Reading the Family Friendly Readers Choice award ballots is one of my favorite things to do each year. At no other time of year do we get such a complete snapshot of what our readers care about. Fredericksburg parents love church, parks and recreation departments, and children’s charities. At the very top of the “passionate responses” list are our readers’ opinions about the area’s pediatricians. We got 25 nominees in this category along with responses marked with exclamation points and comments.
Categories with clear winners were Best Children’s Charities, Best Indoor Sports Venue, Best Private School, Best Toy Store, and Best Place for Families to Go Together. Close votes included Best Child’s Haircut, Best Music Teacher, Best Martial Arts Studio and Best Public Park. Many winners received their award certificates at the Fredericksburg Parent and Family and YMCA Healthy Kids Day event on Saturday, April 4. Winners will be able to display a winner’s logo and certificate.
Best Pediatrician:
1. Dr. Aaronson
2. Dr. Childress
Best Pediatric Dentist:
Tie: 1. Dr. Pope, Dr. Shetty
2. Dr. Kakar
Best Orthodontist:
1. Dr. Caspersen
2. Dr. Coker
Best Family Car Dealership:
1. Safford Dodge
2. Purvis Ford
Best Family Photographer:
1. Leslie Larsen Photography
2. Bill Buttram Photography
Best Children’s Photographer:
1. Leslie Larsen Photography
2. Rose Photography
Best Music Lesson Teacher:
Tie: Jackie Albright (Piano), Eddie Dickerson (Guitar)
Best Martial Arts Studio:
Tie: Team Manuel, Spencers’, Seong, Hampton’s Karate
Best Gymnastics Studio:
Tie: 1. Paragon Gymnastics, The Little Gym
2. Stafford Gym
Best Dance Studio:
1. Stafford Ballet
2. The Little Gym
Best Indoor Sports Venue:
1. Fredericksburg Field House
2. The Little Gym
Best Outdoor Sports Venue:
1. Dixon Park
2. Loriella Park
Best Place for a Child’s Haircut:
1. Bella
2. Tie: Great Clips, Haircuttery, Sheri Housand
Best Fitness Center:
1. American Family Fitness
2. YMCA
Best Public School:
1. Courthouse Road Elementary
2. Rocky Run Elementary, Grafton Elementary, Stafford HS
Best Private School:
1. Lighthouse Academy of Fredericksburg
2. Fredericksburg Academy
Best Daycare:
1. Minnieland
2. Dawning Point, Kids Station, Kindercare
Best Preschool:
1. Lighthouse Academy of Fredericksburg
2. Minnieland
Best After School Tutor:
1. The Manigault Institute
2. Huntington
Best Children’s Secondhand Store:
1. Weecycled Wardrobe
2. Happily Every After
Best Grocery Store To Take Children:
1. Ukrop’s
2. Giant
Best Place To Buy Children’s Furniture:
1. Ikea
2. Weecycled Wardrobe, Haverty’s, JC Penney
Best Family Restaurant:
1. Red Robin
2. Cracker Barrell, Olive Garden
Best Toy Store:
1.Toys R Us
2. Target
Best Place To Buy Birthday Present:
1.Target
2. Toys R Us, Ella Minno Pea Boutique
Best Place To Have Birthday Party:
1. The Little Gym
2. At Home
Best Children’s Bookstore:
1. Jabberwocky’s
2. Borders
Best Public Park:
1. Loriella Park
2. Kenmore Park
Best Mom’s Club/Group To Belong To:
1. MOPS
2. Mom’s Club
Best Family Church:
1. Spotswood Baptist
2. St. Mary’s, New Season UMC
Best Children’s Charity:
1. Grace Oughton Foundation
2. Hope House, Make a Wish Foundation
Best Place For Families To Go Together:
Church
Best Public Pool:
1. Loriella Park
2. YMCA
Best Private Pool:
1.YMCA
2. Fredericksburg Country Club
Best Pumpkin Patch:
1. Belvedere Plantation
2. Sneads Farm
Best Historical Site:
1. Ferry Farm
2. Chatham Manor
Best Summer Activity:
Swimming
Best Fall Activity:
Pumpkin Picking
Best Winter Activity:
Tie: Ice Skating, Snowman Making, Festival of Trees, Sledding
Best Spring Activity:
Easter Egg Hunt
Best Holiday Activity:
Fredericksburg Christmas Parade
Best Theatre Show:
Riverside Theatre
Best Music Concert:
Tie: Music in the Park, Patriot Park Amphitheatre
Best Arts and Crafts:
1. Michael’s
2. AC Moore
