School • Silverbrook • Smarts Mill • TC Williams High School • Thomas Jefferson • Wakefield Forest • Westfield High School • Willow Springs Elementary School • Wolftrap Elementary School • Woodson High School • Yorktown High School

BEST Tutor / Tutoring Company
Mindworks Tutors
Denise Brown • Genie O’ Hara • Huntington • Kumon • MGM Tutoring • Score • Sylvan

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Food

BEST Burger Restaurant
Five Guys Burgers
29 Diner • Beef O’Bradys • Burger King • Charley Horse Grill • Cheeseburger in Paradise • Chili’s • Clyde’s • Elevation Burger • Fuddruckers • Glory Days • Generous George’s • Red Robin • McDonald’s • Outback • Pizzeria Uno • Wendy’s

BEST Cheap-Eats Restaurant
Pho (Vietnamese Noodle Soup)
29 Diner • Bangkok 54 • Baja Fresh • Beef O’Bradys • Chick Fil A • Claire & Don’s • Chipotle • Costco • Five Guys Burgers • Glory Days • Generous George’s • Indian Foods • Jerry’s • Logan’s Steakhouse • McDonalds • Noodles & Co. • Red Robin • Ruby Tuesday • Taco Bell • The Tortilla Factory • Vienna Inn • Wendys

BEST Cup Of Coffee or Deli
Starbucks
Bean Scene • Caribou • Denny’s • Dunkin’ Donuts • Hunter Mill Deli • KC’s Coffee • Java Shack • Main Street Bagels • McDonalds • Panera • Sfizi • Wegmans

BEST Fine Dining With Kids
Macaroni Grill
2941 • Bagel Buddies • Bonefish • Bertuccis • Charthouse • Cheesecake Factory • Coastal Flats • Dak’s • Denny’s • Dolce Vita • Espositor • Glory Days • Luciano’s • Konami • Maggianos • Otani • Pasho Cafι • Red Lobster • Outback

BEST Ice Cream Store
Cold Stone Creamery
Baskin Robbins • Ben & Jerry’s • Carvel • Dairy Queen • Friendly’s • Frozen Dairy Bar • Frozen Custard • Hδagen-Dazs • Lazy Sundaes • Maggie Moo’s • Milwaukee Custard • Sweetlike

BEST Kid’s Menu
McDonalds
Beef O’Bradys • Clyde’s • Denny’s • Fuddruckers • Glory Days • Generous George’s • Logans • Outback • Red Robin • Sakura • Sweetwater • Texas Roadhouse

BEST Outdoor/Patio Dining
Panera
Austin Grille • Beef O’Bradys • Clarendon • Noodles & Co. • Rio Grande • Sweet Water • Taverna Cretekou

BEST Pizza Restaurant
Mamma Lucia’s
Armands • Big Bite • Bertucci’s • California Pizza Kitchen • Domino’s • Dolce Vita • Facia Luna • Generous Georges • GF Tavern • Ledo’s • Joe’s • McLean Pizza • NY, NY • Papa Johns • Pie Tanza • Pizza Hut • Pomadoro’s • Tony’s NY Pizza • Uno • Vocelli’s • Z-Pizza

BEST Restaurant for Kids
Red Robin
Armands • Beef O’Bradys • Chevy’s • Chuck E Cheese’s • Fuddruckers • Hooters • Quiznos • GF Tavern • Glory Days • Generous George’s • Macaroni Grill • Maggiano’s • McDonalds • Luciano’s • Old County Bay • Rainforest Cafι • Spartan’s • TGI Friday’s • Today

BEST Restaurant to Impress an Out-of-Towner
Bonefish Grill
2941 • Artie’s • Chez Francois • Cheesecake Factory • Coastal Flats • Dolce Vita • DC Coast • Glory Days • Hay Adams • EI Pueblo • Kinkades • Mike’s • The Melting Pot • Olde Eblatt Grill • Outback • Rio Grande • Sweetwater • Willow

BEST Restaurant with a Kid’s Night /Special
Fuddruckers
Beef O’Bradys • Dennys • Red Hot & Blue • Silver Diner • Sakura • TGI Friday’s

Your Kids’ Favorite Food
Pizza
Chicken Nuggets • Chicken Fingers • Chipotle • Fries • Filet • Grapes • Grilled Cheese • Hot dogs • Hamburger • Macaroni & Cheese • Pasta • Peanut Butter Sandwich • Silver Diner • Squash (baby food) • Spaghetti • Steak • Veggies • Wendys • Wings

