Breathe easy, parents — June is the month you're allowed to play favorites. In fact, we encourage it!
Every year, our readers (an opinionated bunch!) tell us their picks for the spots that make Toledo such a great place to raise a family — their top places to eat, play, learn, and be cared for — in our Family Favorites awards. Their votes create an annual guide to the best of the best for the families of Northwest Ohio.
Use the 2013 results as your family resource — and feel free to let your favorites be known!
Place for winter fun
Sylvania Playland
3620 Centennial Rd., Sylvania
419-517-9094
www.sylvaniaplayland.com
Runner up: Toledo Zoo
Rainy-day activity
Imagination Station
1 Discovery Way (at Summit and Adams St.)
419-244-2674
www.imaginationstationtoledo.org
Runner up: Westfield Franklin
Park Mall Cinema
Sunny-day activity
Toledo Zoo
2 Hippo Way (off the Anthony Wayne Trail)
419-385-4040
www.toledozoo.org
Runner up: Wildwood Preserve Metropark
Place to sneak in a history lesson
Fort Meigs
29100 W. River Rd., Perrysburg
419-874-4121
https://www.fortmeigs.org
Runner up: Toledo Museum of Art
Dance class
Toledo Ballet
5001 Monroe St.
419-471-0049
www.toledoballet.net
Runner up: Dance Expression
Martial arts program
Joseph Hurtseller
Martial Arts Center
2145 W. Laskey Rd.
419-473-8535
www.toledomartialartscenter.com
Runner up: Roberts & Mitchell,
All American Karate
Art class
Toledo Museum of Art
2445 Monroe St.
419-255-8000
www.toledomuseum.org
Runner up: In-2-Art Studio
Music class
Kinder Music
3307 N. Holland Sylvania Rd.
419-842-8331
Runner up: Music Together/Hand in Hand
Free activity
The Toledo Lucas
County Public Library
www.toledolibrary.org
Runner up: Wildwood Preserve Metropark
Family-friendly fair or festival
Lucas County Fair
www.lucascountyfair.com
Runner up: MacQueen Orchard
Apple Butter Stir Festival
Live theater for kids
Valentine Theatre
410 Adams St.
419-242-3490
www.valentinetheatre.com
Runner up: Children’s Theater Workshop
Place to hop on a horse
Hunter’s Run
9241 Secor Rd., Temperance, Mich.
734-856-2404
www.huntersrunmhja.com
Runner up: Vail Meadows
Place to volunteer
Cherry Street Mission
105 17th St.
419-242-5141
www.cherrystreetmission.org
Runner up: The Toledo Humane Society
Park or playground
Wildwood Preserve Metropark
5100 W. Central Ave.
419-407-9700
www.metroparkstoledo.com
Runner up: Side Cut Metropark
Story hour
The Toledo Lucas
County Public Library
www.toledolibrary.org
Runner up: Barnes & Noble Booksellers
Swim lessons
Sylvania YMCA/JCC
of Greater Toledo
6465 Sylvania Ave.
419-885-4485
www.ymcatoledo.org
Runner up: Fort Meigs
Place to swim
Sylvania YMCA/JCC
of Greater Toledo
6465 Sylvania Ave.
419-885-4485
www.ymcatoledo.org
Runner up: Perrysburg Pool
Indoor water park
Splash Bay Resort
1705 Toll Gate Dr., Maumee
419-482-7777
www.splashbayresort.com
Runner up: Kalahari
Vacation that won’t empty our wallet
Cedar Point
1 Cedar Point Dr., Sandusky
419-627-2350
www.cedarpoint.com
Runner up: Maumee Bay State Park
Family-friendly gym
YMCA/JCC of Greater Toledo
For locations, visit www.ymcatoledo.org
Runner up: Wildwood Athletic Club
Gymnastics center
YMCA/JCC of Greater Toledo
For locations, visit www.ymcatoledo.org
Runner up: Sunrise Gymnastics
Place to play rec sports
Sylvania Tam-O-Shanter
7060 Sylvania Ave., Sylvania
419-855-1167
www.playsylvania.com
Runner up: YMCA of Greater Toledo
Bowling alley
Timbers Bowling
1246 Conant St., Maumee
419-893-7631
www.timbersbowling.com
Runner up: Southwyck Lanes
Family Restaurant
Bob Evans
For locations, visit www.bobevans.com
Runner up: Red Robin
Healthy fast food
Balance Pan-Asian Grille
For locations, visit www.balancegrille.com
Runner up: Zingo’s Mediterranean
Pizza joint (non-chain)
