Best for Families WINNERS 2008

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.washingtonFAMILY.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 Washington FAMILY Magazine. It’s just an opportunity for us to recognize those businesses, services, and products deemed best overall by our readers.

Just for the Fun of It

Places

Goods & Services

Home Improvements

Miscellaneous Children's Retail

Education and Activities

People

Food

Other Stuff

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Just for the Fun of It

Best Animal at the Zoo
*Panda

Cheetah
Elephants
Giraffe
Great Apes (Gorilla)
Lion
Monkey
Red Panda
Sea Otter
Snake
Tiger
Zebra

Best Day Trip (Outside Our Area)
*Hershey Park

Annapolis
Baltimore
Baltimore Aquarium
Baltimore Harbor
Beach
Black Bear Resort
Catoctim Wildlife Preserve
Charlottesville
Deep Creek
Great Wolf Lodge
Harper's Ferry
Luray Caverns
Maryland Science Center
Middleburg
Philadelphia
Port Discovery
Richmond, Virginia
Smithsonian Museums
Snow Tubing in PA
Tara Winery
Whitetail Ski Resort
Williamsburg
WISP Ski Resort

Best Family Board Game
*Monopoly

Blokus
Candyland
Chess
Chutes & Ladders
Clue
Life
Pictionary Jr
Scrabble
Sequence
Sorry
Uno
Yatzee

Best Family Movie 2007
*Ratatouille

Alvin and the Chipmunks
Bee Movie
Cars
Enchanted
Hairspray
Happy Feet
Harry Potter
High School Musical II
National Treasure 2
Surfs Up
Underdog

Best Festival or Celebration for Families
*Christmas

4th July in Great Falls
Birthday
Burke Pumpkin Playground
Celebrate Fairfax
Cherry Blossom
Chinese New Year
Chocolate Lovers
Cox Farms Fall Festival
Festival of Lights
Fireworks
Flower Mart
Folk Life Festival
Great Meadow 4th of July
Herndon Festival
International Children's Festival
Reston Holiday Parade
South Riding Festival
Thanksgiving
Vietnamese New Year
Viva Vienna!
WMZQ Fest

Best Kid's Party Entertainer
*Mad Science

Andy's Parties
Banjo Man Frank Cassel
Captain Funny Bones
Chuck E. Cheese
Curiosity Zone
FunFit
John Henry
Howard Entertainment
Ken the Magician
Me!
Mike Perrello Magic
Mom & Dad
Mr. Knick Knack
My Gym
Out of This World Juggling
Pirate Adventures on the Chesapeake
Pump It Up
Reptile Lady
Reptiles Alive
SportPlex

Best Local Radio Station for Carpool
*99.5

88.5
91.9 WGTS
94.7
97.1 WASH
103.5
105.9
107.3

Best Place for a Team Party
*CiCi's Pizza

Ajax Amusements
Chuck E. Cheese
Dairy Queen
Dave & Busters
Dulles SportsPlex
ESPN Zone - DC
Excitiations.com
Fuddruckers
Glory Days Grill
Jeff Smith Karate
LaserNation
The Little Gym
My Gym
Potomac Pizza
Pump It Up
Rockville SportsPlex
Shadowlands Laser Tag
Skatequest
Strike
Ultrazone

Best Place for a Birthday Party
*Ajax Amusements

Andy Party's
Bowl America
Bowling
Build A Bear
Burke Racquet
Chantilly Academy
Chuck E. Cheese
Chuck & Dave's
Claude Moore Rec Center
Clay Critters
Color Me Mine
Cub Run
Curiosity Zone
Dave & Buster's
Dogfish
Dulles SportsPlex
Great Wolf Lodge
Gymboree
Gymini Gym
Home
House of Bounce
Jeepers
Jeff Smith Karate
LaserNation
The Little Gym
Loudoun Fun Bounce
Mall
Marva Teen
MarVa Tots 'n Teens
Mini Golf
My Gym
Oh Susannah!
Oogles & Googles
Park
Pump It Up
Roller Rink
Shadowland
Skatequest
SportRock
Strike Bethesda
Swimming Pool
Ultrazone
The Water Mine
Worldgate

Best Place to Meet Other Moms
*School

Chinese School
Dulles SportsPlex
Dulles Town Center
Fairfax County Recreation Center
Field Trip
Joy of Motion
Kensington Park MOMS Club
Let's Dish
Library
Lifetime Gym
Mall
Mommy and Me
MOMS Club
My Gym
PACE
Park
Playground
Soccer Game/Practice
Starbucks
Target
Thyme Out
Work
YMCA

Best Rainy Day Outing
*Movies

National Air & Space Museum
Amazonia @ the Zoo
Baltimore Aquarium
Border's Kids' Section
Bowling
Chuck E. Cheese
Claude Moore Recreation Center
Clay Café - Chantilly
Library
Mall
Meadowside Nature Center
Museum
Museum of Natural History
National Building Museum
National Gallery of Art
National Museum of Art
National Museum of Women in the Arts
Noykes Library
Skatequest
Smithsonian Museums
Splashing in the Puddles!
SportRock
Starbucks
Swimming in Germantown
Taking A Short Road Trip
Thyme Out
Train at White Flint
Tyson's Corner Center
White Flint Mall
Zoo

Best Sunny Day Outing
*Park

Beach
Bike Path Along Potomac
Biking at Swans Lock
Biking On Trails
Blue Ridge Mountains
Brookside Gardens
Burke Lake
Cabin John Park
Chesapeake Bay
Daingerfield Park
Dinosaur Park - Ashburn
Dulles Golf
Frying Pan Park
Great Country Farms
Great Falls Park
Lake Fairfax Swimming Hole
Leesburg Outlets
Loudoun County Farm Tour
Manassas Battlefield
Nat'l Zoo
Playground
Potomac River
Reston Petting Zoo
Six Flags
The Water Mine
Zoo