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Goods & Services

BEST Arts and Crafts Store
Michaels
Ashburn Family Scrapbooking • AC Moore • Capitol Yarn • Joanne’s • Pearl • Total Crafts

BEST Cell Phone System
Verizon
AT&T • Cingular • Nextel • Sprint • T-Mobile

BEST Children’s Photographer
Hill Signature
Drew Faramming • Gale Tiller • ILO-Georgetown • Lubin • Julie Napear www.julienapearphotography.com • JC Penny • Picture People • Picture Place • Stone • Todd Messegee • Target • Tammy McMillan • Van • William Stewart • Walmart

BEST Computer Software Program for Children
Reader Rabbit
Books By You • Blues Clues • Clue Finders • HLZ • Ispy • Kid Pix • Leapfrog • Jumpstart • Mac • Magic School Bus • Starcraft • Zoo Tycoon

BEST Hair Salon (for Adults)
Hair Cuttery
5 Star • Avivo • Bubbles • Christie-Adams • Charles Russell • Differences • Elizabeith Arden • Hair Magic • Image • John Edwards • Matisse • Mason & Friends • Monet • Norbert • Ozuki • Perfect Endings • Positive Image • PR Partners • Rainbow • Ronni Elias • Sana’s Hair Design • Salon Creations • Salon Bella • Salon Mind • Shapes • Super Cuts • The Studio • Valon Salon

BEST Home Improvement Contractor
Home Depot
BLJC • CASE • Clark • DWD Construction • Gan Honey • J & M Improvements • Joe Cox • Lowes • Kirby Outlets • Osborne Company • Richter • Sarakinis Construction

BEST Invitation or Stationery Store
Papyrus
Ashburn Family Scrapbooking • Blue Tulip • Crane’s • Card Factory Outlet • The Dandelion Patch • Hallmark • Recollections • Staples

BEST Place to Buy a Car
CarMax
Auto Trader • Credit Union • Don Byer • Fairfax Honda • Herb Gordon • Impound • Jack Taylor of Alexandria, VA • Koon’s • Pohanka • Sheehey • Stohlman Subaru • Washingtonpost.com

BEST Place to Shop (Mall or Area)
Fair Oaks Mall
Delaware • Fair City Mall • Fairfax Corner • Dulles Town Center Mall • Kinder Haus Toys • Kohl’s • Leesburg Outlets • Montgomery • Pentagon City • Peachtree Mall-GA • Potomac Mills • Springfield Mall • Tyson’s Corner

BEST Place to Buy Toys
Noodles & Noggins
Amazon.com • Babies R Us • Best Buy • Doodlehopper • Discovery Toys • Fair Oaks Mall • Kaboom • KB Toys • MVC • Target • Toy’s R Us • Toy Corner • Tree Top Toys • Walmart

BEST Sports Equipment Store
Dick’s Sporting Goods
Chaps • EMS • Fair Oaks • Galyan’s • Modells • REI • Soccer Plus • Sports Authority • Target

BEST Customer Service
Let’s Dish
Apple Computer • A Class Act • Brinks Security • Best Buy • Chick Fil A • Dell Computer • Enterprise Car Rental • Imagination Stage • L.L. Bean • Lands End • Lord & Taylors • Kids Parties • Kennedy Center • Macys • Mainstreet Bank • Mindworks • Nordstroms • REI • Reptiles Alive • Talbot’s • Target • Trader Joes • Wegmans

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Home Improvements

BEST Basement Build Out Company
CASE Remodeling

BEST Carpet or Rug Store
Abbey Carpet
Capital Carpet • Carpet Land • Carpet One • Clawes • Expo • Empire Carpet • Home Depot • Lowe’s • National Carpet • Sully Carpet

BEST Counter Top Store
Expo Center
Arlington Bath & Kitchen • Counter Intelligence • Damian Granite • Expo • Granitech • Home Depot • Lowe’s

BEST General Repairs Company
CASE Remodeling
Dave’s Repairs • J&M Improvement

BEST Heating and Air Conditioning Company
ARS
Air Temp • JC Flood • Johnsons • Mt. Vernon • Pride • Tom Muse

BEST Home Accessories & Decor Items Store
Ikea
Expo Center • Home & Hearth • Home Goods • Home Depot • Lowe’s • Kellogg Collection • Pier One Imports • Pottery Barn • Sage • Serendipity • Target • World Market