Amie’s Pizza Factory
6710 W. Central Ave.
419-842-8008
www.amiespizzafactory.com
Runner up: J&G Pizza Palace
Burger place (non-chain)
Burger Bar 419
For locations, visit www.burgerbar419.com
Runner up: Koral Hamburger
Ice cream shop
Handel’s
For locations, visit www.handelsicecream.com
Runner up: Mr. Freeze
Place where kids eat free
Fricker’s
For locations, visit www.frickers.com
Runner up: Bob Evans
Kid-friendly grocery store
Kroger
For locations, visit www.kroger.com
Runner up: Giant Eagle
Natural food store
Health Foods by Claudia
3904 Secor Rd.
419-474-2400
www.healthfoodsbyclaudia.com
Runner up: Bassett’s
Entertainer
Andrew Martin, magician
419-472-4333
www.andrewmagic.com
Runner up: Daisy Blue the Clown
Birthday party venue
Hero’s
9851 Meridian Ct., Rossford
419-873-9400
www.herostoledo.com
Runner up: Chuck E. Cheese
Place for goodie bag loot
Party City
For locations, visit wwwww.partycity.com
Runner up: Hero’s
Place to buy a cake
Wixey’s Bakery
2017 Glendale Ave.
419-382-6684
www.wixeysbakery.com
Runner up: Eston’s Bakery
Kid’s clothier
Kids Klothesline
111 Louisiana Ave., Perrysburg
419-874-5437
Runner up: Twice but Nice
Kid’s shoe shop
Stride Rite
5333 Monroe St.
419-843-6050
www.striderite.com
Runner up: Scoots
Kid’s consignment
Once Upon a Child
Visit website for locations,
www.onceuponachildtoledo.com
Runner up: Twice but Nice
Place to buy maternity clothes
Clothes Mentor
Visit website for locations, www.clothesmentor.com
Runner up: Destination Maternity
Place to furnish your little one’s “nest”
Target
Visit website for locations, www.target.com
Runner up: Babies-R-Us
Locally owned specialty toys/gifts
Learning Express
Visit website for locations, www.learningexpress.com
Runner up: The Toy Box at Scoots
Support group for moms
Mothers’ Center of Greater Toledo
www.motherscenter.net
Runner up: Cedar Creek Momentum
Mom-friendly play date
Sylvania Playland
3620 Centennial Rd., Sylvania
419-517-9094
www.sylvaniaplayland.com
Runner up: Wildwood Preserve Metropark
Place for single parents to meet
Church
Runner up: The park
Parent blog
Moms In Heels by Lisa Harst
www.momsinheels.net
Runner up: mothercenter.org
Date night restaurant
Mancy’s Italian Grill
5453 Monroe St.
419-882-9229
www.mancys.com
Runner up: Granite City
Place for mom to be pampered
Reve Salon and Spa
5633 N. Main St., Sylvania
419-855-1140
www.revessalonandspa.com
Runner up: Beauty Bar
Romantic getaway
Belamere Suites
12200 Williams Rd., Perrysburg
419-874-2233
www.belameresuites.com
Runner up: Holiday Inn French Quarter
Neighborhood to raise kids
Sylvania
Runner up: Perrysburg
Program (activity for preschoolers)
