Thank you, readers, for participating in our annual Best for Families poll. We’ve counted your ballots, and we’re pleased to unveil the results of your votes. Browse the following pages to learn about the businesses, people and places you voted as the best for children and families in the DMV. Congratulations to all of our 2025 winners and thank you to everyone who took time to nominate and vote for them this year!
Eating Out
Best Food Truck
District Taco
Runner Up: Corned Beef King
Best Local Bakery
Heidelberg Pastry Shoppe
Runner Up: Paris Baguette
Best Local Brewery
Lone Oak Brewing Co.
Runner Up: Mayan Monkey Brewing Co.
Best Local Burger
Good Studd Eatery
Runner Up: Elevation Burger
Best Local Cup of Coffee
Tatte Bakery & Café
Runner Up: Northside Social
Best Local Ice Cream/Frozen Yogurt Shop
Sarah’s Handmade Ice Cream
Runner Up: The Dairy Godmother
Best Local Outdoor/Patio Dining
Guapo’s Restaurant
Runner Up: Caddies on Cordell
Best Local Pizza
Pupatella
Runner Up: The Italian Store
Best Local Restaurant To Feed a Family of Four?
Clyde’s
Runner Up: La Gula Mexicana
Best Local Restaurant With a Kid’s Night/Special
Silver Diner
Runner Up: Summer House
Best Local Restaurant With Entertainment or Diversions
Mayan Monkey Brewing Co.
Runner Up: Westover Market and Beer Garden
Best Local Romantic Restaurant
Old Angler’s Inn
Runner Up: Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar
Best Local Sports Bar
Quincy’s Bar & Grille
Runner Up: Westover Market and Beer Garden
Best Local Winery
Rocklands Farm Winery
Runner Up: Windridge Vineyards
Education and Enrichment
Best Academic/Enrichment Program
Acting for Young People
Runner Up: The Sycamore School
Best After-School Program
Acting for Young People
Runner Up: The Siena School
Best Arts Program
Acting for Young People
Runner Up: Tiny Dancers
Best Ballet Class
Tiny Dancers
Runner Up: Maryland Youth Ballet
Best Baseball Camp
Ignite Baseball
Runner Up: Doug Remer Sports
Best Camp – Day
Acting for Young People
Runner Up: Tiny Dancers
Best Camp – Overnight
Brainy Ridge
Runner Up: BYM Camps
Best Camp – Special Needs
Brainy Ridge
Runner Up: Summer at Siena
Best Charter School
Butler Montessori School
Runner Up: Green Acres School
Best Child Care/Day Care Center
Green Acres Camp
Runner Up: B’nai Israel Schilit Nursery School
Best Children’s Cooking Classes
Tiny Chefs
Runner Up: Cookology Cooking School
Best Children’s Theater or Drama Instruction
Acting for Young People
Runner Up: Tiny Dancers
Best Community College
Montgomery College
Runner Up: Northern Virginia Community College
Best Continuing Education
With Understanding Comes Calm, LLC
Runner Up: Montgomery College
Best Dance Studio
Tiny Dancers
Runner Up: BalletNova Center for Dance
Best Day Camp for Preschoolers
Tiny Dancers
Runner Up: Butler Camp
Best Foreign Language Instruction
Seneca Academy
Runner Up: CommuniKids Language Immersion Preschool
Best Gymnastics Center
Dominique Dawes Gymnastics Academy
Runner Up: Silver Stars Gymnastics
Best Independent School
The Sycamore School
Runner Up: The Siena School
Best Montessori School
Butler Montessori School
Runner Up: The Bethesda Montessori School
Best Outdoor Enrichment Camp or Program
Butler Montessori School
Runner Up: The Bethesda Montessori School
Best Performance Art Program
Acting for Young People
Runner Up: Tiny Dancers
Best Place for Kids To Play
National Children’s Museum
Runner Up: Montgomery Parks
Best Preschool Program
Butler Montessori School
Runner Up: Seneca Academy
Best Private Elementary School
St. Mark Catholic School
Runner Up: Butler Montessori School
Best Private High School
Bishop O’Connell High School
Runner Up: The Sycamore School
Best Private School (overall)
The Sycamore School
Runner Up: Butler Montessori School
Best Private School: Boys
Blue Ridge School
Runner Up: Gonzaga College High School
Best Private School: Coed
The Sycamore School
Runner Up: Butler Montessori School
Best Private School: Girls
Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School
Runner Up: Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart
Best Public School – Elementary
Wyngate Elementary School
Runner Up: Centreville Elementary School
Best Public School – High School
Walt Whitman High School
Runner Up: George C. Marshall High School
Best SAT/ACT Test Prep Tutoring
Educational Connections
Runner Up: Siena Tutors
Best School Break Program
Tiny Dancers
Runner Up: Congressional School
Best Special Needs Camp
Brainy Ridge
Runner Up: The Siena School
Best Special Needs Programming
The Siena School
Runner Up: Brainy Ridge Inc.