BEST Interior Decorator
Sage
Julia Mitchell • Lilian Mederos • Suaden

BEST Window Treatment Store
Next Day Blinds
Andria Becus • Calico Corners • Country Curtains • Dankers • Expo • Home Depot • JC Penny • Lowe’s • Sage • We Fix It Ourselves

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Just for the Fun Of It

BEST Animal at the Zoo
Panda
Alligator • Arrawana • Bear • Buffalo • Cheetah • Chimpanzee • Coby • Elephant • Flamingo • Giraffe • Gorilla • Lemurs at Reston Zoo • Lion • Kangaroo • Monitor Lizard • Monkey • Orangutan • Otters • Penguin • Peacock • Prairie Dogs • Python • Rhino • Seal • Tiger • Turtle • Zebra

BEST Bar/Bat Mitzvah Entertainer
Oh Susannah
Reptiles Alive

BEST Day Trip (Outside Our Area)
Baltimore Aquarium
Annapolis • American Frontier Museum • Antietam • The Beach • Belmont Estate • Blue Ridge Mountains • B&O Railroad • Charlottesville • Chincoteague • Deep Creek Lake • Fredricksburg • Great Wolf Lodge • Great Falls • Haymarket • Hershey Park • Jamestown • Kings Dominion • Inner Harbor • The Mountains • New York City • Ocean City • Ravens Game • Shenandoah • Tangier Island • Virginia Beach • Washington DC Museums • Whitetail • Williamsburg • Zoo

BEST Family Board Game
Monopoly
Apples to Apples • Blockus • Bingo • Candy Land • Catch Phrase • Chutes & Ladders • Checkers • Chess • Clue • Cranium • Guesstures • Life • Mexican Train • Mancala • Parcheesi • Pictionary • Rack-O • Risk • Rummikub • Scattergories • Scene It • Sorry • Uno • Trivial Pursuit • Twister • Who Knew? • Yahtzee

BEST Family Movie In 2006
Happy Feet
Arthur & The Invisibles • Bridge to Terabithia • Borat • Cars • Click • Flushed Away • Ice Age 2 • The Incredibles • High School Musical • Little Miss Sunshine • King Kong • Open Season • Finding Nemo • Nanny McPhee • Night in the Museum • Simon Birch • Shrek 2

BEST Festival or Celebration for Families
Kennedy Center Festival
4th of July • Arlington Fair • Burke Festival • Fairfax Spotlight • Carnival • Christmas • Colonial Farm Market Days • International Children’s Festival • KidFest • Leesburg Garden • McLean Day • Taste of Herndon • Waterford Festival

BEST Kid’s Party Entertainer
Mad Science
Bob Brown Puppets • Broccoli • Dora • George Zhang • Cookies the Clown • House of Bounce • Lynn McCune • Mr. Knick Knack • Oh Susannah • Puppet Entertainer • Reptiles Alive • Rocknoceros • Skate-n-Fun Zone

BEST Local Radio Station for Carpool
99.5
Big 100.3 • Radio Disney • WAMV • WARW • WMAL 630 • WMZQ • WTOP • WJZW • Smooth Jazz • 89.7 • 92.5 • 94.7 • 97.1 • 910 AM • 101.1 • 101.5 • 102.5 • 103.3 • 103.5 • 104.1 • 106.5 • 107.3

BEST Party Store or Rentals
Party City
Brooke • Capital Rentals • Master Tux & Costume • Oriental Trading • Party Depot • Party Company • Party Mania • Stumps

BEST Place for a Team Party
Glory Days Grill
Ashburn Ice House • Anthony’s Pizza • Brions Grill • Chili’s • Chuck E Cheeses • Champs • California Pizza Kitchen • Home • Laser Tag • Generous George’s • Fuddruckers • Lido’s Pizza • McDonald’s • Old Brogue • Pizza Hut • Pizzeria Uno • Silver Diner • Skate N Fun Zone • Swimming Pool • TGI Fridays

BEST Place to Have A Birthday Party
Pump it Up
Baby Ballerina • Bowl America • Clay Cafι • Chuck E Cheese’s • California Pizza Kitchen • Dave & Buster’s • Fairfax Corner • Home • House of Bounce • Gymboree • Glory Days • JW Tumbles • Laser Tag • Noodles & Noggins • Old Brogue • Oak Marr Recreation Center • Renaissance • Reptiles Alive • Tiny Dancers • Ultrazone

