Readers speak out in our second annual awards
by Rachel Foster and Amy Christian

What is it that choosy moms — and dads — really choose? We asked our readers and received hundreds of responses to our second annual awards contest. It took us a while to dig through the results. As with our inaugural awards, some of the results were surprising, others predictable.
But enough about that — we know you want to get right to the winners, so, without further ado, here they are.

Parents Pick for…
Best Local Attraction
Fort Discovery
1 Seventh Street
706-821-0200
nscdiscovery.org
The perfect place where kids can make like Einstein and have fun at the same time. With hands-on science demonstrations, activity day camps and the Discovery Theater, there is never a dull moment for family members of all ages. Besides, where else in Augusta can kids climb the Martian Towers and feast on freeze-dried astronaut ice cream?

Parents Pick for…
Best Live Entertainment for Kids
Best Place to Have a Party
Best Entertainment
Chuck E. Cheese’s
706-737-4557
Swallow whatever fear you may have when it comes to anthropomorphized animals that sing and dance, because for parents-in-the-know, this is a great place for kids to get their kicks and party hard. A ball pit, games and a life size band of critters are on hand to ensure that the thrills (or horrors, depending on how you look at it) keep coming.

Parents Pick for…
Best Special Event
Arts in the Heart of Augusta
Downtown Augusta
706-826-4702
It takes over downtown each September and attracts thousands. It offers food and entertainment from around the world, and arts and crafts worth spending a lot of your hard-earned money on. It also has enough children’s activities to keep the kids busy for the entire three days that the festival gates are open (well, almost) and costs practically nothing to attend, which is probably why Parent readers voted Arts in the Heart the best special event around.

Parents Pick for…
Best Place to Swim/Splash
Best Martial Arts Program (tie)
Best Local Day Camp
Best Gym/Health Club
The Family Y
Various locations around the CSRA
Thefamilyy.org
If you haven’t seen the water park at the Family Y on Wheeler Road, then take a peek over the fence one day (we’re pretty sure they won’t mind) and you’ll be amazed at the sheer size of the place, not to mention all the fun things to do there (we highly recommend the water slide). But there’s more to the Family Y, and it’s a place — judging by the categories in which it won anyway — that parents and kids love. And a word of caution: If you haven’t signed your kids up for their summer day camps, do it early. Many, especially the gymnastics camps, fill up weeks in advance.

Parents Pick for…
Best Place for Indoor Fun
Jumpin’ Party Zone USA
4495 Columbia Road, Ste. 3, Martinez
706-228-1819
jumpinpartyzoneusa.com
Don’t forget to bring your socks (and that means you too, parents) to this Columbia County party place, where both kids and parents are encouraged to play on a giant slide, a maze, a sports inflatable and the ever-present “jumpy-thing” (for lack of a better word). Not only is Jumpin’ Party Zone a great place to spend a birthday, but, with Open Jumps during the week and monthly Parents’ Nights Out, it’s a great place to go whenever the kids need to work off a little restless energy.

Parents Pick for…
Best Day Trip
Riverbanks Zoo
500 Wildlife Parkway, Columbia, S.C.
803-779-8717
riverbanks.org
Home to more than 2,000 animals, Riverbanks Zoo is what Parent readers think of first when they want to take the kids someplace special. Located a short drive away in Columbia, S.C., Riverbanks is open seven days a week, offers special presentations, is home to the 3-D Adventure Theater and offers behind-the-scenes tours, as well as special school and homeschool programs. And next time you go, don’t forget the gardens, which, word has it, are always in bloom.

Parents Pick for…
Best Family Weekend Getaway
Myrtle Beach, S.C.
The sound of little voices nagging, “Are we there yet?” is much more bearable when the drive to your family destination only takes three-and-a-half hours. If you get to kick back at a beachfront bar after the kids pass out from a day of surf and sun at said destination, then it’s even more bearable. Along with its many family-friendly hotels, amusement parks and other attractions, this is perhaps the reason why so many parents picked Myrtle Beach as a favored family getaway.

