To help celebrate Chesapeake Family's 25th anniversary, we aked you — our readers — about your experiences raising kids in Maryland. You told us about your favorite places — in 25 categories — to help spread the word about all the great spots for kids and parents in the greater Annapolis, DC and Baltimoe region. From fun places for kids to play to spots for moms' nights out, from family restaurants and favorite treats to after-school activities and camps, parents weighed in on the best in Maryland.
We are lucky to live where there are so many choices for family fun. If you are looking for a new spot for a moms' night out, a birthday party location, a day trip the kids will love or a new restaurant to try and much more, check out what other parents recommend.
Thanks to everyone who voted. We loved hearing from you! With so many terrific places, programs and opportunities for kids and families, we wish we could list them all. But since we had to narrow it down, here are the top three vote-getters in each of the 25 categories. And the winners are ...
For moms and dads...
An outfit from Return to Oz.Below are the winners of the 2015 Chesapeake Family Favorites in the Date Night, Mom's Night Out, Salon for Mom, Consignment and Home and Garden categories.
Date Night
Regal Cinemas
Various locations
regmovies.com
The Point Crab House & Grill
Arnold
thepointcrabhouse.com
The Melting Pot
Annapolis, Columbia
meltingpot.com
Mom's Night Out
The Melting Pot
Annapolis, Columbia
meltingpot.com
The Greene Turtle
Various locations
thegreeneturtle.com
Houlihan's
Columbia/Elkridge, Crofton/Gambrills
houlihans.com
Salon for Mom
Image Creators
Severna Park
imagecreatorssalonandspa.com
Robert Andrew
Gambrills
robertandrew.com
Bubbles
Various locations
bubblessalons.com
Consignment
Savvy Consignment
Severna Park
savvyconsignment.com
Return to Oz
Annapolis
ozconsignments.com
Once Upon a Child
Ellicott City, Gambrills, Glen Burnie
onceuponachild.com
Home and Garden
Homestead Gardens
Davidsonville, Severna Park
homesteadgardens.com
The Home Depot
Various locations
homedepot.com
Greenstreet Gardens
Lothian
greenstreetgardens.com
Click next below for favorite places to get out and about.
Chesapeake Family Favorite places to get out and about
The Living Seashore exhibit at the National Aquarium. Below are the winners of the 2015 Chesapeake Family Favorites for fun things to do and places to go: Day Trip, Outdoor Play Place, Indoor Play Place, Museum, Theater, Picnic Spot, Playground, Party Facility and Place for Gifts categories.
Day Trip
Washington, D.C.
National Aquarium
Baltimore
aqua.org
The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore
Baltimore
marylandzoo.org
Outdoor Play Place
Kinder Farm Park
Millersville
kinderfarmpark.org
Quiet Waters Park
Annapolis
aacounty.org/recparks/parks/quietwaters
Six Flags America
Upper Marlboro
sixflags.com
Indoor Play Place
Rolly Pollies
Crofton, Severna Park
rollypolliesmaryland.com
Sky Zone Trampoline Park
Columbia
skyzone.com
Westfield Annapolis Mall
Annapolis
westfield.com/annapolis
Museum
Smithsonian Museum of Natural History
Washington, D.C.
mnh.si.edu
Maryland Science Center
Baltimore
mdsci.org
Port Discovery Children's Museum
Baltimore
portdiscovery.org
Theater
Hippodrome Theatre
Baltimore
france-merrickpac.com [don't they have another website they like to use?]
Children's Theater of Annapolis
Annapolis
childrenstheatreofannapolis.com
Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts
Annapolis
marylandhall.org
Picnic Spot
Quiet Waters Park
Annapolis
aacounty.org/recparks/parks/quietwaters/
Kinder Farm Park
Millersville
kinderfarmpark.org
Downs Park
Pasadena
aacounty.org/RecParks/parks/downs
Playground
Kinder Farm Park
Millersville
kinderfarmpark.org
Allen Pond Park
Bowie
cityofbowie.org/Facilities/Facility/Details/5
Quiet Waters Park
Annapolis
aacounty.org/recparks/parks/quietwaters
Party Facility
Rolly Pollies
Crofton, Severna Park
rollypolliesmaryland.com
Severna Park Gymnastics
Severna Park
severnaparkgymnastics.com
Sky Zone Trampoline Park
Columbia
skyzone.com
Place for Gifts
The Cottage
Severna Park
shopthecottage.com
Franklin's Toys
Annapolis, Severna Park
franklinstoystore.com
Whimsicality
Cape St. Claire/Annapolis
shopwhimsicality.com
Click next below for favorite places for enrichment.
Chesapeake Family Favorite places for enrichment
Masterpiece made at Artworks Studio.Below are the winners of the 2015 Chesapeake Family Favorites in the Arts and Drawing, Dance Lessons, Camp, Gymnastics, Martial Arts, Music Lessons and Tutoring categories
Arts and Drawing
Artworks Studio
Severna Park
artworksstudio.info
Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts
Annapolis
marylandhall.org
Severna Park Community Center
Severna Park
spcommunitycenter.org
Dance Lessons
Severna Park Community Center
Severna Park
spcommunitycenter.org
Spotlight Studio of Dance
Millersville
spotlightstudioofdance.com
Anne Arundel County Recreation and Parks
Various locations
aacounty.org/RecParks/recreation/dance.cfm
Camp
Camp Wabanna
Edgewater
campwabanna.net
EcoAdventures
Millersville
ecoadventures.org
Summer at Key
Annapolis
keyschool.org/summer
Gymnastics
Severna Park Gymnastics
Severna Park
severnaparkgymnastics.com
Rolly Pollies
Crofton, Severna Park
rollypolliesmaryland.com
1st Class Gymnastics
Annapolis
1stclassgym.com
Martial Arts
Mission Martial Arts
Arnold
missionmartialartsmd.com
Vuong's Taekwondo Center
Crofton/Gambrills
vuongs.com
Jing Ying Institute
Arnold
jingying.org
Music Lessons
Move & Groove – Music Together Chesapeake
Annapolis, Crofton, Severna Park
movengroove.net
Music & Arts
Various locations
musicarts.com
Garrett Music Academy
Owings
garrettmusicacademy.com
Tutoring
Mathnasium
Annapolis, Columbia, Ellicott City
mathnasium.com
Sylvan Learning
Annapolis, Crofton, Ellicott City
sylvanlearning.com
C2 Education
Various locations
c2educate.com
Click next below for favorite family places to eat.
Chesapeake Family Favorite family eats
Below are the winners of the 2015 Chesapeake Family Favorites for places to eat with kids: Kids Menu, Local Breakfast, Frozen Treat and Overall Dining categories.
Kids Menu
Red Robin
Various locations
redrobin.com
Friendly's
Various locations
friendlys.com
Ledo Pizza
Various locations
ledopizza.com
Local Breakfast
The Breakfast Shoppe
Severna Park
thebreakfastshoppe.com
Grump's Café
Annapolis, Crofton
grumpscafe.com
Iron Rooster
Annapolis
ironroosterallday.com
Frozen Treat
The Froyo House
Arnold, Severna Park
thefroyohouse.com
Bruster's
Annapolis, Glen Burnie, Severna Park
brusters.com
Annapolis Ice Cream
Annapolis
annapolisicecream.com
Overall Dining
Red Robin
Various locations
redrobin.com
Applebee's
Various locations
applebees.com
Boatyard Bar & Grill
Annapolis
boatyardbarandgrill.com