BEST Place to Meet Other Moms
Let’ s Dish
Caribou Coffee • Children’s School • Gymboree • Jammin’ Java • Starbucks • The Mall • My House • Mothers of Multiples • The Park • Soccer Practice • Target • Yoga

BEST Rainy Day Outing
Movies
Accotink Park • Bowling • Chuck E Cheese’s • Fairfax Corner • Library • Mall • Museum • My House • National Aquarium • National Portrait Gallery • Pottery Place • Pentagon City • Pump It UP • Smithsonian

BEST Sunny Day Outing
National Zoo
Beach • Baseball Game • Blue Ridge Mountains • Downtown Clifton • Farms • Hiking Shenandoah • Great Falls • Golf • King’s Dominion • Mall • Park • Pool • ReptilesAlive.com • Splash Down Water Park • Sporting Events • Washington DC • Yard

BEST Television Program for Families
American Idol
24 • ABC Family • Arrested Development • Andy Griffith • Cheat Seats • The Daily Show • Dancing with the Stars • Disney • Discovery Channel • Extreme Home Makeover • Fox • Good Eats • Go Diego Go • House • Jetsons • Jeopardy • Lost • Mythbusters • Meercat Manor • Nickelodeon • PBS • Sesame Street • Seinfeld • Simpsons • Six Feet Under • Sponge Bob • Survivor • Super Nanny • Sprout • The Amazing Race • Ugly Betty • Wonder Years • Zoom

BEST Tour or Guide Book for the Washington Region
Fodor’s
AAA • Escape Plan • Zagat

Absolute BEST FOR FAMILIES in Our Area
Let’s Dish
A Class Act • Bike Trails • Fairfax Corner • FAMILY Magazine • Kids Parties • Mt Vernon • Reptiles Alive • The Kennedy Center • Washington DC

BEST Feature of FAMILY™ Magazine
Camp Guide
Ads for Services • Advice • Articles • Best for Families Reader Survey • Calendar • Family Issues • Health • Local Focus • Local Resources • Short Features

Advice for New Parents
Go to Let’s Dish
Be gentle and loving • Be prepared • Be the parents you wanted to have • Do what feels right/Follow your instincts • Do it a year at a time • Don’t let personal desires get in the way of taking care of your children • Love your kids • Have love & patience • Don’t be overprotective of your children • Don’t sweat the small stuff • Enjoy this time-it goes by so quickly • Get good babysitters & go out as a couple • Get organized • Get sleep whenever possible • Have good pedicure • Have patience • Its okay to accept help from friends • Line up a great psychologist • Look for childcare/preschool/daycare before you need it • Keep a sense of humor! • Put a “This way up sticker on your child” • Put your baby to bed awake! • Quit while you are ahead! • Find recipes for working moms • Read a lot! • Read some good baby magazines • Remember what being a kids is! • Savor every minute • Save your money-you will need it • Take it one day at a time • This too shall pass • Your parents didn’t know everything either • You, not the school system, are responsible to see your child is appropriately educated

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Miscellaneous Children’s Retail

BEST Bicycle Store
Performance Bicycle
Bikes R Us • Dicks • Kmart • Spokes • The Bike Lane • Washington Bike Center

BEST Children’s Clothing Store
Gymboree
Abercrombie• Children’s Place • Gap • JC Penny • Kmart • Kohl ‘s • Nordstrom • Old Navy • Oshkosh • Sears • Talbot’s Kids • Target • Tree Top • Walmart • Young Elegance

BEST Children’s Furniture Store
Baby 2 Teen
Bombay Kids • Buy Buy Baby • Ikea • Pottery Barn Kids • Pier 1 Imports • Pottery Barn • The Room Store • Target

BEST Children’s Shoe Store
Stride Rite
D & D • Footlocker • DSW • JC Penney • Nordstrom’s • Payless • Walmart

BEST Consignment or Resale Store
Upscale Resale
Ebay.com • Kensington Caboose • Kid to Kid • New to You • Paddington Station • Purple Goose • Plato’s Closet • Toys for Tots • Yesterday’s Rose

BEST Hair Salon for Children
Cartoon Cuts
• Eclips For Kids • Hair Cuttery • Kids Cuts

BEST Maternity Clothing Store
Pea in a Pod
Burlington Coat Factory • Motherhood Maternity • Mother To Be • Old Navy • Target