Parents Pick for…
Best Consignment Shop
Kid to Kid
4414 Evans to Locks Road, Evans
706-364-6408
evans.kidtokid.com
With merchandise literally spilling out onto the sidewalk, Kid to Kid is the place for Parent readers to go when they need gently-used equipment, toys, clothing and shoes. Kids will have a ball opening the “kids only” door, playing with the toys and watching videos in the enclosed children’s area, allowing parents to browse the store’s extensive collection. But don’t forget to bring your own items in — Kid to Kid pays cash for like-new items and gives you
20 percent more if you agree to take store credit instead of cash.

Parents Pick for…
Best Community Rummage Sale/Market
Goodwill
Various locations around the CSRA
Goodwill.org
How would you like to go to one place and buy a brand new Sunday dress for your daughter, a swank mahogany table for your den and a treadmill to burn off those holiday pounds, and only pay $60? Such a place does exist, and Parent readers are in on it. With five locations around the CSRA, the goodies at Goodwill are accessible to families everywhere.

Parents Pick for…
Best Department Store
Dillards
Dillards.com
Parents named this as their top choice for an area department store, and after a brief survey of the generous selection of fashionable clothing, footwear and home décor, it’s no wonder why. Then again, maybe part of the allure is the large Godiva chocolates stand that greets all who enter. If you need an excuse to go to the mall, this is a pretty good one.

Parents Pick for…
Best Kids Clothing Store
Gap Kids
3450 Wrightsboro Road, Augusta
706-738-7705
gap.com
Today’s kids demand more than Garanimals and the parents who responded to this question said the only place to outfit their fashionable youngsters is Gap Kids. Why? Because it’s the only place where they can find everything from uniform pieces to party dresses, PJs to accessories. Better yet, you can pretty much always find something on sale, which is sure to make everyone in the family happy.

Parents Pick for…
Best Maternity Store
Motherhood Maternity
3450 Wrightsboro Road, Augusta
706-736-3111
Motherhood at Babies R Us
4225 Washington Road, Evans
706-210-7858
motherhood.com
Who wants to spend a fortune on clothes that you’ll only wear a few months? At Motherhood Maternity, moms-to-be don’t have to. And while many might think the trade-off for being thrifty is unfashionable clothing, consider that, at Motherhood, women can get everything from career clothing to hot jeans (available in more than one style, no less), and “starter kits” containing all the basics to really basic needs (like nursing bras that are actually pretty and maternity thongs). Not too shabby.


Parents Pick for…
Best Kid’s Shoe Store
Payless Shoesource
Payless.com
Open six days a week until 9 p.m., and Sundays until 6 p.m., Payless offers inexpensive, stylish shoes for every member of the family. Whether you’re looking for patent Mary Janes or fleece-lined snow boots for the kids, odds are you’ll find the footwear you need for every member of the family here.

Parents Pick for…
Best Kids Furniture Store
Pier I Kids
263 Robert C. Daniel Jr. Pkwy., Augusta
706-729-6995
pier1kids.com
Sending your kids to their rooms may not be the punishment it once was after you outfit their digs with the great stuff found at Pier I Kids, conveniently located next to the adult version of the popular store. So after you’ve outfitted your own rooms, go a few doors down and get, perhaps, a bunk bed/homework desk combo with great bed linens to go with. Just don’t be surprised when your young one happily complies the next time they’re banished as punishment.

Parents Pick for…
Best Toy Store
Toys R Us
3424 Wrightsboro Road, Augusta
706-733-3515
toysrus.com
When you need that perfect toy, where do you go? A place that also sells housewares, groceries and cosmetics? No, you go to a toy store … the toy store. You know, the one with the big giraffe. Just don’t let you kids know that you’re headed to Toys R Us, or else a quick trip to get a videogame for your nephew will turn into a day-long trek to the promised land of toys from which you may never return. At least the kids will be happy, though.

