2023 Minnesota Family Favorites Award Winners
We want to thank you for voting in our 2023 Family Favorites survey. More than 29,000 votes were cast from January 1st – January 31st, 2023. Congratulations to this year’s winners.
2023 Family Favorites Family Entertainment Winners-
Best Family Fun Center
1st Place: The Fun Lab | Blaine, MN
2nd Place: Urban Air Adventure Park | Coon Rapids & Plymouth, MN
3rd Place: Grand Slam | Burnsville, MN
Best Destination Playground
1st Place: Hyland Park – Chutes & Ladders | Bloomington, MN
2nd Place: Teddy Bear Park | Stillwater, MN
3rd Place: Elm Creek Park | Maple Grove, MN
Best Arcade
1st Place: Can Can Wonderland | St Paul, MN
2nd Place: Blainbrook Entertainment Center | Blaine, MN
3rd Place: Xscape Entertainment Center | Bloomington, MN
Best Trampoline Park
1st Place: Urban Air Adventure Park | Coon Rapids & Plymouth, MN
2nd Place: Sky Zone Trampoline Park | Multiple Area Locations
3rd Place: Rockin’ Jump Trampoline Park | Eagan, MN
Best Family Resort
1st Place: Great Wolf Lodge | Bloomington, MN
2nd Place: Grand View Lodge | Nisswa, MN
3rd Place: Breezy Point Resort | Breezy Point, MN
Best Bike Trail with Kids
1st Place: Paul Bunyon Trail | North Central Minnesota
2nd Place: Luce Line Regional Trail | West Metro
3rd Place: Rush Creek Regional Trail | Maple Grove thru Brooklyn Park
Best Beach for Swimming
1st Place: Elm Creek Swimming Pond | Maple Grove, MN
2nd Place: Lake Nokomis Beach | Minneapolis, MN
3rd Place: Shady Oak Beach | Minnetonka, MN
Best Splash Pad
1st Place: Central Park | Maple Grove, MN
2nd Place: Madison’s Place Playground | Woodbury, MN
3rd Place: Nicollet Commons Park | Burnsville, MN
Best Nature Center
1st Place: Tamarack Nature Center | White Bear Lake, MN
2nd Place: Springbrook Nature Center | Fridley, MN
3rd Place: Wood Lake Nature Center | Richfield, MN
Best Family Campground
1st Place: Lebanon Hills Campground | St Paul, MN
2nd Place: Kamp Dels | Waterville, MN
3rd Place: Sherwood Forest Campground | Aitkin, MN
Best Zoo
1st Place: Minnesota Zoo | Apple Valley, MN
2nd Place: Como Zoo | St Paul, MN
3rd Place: Hemker Zoo | Freeport, MN
Best Art Studio
1st Place: KidCreate Studio | Eden Prairie & Woodbury, MN
2nd Place: Rum River Art Center | Anoka, MN
3rd Place: ARTrageous Adventures | Minneapolis & Mankato, MN
Best Museum for Families
1st Place: Minnesota Children’s Museum | St Paul, MN
2nd Place: Science Museum of Minnesota | St Paul, MN
3rd Place: Bell Museum | St Paul, MN
Best Place to See Trains
1st Place: North Shore Scenic Railway | Duluth, MN
2nd Place: Twin Cities Model Railway Museum | St Paul, MN
3rd Place: Union Depot | St Paul, MN
Best Indoor Aquatics Facility / Water Park
1st Place: Great Wolf Lodge Water Park | Bloomington, MN
2nd Place: Tropics Indoor Waterpark | Shoreview, MN
3rd Place: Treasure Island Resort Water Park | Welch, MN
Best Outdoor Aquatics Facility / Water Park
1st Place: Bunker Beach Water Park | Coon Rapids, MN
2nd Place: Cascade Bay Water Park | Eagan, MN