BEST Place to Buy Outdoor Play Equipment
Woodplay
Costco • Dick’s • Lowes • Rainbow • Sports Authority • Toys R’ Us • Walmart

BEST Place to Get Kids’ Glasses
Lens Crafters
Costco • Eye Doctor • For Eyes • Optometrist • Sears

BEST Selection of Children’s Books
Borders
A Likely Story • Barnes & Noble • Books A Million • Library • Once Upon A Story • Politics & Prose • Usborne • Walden Books

BEST Story Time for Young Children
Borders
A Likely Story • Barnes & Noble • Library • Noodles & Noggins • Once Upon a Story • Where The Wild Things Are

Your Kid’s Favorite Book
Good Night Moon
Aladdin • American Ballerina • Angelina Ballerina • Artemis Fowl • Brown Bear • Cat in the Hat • Cinderella • Click • Clifford • Dandelion • Designed By God • Duck On A Bike • Guess How Much I Love You • Hatchet • Hello Moon • Olivia • Green Eggs & Ham • Harry Potter • Harold & the Purple Crayon • Little Bear • Magic Tree House Series • Miss Nelson is Missing • My Father’s Dragon • Scrambled States • Sleeping Beauty • Ten Apples Up On Top • The Doll People • Winnie the Pooh

Your Kid’s Favorite Store
Noodles & Noggins
5 Below • Barnes & Noble • Best Buy • Build A Bear • Borders • Dicks • Disney • EB World • Kids R Us • KB Toys • Target • Trader Joe’s • Toys R Us

Your Kid’s Favorite Toy
Nintendo Wii
American Girl Doll • A cardboard box • Any thing that makes noise • Baby Annabel • Big Wheel • Dora • Doll • Elmo • Game Boy • Harry Potter • Ipod • Lionel Trains • Life on Earth • Legos • Magna Tiles • MP3 Player • Nintendo DS • Power Rangers • PSP • Soccer Ball • Thomas The Train • Tickle Me Elmo • Video Game

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People

BEST Allergy or Asthma Doctor
Dr. Shuster
Allergy Partners of Northern Virginia • Allergy & Nutrition Clinic • Dr. T. Kim • Dr. McBride (Fairfax) • Dr. Laura Power • Dr. Rosemblatt • Dr. Jalal Souli • Dr. Thompson

BEST Dentist or Orthodontist
Dr. Michael Ternisky
Dr. Ackerman, Fairfax • Dr. Ahrabi • Dr. Robert Argenteiri • Dr. Babindton, Fairfax • Dr. Kristen Bae, Chantilly • Dr. Bath & McCombs • Dr. Water Bechtold • Dr. Scott Berman • Dr. Byron Bonebreak • Dr. Brosman, Burke • Dr. Peter Cocolis • Dr. Sinclair Davis • Dr. Donohue • Dr. Drummond • Dr. Henry Dutson • Dr. Dana Ericksen • Dr. Farahi, McLean • Dr. Richard Fisher • Dr. Frank • Gainesville Pediatric Dentistry • Dr. Garai • Dr. Paul Goldstein • Dr. Han, Vienna • Dr. Ann Hebda • Dr. Heidi Herbst • Dr. Hindman • Dr. Hughes • Dr. David Jurgle • Dr. Klima • Dr. Gary Kramer • Dr. Scott Leaf, Burke • Dr. Brad Lee Dental • Dr. Lentin & Lanzaro • Dr. Lessne, Arlington • Dr. Kathy McGrath • Dr. Kevin McGrath • Dr. Lezley McLlveen • Dr. Carlene Marcus • Dr. Marino • Dr. Miller • Dr. Morgan • Dr. Muss • Dr. Monique Nguyen • Dr. Roy Norick • Dr. Olenyn • Dr. Papagorgio • Dr. Reardon Davis • Dr. Lupi Roca • Dr. Clark Rogers • Dr. Rosenbloom • Dr. Shefferman, DC • Dr. Roger Schweiter • Dr. Skordalakis • Dr. David Urban • Dr. Nicole Van • Dr. Wallert • Dr. Jack Weil • Dr. Kristin Williams • Dr. Mark Winkler • Dr. Wodell • Dr. Wyrev • Dr. Zack, Reston