Kindermusik
Visit website for locations, www.kindermusik.com
Runner up: activities at the Library
Summer day camp
Children’s Discovery Center
Visit website for locations,
www.childrensdiscoverycenters.com
Runner up: West Side Montessori
Tutor/learning center
Huntington Learning Center
6638 Centers Dr., Spring Meadows
419-867-4000
www.huntingtonhelps.com
Runner up: Sylvan Learning Center
Teacher
Mr. Mike Black, 5th grade teacher,
Fallen Timbers Middle School
Runner up: Mr. Ron Bushrow, 6th grade science
Monac Elementary School
Family-friendly car dealership
Yark Automotive Group
6055 W. Central Ave.
866-390-8894
www.yarkauto.com
Runner up: Grogan’s Towne
Chrysler Jeep Dodge
Kid-friendly emergency room
ProMedica Toledo
Children’s Hospital
2142 N. Cove Blvd.
419-291-5437
www.promedica.org/toledochildrens
Runner up: ProMedica St. Luke’s Hospital
Place to take dad for Father’s Day
Mud Hen’s game at Fifth Third Field
406 Washington St., 419-725-4367
Runner up: Golfing
Place to take mom for Mother’s Day
Bravo! Cucina Italiana
5001 Monroe St.
419-472-1200
www.bravoitalian.com
Runner up: Nagoya Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi
Kid-friendly salon
Great Clips
Visit website for locations, www.greatclips.com
Runner up: First Choice Haircutters
Picnic spot
Wildwood Park
51 W. Central Ave.
419-407-9700
www.metroparkstoledo.com
Runner up: Side Cut Metropark
Parent-friendly work place
ProMedica
www.promedica.org
Runner up: University of Toledo
Bank/financial institution
Huntington Bank
Visit website for locations, www.huntington.com
Runner up: Fifth Third Bank
Family Lawyer
Bradley Waugh
Malone, Ault & Farell, maf-law.com
Runner up: Matt Hutchison of Shindler, Neff, Holmes, Worline & Mohler, LLP
Dentist/ Orthodontist
Sylvania Orthodontist
6407 Monroe St, Sylvania
419-882-1017
www.perfectbraces.com
Runner up: Dr. Jennifer Zoll, DDS, pediatric dentist
Place to give birth
ProMedica Toledo Hospital
2142 N. Cove Blvd.
419-291-4000
www.promedica.org/toledo
Runner up: Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center
OB/GYN
Dr. Ann Rhee
ProMedica Physicians, Maumee OB/Gyn Associates,
660 Beaver Creek Cir., Maumee / 419-891-6201
Runner up: Dr. Bob DeRosa,
Sunforest OB/GYN Associates
Optometrist
Dr. Reed Roth,
Perrysburg Eye & Hearing Center
28370 Kensington Lane, Perrysburg
1-800-433-7210
Runner up: Dr. James Robinson,
Anthony Wayne Vision Services, Inc.
Midwife
Donna Augustine, CNM
3840 Woodley Rd.
419-475-0001
Runner up: Jonelea Thomas
Pediatric practice
Toledo Pediatrics
7140 Port Sylvania Dr.
419-843-8170
Runner up: Franklin Park Pediatrics
Doctor (TIE)
Dr. Marrianne Black and Dr. Hani Haidar
Franklin Park Pediatrics
2000 Regency Ct. #103,
419-475-5433,
www.franklinparkpediatrics.com.
Runner up: Dr. Robert Mills, Pediatric Care Associates
Chiropractor
Dr. Nick Dumas of Rapid Relief Chiropractic Center
4210 W Sylvania Ave, Toledo, OH
(419) 474-6500
Runner up: Dr. Shawn Brohl, Chiropractors Holland
Allergist
Dr. David Hunter
Drs. Wiseley & Hunter, Inc.
3425 Executive Pkwy.
419-535-7798
Runner up: Dr. M. Razi Rafeeq
Veterinarian
Sylvania Vet
4801 N. Holland-Sylvania Rd., Sylvania
419-885-0244
www.sylvaniavet.com
Runner up: High Point Vet
Place to nurse a baby
Westfield Franklin Park Mall
5001 Monroe St.
419-473-3317
www.westfield.com/franklinpark
Runner up: Imagination Station
Kid’s photographer
Jem Photography
5758 N. Main St., Sylvania
419-356-7554, 419-410-4974
www.momentsbyjem.com
Runner up: Allison Darr Photography
Special needs services
Mercy Autism Services
3521 Briarfield Blvd., Maumee
419-794-7259
www.mercyweb.org
Runner up: The Ability Center
Place to worship
CedarCreek Church
Visit website for locations, www.cedarcreek.tv
Runner up: St. Joseph’s Sylvania
Preschool
West Side Montessori
Visit website for locations, www.montessoritoledo.org
Runner up: Children’s Discovery Center
Daycare
Children’s Discovery Center
2303 Cheyenne Blvd.
419-865-8191
www.childrensdiscoverycenters.com
Runner up: Fiddlestix
Drop-in childcare
Kidz Watch
Visit website for locations, www.kidzwatch.net
Runner up: KinderCare
Family-friendly restroom
Westfield Franklin Park Mall
5001 Monroe St.
419-473-3317
www.westfield.com
Runner up: Toledo Zoo
Favorite thing about Toledo Area Parent
Calendars/Events
Runner up: Articles
Things you would love to see in Toledo Area Parent
Coupons
Runner up: Dad Section
Best Toledo Area Parent Column
Mother Mayhem
Runner up: New Kids on the Block
Reason to visit www.toledoparent.com
Information
Runner up: Calendar/Events