3rd Place: Soak City at ValleyFair | Shakopee, MN
Best Apple Orchard
1st Place: Pine Tree Apple Orchard | White Bear Lake, MN
2nd Place: Minnesota Harvest Orchard | Jordan, MN
3rd Place: Aamodt’s Apple Farm | Stillwater, MN
Best Indoor Play Space for Younger Kids
1st Place: Eagles Nest | New Brighton, MN
2nd Place: MiniSota Play Cafe | Maple Grove, MN
3rd Place: Be with Me Playseum | Minnetonka, MN
Best Bowling Alley
1st Place: Bowleroo | Blaine & Brooklyn Park, MN
2nd Place: Bryant Lake Bowl and Theater | Minneapolis, MN
3rd Place: Blainbrook Entertainment Center | Blaine, MN
Best Children’s Birthday Party Venue
1st Place: Urban Air Adventure Park| Coon Rapids & Plymouth, MN
2nd Place: Grand Slam | Burnsville, MN
3rd Place: The K.U.B.E. – Plymouth Community Center | Plymouth, MN
Best Christmas Tree Farm
1st Place: Krueger’s Christmas Tree Farm | Lake Elmo, MN
2nd Place: Rum River Tree Farm | Oak Grove, MN
3rd Place: Hansen Tree Farm | Ramsey, MN
Best Family Festival or Fair
1st Place: Minnesota State Fair | Falcon Heights, MN
2nd Place: Renaissance Festival | Shakopee, MN
3rd Place: Anoka County Fair | Anoka, MN and Dakota County Fair | Farmington, MN
Best Holiday Experience
1st Place: Bentleyville Tour of Lights | Duluth, MN
2nd Place: Holidazzle | Minneapolis, MN
3rd Place: Winter Lights at The Arboretum | Chaska, MN
Best Mini-Golf Course
1st Place: Can Can Wonderland | St Paul, MN
2nd Place: Lilli Putt | Coon Rapids, MN
3rd Place: Pirates Cove | Brainerd, MN
Best Place to Volunteer
1st Place: Feed My Starving Children | 3 Twin Cities Locations
2nd Place: Animal Humane Society | 4 Twin Cities Locations
3rd Place: Second Harvest Heartland | Multiple Twin Cities Locations
Best Indoor Playgrounds
1st Place: Edinbourough Park| Edina, MN
2nd Place: Maple Maze | Maple Grove, MN
3rd Place: The K.U.B.E. – Plymouth Community Center | Plymouth, MN
Best Children’s Theatre
1st Place: Children’s Theatre | Minneapolis, MN
2nd Place: Stages Theatre | Hopkins, MN
3rd Place: SteppingStone Theatre | St Paul, MN
Best Family Amusement Park
1st Place: Valleyfair | Shakopee, MN
2nd Place: Nickelodeon Universe | Bloomington, MN
3rd Place: Como Town | St Paul, MN
Best Pumpkin Patch
1st Place: Waldoch Farm | Lino Lakes, MN
2nd Place: Nelson Farm | Litchfield, MN
3rd Place: Pearson Family Farm | Ramsey, MN
Best Ski Hill
1st Place: Buck Hill | Burnsville, MN
2nd Place: Lutsen Mountain | Lutsen, MN
3rd Place: Spirit Mountain | Duluth, MN
Best Sculpture Park
1st Place: Minneapolis Sculpture Garden | Minneapolis, MN
2nd Place: Franconia Sculpture Park | Shafer, MN
3rd Place: Caponi Art Park | Eagan, MN
2023 Family Favorites Retailers Winners-
Best Toy Store
1st Place: Legacy Toys | Multiple Locations throughout Minnesota
2nd Place: Kiddywampus | Chanhassen & Hopkins, MN
3rd Place: LARK Toys | Kellogg, MN
Best Arts & Craft Store
1st Place: Blick Art Materials | Roseville & Edina, MN
2nd Place: Wet Paint | St Paul, MN
3rd Place: TIE – ArtScraps | St Paul, MN Art Cellar | Minneapolis, MN
Best Kids Boutique
1st Place: Little Roos |Chaska, MN
