The results are in! Thank you for nominating and voting for the individuals, services, schools and businesses you loved the most this year.
Each year brings an opportunity for local families to share their favorites and learn about other favorites from friends and neighbors. You might just find a new one for yourself! Keep an eye out for next year’s nomination period to submit your recommendations for 2025.
Best Bakery
Black Market Bakers, Annapolis and Edgewater
Runner Up: Nothing Bundt Cakes
Best Burger
Edgewater
Runner Up: Red Robin
Best Ice Cream
Always Ice Cream Company, Annapolis
Runner Up: Cold Stone Creamery
Best Pizza
Ledo’s Pizza, multiple locations
Runner Up: Squisito Pizza and Pasta
Best Restaurant with Entertainment or Diversions
Coconut Joe’s Bar & Grill, Edgewater
Runner Up: Miss Shirley’s Cafe, Annapolis
Best Family-Friendly Restaurant
Bubba’s 33, Glen Burnie
Runner Up: Coconut Joe’s Bar & Grill, Edgewater
Best Academic/Enrichment Program
Annapolis Maritime Museum, Annapolis and Eastport
Runner Up: Music Together Chesapeake, Severna Park
Best After-School Program
The Y in Central Maryland
Runner Up: Chesapeake Arts Center, Brooklyn Park
Best School Break/Summer Program or Camp
Camp Wabanna, Edgewater
Runner Up: Eco Adventures, Millersville
Best Sports Program
Thrive Gym
Runner Up: Pasadena Soccer Club
Best Dance Program
Ballet Theatre of Maryland, Annapolis
Runner Up: Greater Annapolis Ballet, Annapolis
Best Visual Arts Program
Maryland Hall, Annapolis
Runner Up: Artsy Partsy, Pasadena
Best Performance Art Program
Music Together Chesapeake, Severna Park
Runner Up: Children’s Theatre of Annapolis
Best Preschool
The Y in Central Maryland
Runner Up: Bright Beginning Children’s Learning Center
Best Independent School
Key School, Annapolis
Runner Up: The Summit School, Edgewater
Best Public School
Waugh Chapel Elementary, Odenton
Runner Up: Broadneck (Note: Broadneck has an elementary school in Arnold and high school in Annapolis)
Best Family Event
Mission Escape Rooms, multiple locations
Runner Up: Chesapeake Arts Center, Arts in the Park
Best Farmers Market
Crofton Farmer’s Market
Runner Up: Annapolis
Best Free Family Fun
Anne Arundel County Public Library activities
Runner Up: Annapolis Town Center Summer Concerts
Best Kids’ Deals
Miss Shirley’s Cafe, Annapolis
Runner Up: Mission Escape Rooms, multiple locations
Best Indoor Activity
Mission Escape Rooms, multiple locations
Runner Up: Hyper Kidz, Gambrills
Best Indoor Attraction
Mission Escape Rooms, multiple locations
Runner Up: National Aquarium, Baltimore
Best Kid-Free Night Out
Carrol’s Creek Cafe, Annapolis
Runner Up: The Melting Pot, Annapolis
Best Performance Theater for Young Audiences
Children’s Theatre of Annapolis
Runner Up: Ballet Theatre of Maryland, Annapolis
Best Movie Theater
Cinemark Egyptian 24 and XD, Hanover
Runner Up: AMC Theatres
Best Museum
Maryland Science Center, Baltimore
Runner Up: Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C.
Best Outdoor Activity
Boy Scouts of America Scout Camps
Runner Up: Naval Academy sports
Best Outdoor Attraction
Kinder Farm Park, Millersville
Runner Up: Terrapin Adventures, Savage
Best Park/Play Area
Quiet Waters Park, Annapolis
Runner Up: Kinder Farm Park, Millersville
Best Party Destination
Mission Escape Rooms, multiple locations
Runner Up: DodgeArrows, Annapolis
Best Professional Sporting Event for Families
Bowie Baysox Baseball Club
Runner Up: Baltimore Orioles
Best Swimming Pool
The Y in Central Maryland
Runner Up: Truxton Park, Annapolis
Best Baby/Family Photography
Casey Elaine Photography, Crownsville
Runner Up: Jess Lombardi Photography, Annapolis
Best Consignment/Trade
Return to Oz, Annapolis
Runner Up: Once Upon a Child
Best Daycare
Bright Beginning Children’s Learning Center
Runner Up: Kiddie Academy of Annapolis
Best Family-Friendly Gym
YMCA
Runner Up: FIT4MOM Chesapeake, Odenton
Best Kids’ Boutique
Once Upon a Child, Glen Burnie
Runner Up: Wee-Sale (pop-up), Millersville
Best Mall to Shop With Kids
Arundel Mills
Runner Up: The Mall in Columbia
Best Party Venue
Mission Escape Rooms, multiple locations
Runner Up: DodgeArrows, Annapolis
Best Place for Kids’ Haircuts
Asili Hair Care Center, Linthicum
Runner Up: Pigtails & Crewcuts, Annapolis
Best Toy Store
Franklin’s Toys
Runner Up: Target
Best Dentist
Naptown Smiles, Annapolis
Runner Up: Dr. Eric Baker, DDS, Dentistry for Children, Gambrills
Best ER for Kids
Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center Pediatric ER, Annapolis
Runner Up: PM Pediatric Care, Annapolis
Best Orthodontist
Labbe Family Orthodontics
Runner Up: Family Orthodontics of Annapolis
Best Pediatric Hospital
Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, Baltimore
Runner Up: Children’s National Hospital, Washington, D.C.
Best Pediatric Mental Health Practitioners
Annapolis Pediatrics, Crofton
Runner Up: Arundel Psychological Associates
Best Pediatric Orthopedic Practice
Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, Baltimore
Runner Up: University of Maryland Children’s Hospital, Baltimore
Best Pediatrician
Dr. Maegan Chaney, Bayside Pediatrics, Annapolis
Runner Up: Kay Pessagno, Annapolis Pediatrics
Best Place to Deliver Your Baby
Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center, Annapolis
Runner Up: CalvertHealth Medical Center, Prince Frederick
Best Urgent Care
Patient First
Runner Up: PM Pediatric Care, multiple locations
