Family Favorites

2024 Minnesota Family Favorites Award Winners

More than 70,000 votes were cast from January 1st – January 31st, 2024. Thank you to everyone who voted to help us recognize these excellent businesses and professionals who go above and beyond every day. Congratulations to this year’s winners.

Find out who won and learn more about this year’s winners below.

  

Best Trampoline Park

Best Museum for Families

Best Family Resort

Best Bike Trail with Kids

Best Minnesota Zoo

Beaches for Swimming

Best Splash Pad

Best Nature Center

Best Family Campground

Best Art Studio

Best Place to See Trains

Best Indoor Aquatics Facility / Water Park

Best Outdoor Aquatics Facility / Water Park

Best Apple Orchard

1st Place: Minnesota Harvest Apple Orchard | Jordan, MN

2nd Place: Aamodt’s Apple Farm | Stillwater, MN

3rd Place: Pine Tree Apple Orchard | White Bear Lake, MN

Best Indoor Play Space for Younger Kids

1st Place: MiniSota Play Cafe | Maple Grove, MN

2nd Place: The Little Village | Cottage Grove, MN

3rd Place: Peekabooboo Play Cafe | Albertville, MN

Best Bowling Alley

1st Place: Bowleroo | Blaine & Brooklyn Park, MN

2nd Place: Bryant Lake Bowl and Theater | Minneapolis, MN

3rd Place: PINZ Bowling Center | Oakdale, MN

Best Children’s Birthday Party Venue

1st Place: Grand Slam Sports Center | Burnsville, MN

2nd Place: Urban Air Adventure Park | Plymouth & Coon Rapids, MN

3rd Place: Mall of America |Bloomington, MN

Best Destination Playground

1st Place: Hyland Park Playground| Bloomington, MN

2nd Place: Shoreview Commons Playground | Shoreeview, MN

3rd Place:  Central Park | Maple Grove, MN

Best Christmas Tree Farm

1st Place: Rum River Tree Farm | Oak Grove, MN 

2nd Place: Krueger’s Christmas Tree Farm | Lake Elmo, MN

3rd Place: Hansen Tree Farm | Ramsey, MN

Best Family Fun Center

1st Place: Can Can Wonderland| St Paul, MN

2nd Place: The Fun Lab | Blaine, MN

3rd Place: Grand Slam Sports Center | Burnsville, MN

Best Family Festival or Fair

1st Place: Minnesota State Fair| Falcon Heights, MN

2nd Place: Renaissance Festival | Shakopee, MN

3rd Place: Dakota County Fair | Farmington, MN

Best Holiday Experience

1st Place: Bentleyville Tour of Lights | Duluth, MN

2nd Place: Winter Lights at The Arboretum | Chaska, MN

3rd Place: Glow Holiday Festival | St Paul, MN

Best Mini-Golf Course

1st Place: Can Can Wonderland | St Paul, MN

2nd Place:  Pirate’s Cove | Brainerd, MN

3rd Place: Lilli Putt | Coon Rapids, MN

Best Place to Volunteer

1st Place: Feed My Starving Children

2nd Place: Animal Humane Society |

3rd Place: Second Harvest Heartland | Locations throughout Twin Cities

Best Indoor Playgrounds

1st Place: Edinborough Park  | Edina, MN

2nd Place: Playground Plaza | Maple Grove, MN

3rd Place: Good Times Park | Eagan, MN

Best Children’s Theatre

1st Place: Children’s Theatre Co | Minneapolis, MN

2nd Place: Stages Theatre Co | Hopkins, MN

3rd Place: Youth Performance Company | 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 Arcade

