You’re busy running, you’ve got a million things going on, you need help now! Family life in Memphis can get a little crazy sometimes. That’s why it’s always a plus to find those businesses that go out of their way to earn a parent’s trust. Each year, we ask you, our discerning readers, to weigh in on the best places Memphis has to offer. We know you’re out there shopping and spending. Whether it’s clamoring for cupcakes, locating a great hair stylist for kids, or simply discovering the best places to play, we asked you to tell it like it is.

Now the results are in and we want the world to know. So take a look! We’re pleased to announce Memphis Parent’s 2009 Family Choice Award Winners. Thanks for voting — and congratulations to all of our winners!

Best Rainy Day Outing

Gold • Children’s Museum of Memphis
Silver: Memphis Pink Palace Museum
Bronze: Movies
Whether driving the fire truck or scaling the climbing tower, Memphis kids love having adventures at the Children’s Museum. It’s a hands-down favorite, particularly on rainy days. Following close behind is exploring the Pink Palace, where the latest exhibit never fails to transport you to another world. And if all else fails, a good movie will help you forget about the weather.

Best Family Day Trip

Gold • Memphis Zoo
Silver: Pickwick Lake
Bronze: Memphis Botanic Gardens
With its latest exhibit focusing on the Yellowstone Park region, a visit to the zoo can take you to the West. If you really want a break, cruise Pickwick Lake the spot, followed by a roam through the Botanic Gardens.

Best Weekend Getaway Without Kids

Gold • Hot Springs
Silver: Nashville
Bronze: New Orleans
Hot Springs is the ideal place to chill, and a favorite destination (when you can find that illusive thing called  a babysitter)! After that, parents enjoy hitting the honky tonks of Nashville and the voodoo shops of N’awlins. Whichever your pleasure, stash the kids for the weekend, and plan your great escape.

Best Weekend Getaway With Kids

Gold • St. Louis
Silver: Memphis Zoo
Bronze: Hot Springs
We’re huge fans of St. Louis. It’s just a four hours north and offers a host of free attractions, including an excellent zoo and science museum. Plus, accommo-dations are affordable. If you go, be sure to check out the City Museum. My kid will tell you, it’s awesome!

Best Movie Theatre

Gold • Paradiso
Silver: Collierville Malco
Bronze: Malco

Best State Park

Gold • Chickasaw State Park
Silver: Shelby Farms
Bronze: Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Our state is rich in scenery. Just an hour’s drive from Memphis is Chickasaw State Park, which offers horseback riding and a sand-fringed lake perfect for swimming or fishing. Locally there’s Shelby Farms, where you can sail sunfishes or access trails for biking, and hiking. And for a long weekend, what better destination than one of the nation’s most scenic national parks, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Best Free Family Outing

Gold • Shelby Farms
Silver: Memphis Zoo
Bronze: Levitt Shell
Though the Levitt Shell is a relative newcomer, its free concert series have quickly become a must-do for families around the city.

Best Children’s Clothing Store

Gold • Children’s Place
Silver: Gap
Bronze: Cotton Tails
This category is always close. We’re fortunate to have a number of strong children’s retailers, and the winners here represent a nice mix of local and national outlets.

Best Place to Buy Toys

Gold • Target
Silver: Village Toymaker
Bronze: Toys ‘R Us
These three vendors battled it out last year and while Village Toymaker was a strong second, they were bested by a nose by Target. Hmm, must be that new location at I-240 and Poplar, a parent magnet.

Best Bookstore for Families

Gold • Davis-Kidd Booksellers
Silver: Barnes & Noble Booksellers
Bronze: Borders Books, Music, and Cafe

Best Place for Kid’s Shoes

Gold • Jackson Shoe
Silver: Stride Rite
Bronze: Target

Best Store for Children’s Furniture

Gold • Target
Silver: Pottery Barn
Bronze: Ashley Furniture

Best Maternity Store

Gold • A Pea in a Pod
Silver: Haute Mama
Bronze: Motherhood
Haute Mama is evidently hot with many of our readers. For 2009, this trendy Germantown clothier came from behind to bump Target for a solid second place finish after the perennial favorite, A Pea in a Pod. Congrats to all.

Best Place for Party Supplies

Gold • Party City
Silver: Target
Bronze: Debbie’s Hallmark
Debbie’s Hallmark in Germantown finished a strong third this year, welcome to this new contender. While Party City is the hands-down favorite party outlet (and they can’t be beat for kid’s Halloween costumes), we think someone ought to give them a run for their money. Any takers?

Best Store for Baby Gifts

Gold • Target
Silver: Babies ‘R Us
Bronze: Cotton Tails

Best Store for Children’s Gifts

Gold • Target
Silver: Village Toymaker
Bronze: Walmart

Best Mall for Families

Gold • The Avenue Carriage Crossing
Silver: Wolfchase Galleria
Bronze: Oak Court Mall
The Avenue Carriage Crossing’s special events must be reaching parents who shop. This year, the popular outdoor plaza came within eight votes of besting Wolfchase Galleria, a perennial favorite. Of course, the carousel at Wolfchase is still a must-do for the preschool set. We love watching their faces light up as they climb aboard.

