Family Faves 2010

The Votes Are In!
Sacramento Parent readers share their top spots for family fun

By Shelly Bokman, Amy Crelly & Melanie Heimburg

We’ve always known that local moms and dads are a savvy bunch—you know how to bring the fun, without breaking the family budget!—and this year’s survey certainly reflects that, with all kinds of fabulous (and fabulously affordable) fun.

1. Best Place for Pampering

For stressed-out mommas, spa time isn’t just about reclaiming your pretty—it’s also about saving your sanity. So, no wonder you voted Mellow Me Out Day Spa your favorite place to, well, mellow out. With three locations, open 7 days a week—they’re in downtown Sac, on Fulton, and have an Express Spa at CSUS ($1/minute chair massage, anyone?)—they definitely get points for convenience, and they’re all about affordability. Runner-up Massage Envy has five locations in Sacramento, and 10 more in surrounding cities, including Roseville, Elk Grove, Folsom, Davis and Auburn.

2. Best Drop-In Child Care

Hourly care is another sanity saver, giving busy moms and dads some much needed kid-free time, and you can really relax, knowing these facilities are licensed and employ screened, trained teachers. Local parents have several drop-in child care programs to choose from, but you named KidsPark your favorite this year! With locations in Rocklin and Sacramento, open seven days a week (even during evening hours!) and offering fun events to keep the kids both active and entertained, KidsPark lets parents get it done (whether it's work, play or just one hour of uninterrupted bubble bath bliss), totally guilt-free!

3. Best Museum to Visit with the Kids

All aboard! With trainloads more votes than the rest, The California State Railroad Museum was the clear winner in this category. One of the most popular railroad museums in North America, it boasts over 225,000 square feet of exhibit space and 21 restored locomotives. And with its prime location, right in the heart of Old Sacramento, it's no surprise this excursion ranks high. So, grab your conductor hat—you can even take real 40-minute train rides along the levees of the Sacramento River! The museum’s annual Halloween-themed Spookomotive ride and winter's Polar Express journey offer snapshot-worthy smiles for the whole family.

4. Favorite Indoor Play Place

Bouncetown (El Dorado Hills) was #1 with local moms and dads looking to let their wild things run, jump, climb, slide, and (literally) bounce off the walls. Their Bounce Pass gives you five public play sessions for $25 (Monday-Wednesday, 10am-6pm). Wednesdays are Family Bounce Nights, 6:30-8:30pm. Families also love Wacky Tacky (in Roseville) and Bounce U (with locations in Roseville and Rancho Cordova). Those spots tied for second place in our reader survey.

5. Favorite Park on a Sunny Day
Looking for some outdoor fun? Parents picked William Land Park as their favorite place for picnics and playtime. It’s a winner, for sure—with lots of amenities, plus attractions like the Zoo, Fairytale Town and Funderland. Tying for a close second were Southside Park in Sacramento (a.k.a. “The Space Park,” it’s loved for its out-of-this-world play structures), Whitney Ranch Park in Rocklin, and Elk Grove Park.

6 More Family Faves

Best Restaurant for Picky Eaters: Red Robin came in #1 (BJ's came in 2nd).

Best Source for Fruits and Veggies: Local Farmers' Markets were readers' top choice for shopping fresh.

Best Festival for Families: You look forward to the The California State Fair each summer, and Chalk It Up! in Fremont Park at every summer's end.

Best Place to Cool Off with the Kids: Sunsplash is your favorite summertime place to make a splash!

Favorite Local Charity: WEAVE (helping end domestic violence) was first in your hearts, followed closely by Loaves & Fishes and the Sacramento Food Bank.

Local parents named John's Incredible Pizza in Roseville as their top spot to celebrate with pint-sized party animals. “Incredible” is right! Their Fun World boasts bumper cars, bowling, laser tag, glow golf, a kiddie roller coaster, and over 100 games. Party like it’s $19.99 (per guest) with their popular “Ultimate Experience” package, and you get all their standard party goodies, plus guests can help themselves to a pretty incredible buffet, 70 Fun World credits, 100 free redemption tickets, and a bumper car ride! Skipping some of the party prep and clean-up? Priceless!

7. Favorite Frozen Treat Shop

Looking for a cool treat or delicious dessert? Parents picked Big Spoon Frozen Yogurt as their go-to spot for a sweet fix. Maybe it's because their serve-yourself style means you can make a dessert that's just right. Maybe it’s their huge variety of toppings—sure to please even the most discerning fro-yo fans, or maybe it’s because they have 12 locations throughout Greater Sac—in any case, Big Spoon dishes big tastes that delight big and little spoons alike.

8. Best Bargain Hunting Grounds

Whether you consider shopping your favorite sport or you’re a budget-conscious mom just trying to keep up with growth spurts and fashion trends, you’ll want to check out Once Upon a Child. This Family Fave has four locations in the Sacramento area, all carrying fashionable brands, new and used, at affordable prices—and they’ll give you cash for those barely-worn Baby Gap finds! Just Between Friends, a children’s and maternity consignment sale event, ranked high with readers. JBF events take place several times throughout the year in various cities. Readers also like Children’s Orchard in Roseville and Doodle Bugs in Rocklin.

9. Family-Friendliest Ski Resorts

Being close to the snow is a big plus for local families. Bundling up the kiddos and heading for the hills is a favorite winter pastime, but where to go? We had a tie for first-place: Northstar-at-Tahoe and Boreal are the two most family-friendly destinations for our readers, with Sierra-at-Tahoe coming in third. Both offer a wide range of family activities, from ice-skating at Northstar-at-Tahoe to snow tubing at Boreal, and they offer fun for all age groups. Even teens will be impressed with their terrain parks for snowboarders. Parents appreciate hassle-free deals like interchangeable lift tickets—a must if you have little ones just learning to maneuver the mountain.

10. Best Weekend Getaways

Location, location, location! Nestled halfway between Tahoe and San Francisco, Sacramento offers its residents great ways to play, both near and not-so-far away. Local families love trips to Tahoe the most—and what's not to love? Enjoy the sunny, slightly cooler beach, lake, and forest in the summertime, and snow-covered mountains in the colder months. San Francisco, with its piers, museums (Exploratorium, kids?), and great eateries, ranked as readers' second-favorite weekend getaway. And Santa Cruz came in a close third. (The Boardwalk, the beaches, the redwoods—oh, my!) It seems the toughest part of getting away for a weekend is just choosing where to go!

Thanks to all of you who took the survey and helped pick this year’s winners, and congratulations to Danielle in Natomas! Our randomly selected prize pack winner, she and her family scored a one-year Mother Goose Membership to Fairytale Town, lift tickets to Northstar-at-Tahoe, Parenthood (Season One) on DVD, and more! Great, big thank-you’s to all our prize providers too!