Parents Pick for…
Best Bookstore
Barnes and Noble
Barnesandnoble.com
A massive children’s book section,
a wall of magazines and constant book
sales makes Barnes and Noble a choice destination. Not to mention the cozy café that’s perfect for meeting up with friends
or absorbing yourself in the latest bestseller. And who said that people didn’t read anymore?

Parents Pick for…
Best Arts and Crafts Store
Michaels
211 Robert C. Daniel Jr. Pkwy., Augusta
706-738-9330
michaels.com
This superstore has everything you need to satisfy your creative bug. From wreath-making, to painting and ceramics, to crocheting and jewelry, Michael’s has got it covered. What better way to keep young hands and minds busy that to give them something to make? Who knows, one day that haphazardly painted mug could become a family heirloom.

Parents Pick for…
Best School Supply Store
Wal-Mart
Various locations around the CSRA
Walmart.com
America’s favorite store is also the place CSRA families count on to outfit their kids for school at a price that won’t break their budgets. At least that’s what Parent readers say, anyway. And we can hardly blame them. With aisle after aisle of pencils, pens, erasers, paper, notebooks and even nap mats for kindergartners. Why would you go anywhere else?

Parents Pick for…
Best Car Dealership
Gerald Jones Honda
4022 Washington Road, Martinez
706-228-7000
Just beyond where Columbia and Washington roads split is, perhaps, the biggest car dealership you have ever seen. It’s Gerald Jones, and though they offer all kinds of cars — from Volvos to Audis — Parent readers say their Honda dealership is the best place in town to go and find a safe, reliable vehicle and a nice person to deal with while you’re buying it. Good deals and nice people … at a car dealership? Who would have thunk it?

Parents Pick for…
Best Cell Phone Service
Alltel
Various locations around the CSRA
Alltel.com
A variety of customizable service plans and broad coverage area in the CSRA are just some of the features that Alltel offers users, making this service provider the top pick among Metro Augusta Parent’s cellular-savvy readers.

Parents Pick for…
Best Inflatables Rental
Jumpin’ Beans
3141 Peach Orchard Road, Augusta
706-560-0594
jumpinaugusta.com
When your child finds out what Jumpin’ Beans has available for rental, he won’t be able to decide what he wants for his birthday party. Should he choose the Adrenaline Rush, a gigantic obstacle course? Or how about the Wild Rapids dual waterslide, with an exciting twist at the end? Or maybe the rock wall with bungee trampolines? Jumpin’ Beans offers great service (within a 150-mile radius, no less) that includes delivery, set-up and breakdown, so why not rent them all?

Parents Pick for…
Best Birthday Cakes
Publix
Various locations around the CSRA
Publix.com
Publix cakes come in every color, shape and flavor imaginable, and you can even order a custom photo cake! The bakery also offers ready-made cakes in six sizes to suit any party, large or small. Just keep in mind that even though these tasty cakes may not break your wallet, they can pose a threat to your waistline — that is if you’re able to grab a piece before the kids gobble it all down.

Parents Pick for…
Best Ice Cream
Brusters
1115 Agerton Lane, Augusta
706-731-9929
516 North Belair Road, Evans
706-210-5160
brusters.com
You know the ice cream is good when you see a line of people waiting outside Bruster’s in December. Maybe it’s the aroma of the waffle cones being made that drives them there (because you can smell them anywhere in the general vicinity), or maybe it’s the hot apple dumplings a la mode. It could be the discount you get on a banana split if you bring your own banana, or the fact that children and pets eat free. But if you ask us, it’s definitely the cake batter ice cream. We’d eat it even if it was 40 below.

Parents Pick for…
Best Party Supplies
Party City
249 Robert C. Daniel Jr. Pkwy., Augusta
706-738-8600
partycity.com
Whether preparing for a Hanukkah celebration or a baby shower, Party City has all the frills, trimmings, place settings and decorations you could ever want at discount prices. The spacious, easy-to-navigate store even offers a wide selection of seasonal costumes, cards and wrapping paper. When it comes to livening up a celebration, this superstore leaves no stone unturned.