Best Television Program for Families
*American Idol

7th Heaven
ABC Family
Aliens in America
The Amazing Race
Animal Planet
Digimon
Discovery Channel
Disney Channel
Dora the Explorer
Hannah Montana
HGTV
Magic School Bus
Mythbusters
Noggins
PBS Kids
Playhouse Disney
Suite Life of Zack & Cody
Zaboomafoo

Best Tour Guide Book in the Washington Region
*FAMILY Magazine

AAA
Going Places Book
Good Eats
Google Earth
Internet
Lonely Planet
Zaggats

Absolute BEST FOR FAMILIES in Our Area
*National Air & Space Museum

Any Museum
Burke Lake Park
Caps Game
Washington FAMILY Magazine
King's Dominion
Let's Dish
Malls
McLean Park
National Mall
Nysmith School
Reston Zoo
Six Flags
Thyme Out
Udvar Hazey
Zoo

Best Feature in Washington FAMILY Magazine
*Camp Guide

Advice on Parenting
Annual Readers' Favorites Survey
Area Events
Calendar
Kids Activities
Local Interests
Party
Pictures
Places To Go
Private School Information
Recipes
Relevance
Resources
School Information
School Listings
Telling how to help your children
Trips

Best advice for new parents
Read all you can.
Get dinners made at Thyme Out in the Kentlands.
Eat dinner together every night (or as often as possible).
They are what they are.
A good mother makes an incompetent father.
Take your kids everywhere - don't use them as an excuse.
Relax!
Learn to live on less sleep!
Schools.
Go to Let's Dish.
Have fun!
Magazines
Be consistent.
Be patient!
Don't sweat the small stuff!
Remember to laugh!
Kids are expensive in this area!
Sleep whenever possible.
Talk to your baby.
Discipline early.
Avoid Sep./Aug. baby.
Don't yell at your children, listen to them.
Enjoy baby moments cause they grow up so FAST!
Patience, understanding
Enjoy!
Get help for meals, cleaning, errands.
Your child's behavior is a reflection of your parenting.
Explore your world.
Get some sleep.
Be prepared for anything or anyone.
Talk to other new moms a lot, and pray.
Play!
Listen to you kids.
Take some time alone, away from your children!
Don't sweat the small things.
Tough love.
Be the baby.
Sleep.
Enjoy it they grow fast.
Save your amo for the big battles.

Places

Best Beach
*Bethany

Bald Head Island, NC
Cancun
Cayman Island
Clearwater, FL
Corolla, NC
Dewey Beach
Fenwick Island, DE
Grand Cayman
Hawaii Beach
Hilton Head, SC
Holden Beach, NC
Honolulu
Koi Samui, Thailand
Laguna Beach
Lewes State Park
Myrtle Beach
Ocean City
Outer Banks, NC (OBX)
Rehoboth Beach
Stone Harbor, NJ
Virginia Beach

Best Birthing Center
*INOVA Fairfax Hospital

Alexandria Hospital
Arlington Hospital
Birthing Inn
Build A Bear
George Washington Hospital
Fair Oaks Hospital
Loudoun Hospital
Prince Williams Hospital
Reston Hospital
Sibley Hospital
Washington Hospital Center

Best Community For Families
*Kentlands

Ashburn
Balmoral
Bethesda
Brambleton
Burke
Century Oaks
Clifton
Copper Crossing
Fairfax
Fair Lakes
Falls Reach
Flower Valley
Franklin Farm
Gaithersburg
Garrett Park
Glenbrook
Great Falls
Great Falls Crossing
Kensington Parkwood
Kensington
Lansdowne
Lenah Run Aldie
Loundon County
McLean
Parkwood
Reston
South Riding
South Run
Vienna

Best Hospital
*INOVA Fairfax Hospital

Arlington Hospital
Children's Hospital
Fair Oaks Hospital
Georgetown Hospital
GWUMC
Holy Cross Hospital
Loudoun Hospital
Montgomery General Hospital
Prince William Hospital
Reston Hospital
Shady Grove Hospital
Sibley Hospital

Best Ice Skating or Roller Skating Rink
*Ashburn Ice House

Cabin John
Courthand House
Dulles Ice Rink
Fairfax Ice Arena
Kettler Iceplex
Manassas
Mt. Vernon
New York
Quest
Reston Town Center Ice Rink
Rockville Ice
Skate n' Fun Zone
Skatequest
Swisstore Garden
Wheaton

Best Indoor Play Facility for Children
*Pump It Up

A Friend's House
Ajax
Bowl America
Bull Run Ctr.
Chuck E Cheese
Claude Moore Rec Ctr
Cub Run
Dave & Busters
Dulles Sportsplex
Fair Oaks Mall
Frozen Ropes
Fun Zone
Gymboree
Jonah's Treehouse
Leesburg
Leland Center
The Little Gym
Little Sprouts
Loudon Fun Bounce
Mall of America
McDonalds
My Gym
Parenting Playgroups
Playplace
Playwise
SportsPlex
Swim Center
Tysons Mall
YMCA

Best Family Vacation
*Disney World

All Inclusive
All of Them!
Any Time Together, Any Place!
Bahamas
Bald Head Island, NC
Beach
Beaches Turks & Caicos
Caribbean
Deep Creek Lake
Disney Cruise
Florida
Florida Keys
Grand Canyon
Great Wolf Lodge
Hawaii
Outer Banks, NC (OBX)
Smith Mountain Lake

Best Museum
*National Air & Space Museum

Black Wax Museum
Botanical Gardens - Smithsonian
Clara Barton
Dinosaur World
Firearms Museum
Franklin Institute
Freer Museum
Hillwood Museum
Holocaust Museum
Kennedy Space Museum
Maryland Science Center
Metropoliaton Museum
National Gallery of Art
National Zoo
National History Museum
NY Museum of Natural History
Odvar-Hazy Air & Space Museum
Portrait Gallery
Richmond's Children's Museum
Smithsonian Museums
Spy Museum