Best Restaurant with Kids

Gold • Huey’s
Silver: Chili’s
Bronze: Red Robin

Best Restaurant without Kids

Gold • Ruth Chris
Silver: Folk’s Folly
Bronze: Bonefish
This is one of our favorite categories, because a) we’re foodies, and b) we’re heartened to see the many restaurants you, our readers, support. Even during a recession. This year, our surveys showed more than 80 different dining establishments, though judging from the numbers, a good steak house is still hard to beat. (Our apologies to you vegetarians.)

Best Kid’s Menu

Gold • Chili’s
Silver: Huey’s
Bronze: O’Charley’s

Best Pizza Place

Gold • Memphis Pizza Cafe
Silver: Pizza Hut
Bronze: Russo’s New York Pizzeria & Garibaldi’s Pizza
Memphis Pizza Cafe is still the big dog here. (And if you’ve eaten at their store in Germantown, you know why.) Pizza Hut remains tried and true. But they should watch their back. Russo’s leaped into the winner’s circle this year, tieing with Garibaldi’s for third. Mmm — pizza, anyone?

Best BBQ

Gold • Corky’s
Silver: Central BBQ
Bronze: The Germantown Commissary
These three contenders battle it out every year, Corky’s retains its crown, Central BBQ hogs second, and the Commissary slides into third for the bronze. All we can add is: Sooey, let’s eat!

Best Take Out

Gold • Wang’s
Silver: Pei Wei
Bronze: Chili’s

Best Ice Cream

Gold • Baskin Robbins
Silver: Ben and Jerry’s
Bronze: TCBY
Baskin Robbins continues to bask in first, followed closely by Ben and Jerry’s, but TCBY scoops Cold Stone Creamery for third.

Best Kids’ Party Entertainment

Gold • Incredible Pizza
Silver: Pump It Up
Bronze: Chuck E. Cheese
What do these three winners share in common? With lots of food and fun, they keep families coming back for more.

Best Bakery for Birthday Cakes

Gold • Miss Muffin
Silver: Costco
Bronze: Muddy’s Bake Shop
This was a heated race, with just a few votes separating all three contenders. Miss Muffin’s took the gold but Costco edged out Kay’s Bakery to take the silver. And the big sleeper this year was Muddy’s, which used cupcake power to ice the bronze. Way to go, all.

Best Salon for Kids’ Haircuts

Gold • Super Cuts
Silver: Sport Clips
Bronze: Fantastic Sam’s

Best Best Pediatrician

Gold • Dr. Chris Hanson
Silver: Dr. Joel Kronenberg
Bronze: Dr. Lelon “Bubba” Edwards
Always a horse race, we salute the winners!

Best Pediatric Dentist

Gold • Dr. Brad Wilkinson
Silver: Drs. Robert Gardino & John Acosta
Bronze: Dr. Alka Cohen

Best Hospital

Gold • Baptist Memorial Hospital
Silver: Le Bonheur Children’s Medical Center
Bronze: Methodist-Germantown
Memphis is lucky to have a great health care community.

Best Public School

Gold • White Station High
Silver: Grahamwood Elementary
Bronze: Crosswind Elementary
We sensed lots of school spirit with more than 40 schools listed. Congrats to the winners, as well as the teachers, administrators, and staff who make these schools a success.

Best Private School

Gold • Woodland Presbyterian
Silver: Holy Rosary School
Bronze: St. Mary’s and Memphis University School
One of the most competitive categories, parents gave a shout out for everything from Memphis Jewish High and Lausanne to Maria Montessori and Christian Brothers. But Woodland got their people mobilized and came out on top, followed closely by Holy Rosary. Great winners all.

Best Day Care

Gold • LEAD Le Bonheur
Silver: Roulhac’s Preschool and Childcare
Bronze: Lindenwood Child Care Center

(below) Memphis Botanic Garden’s Big Back Yard has become a kid magnet.

Best Field Trip for Kids

Gold • Memphis Zoo
Silver: Memphis Botanic Garden
Bronze: Memphis Pink Palace
Even before the Zoo opened its new Teton Trek exhibit, their family membership had been on the rise. They are the hands-down winner here, but the Botanic Garden’s My Big Back Yard has been warmly received by families across the Mid-South.

(above) Ballet Memphis’ cast from The Wizard of Oz entertained families at this year’s Zoo Boo.

Best Annual Event for Families
Gold • Zoo Boo and the Memphis Italian Festival
Silver: Delta Fair
Bronze: Pink Palace Crafts Show

Best Tourist Attraction

Gold • Graceland
Silver: Memphis Zoo
Bronze: Beale Street
Great destinations, all.

Best Sporting Event for Families

Gold • Redbirds
Silver: Memphis Tiger Basketball
Bronze: Memphis Grizzlies
Go team!

Best Local Role Model

Gold • Coach Josh Pastner
Silver: Mayor AC Wharton
Bronze: Parents
With his big league debut, hopes are running high that University of Memphis Coach Josh Pastner will earn the mantle of best role model. Pastner is followed by Memphis’ new mayor, AC Wharton. And the list is complete with parents as our kid’s best role models.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, December 1st, 2009 at 12:00 pm and is filed under Activities, Features, Resources. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.