Parents Pick for…
Best Preschool
First Baptist Church of Augusta
3500 Walton Way, Augusta
706-733-2236
Fbcaugusta.org
Metro Augusta Parent readers don’t easily trust their children to other people’s care, but there’s something about the reassuring face of Patti Fowler, minister of weekday education at First Baptist Church in Augusta, that lets parents know that their little one’s will be OK in her care. Patti leads a group of dedicated educators in helping preschoolers — 400 of them, as a matter of fact — take their first tentative steps toward “big school” and for her tireless work she was recently awarded a Golden Apple Award from WJBF. Your children couldn’t be in better hands.

Parents Pick for…
Best Parent/Child Program
Best Gymnastics Program
Gymnastics Gold
124 Cedar Lane, Martinez
706-650-2111
gymnasticsgold.com
Gymnastics Gold has a large, well-equipped gym and classes that get children involved in gymnastics as early as 18 months old. But more than that, they have instructors who are certified in first aid and CPR and offer personalized training in which students are monitored and advance as recommended by their instructor. It’s a perfect place for your budding Olympian.

Parents Pick for…
Best Art Program
Artrageous! At the Morris Museum of Art
1 Tenth St., Augusta
706-724-7501
themorris.org
Parent readers know that fine art isn’t just for grown-ups at the Morris Museum of Art. On the first Sunday of every month, the Morris welcomes families to come in and participate in hands-on art projects led by professional instructors and special guests. Painting, book-making, singing and dancing are just some of the many themes this program offers. Best of all, during this event, admission and participation are free.

Parents Pick for…
Best Sports Program
Columbia County Recreation Department
5445 Columbia Road, Grovetown
706-863-7523
Parent readers know that there’s always something going on at the Columbia County Recreation Department, regardless of what time of year it happens to be. So whether your child is into baseball, softball, soccer or basketball, get down to the rec department and sign them up for something.

Parents Pick for…
Best Music Program
Kindermusik of Augusta
726 Greene Street (St. John United Methodist Church), Augusta
kindermusikofaugusta.com
Open for more than 10 years, Kindermusik of Augusta introduces music to children almost from the moment they’re born. But Kindermusik is more than music — it promotes physical, emotional, intellectual development. And it promotes family activity by getting the parents involved. So forget the funny spelling and take a class. You and your child will love it.

Parents Pick for…
Best Dance Program
Cutno Dance
739 Greene Street, Augusta
706-828-3101
2636 Tobacco Road, Ste. D, Augusta
706-796-0416
cutnodance.com
Ferneasa Cutno Booker began Cutno Dance in 1996. Today, she has a brand-new studio on Greene Street, as well as one in South Augusta, and over 200 students. Cutno Dance offers dance classes — everything from ballet to modern and African — for preschool-aged children through adults. But don’t think that if you don’t start your little ones in dance class before they’re even in school that they’ve missed the boat. Cutno also offers Dance Beyond, a two-year intensive training program for students ages 10-14 who’ve had little previous dance experience.

Parents Pick for…
Best Martial Arts Program (tie)
Martial Arts America, 706-855-0516; Terry Newton’s Taekwondo Academy, 706-868-6366; Universal Kempo Karate, 706-592-4044; Greubel’s Mixed Martial Arts,
706-737-0911; and the Family Y (see entry above)
Parent readers had a difficult time with this category, and we can certainly understand why. After all, martial arts are a great way to help your kids learn respect, discipline and focus, which will naturally carry over into other areas of their lives. And since there’s no shortage of martial arts studios in the area, rest assured that, according to our readers, you can’t go wrong choosing any of the ones they picked.

Parents Pick for…
Best Tutoring/Academic Classes
Sylvan Learning Center
2908 Professional Pkwy., Augusta
706-868-1888
educate.com
Though no one can promise to make your child the next Steven Hawking, there are tutoring services that can make subjects like math, reading and science less challenging. For children who are struggling in school or simply want an academic edge, Parent readers chose Sylvan Learning Center as the best place for kids to get ahead. At Sylvan, tutors work with each child, from Pre-K to 12th grade, individually to ensure that kids get instruction that fits their specific needs. Look at it this way, the more your kids know, the less you have to brush up on your rusty algebra.