Best Place to Work
*Thyme Out

Analytic Strategies, LLC
AOL
Coastal Flats
CSC
CSG
Enterprise
Entrex
Exxon Mobil
Fannie Mae
Fairfax Hospital
Federal Reserve Board
Freddie Mac
George Washington University
Google
Government
Gratis Internet
Hess Construction
Hinge
Hire Strategy
Home
IBM
Let's Dish
Marriott
Multi-Threaded, Inc.
My Gym
Network Solutions
NIH
Nysmith School
PRTM
SEC
Sprint
Study Room
TCR
TEOCO
Time Warner Cable
Walt Disney Co.
World Bank

Best Playground for Children
*Cabin John

16th St. N. Arlington
Adventure Playground
Algonkian Park
Any
Backyard
Borge Park
Burke Lake
Candy Cane City
Chuck E. Cheese
Dinosaur Park - Ashburn
Floris School
Frying Pan Park
Glen Echo, MD
Glyndon Park
Great Falls
Hadley Park
Loudoun Park
McLean
Meadowlane
Navy School Playground
Nysmith School
Pope's Head Park
Poplar Tree
Seneca Creek S. P. Tire
SoccerPlex
Trailside Park
Van Dyke Park
Your Backyard!

Best Romantic Get-Away for Mom and Dad
*Hawaii

Anywhere
Baltimore
Bed & Breakfast
Bermuda
British Virgin Islands
Cape May
Caribbean
Caribbean Spa Resort
Chesapeake Hyatt
Dinner Out
Greenbriar
Home
Inn at Little Washington
Jamaica
Lansdowne
NYC
Paris, France
Sandals
Skyline Drive
St. Michaels
That's Amore
The Inn
Turk & Caicos
Williamsburg
Wintergreen

Best Swimming Pool/Water Park
*The Water Mine

Cedarbrook
Claude Moore
Cub Run
Darnestown Pool
Downpour
Fairfax Water Park
Garrett Park Pool
George Mason
Germantown Aquatic Center
Goldnwre Water Park
Great Wolf Lodge
Hershey Park
Hunters Woods
Ida Lee
King's Dominion
Lake Fairfax
Lakelands Pool
Mirage - Las Vegas
Montgomery Aquatic Center
My House
Oakmarr
Piedmont
QOSTC
Rattlesnake River
Signal Bay
Six Flags
South Riding
Splashdown
Summit Hall
Tildenwoods
Water Country
Waterworld
YMCA

Goods & Services

Best Children's Photographer
Picture People

Charles Jablow
Hill Signature Portrait
JC Penney Photo
Jeff Lubin
Jennifer Hoak Kirran
Molto Photo
Olan Mills
Portrait Innovations
Robert Bowen Photography

Best Computer Software Program for Children
*Reader Rabbit

Alpha Baby
Carmen San Diego
Club Penguin
Garfield Typing Pal
Jump Start
Kids Pick
Kid Pin
KidPics
KidsPix
Leap Frog
Leapster
Math Busters
Mavis Beacon
Microsoft
Myscene
PBS
Rollercoaster
Sammy's Science House
Scholastic
Scratch
Sim City Rome
Simms
Tux Paint
Windows
Winnie the Pooh Math
Word
Zoo Tycoon
Zoombinis

Best Hair Salon (for Adults)
*Hair Cuttery

Bella Bethesda
Bubbles
Cartoon Cuts
Christy Adams
Cynthia's Salon - Ashburn
David's (Rockville)
E-Clips
Erwin Gomez Salon
Fran Bernard
Hairport - Countryside
Hair Savvy
Image 1
Impressions
Ingrid's Hair Design
OHAIR
Olga Hair Salon
PR @ Partners (Oakton)
Red Door Spa
Stephen Anmom
Tangles - Burke

Best Invitation or Stationery Store
*Papyrus

Blue Tulip
Dandelion Patch
Hallmark
Josie's Posies
Michael's
Name Droppers
Neiman Marcus
Paper Store
Party City
Party Company
The Papery
Staples
Target
The Written Word - DC

Best Place to Buy a Car
*Car Max

Alexandria Toyota
Cars.com
Criswell Honda
Enterprise
Euromotors
HBL
Koons Tysons Toyota
Lexus
Ourisman Honda
Pohanka
Stohlman Subaru

Best Place to Shop (Mall or Area)
*Tysons Corner Center

Dulles Town Center
Fair Oaks Mall
Kentlands
Lakeforest
Leesburg Outlets
Montgomery Mall
Tysons Galleria
Tysons Mall
White Flint

Best Place to Buy Toys
*Toys R Us

Amazon.com
Buy Buy Baby
Child's Play
Discovery Toys
Internet
KB Toys
Noodles & Noggins
Toy Corner
Toys Etc.
Tree Top Kids

What Company has the BEST Customer Service?
*Nordstrom's

Best Buy
Let's Dish
Rita's Ice
Stroseniders Hardware
Target
Thyme Out
Verizon
Wegmans

Home Improvements

Best Basement Build Out Company
*GT Home Improvements

Ardent
Bowa
Home Depot
Home Eq. Builders
JL & Co.
Oak Hill

Best Carpet or Rug Store
*Home Depot

Abbey Carpet
Clawes Carpet
Custom Carpet
Georgetown Carpets
IKEA
Kemper
Lowe's
Macy's
National Carpet & Rug

Best Counter Top Store
*Home Depot

Cabinet Discounters
Granite Source
IKEA
Lowes
Planet Granite

Best Electrician
*Croppe-Metcaffe

Autumn Electric
Buhle
Circuit City
Commonwealth Electric
Dale McKinley
David
GF Electric
Handyman
Home Depot
John Franklin
Kolb
L & S
LPR
Michael & Son
New Age
Nugent
Rick Lube Kosusky
Rocky
Todd Radfords
Toll Brothers
TriStar
Trunnells
Wayne Hurst