Best Special Needs School
The Siena School
Runner Up: Oakwood School
Best Sports After-School Program
Arlington Soccer Association
Runner Up: Arlington Triathalon Club
Best Sports Camp
Top Rank Soccer Academy
Runner Up: Marymount Sports Camps
Best STEM Camp
Congressional School
Runner Up: ID Tech
Best STEM Program
Congressional School
Runner Up: Dyslexic Edge
Best Summer Program
Acting for Young People
Runner Up: Brainy Ridge Inc.
Best Swim Instructor
Thomas Stern – British Swim School
Runner Up: Coach Rene, British Swim School
Best Swim School
British Swim School – Rockville and Germantown
Runner Up: Goldfish Swim School
Best Tutoring Program
Educational Connections
Runner Up: The Siena School
Best University
George Mason University
Runner Up: Georgetown University
Best Visual Arts Program
Mason Community Arts Academy
Runner Up: Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington
Best Youth Sports League
Top Rank Soccer Academy
Runner Up: i9 Sports
Health and Wellness
Best Allergy or Asthma Doctor & Practice Name
Schreiber Allergy
Runner Up: DMV Allergy and Asthma Center
Best Children’s Dentistry
MVP Smiles
Runner Up: Children’s Choice Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics
Best Children’s Therapist/Psychiatrist & Practice Name
Cohn Counseling
Runner Up: Washington Family Psychiatry
Best Children’s Yoga Classes
Talk Yoga
Runner Up: Breathing Space
Best Dance Program
Studio of Ballet Arts
Runner Up: Destiny Dance
Best Dentist & Practice Name
Dr. Guanglin Li, Rockville Dental Center
Runner Up: Dr. Ranju Bhasin, DDS & Lifetime Smiles
Best Dermatologist & Practice Name
Skin & Laser Dermatology Center
Runner Up: Braun Dermatology & Skin Cancer Center
Best ER for Kids
Children’s National Hospital
Runner Up: Holy Cross Hospital
Best Eye Doctor (Optometrist) & Practice Name
MyEyeDr.
Runner Up: A Brighter Image
Best Family Doctor & Practice Name
Kenwood Pediatrics
Runner Up: Kaiser Permanente
Best Family Therapist/Psychiatrist & Practice Name
Cohn Counseling
Runner Up: Lindsay Tiell Psychotherapy
Best Fertility Clinic
Shady Grove Fertility
Runner Up: Washington Fertility Center
Best Hospital
Holy Cross Hospital
Runner Up: Shady Grove Adventist Hospital
Best Midwife
Katie Shannon, Chesapeake Midwifery
Runner Up: Rachel Simpson, Simmonds, Martin & Helmbrecht of Advantia (SMH)
Best OB/GYN & Practice Name
Capital Women’s Care
Runner Up: Dr. Ashok Rangnath, Capital Women’s Care
Best Orthodontist & Practice Name
Dr. Hani Thariani, TBraces Orthodontics
Runner Up: Ivy City Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics
Best Pediatric Hospital
Children’s National Hospital
Runner Up: Inova L.J. Murphy Children’s Hospital
Best Pediatric Mental Health Practitioners
Expressive Therapy Center
Runner Up: The Ross Center
Best Pediatric Occupational Therapist & Practice Name
Just For Me OT
Runner Up: The Point Occupational Therapy
Best Pediatric Orthopedic Practice
Asher Goldrosen, OTR/L Moco Movement Center
Runner Up: Pediatric Specialists of Virginia
Best Pediatric Vision Care
My Vision First
Runner Up: Eye Doctors of Washington
Best Pediatrician & Practice Name
Kenwood Pediatrics
Runner Up: Dr Jeremy Fishelberg, Potomac Pediatrics
Best Physical Therapist & Practice Name
MOCO Movement Center
Runner Up: Shawn Leis, Little Feet Therapy
Best Place to Deliver Your Baby
Sibley Memorial Hospital
Runner Up: Holy Cross Hospital
Best Urgent Care
Patient First Primary and Urgent Care
Runner Up: Medstar Health
Best Weight Loss Program or Doctor
Rivas Medical Weight Loss
Runner Up: Weight Loss and Vitality
Best Yoga/Pilates Studio
Opus Yoga
Runner Up: Solidcore (Wildwood)
Living
Best Church/Place of Worship
St. Athanasius Lutheran Church (Vienna)
Runner Up: Washington National Cathedral
Best Kid’s Birthday Party Program
Montgomery Parks
Runner Up: Sportrock Climbing Centers
Best Local Getaway/Resort