2nd Place: Pacifier Kids Boutique | Multiple Twin Cities Locations
3rd Place: oh baby! | Multiple Twin Cities Locations
Best Bike Shop
1st Place: Erik’s Bike Shop | Multiple Twin Cities Locations
2nd Place: Tonka Cycle & Ski | Hopkins, MN
3rd Place: Trailhead Cycling | Champlin & Plymouth, MN
Best Shopping Mall
1st Place: Mall of America | Bloomington, MN
2nd Place: Rosedale Center | Roseville, MN
3rd Place: Ridgedale Mall | Minnetonka, MN
Best Book Store
1st Place: Wild Rumpus | Minneapolis, MN
2nd Place: The Red Balloon | St Paul, MN
3rd Place: Birchbark Books and Native Arts | Minneapolis, MN
Best Local Gift Shop
1st Place: Patina | Multiple Twin Cities Locations
2nd Place: General Store of Minnetonka | Minnetonka, MN
3rd Place: I Like You | Minneapolis & St Paul, MN
Best Kid’s Consignment
1st Place: Once Upon A Child | Multiple Twin Cities Locations
2nd Place: Just Between Friends | Occasional sales held throughout the Twin Cities
3rd Place: The Kids Rack | Champlin, MN
Best Minnesota Apparel
1st Place: Sota Clothing | St Louis Park, MN
2nd Place: Made in MINN | Online & Pop Up Shops
3rd Place: Northmade Co | St Paul, MN
2023 Family Favorites Food and Drink Winners-
Best Place for Pizza
1st Place: Pizza Luce | Multiple Twin Cities Locations
2nd Place: Punch Pizza | Multiple Twin Cities Locations
3rd Place: Broadway Pizza | Multiple Twin Cities Locations
Best Donut Shop
1st Place: Glam Doll Donuts | Minneapolis, MN
2nd Place: Hans Bakery | Anoka, MN
3rd Place: YoYo Donuts | Minnetonka, MN
Best Coffee Shop
1st Place: Dogwood Coffee | Multiple Twin Cities Locations
2nd Place: Sovereign Grounds | Minneapolis, MN
3rd Place: The Get Down Coffee Company | Minneapolis, MN
Best Kid’s Eat Free Restaurant
1st Place: Sunshine Factory | Plymouth, MN
2nd Place: Willy McCoys | Multiple Twin Cities Locations
3rd Place: Lucy’s Burgers | White Bear Township & Blaine, MN
Best Family-Friendly Restaurant
1st Place: Snuffy’s Malt Shop | Multiple Twin Cities Locations
2nd Place: Rainforest Cafe | Bloomington, MN
3rd Place: The Original Pancake House | Multiple Twin Cities Locations
Best Family-Friendly Brewery
1st Place: Luce Line Brewing | Plymouth, MN
2nd Place: Lake Monster Brewing Company | St Paul, MN
3rd Place: Lakes & Legends Brewing |Minneapolis, MN
Best Candy Shop
1st Place: Minnesota’s Largest Candy Store | Jordan, MN
2nd Place: Candyland | Multiple Twin Cities Locations
3rd Place: Blue Sun Soda Shoppe | Multiple Twin Cities Locations
Best Bakery
1st Place: Nadia’s Cupcake Shoppe | Maple Grove & Woodbury, MN
2nd Place: Wuollet Bakery | Multiple Minnesota Locations
3rd Place: Han’s Bakery | Anoka, MN
Best Boba Tea
1st Place: Tii Cup | Multiple Twin Cities Locations
2nd Place: Sencha Tea Bar | Multiple Twin Cities Locations
3rd Place: Song Tea & Poke | Multiple Twin Cities Locations
Best Ice Cream Shoppe
1st Place: Grand Ole Creamery | Minneapolis & St Paul, MN
2nd Place: Nelson’s Ice Cream | Stillwater & St Paul, MN
3rd Place: 2 Scoops Ice Cream Eatery | St Paul, MN