Best General Repairs Company
*Home Depot

Case Management
F.H. Furr
GE Services
GT Home Improvement
General Man
Handyman
Home Equity Bldrs.
JL & Inc.
Norris Repairs
Rocky
Toll Brothers

Best Heating and Air Conditioning Company
*John Nugent & Sons

A & G
A & H
Academy
ACE
Air Stream
Air Tech
ARS
Cardinal
Central Heating
Croppe-Metcaffe
David Shell
Davis & Davis
Donmar
Dwyer's
Furr, FH
Gaithersburg Air
Home Depot
Kingsley
LPR
McCarthy
McCrea
Metcalf
Northstar
RA Dobson
S & S Contracting
Sears
Tom Muse
Vernon
Zimbro

Best Home Accessories & Décor Items Store
*Pottery Barn

Baker
Bed Bath
Crate & Barrel
Eathan Allen
Ethan Allen
Expo
Home Depot
Home Design Center
Home Goods
IKEA
JC Penney
Lowes
Marshall's
Pier 1
Target

Best Interior Decorator
*Fleur Interiors

Basia White
Brenda Linneman
Candice Okon
Crystel Heckart
Designer Expo
Ellen Brotman
Ethan Allen
Fam Harvey
Fida Lloyd
Heidi Pommer
Home Depot
Jeannie
Julie Crathy
Meu's
Pam Harvey
Rachel James
Yvette Piaggio

Best Kitchen Designer
*Cabinet Discounters

Bowa
Designer Expo
Ferguson
GF Design Build
Home Depot
IKEA
Lauren Lake
Lobkovich
Lowes
Me = Designs
Portfolio Kitchen
Reico
Stewart

Best Plumber
*My Plumber

A - 1
A - Z
Betsy Louis
Blaine Butler
Blinkhorn
Butler
Calabrese Plumbing
Croppe-Metcaffe
Dad
Dave Foster
David Foote
Everett
Home Depot
JC Flood
Jimmy Garrison
Kurst
L & D Plumbing
LPR
Magnolia
Michael Louce
Peed Plumbing
Saja
Wacker

Best Remodeling Company
*McLaughlin Builders

Ardent
Bowa
Case Home Design
Case Remodeling
Coyle Construction
GT Home Improvement
Home Depot
IKEA
K & K
Kirvin
Lowes
Northwood Construction
Patio Enclosures
Rocky

Miscellaneous Children's Retail

Best Bicycle Store
*Performance Bike Shop

A - 1
Dicks
Leesburg Bicycle
REI
Spokes
Toys R Us
Washington Bikes

Best Children's Clothing Store
*Gap & Gap Kids

Abercrombie
Beyda's
Children's Place
Cloud 9
Gymboree
Jack & Annie
JC Penney
Land's End
Nordstrom
Oi Lily
Old Navy
Sweet Elegance
Talbot Kids

Best Children's Furniture Store
*IKEA

Baby 2 Teen
Belfort Furniture
Bombay Kids
Crate & Barrel
Ethan Allen
Great Beginnings
Great Indoors
Hiccups
Pottery Barn/Pottery Barn Kids
Room Store
Stride Rite Kids
Wren & Devine

Best Children's Shoe Store
*Stride Rite

Ramer's
Mr. J Shoe Train
Nordstrom's
Payless
Steppin' Up
Stride Rite Outlet

Best Consignment or Resale Store
*Paddington Station

2nd Hand Rose
As Kids Grow
Dani's Duds
E-Bay
Frilly Frocks
Goodwill
Grace & Kelli
Kensington Caboose
Kid to Kid
Little Lords & Ladies
Salvation Army
TJ Maxx
Tot Swap
Twig
Unique Thrift
Upscale Resale
Wiggle Room

Best Hair Salon for Children
*Cartoon Cuts

Aqua Cuts
Bethesda Barber
Bubbles
Carlos Hair
E-Clips
Great Clips
Hair Cuttery
Pigtails & Crewcuts
Sara Hair
Seven Locks Barber
Yellow Balloon
Zoey

Best Maternity Clothing Store
*Motherhood Maternity

A Maternity
Apple Seed
Chico's
Gap
JC Penney
Lord & Taylor
Macy's
Mimis Maternity
Old Navy
Pea-in-a-Pod
Sears
Target

Best Place to Buy Outdoor Play Equipment
*Toys R Us

BJs
CostCo
Creative Play Things
Dick's
Dogwood Builders
Home Depot
IKEA
Modell Sporting Goods
Play 'N Learn
Price Club
Rainbow
Sports Authority
Target
Walpool Woodworks
WoodPlay

Best Place to Get Kids' Glasses
*Hour Eyes

BJs
Class Store
CostCo
Design Glass
Dr. Finley
Eyecare Centre
Eye Glasses
Eye Street Optical
Fair Oaks
For Eyes
Greenbrier Vision Ctr.
Lens Crafters
May & Hetler
Mr. Eyes
My Eye Dr.
Northern Virginia Doctors
Panner & Paquin
Pearle Vision
Sterling Optical
Wal-Mart

Best Selection of Children's Books
*Barnes & Noble

A Likely Story
Amazon.com
Bobs Books
Books-a-Million
Borders Book Stores
Dr. Suess
Library
Magic Tree House
Nancy Drew
Online
Politics & Prose
Reston Library
Rick Riordan
Target
Tree Top Kids
Usborne Books

Best Story Time for Young Children
*Ashburn Library

Barnes & Noble
Bedroom
Books
Borders Book Stores
Home
Library
Noyg
Politics & Prose
Tree Top Kids

