We all have our favorite family spots, be they favorite restaurants, parks, play places or date night activities.
But we can always use a recommendation for something new and different. We asked readers to weigh in on their favorite places to dine, shop, play and take the kids, and you delivered with some old standbys and new ideas. Family Favorites also highlights businesses that help us run the household—from consignment shops to veterinarians and hair salons. Thanks to everyone who voted and to these great businesses for doing what they do best!
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BEST DATE NIGHT
Cheesecake FactoryVin 909
Annapolis
vin909.com
Annapolis
cheesecakefactory.com
Chart House
Annapolis
chart-house.com
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MOMS NIGHT OUT
Vida Taco
Annapolis, Severna Park
vidatacobar.com
Cooper’s Hawk Winery and Restaurant
Annapolis
chwinery.com
Red Red Wine Bar
Annapolis, Ocean City
redredwinebar.com
Level
Annapolis
levelannapolis.com
The Melting Pot
Annapolis
meltingpot.com/annapolis-md
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BEST KIDS MENU
Boatyard Bar & Grill
Annapolis
boatyardbarandgrill.com
Glory Days Grill
Edgewater, Pasadena
glorydaysgrill.com
All American Steakhouse
Edgewater, Odenton
theallamericansteakhouse.com
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BEST CRAB CAKES
G&M Restaurant and Lounge
Linthicum Heights
gandmcrabcakes.com
Carrol’s Creek Café
Annapolis
carrolscreek.com
The Point Crab House and Grill
Arnold
thepointcrabhouse.com
Harris Crab House and Seafood Restaurant
Grasonville
harriscrabhouse.com
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HAPPY HOUR
Middleton Tavern
Annapolis
middletontavern.com
Yellowfin
Edgewater
yellowfinedgewater.com
Metropolitan Kitchen and Lounge
Annapolis
metropolitanannapolis.com
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FAVORITE TAKEOUT
Lemongrass
Annapolis, Arnold
lemongrassannapolis.com
Jack’s Fortune
Annapolis
jackfortune1.com
Mission BBQ
Various locations
mission-bbq.com
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BEST BREAKFAST
Iron Rooster
Annapolis, Baltimore, Cockeysville
ironroosterallday.com
Miss Shirley’s
Annapolis, Inner Harbor, Roland Park
missshirleys.com
Grump’s Café
Annapolis, Crofton
grumpscafe.com
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FAVORITE ICE CREAM
Bruster’s
Annapolis, Glen Burnie, Severna Park
brusters.com
Storm Bros. Ice Cream Factory
Annapolis
stormbros.com
Kilwins
Annapolis, Baltimore, Crofton
kilwins.com
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OVERALL DINING
Vin 909
Annapolis
vin909.com
Boatyard Bar & Grill
Annapolis
boatyardbarandgrill.com
Tsunami
Annapolis
tsunamiannapolis.com
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SALON AND SPA
Parlour Beauty Boutique
Annapolis
parlourboutique.com
John James Salon and Spa
Crofton
johnjamessalon.com
Hudson & Fouquet Salon
Annapolis, Edgewater
hudsonfouquet.com
Trends Salon
Annapolis
annapolistrends.com
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BEST PLACE TO BUY GIFTS
Whimsicality
Annapolis
shopwhimsicality.com
Franklin’s Toys
Annapolis, Severna Park
franklinstoystore.com
The Cottage
Severna Park
shopthecottage.com
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FAVORITE CONSIGNMENT STORE
Savvy Consignment
Severna Park
savvyconsignment.com
Return to Oz
Annapolis
ozconsignments.com
New to You
Annapolis
newtoyouannapolis.com
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BEST KID’S HAIRCUT PLACE
Pigtails & Crewcuts
Annapolis
pigtailsandcrewcuts.com/annapolis
Hair Cuttery
Various locations
haircuttery.com
Snip-its
Crofton
snipits.com
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FAVORITE PLACE FOR OUTDOOR PLAY
Anne Arundel County Recreation and Parks
aacounty.org/departments/recreation-parks/parks
Watkins Regional Park
Upper Marlboro
outdoors.pgparks.com/sites/Watkins_regional_park.htm
Patapsco Valley State Park
Ellicott City
dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands/Pages/central/patapsco.aspx
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FAVORITE PLACE FOR INDOOR PLAY
Mission Escape Rooms
Annapolis, Hanover, Waugh Chapel
missionescaperooms.com
Westfield Annapolis
Annapolis
westfield.com/annapolis
The Playseum
Annapolis, Bethesda
playseum.com
Totsville Indoor Playground
Glen Burnie
totsvilleplayground.com
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BEST MUSEUM
Smithsonian Museums
Washington, D.C.