BEST Family Friendly Company
Let’s Dish
Saves me time and money; I have a child with allergies and Let’s Dish has made my life easier!; Healthy food for my family; For families of kids with allergies; My family eats together every night; I can offer recipes to my kids liking; Very family friendly meals
AFYP • A Class Act • Glory Days; caters to schools • Kid’s Parties; quality, dependability • Nordstrom; nursing friendly bathrooms & automatic doors, great clothes easy return policy family bathroom • Oakton, VA; the best office, mail room and staff • Trader Joe’s; they cater to kids by making it fun to shop (kids’carts, cookies & balloons)

BEST Financial Planner
Roger Wallach
Ameriprise • Edward Jones • E-Trade • Fox Joss Yankee • Jeffery Hamblein • New York Life • Rick Edelman • Sid Subramanyami • Smith Barney • Wachovia

BEST Lactation Consultant
Reston Hospital
Bethesda Naval • Mary Bright • City of Fairfax • Sharon McLaughlin

BEST Midwife
Alix Kraft

BEST OB/GYN
NOVA OBGYN Associates
About Women • Dr. Patricia Bannon • Bethesda Naval • Dr. William Cooper, DC • Dr. Dipaolo, McLean • Dr. John Doppel • Dr. Jeffery Elliot • Dr. Flint; Fairfax • Dr. Gonzalez • Dr. Fern Grapin • Dr. Joyce Hair • Dr. Camilla Hersh • Dr. Walter Hodges • Dr. Jim Johnson • Dr. James Kacedan • Dr. Bil Linssley; Chevy Chase • Dr. Maanavi • Perfectly Female • Dr. Amy Portes • Dr. Michael Ross • Dr. Rosenthal • Dr. Barry Rothman • Dr. Russell • Dr. Thomas Scott • Dr. Sharen Sethi • Dr. Thomas Schmitt • Dr. Tashman • Dr. Tchobo, Arlington • Dr. Tomicynison • Dr. Paul Tudder • Dr. Michael Udwin

BEST Pediatrician
Dr. Evan Karp
Dr. Ahia • Dr. A. Barakat • Dr. James Baugh • Dr. Gary Bergman, MD • Dr. Jeffrey Bernstein • Dr. Bitah, Vienna • Dr. Kirsten Brinkmann • Dr. Bucci • Children Medical Associates • Dr. Naomi Dosa • Dr. Erikson • Dr. Estabrook • Dr. Joe Evers • Dr. Ed Fox • Dr. Linda Friehling • Dr. Frank Gancola • Dr. Carl Gato • Dr. Grenadoy • Dr. Diane Halpin • Dr. Karam • Dr. Labow • Dr. Libbey • Dr. Julie McAndrew • Dr. McGorry • Dr. Laurence Murphy • NOVA Pediatrics • Dr. Ohriuder, Fairfax • Dr. Amy Pierce • Dr. Powers Reston Town Center • Reston Town Center Pediatrics • Dr. Corinna Schrankel • Dr. Richard Schwartz • Sleepy Hollow Pediatrics • Dr. Staats • Dr. Trabert & Crock • Dr. Albert Weaver • Dr. Debra Zeh • Dr. Lilly Zuckerman

BEST Personal Chef
Let’s Dish
Barry Jacobson • Chef Fran • Marylin Seitz • My Mom • Me • Erin Henning • Take Home Chef

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Other Stuff

We asked our readers if there was something or someone in particular they would like us to include in our Best for Families survey that we had not mentioned. This is what they told us about them or their company and what services they provide.
Best Orthopedic Surgeon; Nischl Orthopedic Center in Arlington - they are caring excellent services and responded quickly when we had a fracture! • Best Movie Theatre; Fairfax Corner • Best Neurologist; Dr. Jon Peters • Best Parking in DC • Best Personal Trainer for Youth Athletics; Kenny Robinson • How about Chinese Food? • How about including a Family Practitioner in Doctors? • Parent Support Groups Helpline • Sports • www.realworkingmom.com

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Thank you for reading the results of our 2007 Best for Families Readers’ Choice Awards. These are the companies that our readers think are the best. Being voted “The Best” by our readers is not a public endorsement by FAMILY™ Magazine. It’s just a chance for us to recognize those businesses, services and products deemed best overall by our readers. Votes have not been counted or listed here that were an obvious attempt to stuff the ballot or where the reader misunderstood the intent of the category. Names are as our readers submitted them and are not intentionally misspelled. For more nominees visit our website at www.washingtonFAMILY.com.