Your Kid's Favorite Book
*Harry Potter

Alex Rider
All of them
Amelia Bedelia
Among the Hidden Series
Angelina Ballerina
Berenstain Bear Series
BFG
Biscuit
Borreguita
Boubapapa
Curious George
Daddy Please
Daughters of the Moon
Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Dinosaurs
Doll People
Dr. Suess Collection
Einstein Musical Instruments
Encyclopedia
Enders Game
Everybody Needs A Rock
Everybody Poops
Fancy Nancy
Fairy Book
Frindle
Frog Princess
Garfield
Ginger Pie
Girls Hold Up This World
Good Night Moon
Guide to Space
Harold & Purple Crayon
Harry Potter Year 4
High School Musical
His Dark Materials
Hoot
I Am the Great Horse
I Won't Get Lost
IQ Ladybugs
Into the Night Kitchen
It's A Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown
Junie B. Jones
Lightning Thief
Magic Tree House
Marie Kitty
Matilda
Maximum Ride
Molly Moon
Nancy Drew
Ordinary Boy
Parts
Patch
Pinocchio
Pokemon
Pony Craze & Princess
Rainbow Fish
Red Fish, Blue Fish
Redwall Series
Runaway Bunny
Spot
The Egypt Game
The Gruffalo
The Outsiders
The Rescuers
The Tale of Despereaux
The Water Hole
Thomas the Tank Engine
Thomas' Day Out
Trumpet of the Swan
What Shall I Be
Where the Sidewalk Ends
Where's Waldo
Wizard of Oz
Year in Sports 2006
You're Not My Mother

Your Kid's Favorite Store
*Target

Abercrombie
Barnes & Noble
Best Buy
Claire
Dick's
Disney Store
GameStop
Hallmark
Hollister
Lego Store
Libby Lou
Noodles & Noggins
Toy Corner
Toys R Us
Tree Top Kids
Wegmans

Your Kid's Favorite Toy
*Wii

A Book
Air Hogs
Animals
Ariel Pillow
Ball
Barbies
Batman Action Figures
Busy Zoo Activity Book
Cars Movie Cars
Cell Phone
Chess
Chotic Cards
DS Light
Doll
Each Other
Elmo
Fashion Designer Kit
Football
Game Boy
Guitar
iPod
Leapfrog Game
Leapster
Legos
Littlest Pet Shop
Marie Kitty
Mix-Max
Nerf Guns
Nintendo DS
Panda
Playstation
Playstation 2
Pokemon
Power Rangers
PSP
Race Cars
Remote Control Vehicles
Scooter
Snuffy
Soccer Ball
Soldiers
Sponge Bob
Stuffed Animal
Tamagotchi
Teddy Bear
Thomas Trains
Trains
Truck
UB Funkeys
Webkinz
Yugioh Cards

Education and Activities

Best Art Program
*J. Art Studio

Abrakadoodle
Art League
Chantilly Art Studio
Clay Café
Corcoran School of Art
Create Arts Center
Fairfax Park & Recreation Department
Glen Echo
Harmonia School of Music & Art
Kidz Art
Little Picasso
New School of Norhern Virginia
Nysmith School

Best Ballet or Dance Studio
*DanceMakers

Adagio Ballet
Art Stone
Center for Ballet Arts
Chantilly Academy
Classical Ballet Academy
Creative Dance
Fairytales in Motion
Ms. Haddad's Ballet
Kintz-Mejia Academy of Ballet
Metropolitan Ballet
Ravel Dance
Reston Community
Reston Conservatory of Ballet
Russell School
Rhythm Street
School of Theatrical Dance
Swan Ballet
Virginia Dance Center
Washington Ballet
Wheaton Studio of Dance

Best Childbirth Class
*Bradley

Bringing Baby Home
Kaiser
INOVA Fairfax Hospital
Lamaz
Mary Lou Tietz
Mother's & Baby Matters
Reston Hospital
Suburban Hospital

Best Child Care Center
*Winwood

AOL Daycare
Children in the Shoe
Childtime Learning
Crème de la Crème
INOVA Faifax Hospital
KinderCare
La Petite Academy
Minnieland
Montessori Children's Center of Herndon
Nysmith School
Okla Kids
Open Arms
Sabina Thapa
YMCA

Best Children's Theatre or Drama Instruction
*Imagination Stage

Acting for Young People
Encore Theatre
George Mason
Glen Echo Puppet Theatre
Harmonia School of Music & Art
Kennedy Ctr.
Ms. Haddad's Theatre Camp
Nysmith School
Lopez Studio
Reston's Young Actors Theater
Smithsonian Discovery Theatre
Star Shine Theater
The Theatre Lab
Wolf Trap

Best Day Camp
*Camp Greenway

AAES Horse Camp
Adventure Fitness
Ashgrove Adventure
Bar-T
Browne Academy
Bull Run Park Camp
Burke Racket Ball
Burgundy Farms
Calleva
Camp Crossroads
Camp Half Blood
Camp Horizons
Chess USA
Connelly School of the Holy Child
Curiosity Zone
Discovery Creek
Duprier Soccer
Flint Hill Summer
Fourth Presbyterian
Harmonia School of Music & Art
Holy Redeemer
ID Tech Camp
JCC
My Gym
Noodles & Noggins
Nysmith School
Potomac Camp
Skatequest
Smithsonian Camp
Soccer Academy
Sport Health
Teens to Go
TK Sports Camp
Village Green School
YMCA
YMCA Loudoun City

Best Fitness/Activity Center
*Fitness First

Bally's Fitness
Bull Run Recreation Center
Dulles Sportsplex
Fitwize 4 Kids
Gymboree
Gymini
Healthtrax
JW Tumbles
LA Fitness
Lady of America
Lifetime Fitness
The Little Gym
MarVa Tots 'n Teens
My Gym
Olympus
Sport & Health - Lakeforest
Sportplex
Worldgate
WSC
YMCA
YMCA Reston

Best Gymnastics Instruction or Gym
*The Little Gym

Apex
Apollo Gymnastics
Capital Gymnastics
Chantilly Academy
Fairfax Gymnastics
Gymini
Hill's Gymnastics
Lifetime
Little Gym
Mrs. Luck
My Gym
NVGA - Northern Virginia Gymnastics
Nysmith School
YMCA

