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GO, SEE, DO
Best indoor entertainment (babies & preschoolers)
Minnesota Children’s Museum
Runners-up: Edinborough Park, Maple Grove Community Center
Best indoor entertainment (older kids)
Minnesota Science Museum
Runners-up: Nickelodeon, Edinborough Park, Pump It Up
Best outdoor entertainment (babies & preschoolers)
Como Park and Como Zoo and Conservatory
Runners-up: Local parks, Minnesota Zoo
Best outdoor entertainment (older kids)
ValleyFair
Runners-up: Minnesota Zoo, Como Zoo
Best theater or music venue
Tie: Children’s Theatre, Stages Theatre
Runners-up: Top Hat Theater
Best free entertainment or venue
Como Park and Zoo
Runners-up: Free third Sundays at the Children’s Museum, Lake Harriet Bandshell
Best annual family event
Minnesota State Fair
Runners-up: Holidazzle, Flint Hills Children’s Festival
Best parent-approved hangout for teens
Skate parks
Runners-up: ValleyFair, Mall of America
Best classes for kids
Early Childhood Family Education
Runners-up: Tags Gymnastics, MacPhail Music Center
Best Party venue
Pump It Up
Runners-up: Chuck E. Cheese, The Depot
BUY
Best must-have baby product
Boppy
Runners-up: Baby Bjorn, Moby Wrap
Baby products we can do without
Wipe warmers
Runners-up: Diaper Genies, bottle warmers
Best place to stock up for a new baby
Target
Runners-up: Wal-Mart
Best kids’ clothing store (new)
Gap
Runners-up: Children’s Place, Target
Best kids’ clothing store (used)
Once Upon a Child
Runners-up: Unique Thrift Store, garage sales
Best kids’ bookstore
TIE: Red Balloon, Wild Rumpus
Runners-up: Barnes & Noble
Best toy store
Kiddywampus
Runners-up: Wal-Mart, Target
Best sporting goods store
Dick’s Sporting Goods
Runners-up: REI, Play It Again Sports
Best store for art supplies
Michael’s
Runners-up: Creative Kidstuff, Lakeshore Learning
EAT
Best kid-friendly restaurant (babies & preschoolers)
Perkins
Runners-up: McDonald’s, Noodles & Co.
Best kid-friendly restaurant (older kids)
Space Alien Grill and Bar
Runners-up: Applebee’s, Chuck E. Cheese, Fuddrucker’s
Best family breakfast place
Perkin’s
Runners-up: Original Pancake House, IHOP
Best family lunch place
McDonald’s
Runners-up: Noodles & Co., Snuffy’s Malt Shop
Best family dinner place
Applebee’s
Runners-up: Axel’s Bonfire, Old Country Buffet
Best family place for treats
Dairy Queen
Runners-up: Cold Stone Creamery, Sebastian Joe’s
LEARN
Best source of information for new parents
Early Childhood Family Education
Runners-up: Minnesota Parent, BabyCenter.com
Best source of information for parents of older kids
Minnesota Parent (thanks!)
Runners-up: The Internet, friends and family
BEST… Here’s what you said:
Web site for used kids furniture: Craigslist.com
Family program ever: Museum Adventure Pass from St. Paul and Hennepin County Libraries
Picnic and family fun spot: Minnesota Landscape Arboretum
Place to get something off your chest: TrueMomConfessions.com, TrueDadConfessions.com
Indoor exercise: GALT indoor trampoline
Kid-friendly coffee shop: Riverview Café
Mothers of multiples group: Multiple Connections
Eco kids products: Kvale Good Natured Games
Bike trail for families: Cannon Valley Trail between Cannon Falls and Red Wing
This list was complied by our readers votes in 2008.
