And the winner is…
What’s the best the Upstate has to offer?
You told us, and here are the results
do you know where to go for the most family-friendly breakfast? How about the most family-friendly park? Or day care? It’s all here in the 2006 Upstate Parent Family Choice Awards.
You, our readers, voted, and we counted. Votes were received from throughout the Upstate — from Chesnee to Belton, from Pickens to Fountain Inn and everywhere in between.
Thanks to all of you who voted in our first ever Family Choice Awards and congratulations to all of the winners and runners-up!
Destination Fun
Most Family-Friendly Fair,
Festival, or Special Event
Winner: Fall for Greenville
Runner-up: Safe Kids Fest
Best Summer Camp
Day camp — Winner: Upstate Carolina Dance Center
Day camp — Runner-up: YMCA
Sleep Away — Winner: Camp Courage
Most Family-Friendly Vacation Destination
In South Carolina — Winner: Myrtle Beach
In South Carolina — Runner-up: Charleston
Out-of-state — Winner: Disney World
Out-of-state — Runner-up: Gatlinburg, Tenn.
Best Place to Take Your Children
for the Afternoon
Winner: Greenville Zoo
Runner-up: Kids Planet
Best Place to Visit Santa
Winner: Haywood Mall
Runner-up: Greenville Mall
Best Place to Visit the Easter Bunny
Winner: Haywood Mall
Runner-up: Greenville Mall
Best Holiday Event
Winner: Hollywild Lights
Runner-up: Roper Mountain Lights
Best Haunted House or Hay Ride for Children
Winner2: Nivens Apple Farm
Runner-up: Hollywild Animal Park
Services
Best Hospital in Which
to Have a Baby
Winner: Greenville Memorial Hospital
Runner-up: St. Francis Women’s Center
Best Pediatric Practice
Winner: Children’s Medical Center
Runner-up: Easley Pediatrics
Best Family Dentist
Winner: Dr. Melanie Blanton
Runner-up: Dr. Mark Muncy
Best Orthodontist
Winner: Dean and McInnis
Runner-up: Dr. Tom Atkinson
Best OB/GYN
Winner: Greenville OB/GYN
Runner-up: Piedmont OB/GYN
Best Family/Child
Specialty Photographer
Winner: Kids Shots
Runner-up: Mitchell’s Photography
Best Place for Haircuts and Styling
For parents — Winner: Mane Tamers
For parents — Runner-up: Great Clips
For children — Winner: Snip Its
For children — Runner-up: Jellybeans
Best Pet Lodge/Resort/Kennel
for the Family Pet
Winner: Paw Prints
Best Nanny or Sitter Service
Winner: A Place to Play
Most Family-Friendly Charity
Winner: March of Dimes
Runner-up: Miracle Hill
Entertainment
Best Museum in the Upstate
Winner: Greenville Museum of Art
Best TV Station
for the Entire Family
Winner: WYFF-4
Runner-up: SCETV
Best Radio Station
for the Entire Family
Winner: WLFJ 89.3
Runner-up: WMYI 102.5
Most Family-Friendly
Movie Theater
Winner: Regal Cinemas Hollywood 20
Runner-up: Consolidated Theaters at
Cherrydale
Most Family-Friendly Restaurant
For breakfast — Winner: IHOP
For breakfast — Runner-up: Cracker
Barrel
For lunch — Winner: Chick-fil-A
For lunch — Runner-up: McDonald’s
For dinner — Winner: Applebee’s
For dinner — Runner-up: Gatti-Town
Best Ice Cream Shop
Winner: Bruster’s Ice Cream & Yogurt
Runner-up: Marble Slab Creamery
Most Family-Friendly
Theatre (stage)
Winner: South Carolina Children’s Theatre
Runner-up: Peace Center for the Performing
Arts
Just for You
Best Mom’s Club/Support Group
Winner: MOPS
Best Place to Relax
Without Your Children
Winner: Home
Runner-up: Falls Park on the Reedy
Best Date-Night Restaurant
Winner: Soby’s
Runner-up (tie): The Melting Pot; The
Peddler
Best Weekend Getaway for Two
Winner: Gatlinburg, Tenn.