Parents Pick for…
Best Overnight Camp
The Girl Scouts of the USA and Boy Scouts of America
Girl Scouts of the USA, Central Savannah River Council
1325 Greene St., Augusta
706-774-0505
girlscoutscsra.org
Boy Scouts of America
1804 Gordon Hwy., Augusta
706-733-5277
scouting.org
“Leadership,” “responsibility” and “values” aren’t words that generally translate into “fun” in kidspeak, but the overnight camps offered by the Girl and Boy Scouts seek to change this. With activities that range from swimming to horseback riding to nature hikes, it’s no wonder that Parent readers chose the camps offered by the Girl and Boy Scouts. There are few better ways to break kids out of couch-potato mode than with a camp program that emphasizes community, education and yes — fun!

Parents Pick for…
Best Public Library for Kids
Columbia County Library
720 North Belair Road, Evans
706-863-1946
ecgrl.com
Sure it’s impressive from the outside, but wait till you get a load of all the children’s area has to offer, including puzzles and games, a puppet theatre and books — lots of books — that little ones can read in the ingeniously designed nooks. But don’t forget to visit the lake and playground on your way out. Even for those who live in Richmond County, it’s worth the drive out.

Parents Pick for…
Best Family-Friendly Breakfast
Waffle House
Various location in the CSRA
Wafflehouse.com
What’s cheap, easy and kid-friendly? The many breakfast delights at Waffle House! Fluffy omelets, Belgian waffles and hash browns are only a few of the favorites that please parents and kids alike. While kids wait on food selected from the large children’s menu, they can go to the 50s-style jukebox and pick tunes to serenade (or annoy) customers as they dine. And don’t worry if the kids are late risers, Waffle House serves breakfast all day.

Parents Pick for…
Best Family-Friendly Lunch
Best Family-Friendly Dinner
Best Kid’s Menu at a Restaurant
Applebee’s
Various locations around the CSRA
Applebees.com
With a lunch menu that offers something for everyone, it’s no surprise that Parent readers picked Applebee’s as the choice spot for family lunch outings. Meals designed by celebrity chef Tyler Florence are there to please discerning palates, Weight Watcher’s menu items are available for those watching their waistlines, while pint-sized portions of mac and cheese, chicken fingers and other kid favorites are offered to please the smallest customers, ensuring that no family member will
go hungry.

Parents Pick for…
Best Grocery Store
Kroger
Various locations around the CSRA
Kroger.com
A large health-food section, Kroger Plus Card discounts and an online ordering service for hard-to-find foods, are some of the reasons why Parent readers chose Kroger as the CSRA’s best grocery store. No to mention those Coinstar machines that exchange your loose change for bills or gift certificates — they’re pretty cool, too.

Parents Pick for…
Best Place to Give Birth
University Hospital
1350 Walton Way, Augusta
706-722-9011
universityhealth.org
At University Hospital, expectant mothers can rest easy knowing that 36 labor and delivery suites and dozens of highly-trained nurses and doctors are there to assist the birthing process every step of the way. Additionally, there are 40 beds in the special care nursery to accommodate infants born with special medical needs. Before and after giving birth, women can find numerous programs to assist them with everything from labor techniques to breast-feeding. With so many services, it’s no wonder this hospital was a Parent pick.

Parents Pick for…
Best Hospital for Pediatrics
Best Pediatric Emergency Care
Best OB/GYN Practice (tie)
Medical College of Georgia
1446 Harper St., Augusta
706-721-5437
mcghealth.org
Is anyone surprised, really, that one of the top medical schools in the country was voted best hospital for pediatrics and best pediatric emergency care by the readers of Parent magazine? We’re not. After all, the MCG Children’s Medical Center houses everything from general pediatric practices to specialists in childhood cancers to SAFE KIDS of East Central Georgia, a group dedicated to educating parents about their children’s safety. No, we’re not surprised at all.