si.edu
Annapolis Maritime Museum
Annapolis
amaritime.org
Maryland Science Center
Baltimore
mdsci.org
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FAVORITE THEATER
Building Better People Productions
Annapolis
bbpproductions.com
Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts
Annapolis
marylandhall.org
Children’s Theater of Annapolis
Annapolis
childrenstheatreofannapolis.org
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BEST PLAYGROUND
Watkins Regional Park
Upper Marlboro
outdoors.pgparks.com/sites/Watkins_regional_park.htm
Anne Arundel County Recreation and Parks
aacounty.org/departments/recreation-parks/parks
-Broadneck Park
-Kinder Farm
-Lake Waterford
-Quiet Waters
Centennial Park
Ellicott City
howardcountymd.gov/centennialpark
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FAVORITE PARTY PLACE
Mission Escape Rooms
Annapolis, Hanover, Waugh Chapel
missionescaperooms.com
Naptown Sings and Plays!
Annapolis
naptownsings.com
Severna Park Gymnastics/Thrive Gymnastics
Annapolis, Arnold
thrivegymnastics.com
severnaparkgymnastics.com
Main Event Entertainment
Columbia
mainevent.com
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BEST MARTIAL ARTS
Mission Martial Arts at Severna Park Gymnastics/Thrive Gymnastics
Annapolis, Arnold
missiontkd.com
First Class Martial Arts
Severna Park
firstclassmartialarts.info
Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu & Tai Chi
Arnold
jingying.org
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BEST TUTORING
Mathnasium
Annapolis, Severna Park
mathnasium.com/annapolis
The WICK School
Annapolis
thewickschool.com
Howard County Community College Learning Assistance and Tutoring
Columbia
howardcc.edu
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BEST GYMNASTICS
Severna Park Gymnastics/Thrive Gymnastics
Annapolis, Arnold
thrivegymnastics.com
severnaparkgymnastics.com
1st Class Gymnastics
Annapolis
1stclassgym.com
Docksiders Gymnastics
Millersville
docksidersgymnastics.com
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FAVORITE DRAWING/ART/PAINTING 
Abrakadoodle
Howard County
abrakadoodle.com
Artworks Studio
Annapolis
artworksstudio.info
ArtFarm Studios
Annapolis
artfarmannapolis.com
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BEST MUSIC LESSONS
Rattle & Roll
Arnold
rocktherattle.com
Naptown Sings and Plays!
Annapolis
naptownsings.com
Music Together Chesapeake
Annapolis, Crofton, Edgewater, Severna Park
musictogetherchesapeake.com
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BEST DANCE LESSONS
Davy Dance Academy
Annapolis
davydanceacademy.com
Ballet Theatre of Maryland
Annapolis
balletmaryland.org
Creative Force Dance Center
Severna Park
creativeforcedance.com
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RECOMMENDED FINANCIAL PLANNER
Nick Lamanna, Northwestern Mutual
Columbia
nicholaslamanna.nm.com
Stephen Coffey, Edward Jones
Edgewater
edwardjones.com/financial-advisor/
Gregory Ostrowski
Annapolis
scmadvice.com/partners/gregory-ostrowski/
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BEST FAMILY LAW ATTORNEY
Rice Law of Annapolis
Annapolis
staceyricelaw.com
Paul Bennett, Bennett & Ellison, P.C.
Annapolis
belawpc.com/about-us/attorney
Law Offices of Trevor Kiessling
Pasadena
trevorkiesslinglaw.com
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BEST AUTO REPAIR
Cape Auto Inc.
Annapolis
410-757-2700
Challenger Auto and Truck Service
Pasadena
challengerautotruck.com
Severna Park Automotive
Severna Park
severnaparkautomotive.com
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FAVORITE REALTOR
The Creative Agent – James Bowerman
Pasadena
creative-agent.com
Team Edwards
Annapolis
johnedwardsproperties.com
The Murray Home Team
Annapolis
themurrayhometeam.com
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BEST VETERINARIAN
Bay Ridge Animal Hospital
Annapolis
bayridgeanimalannapolis.com
Healing Paws Veterinary Wellness Center
Severna Park
healingpawsmd.com
Bay Country Veterinary Hospital
Annapolis, Crownsville
baycountryvets.com
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BEST PET BOARDING
Dogwood Acres
Davidsonville
dogwoodacres.com
All for the Pet
Severna Park
allforthepet.com
Noah’s Ark Veterinary & Boarding Resort
Millersville
noahsarkboardingresort.com
