2013 Readers' Favorites

Charlotte Parent,
2013readersfaves 315

Thank you to our readers for sharing your favorite places to play, eat, shop and have fun in the Queen City. Read on to find out which local spots came in first, second and third in each category. 

SHOPPING & SERVICES

Best Hair Cut
1 // Pigtails & Crewcuts
2 // Doolittles's
3 // Great Clips

Kid's Consignment
1 // Kid to Kid
2 // Once Upon a Child
3 // Karrousel Kids Consignment and Retail Boutique

Shoe Store
1 // Stride Rite
2 // Shoe In
3 // Kixx Shoes

Book Store
1 // Barnes & Noble
2 // Books-A-Million
3 // Park Road Books

Family Photographer
1 // Jody G Photography
2 // Portrait Innovations
3 // Alicia Sutton Photography

 

 

PARTY TIME monkeyjoes2.pngToy Store
1 // Toys"R"Us
2 // Toys & Co
3 // Brilliant Sky Toys & Books

Best place to buy a cake
1 // Harris Teeter
2 // Costco
3 // Suarez Bakery

Party Facility
1 // Monkey Joe's (pictured)
2 // Sports Connection
3 // Space Kidets

Party Entertainer
1 // Wish Upon a Star Children's Parties
2 // Amy Arpan's Illusions and Confusions
3 // Blue Moon Puppets

 

 

 

HEALTH CARE tooth2.pngFamily Dentist
1// Bird Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics
2 // Charlotte Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics
3 // Laxar, Long & Savage

Orthodontist
1 // Bird Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics
2 // Robinson Orthodontics
3 // Laxar, Long & Savage

Family Doctor
1 // University Pediatrics
2 // Charlotte Pediatric Clinic
3 // Township Pediatrics of Matthews

Place to give birth
1 // Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center
2 // CMC – Pineville
3 // Carolinas Medical Center

Best Special Needs Services
1 // Lazar Center for Learning and Achievement
2 // Levine Children's Hospital
3 // Achieve Therapy Clinic

 

PLACES TO LEARN education.pngBest Preschool
1 // Ivybrook Academy – Weddington
2 // Iveybrook Academy – Fort Mill
3 // The Goddard School

Best Private School
1 // Ivybrook Academy – Weddington
2 // Charlotte Christian School
3 // Charlotte Latin School

Best Public/Charter
1 // Queen's Grant Community School
2 // Marvin Elementary
3 // Community School of Davidson

 

 

ENRICHMENT millerstreet.pngBest Arts/Music Class
1 // Noah's Art
2 // Kindermusik
3 // Music Together of Charlotte

Best Dance/Cheer Program
1 // Miller Street Dance Academy (pictured)
2 // Jami Masters School of Dance
3 // Carolina Dance Capital

Best Equestrian
1 // Latta Equestrian Center
2 // Providence Equestrian Center
3 // Place Leg Up Equestrian

Best Gymnastics
1 // Thomas Gymnastics
2 // My Gym
3 // Gymboree

Best Martial Arts (Three Way Tie!)
King Tiger Tae Kwon Do
Charlotte ATA Martial Arts
The Peaceful Dragon

Best Swimming Lessons
1 // Little Otter Swim School
2 // Charlotte Aquatics
3 // Charlotte Swim Academy

 

 

 

 

 

DINING OUT farmers.pngBest Farmer's Market
1 // Matthews Community Farmers' Market (pictured)
2 // Kings Drive Farmer's Market
3 // Charlotte Regional Farmers Market

Best Ethnic Food
1 // Thai taste
2 // The Blue Taj
3 // Azteca Mexican Restaurants

Best Pizza Place
1 // Brixx Wood Fired Pizza
2 // Hawthorne's New York Pizza & Bar
3 // Mellow Mushroom

Best Local Family Restaurants
1 // Showmars
2 // Landmark Diner
3 // Big View Diner

Best National Family Restaurant
1 // Cracker Barrel Old Country Store
2 // Olive Garden Italian Restaurant
3 // IHOP Restaurant

Best Frozen Treat
1 // TCBY
2 // Sweet Frog Premium Frozen Yogurt
3 // Bruster's Real Ice Cream

Best Kids Eat Free
1 // McAlister's Deli
2 // Moe's Southwest Grill
3 // Firehouse Subs

 

 

OUT + ABOUT festivalpark.pngBest Park
1 // Freedom
2 // Reedy Creek
3 // Latta Park

Best Place to Ride Bikes
1 // Freedom Park
2 // Mecklenburg County Greenway
3 // U.S. National Whitewater Center

Best Pool
1 // Ray's Splash Planet
2 // Morrison YMCA
3 // Latta Park

Best Area Sports Team
1 // Carolina Panthers
2 // Charlotte Checkers
3 // Charlotte Knights

Best Live Performance
1 // Children's Theatre of Charlotte
2 // Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey
3 // Disney On Ice

Best Cultural Spot/Museum
1 // Discovery Place
2 // Mint Museum
3 // Charlotte Nature Museum

Best Local Festival
1 // Festival in the Park (pictured)
2 // Matthews Alive Festival
3 // Renaissance Festival & Artisan Marketplace

Best Family Day Trip
1 // Riverbanks Zoo and Garden
2 // Lazy 5 Ranch
3 // Carowinds

Best Rainy Day Outing
1 // Monkey Joe's
2 // Discovery Place
3 // Discovery Place Kids

 

Find more favorites:
 

2012faves.png asdf ReadersFaves_3152.jpg adsf Angersonkid_icecream_dining.jpg2012 Readers' Favorites 2011 Readers' Favorites 2010 Family Favorites

 

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