Parents Pick for…
Best OB/GYN Practice (tie)
OGA, 706-724-2261, ogaaugusta.com; Summerville Women’s Medical Group, 706-737-3948, summervillewomen.com; and Medical College of Georgia (see above), 706-721-2273, mcghealth.org
Do you want a health care provider that can provide midwives and infertility treatments? Go to MCG. Do you want a practice with several female doctors with an office that’s right next to St. Joseph’s Hospital? Go to Summerville Women’s Medical Group. Or do you want a practice that offers OB/GYN services, but also offers things like laser hair removal and microdermabrasion? Then Obstetrics and Gynecology Associates of Augusta might be for you. Whatever you need, Augusta’s got it.

Parents Pick for…
Best Pediatrician
Dr. Jerry Miller
1245 Augusta West Pkwy.
706-868-0389
augustapediatrics.yourmd.com
Listed (in more than one year) in The Best Doctors in America: Southeastern Edition, Dr. Jerry Miller of Augusta Pediatric Association is well-known and loved in the CSRA. And why not? His faith-based pediatric practice is open seven days a week and he has a website where patients and potential patients can fill out forms and take care of other aspects of their children’s care before coming to see him. What more could you ask of the person taking care of your child?

Parents Pick for…
Best Eye Care Service (tie)
Eye Care One, 706-724-8360 (and other locations); Eyeglass World, 706-868-7000; Eye Guys, 706-651-2020; America’s Best, 706-736-7400; and Dr. John Smith, 803-279-5277
CSRA residents appear to be extremely lucky when it comes to eye care. That’s what Parent readers say, anyway. That’s why there was, incredibly, a five-way tie when it came to those local residents most trust with their eyesight. And, never fear for the little guy: North Augusta’s Dr. John Smith didn’t fare too badly against the chain places.

Parents Pick for…
Best Family Dental Care
Evans Family Dental Associates
4174 Mullikin Road
706-868-8145
Nobody likes to go to the dentist. Nobody, that is, except the patients who go to Evans Family Dental Associates. The folks at this family-oriented dental practice make a visit to the dentist less like a scene from “Little Shop of Horrors” and more like a day at Disney World. Well, almost.

Parents Pick for…
Best Orthodontist
Dr. Michael B. Rogers
706-733-1182
3545 Wheeler Road
As children grow up, sometimes their teeth can grow out, in and every which-way, so for kids that face these toothy conundrums, Parent readers voted Dr. Michael B. Rogers’ orthodontics practice to help straighten things out. With more than 30 years experience, this Georgia Dental Association president has the know-how to work with individuals of every age. For kids that fear dentists, the waiting room features an electronic game area, toys and aquariums to distract them, while the open-design patient stations beneath the ceiling skylights serve to ease dental-chair anxiety.

Parents Pick for…
Best Family Pharmacy
CVS
Various locations in the CSRA
Cvs.com
When the flu hits or medications run out, Parent readers choose CVS pharmacy as the best place to fill a prescription. CVS also offers several of its own skincare lines, a well as their Customer Care card that offers customers discounts and coupons. Plus, with more than18 locations in the CSRA, the drugstore is always just a few minutes away, perfect for a quick trip with
a colicky baby in-tow.

Parents Pick for…
Best Childcare Facility
Blue Ridge Preschool and Daycare
592 Blue Ridge Drive, Evans
706-860-7799
Picking a childcare facility can be one of the toughest things a parent has to do. The center should be bright, clean and cheerful, of course. There should be a low student-teacher ratio, it goes without saying. And teachers and administrators should, no doubt, exude kindness, patience and all the other virtues that we as parents sometimes lack. When asked, Parent readers voted overwhelmingly for Blue Ridge as the place where they found all this and more.

Parents Pick for…
Best Housecleaning Service
Merry Maids
240 Camilla Drive
706-650-2409
merrymaids.com
Who wouldn’t love to come home and find the floors vacuumed, the tables dusted and the kitchen mopped clean? Clearly, Parent readers find this appealing, so they picked Merry Maids cleaning service to get the job done. The company offers customized cleaning and pricing plans to suit almost anyone, and guarantees that if the homeowner doesn’t feel a job was done properly, the item or area will be re-cleaned at no cost.