1st Place: Dave and Buster’s | Maple Grove & Edina, MN

2nd Place: Can Can Wonderland | St Paul, MN

3rd Place: Blainbrook Entertainment Center | Blaine, MN

Best Movie Theater

1st Place: AMC Theaters | Locations throughout Twin Cities

2nd Place: Emagine Movie Theaters | Locations throughout the Twin Cities

3rd Place: St Michael Cinema | St Michael, MN

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Best Toy Store

1st Place: TIE: Legacy Toys & kiddywampus | Locations throughout Twin Cities

2nd Place: LARK Toys | Kellogg, MN

3rd Place: Mischief Toy Store | St Paul, MN

Best Arts & Craft Store

1st Place: Hobby Lobby | Locations throughout Twin Cities

2nd Place: Blick Art Materials | Roseville & Edina, MN

3rd Place: Five Below  | Locations throughout Twin Cities

Best Kids Boutique

1st Place: Pacifier Kids Baby Boutique | Locations throughout Twin Cities

2nd Place: Little Roos | Chaska, MN

3rd Place: oh baby! | Locations throughout Twin Cities

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 for Kids

1st Place: Barnes and Noble | Locations throughout Twin Cities

2nd Place: Wild Rumpus | Minneapolis, MN

3rd Place: The Red Balloon | St Paul, MN

Best Kid’s Consignment Store or Event

1st Place: Once Upon A Child | Locations throughout Twin Cities

2nd Place: Just Between Friends | Occasional Sales held throughout the Twin Cities

3rd Place: Kid to Kid | Eagan, MN

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Best Place for Pizza

1st Place: Pizza Luce | Locations throughout Twin Cities

2nd Place: Punch Pizza | Locations throughout the Twin Cities

3rd Place: Broadway Pizza| Locations throughout Twin Cities

Best Donut Shop

1st Place: Glam Doll Donuts | Minneapolis, MN

2nd Place: Duck Donuts | Bloomington & Woodbury, MN

3rd Place: YoYo Donuts | Minnetonka, MN

Best Coffee Shop

1st Place: Annabelle House | Osseo, MN

2nd Place: Smith Coffee & Cafe | Eden Prairie, MN

3rd Place: The Get Down Coffee Company | Minneapolis, MN

Best Kid’s Eat Free Restaurant

1st Place: Willy McCoys | Locations throughout Twin Cities

2nd Place: Sunshine Factory | Plymouth, MN

3rd Place: Tamarack Tap Room | Woodbury, MN

Best Family-Friendly Restaurant

1st Place: Snuffy’s Malt Shop | Locations throughout Twin Cities

2nd Place: Rainforest Cafe | Mall of America – Bloomington, MN

3rd Place: The Original Pancake House | Locations throughout Twin Cities

Best Family-Friendly Brewery

1st Place: St Paul Brewing Company | St Paul, MN

2nd Place: Lake Monster Brewing Company | St Paul, MN

3rd Place: Elm Creek Brewing | Champlin, MN

Best Candy Shop

1st Place: Minnesota’s Largest Candy Store | Jordan, MN

2nd Place: Candyland | Locations throughout the Twin Cities

3rd Place: Droolin Moose | Locations throughout Twin Cities

Best Bakery

1st Place: Nadia’s Cupcake Shoppe | Woodbury & Maple Grove, MN

2nd Place: Key’s Cafe and Bakery | Locations throughout the Twin Cities

3rd Place: Wuollet Bakery | Locations throughout Twin Cities

Best Ice Cream Shoppe

1st Place: Nelson’s Ice Cream | St Paul, MN

2nd Place: Grand Ole Creamery | St Paul & Minneapolis, MN

3rd Place: 2 Scoops Ice Cream Eatery | St Paul, MN

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Best Family Chiropractor

1st Place: Novo Chiropractic | Hopkins, MN

2nd Place: Chiro for Moms/Chiro for Kids | Wayzata, MN 

3rd Place: Woodbury Family Chiropractic | Woodbury, MN

Best Hospital for Labor and Delivery

1st Place: Maple Grove Hospital

2nd Place: Mother Baby Center – Abbott

3rd Place: M Fairview Hospital 

Best Place for Swim Lessons

1st Place: Foss Swim School | Locations throughout Twin Cities

2nd Place: YMCA | Locations throughout the Twin Cities

3rd Place: Goldfish Swim School | Locations throughout Twin Cities

Best Dance Studio

1st Place: Just For Kix | Locations throughout Twin Cities

2nd Place: Ballet Co Laboratory | St Paul, MN

3rd Place: Larkin Dance Studio | Maplewood, MN

Best Preschool/Childcare Center

1st Place: New Horizon Academy | Locations throughout Twin Cities, Rochester and Central MN

2nd Place: Rayito de sol Schools| 3 Locations throughout the Twin Cities

3rd Place: Bloom Early Learning | Plymouth, MN

Best Place for Child’s Haircut

1st Place: Kids’ Hair | Locations throughout Twin Cities

2nd Place: Sharkey’s Cuts for Kids | Minnetonka

3rd Place: Great Clips | Locations throughout Minnesota

Best Moving Company

1st Place: Two Men &A Truck

2nd Place: AAA Movers 

3rd Place: U-Haul