Delaware Beach (Note: Multiple beaches/resorts available in DE)
Runner Up: Tides Inn
Best Local News Personality
Doug Kammerer
Runner Up: Matthew Cappucci
Best Local Professional Athlete
Alexander Ovechkin
Runner Up: Katie Ledecky
Best Minor League Sport Experience
Chesapeake Baysox
Runner Up: Washington Spirit
Best Park/Play Area
Clemyjontri Park
Runner Up: Rock Creek Park
Best Party Destination
Urban Pirates
Runner Up: Flight Adventure Park
Best Place for a Team Party
Topgolf
Runner Up: Pinstripes
Best Place for Family Fun
Beat the Bomb – DC
Runner Up: Aspen Hill Club
Best Professional Sporting Event for Families
Washington Nationals
Runner Up: Washington Capitals
Best Public Space
Rio Lakefront
Runner Up: Old Town Alexandria
Services
Best Caterer
Ridgewells Catering
Runner Up: Occassions Caterers
Best Day Spa
Blu Water Day Spa
Bethesda Salt Cave
Best Event Planner
Jamie Kramer Events
Runner Up: Confetti Events
Best Family-Friendly Gym
Aspen Hill Club
Runner Up: LifeTime Fitness
Best Hair Salon/Colorist
Progressions Salon Spa Store
Runner Up: The Shop/Diane Wirono
Best Hair Salon for Children
Sharkey’s Cuts for Kids
Runner Up: Cartoon Cuts
Best Heating & Air Conditioning Company
Eli’s Heating & Air Conditioning
Runner Up: GAC Services
Best Local Family Photographer
John Armato, Armato Photography
Runner Up: Capitol Hill Portraits
Best Mani/Pedi
Avalon Nails Hair Lashes
Runner Up: Totally Polished
Best Martial Arts Instruction
Beltway Martial Arts
Runner Up: Kicks Karate
Best Mechanic
Airpark Auto Pros
Runner Up: Satellite Motors
Best Music Instruction
International School of Music
Runner Up: Mason Community Arts Academy
Best Nanny/Babysitting Services
District Sitter
Runner Up: Nannies in the City
Best Overall Gym or Health Club
Aspen Hill Club
Runner Up: LifeTime Fitness
Best Party Venue
BlackRock Center for the Arts
Runner Up: The St. James
Best Personal Organizer
Contained Chaos
Runner Up: Creating Space DC
Best Pet Groomer
Bark In Style
Runner Up: DC Petropolis
Best Pet Trainer
The Polite Dog
Runner Up: Pawz for Health
Best Plumber
Bob Springer
Runner Up: District Capital Services
Best Realtor
Jen Vo
Runner Up: Monique Craft
Best Remodeling Company
DTG Construction
Runner Up: Remodel Washington DC
Best Veterinarian
Kentlands Veterinary Hospital, Dr. Christina Stotz
Runner Up: Banfield Pet Hospital
Shops and Wares
Best Accessories Store
Reunions
Runner Up: Diament Gifts & Accessories
Best Grocery Store
Trader Joe’s
Runner Up: Giant Food
Best Health Food Store
Whole Foods
Runner Up: MOM’s Organic Market
Best Local Children’s Furniture Store
Belfort Furniture
Runner Up: CapitalKidz
Best Local Shopping Center or Mall
Westfield Montgomery
Runner Up: Tysons Corner Center
Best Local Toy Store
Child’s Play Toys & Books
Runner Up: Tugooh Toys
Best Local Women’s Clothing Store
Ida’s Idea
Runner Up: Bitter Grace
Best Party Supplies
Party Warehouse
Runner Up: Total Party
Best Pet Sitting/Boarding
Petco
Runner Up: Two Tails DC
Best Shoe Store
Nordstrom
Runner Up: Shoe Train
Things To Do
Best Amusement Park
Kings Dominion
Runner Up: Ultrazone Laser Tag
Best Art Gallery
National Gallery of Art
Runner Up: The Phillips Collection
Best Indoor Swimming Pool/Rec Center
Aspen Hill Club
Runner Up: Freedom Aquatic & Fitness Center
Best Movie Theater
Angelika Film Center
Runner Up: Landmark Bethesda Row Cinema
Best Museum
International Spy Museum
Runner Up: National Gallery of Art
Best Outdoor Activity
Brookside Gardens
Runner Up: Cox Farms
Best Outdoor Attraction
National Mall
Runner Up: Brookside Gardens
Best Performance Theater for Young Audiences
Round House Theatre
Runner Up: Encore Stage & Studio
Best Petting Zoo
Smithsonian’s National Zoo
Runner Up: Leesburg Animal Park
Best Swimming Pool
Aspen Hill Club
Runner Up: Long Bridge Aquatics & Fitness Center
Best Water Park
SplashDown Waterpark
Runner Up: Great Waves Waterpark