Best Internet Site for Kids
*www.Pbskids.org

www.Bobsgameblog.com
www.Coloring.com
www.Disney.com
www.factmonster.com 
www.funbrain.com
www.Google.com
iTunes
www.Jigzone.com
Math Magician
Mini Clip
My Little Pony
Myscene.com
Nat'l Geographic for kids
Natufacts Café
Nick.com
Nickjr.com
Noggin.com
Pbs.org
Scratch, MIT
Sesame Workshop
sproutonline.com
Webkinz
Wikipedia
onemorelevel.com
Yahoo Kids
Yahoo.com
Zeeks

Best Martial Arts Instruction
*Tiger Den

Charle Lee Karate School
Flying Kick Fitness Center
Fox Mill Tae Kwon Do
Grandmaster Lee
High Kicks
Jeff Smith
Jhoon Rhee
Karate Masters
Kim's Karate - Springfield Mall
Mountain Kim
Mr. Kim Taekwondo
Top Kick
Union Tae Kwon Do
USA Karate
Virginia Martial Arts
YMCA

Best Music Instruction
*Reston Music

All Things Rocked
Bobby Joes Music
Claire Cherry - Cherry Blossoms Music Time
Harmonia School of Music & Art
Herndon Suzuki School
Jordan Kitts Music
Kay Willitt
Kina Kim
Levine School of Music
Little Hands
Mobile Musicians
Music and Arts
Music Together
Musikgarten
MusiKids
Nysmith School
Potomac Falls
Staccato Smile Studio
Victor Litz
Washington Conservatory of Music

Best Overnight Camp
*Camp Rim Rock

Camp Friendship
Camp Harlem
Capital Camps
Chestnut Lake
Georgetown Bball
Jr NEC
Little Bennett
MAC
Potomac Mills Camp
Sandy Hill
Sidwell Friends
Soccer Academy
Wooten Sports Camp
YMCA

Best Parent Support Group
*Kensington Park MOMS Club

DC Urban Moms
Friends
MADD
MOMS Club
Nysmith PTO
Online
Parents Educating Parents
PTO
Working Mom's Lunch

Best Place to Buy Musical Instruments
*Jordan Kitts Music

CMC
Contemporary
Dottars
Guitar Center
Keys
Melodee Music
Music & Arts Center
Online
Potter's Violin
Reston Music
Rick's Piano
The Piano Company
Victor Litz

Best Preschool Program
*Nysmith School

Beantree Learning
Boyd School
Capitol Hill Day School
Centreville Day School
Childtime Learning
Christ Lutheran Preschool
Christian Faith & Fellowship Preschool
Early Childhood Center Preschool
Faith Baptist Academy Preschool
Jewish Primary Day School
The Goddard School
Good Shepherd, Rockville, MD
Herndon United Methodist Preschool
Holy Redeemer
Ivymount School
KinderCare
Lake Anne Preschool
Lank
Learning Center for Young Children
Montessori School of Northern Virginia
Minnieland
NUHC
Parkwood School
Reston Montessori
RUJEC
St. Francis
Sydenstricker
Temple Emmanuel
Village Montessori

Best Private School
*Nysmith School

Barrie School
Congressional Schools of Virginia
Connelly School of the Holy Child
Cortona Academy
Flint Hill School
The Gow School
Grace Episcopal School
Holy Child
New School
Science Academy
St. Jane de Chantal
Sidwell School
Wein Private Day School
Wakefield School

Best Public School
*Hunter Woods

Armstrong Elementary
Canterbury Woods
Clarksburg HS
Collin Powell
Colvin Run
Dranesville
Dufief
Fairfax
Flint Hill Elementary
Floris, VA
Forest Edge Elem.
Forestville
Garrett Park Elem.
GF Elementary
Great Seneca
Greenbriar West
Kensington Parkwood
Kings Park - Glen
Kensington Park Elementary
Langley
Little River
Loudon
Lowes Island
Madison
Navy
Oak Hill
Oakton
Oakton HS
Prince Orchard HS
QOHS
Rachel Carsen
Robinson Secondary School
Sangster
Seldens Landing
Spring Hill Elementary
Strawberry Knoll
Thomas Jefferson
Waples Mill

Best Tutor/Tutoring Company
*Score

EZ Education
George Mason University
Honor Roll Learning Center
Huntington
Ivy Insiders
Kaplan
Kumon
Lisa Guerro
Mindworks
MIT
Mrs. Grimaldi
Ms. L. Buch
Nancy Feldman
Northern Virginia Tutoring
Opipari Tutoring
Petersen Academic Grp.
Positive Learning Eperiences
Prep-U
Sylvan
Tri-Ed Tutoring

People

Best Allergy or Asthma Doctor
*Dr. Schuster

Allergy Partners of Northern Virginia
Dr. Appolli
Dr. Clayton
Dr. Diffy
Dr. Egrahi
Dr. Graf
Dr. Johnson
Dr. Galti
Dr. Herbit
Dr. Kelty
Dr. Lewis
Dr. Lorid
Dr. Mustaq
Dr. Nsouli
Dr. Rosenblatt
Dr. Silverman
Dr. Will
Dr. Zeh
Kaiser
Potomac Family Allergy and Asthma
VA Pediatrics

Best Dentist or Orthodontist
*Dr. Ternisky

Ashburn Children's Dentistry
Dr. Andrew
Dr. Apps
Dr. Apt
Dr. Averue
Dr. Bath
Dr. Britto
Dr. Brown
Dr. Buchanan
Dr. Carey
Dr. Cooper
Dr. Davis
Dr. Dibbs
Dr. Etessam
Dr. Evans
Dr. Favis
Dr. Ghartri
Dr. Gilbert
Dr. Greenwald
Dr. Gritz
Dr. Han
Dr. Horton
Dr. Jeffries
Dr. Jones
Dr. Kim
Dr. Kirkpatrick
Dr. Kramer
Dr. Krantz
Dr. Leaf
Dr. Leipzig
Dr. Love
Dr. McConnell
Dr. McIlveen
Dr. Morgenstren
Dr. Morris
Dr. Mohamadi
Dr. Murphy
Dr. Muss
Dr. Novik
Dr. Orlando
Dr. Papastergiou
Dr. Patel
Dr. Poon
Dr. Popli
Dr. Rosenman
Dr. Saba
Dr. Sauage
Dr. Sharif
Dr. Shart
Dr. Shesipa
Dr. Skordalakis
Dr. Stacki
Dr. Stark
Dr. Suk
Dr. Sullivan
Dr. Testen
Dr. Thomas
Dr. Tisserowit
Dr. Tran
Dr. Vann
Dr. Weil
Dr. Weiss
Hoffman Dental Group
Pall Group
Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics of Reston