Runner-up: Charleston
Best Place to Get Back Into Shape
Winner: Curves
Runner-up: YMCA
Activities
Best Parent/Child Program
Winner: Foothills Gymnastics
Runner-up: Gymboree
Best Gymnastics Program
for Children
Winner: Foothills Gymnastics and Dance
Runner-up: Greenville Gymnastics
Best Martial Arts Program
for Children
Winner: ES Moon’s Martial Arts
Runner-up: Master Kim’s World Class
Tae Kwon Do
Best Dance Program for Children
Winner: Upstate Carolina Dance Center
Runner-up: Fine Arts Center
Best Music Program for Children
Winner: Kindermusik
Best Art Program or Classes
for Children
Winner: Dale Stone
Best Paint Your Own
Pottery Studio
Winner: Color Clay Café
Runner-up: The Glazing Pot
Best Place for Scrap Booking
Winner: Main Street Memories
Runner-up: Scrapbook Attic
Best Place for Birthday Parties
Winner: Gatti-Town
Runner-up: Pump It Up
Best Children’s Sports Club/League
Winner: YMCA
Runner-up: Easley Recreation Department
Best Bowling Alley
Winner: Tri-City Lanes
Runner-up: Golden Lanes
Best Foreign Language
Program for Children
Winner: Blythe Academy
Best Place for Children’s
Swim Lessons
Winner: YMCA
Education
Best Teacher
Winner: Leslie Morgan, K-5 at Forest
Acres Elementary School in Easley
Best Preschool
Winner: Grace Covenant Presbyterian
Kindergarten
Runner-up: Small World of Easley
Best After-School Program
Winner: YMCA
Runner-up: Small World of Easley
Best Child Care
Winner: Small World of Easley
Runner-up (tie): Classy Kids; Sunshine House
Best Vacation Bible School
Winner (tie): Marathon Community
Church, Rock Springs Baptist Church
Shopping
Best Maternity Clothing Store
Winner: Pickles & Ice Cream
Runner-up: Motherhood Maternity
Most Family-Friendly
Consignment Store
Winner: Weecycled Wear
Runner-up: ABC 123
Best Place for Children’s Furniture
Winner: Babies ‘R’ Us
Runner-up: USA Baby
Best Store for the Family Pet
Winner: PetSmart
Runner-up: Saluda River Pet Food Center
Most Family-Friendly
Grocery Store
Winner: Publix
Runner-up: Bi-Lo
Most Family-Friendly Shoe Store
For parents — Winner: Rack Room Shoes
For parents — Runner-up: Shoe Carnival
For children — Winner: Stride Rite
For children — Runner-up: Footloose
Most Family-Friendly
Clothing Store
For parents — Winner: Kohl’s
For parents — Runner-up: Old Navy
For children — Winner: Old Navy
For children — Runner-up (tie): Giggles
& Winks, Kohl’s
Best Toy Store
Winner: Toys ‘R’ Us
Runner-up: the Elephant’s Trunk
Most Family-Friendly Bookstore
Winner: Barnes & Noble Booksellers
Runner-up: Books-A-Million
Best Place to Buy Craft Supplies
Winner: A.C. Moore
Runner-up: Michael’s Arts & Crafts
Best Place for Halloween
Costumes
Winner: Party City
Runner-up: Wal-Mart
Most Family-Friendly Car Dealer
Winner: CarMax
Runner-up: Bradshaw
Best Community Bazaar,
Rummage Sale, or Market
Winner: Weecycled Wear
Runner-up: Trunk Treasures
Best Shopping Center/Mall
Winner: Haywood Mall
Runner-up: Shoppes at Greenridge
Around Town
Best City/Neighborhood Park
Winner: Cleveland Park
Runner-up: Kids Planet in Greer
Most Family-Friendly
Neighborhood
Winner: Neely Farm
Most Family-Friendly Place
to Work
Winner: Greenville Hospital System |