Best Family Friendly Company
Thyme Out - Everybody is so nice!
Thyme Out - Picky Eater kids menu
Thyme Out - Very customer friendly - takes care of special
needs, allergies, etc at no extra charge
Thyme Out - Very helpful, great for bust families.
Thyme Out - School friendly hours
Thyme Out - Courteous staff - very friendly and helpful.
Thyme Out - Good family meals.
Thyme Out - Fun for all involved!
Thyme Out - They work w/schools and you can cook w/your
kids or parents.
Thyme Out - b/c run by moms
Federal gov. - Good flexibility.
Target - Something for all
Let's Dish - Help with my kids allergies
Let's Dish - Good for allergies
Time Warner - Flexible for moms
Wegmans - W Kids & Samples
IBM
Disney - Everything is geared towards children & it's fun for
adults.
Nysmith School - Always friendly.
Dr. Nadel - Reston
Chuck E Cheese - They know kids.

Best Financial Planner
*Edelman Financial

Ameriprise
Dan Lash
Ed Handley - Wachovia
Fannie Mae
Fidelity Investments
Jason Apolenis
Joe Henchman
Joe Jacques
K. Feeney - Citibank
Leg Mason
Lincoln Financial
Merrill Lynch
Mom
Monter Group
Morgan Stanley
Mrs. Ross - Reston
Newt Pendleton - Tysons Corner
Prudential
Roger Wallach
Sally Law
Sam Ahn
Smith Barney
Steve Poland - Prime Investment
Susie Orman

Best Lactation Consultant
*Honeysuckle

Holy Cross
Colleen Provock
Fair Oaks Hospital
Jon Lasota
Kaiser
Laurie Clark
Michael Gold
INOVA Fairfax Hospital
Mr. Lacto - Reston
Northern Virginia Lactation
Sook Jo

Best Midwife
Birthing from the Heart
Jen Walker
Shanes
Kaiser

Best OB/GYN
*Dr. Anderson - Falls Church

Capital Women's Care, Bethesda, MD
Dr. Barrett
Dr. Beckerman
Dr. Bettini
Dr. Bloch
Dr. Choundry
Dr. Domini
Dr. Felluca
Dr. Footh
Dr. Hill
Dr. Hodges
Dr. Jacabs
Dr. Jirome
Dr. Malone
Dr. Marquardt
Dr. Masset
Drs. Mausher, Maanaui, Anderson
Dr. Match
Dr. Naocojc
Dr. Pico
Dr. Piness
Dr. Rausch
Drs. Reiter, Hill, Johnson
Dr. Rothchild
Dr. Rousch
Dr. Sethi
Dr. Shreet
Dr. Singer
Dr. Splain
Dr. Stern
Dr. Stoius
Dr. Taber
Dr. Thompson
Dr. Travers
Dr. Tudder
Dr. Wertheim
Dr. Wilson
Dr. Wolfgram
Dr. Zaita
Dr. Kwak
Fairfax OB/GYN
Greenbriar OB/GYN
Kaiser

Best Pediatrician
*Virginia Pediatrics

Ashburn Pediatrics
Capital Medical Group
Children's Medical Assoc.
Dr. Ahlstrom
Dr. Abdon
Dr. Ascrizzi
Dr. Atiyeh
Dr. Banta
Dr. Baugh
Dr. Burns
Dr. Brynelson
Dr. Cassidy
Dr. Coggeshall
Drs. Coleman & Greenberg
Dr. DiPaolo
Dr. Dozer
Dr. Eriksson
Dr. Ferrar
Dr. Farrell
Dr. Foreman
Dr. Fusner
Dr. Halpin
Dr. Harrison
Dr. Hawkins
Dr. Hicher
Dr. Howl
Dr. Ivers
Dr. Jones
Dr. Karp
Dr. Kim
Dr. Labow
Dr. Li
Dr. Libby
Dr. Lynch
Dr. Man
Dr. McGarry
Dr. Myers
Dr. Price
Dr. Razi
Dr. Rossbach
Dr. Russo
Dr. Sabhoy
Dr. Salsburg
Dr. Sampson
Dr. Schwartz
Dr. Shanahan
Dr. Taylor
Dr. Thibodeaux
Drs. Watsch & Sulsbury
Dr. Zeh
Dulles Pediatrics
Fairfax Pediatrics
Kaiser Permanente
Pediatric Associates
Reston Town Center Pediatrics
South Riding Pediatrics
Vienna Pediatrics
Whole Child Pediatrics

Best Personal Chef or Quick Dinner
*Thyme Out

Boston Market
Cobey Steakhouse
Dinner Done Centreville
Let's Dish
Mom
Mr. Fastman
Sheryl Lasola

Food

Best Burger Restaurant
*5 Guys

BGR - The Burger Joint
Burger King
Cheeburger Cheeburger
Clydes
Fuddrucker's
Glory Days Grill
Hamburger Hamlet
Houstons
McDonalds
Red Robin
Urban Burger
Wendy's

Best Cheap-Eats Restaurant
5 Guys

Baja Fresh
Burger King
California Tortilla
Chicken Out
Chipotle
IHOP
Lemon Tree
McDonalds
Panera Bread
Pei Wei
Pizza Hut
Red Robin
Silver Diner
The Tortilla Factory
Vienna Inn
Wendys
Whole Foods
Yo Yogi Sushi

Best Cup of Coffee or Deli
*Starbucks

7-11
Brooklyn's Deli
Café Canela
Caribou
Dunkin Donuts
Gillettes
Kramerbuks
KSB
Murky Coffee
Nordstrom's Café
Panera
Quartermaine
Quiznos
Royal Bagel Bakery
Safeway
Wegmans

Best Fine Dining with Kids
*Clyde's

Artie's
Big Bowl
Black Market Bistro
Bonefish
California Pizza
Cheesecake Factory
Chez Fracois
Coastal Flats
Farrah Olivia
Handi Restaurant
Hollywood East Cafe
J Gilbert
Koby Steakhouse
Longhorn Steak House
Macaroni Grill
Maggianos
Matusake
McCormick & Schmidt
Melting Pot
Mikes American Grill
Morton's
O Street Mansion
Old Country Buffet
Olive Garden
Red Robin
Ruby Tuesday
Ruth Chris
Silver Diner
Sunday Brunch - Lansdowne
Sweet Water
Texas de Brazil
Vidalia

Best Ice Cream Store
*Baskin Robbins

Ben & Jerry's
Brewster's
Carvel
Cold Stone Creamery
Dairy Queen
Friendly's
Frozen Custard - Chantilly
Giffords
Haagen Daaz
Hershey's
Iceberry
Jimmy Cone
Maggie Moos
Marble Slab
McDonalds
Milwaukee Custard
Morenteoos
Nielson's Frozen Custard
Petersons Ice Cream Depot
Rita's Ice
TCBY

Best Kid's Menu
*Red Robin

Any Big Chain Restaurant
Artie's
Big Bowl
Blue Water Grille
Bob Evans
Brio
Burger King
California Pizza
Cantina D'Italia
Chicken Nuggets
Chicken Wings
Chili's
Clyde's
Coastal Flats
Famous Dave's
IHOP
Logan's
Macaroni Grill
Manhattan Pizza
McDonalds
Meatball Spaghetti
Mimi's Café
Nordstrom's Café
Olive Garden
Outback Steakhouse
Pizza
Red Lobster
Rio Grande
Ruby Tuesday
Silver Diner
Sweetwater
Tavern - Great Falls
TGI Friday's
Thyme Out

Best Outdoor/Patio Dining
*Clyde's

Anita's
Cheesecake Factory
Chevy's
Chipotle
Clyde's - Reston
Coastal Flats
COSI
Indigo Landing
Joe's Crab Shack
Home
La Tomate
Levantes
Loreal Plaza
Macaroni Grill
Old Anglers Inn
Old Brogue
On The Border
Pirate of Tanzan (Silver Spring)
Red Robin
Rio Grande
Sequoia
Sweetwater Tavern
Tia Queter
Vasillis

Best Pizza Restaurant
*Pizza Hut

Bertucci's
Buon Appetito
California Pizza
Cantina D'Italia
CiCis Pizza
Circo - Stoneridge
Continental
CPK
Deli Italiano
Dominos
Don Corleone's
Ella's
Emilio's
Firecracker
Giseppi's
Home
The Italian Store
Joe's Pizza & Pasta
Ledo's
Luciano's
Lucia's
Luigis
Macaroni Grill
Mama's Lucia
Manhattan
Mias
Papa John's
Pizzanious
Pizzerama
Potomac Pizza
Riccluttis
Rubinos
San Vito
Stromboli
Tony's NY Pizza
Uno Pizzaria
Vaces
Vince & Dominics
Vochellis
Z Pizza

Best Restaurant for Kids
*Rio Grande

American Café
Big Bowl
Bob Evans
Cheesecake Factory
Chuck E Cheese
CiCi's
Clydes
Fuddrucker's
Glory Days Grill
Grandma's House
Hard Times
IHOP
Japanese Steak House
Macaroni Grill
Manhattan Pizzeria
McDonalds
Original Pancake House
Pizza Hut
Potbellies
Rainforest Café
Red Lobster
Red Robin
Ruby Tuesday's
Silver Diner
Thyme Out
UNOS
Wendy's
Ziki's

Best Restaurant with a Kid's Night/Special
*Silver Diner

Bertucci's
CA Tortilla
Chevy's
Chick fil A
Chuck E Cheese
Don Pablos
Famous Dave's
Fuddrucker's
Hard Rock Café
IHOP
Macaroni Grill
O Street Mansion
Old Chicago
Olney Grill
Pizza Hut
Rainforest Café
Red Hot & Blue
Red Robin
Ruby Tuesday's
Sprigz
Sweetwater Tavern
Thyme Out

Your Kid's Favorite Food
*Pizza

Asparagus
Burger King
Cheeseburgers
Chicken
Chicken Noodle Soup
Chicken Nuggets
Chicken Tenders
Chinese
Clam Linguini
Corn Dogs
Fish Sandwich
Fried Rice
French Fries
Guacamole
Hot Dogs
Mac & Cheese
Noodles
Oranges
Panang Tofu
Pasta
Pretzels
Quesadillas
Seaweed
Shrimp
Spaghetti
Steak
Sushi
Tofu

Other Stuff
Meal Assembly - Let's Dish
Jabberu - best foreign language instruction for children
Dream Catcher - Computer support services
Good Food
Thyme Out - gives you tasty scones and lemonade when
you cook.
Thyme Out - great for parties showers; great gift in the
place of flowers.
Thyme Out - Friendly, fresh & yummy!
Thyme Out - Make or pick up meals.
Thyme Out - Meal Assembly
Thyme Out - Amazing food in a great atmosphere - great for
busy families!
Eddie Lloyd - Best phone deals - (esp. for kids)
Tysons Self Storage
Pet Info - Kennels & Dog Sitters
Car Repair (Auto Body) - D & V Autobody - Chantilly
Best Country Club - River Bend - good swim team
Best Over-All Doctor
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Thank you for reading the results of our 2008 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 Washington 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.