Parents Pick for…
Best Drycleaner
Brickle’s Cleaners and Laundry
1944 Walton Way
706-736-4548
Stop! Before you accidentally toss that fancy sweater into the laundry, read the label and consider taking the time to drop it off at the cleaners. But which cleaner to pick? After all, no one wants a mangled Angora. For dry-clean only clothing that you’d like to keep intact, Parent readers chose Brickle’s to take on the task of removing silk stains and deodorizing delicates.

Parents Pick for…
Best Oil Change Service
Jiffy Lube
Various locations in the CSRA
Jiffylube.com
Based out of the oil-rich city of Houston, it’s no wonder that Jiffy Lube knows more than a thing or two about a good oil change. But Jiffy Lube’s services include much more than a standard oil change as part of its Signature Service Oil Change. With this package, they will visually inspect your car’s innards, change oil filters, vacuum the interior and top off fluids like antifreeze and transmission fluids. Jiffy Lube’s many CSRA locations and its inexpensive service make it a top choice for Parent readers.
Parents Pick for…
Best Pet Store
PetSmart
217 Robert C. Daniel Jr. Pkwy., Augusta
706-738-0414
2527 Whiskey Road, Aiken
803-643-8626
petsmart.com
Self-cleaning litter box? Check! A wash and trim for your irascible Persian? Check! Specialty food for your aging poodle? Take your pick! PetSmart’s massive selection of pet products and regular adoption drives make this an appealing place to shop for Parent-reading pet lovers. Additionally, it offers a variety of services including training programs and an in-house grooming and veterinary practice.

Parents Pick for…
Best Veterinary Practice (tie)
Martinez Animal Hospital,
706-863-1223; Dr. Cliff Jeffcoat,
706-796-2210
Our pets are like our children — we only want the best when it comes to their healthcare. And, according to Parent readers, there are only two places to send those precious little bundles of fur that make our lives more fun: Martinez Animal Hospital, founded in 1976 by Dr. James Wilkes, and Dr. Cliff Jeffcoat’s practice on Peach Orchard Road. So no matter what side of town you live on, you and your furry friends are covered.

Parents Pick for…
Best Kennel
Paradise Kennels
706-860-1977
3996 Belair Road
Leaving pets behind while going on the road for business or leisure can be stressful to both the pet and the owner. So when pets can’t come along for the ride, Parent readers pick Paradise Kennels to care for their dogs and cats while they’re away. The clean, spacious facilities minimize stress, and the optional grooming service ensures that pets are returned cleaner, fluffier and more stylish (if you opt for a Lion Cut) than when they were dropped off.

Parents Pick for…
Best Portrait Photographer
Sears
Augusta Mall, 706-731-8236
2441 Whiskey Road, Aiken, S.C.,
803-642-7455
searsportrait.com
Oh sure, they still have the traditional background available, just for those who want to torture their children 20 years down the road, but Sears Portrait Studios also have about a bazillion others, making it
a favorite of Parent readers. They also
make things remarkably easy for portrait customers, allowing them to do everything from choose props and backgrounds, print special offers and make appointments online. This definitely ain’t your parents’ Sears portrait experience!

Parents Pick for…
Best Kids Haircuts
Yams
4414 Evans to Locks Road, Evans
706-868-7662
Having trouble dragging your child in for a much-needed haircut? She may scream all the way there, but once she sets foot in Yams, your little sweet potato will quickly change her tune. From chalkboard surfaces on the walls, to beanbags in which to watch videos, to the airplanes and fire truck salon chairs, the trim will be over before she knows it and she’ll be happily sucking on a lollipop on her way out the door. What could be better?

Parents Pick for…
Best “No Kids Allowed” Place
Rhinehart’s
3051 Washington Road, Augusta
706-860-2337
305 North Belair Road, Evans,
706-868-6850
rhineharts.com
Rhinehart’s does, of course, actually allow children on their premises, but it seems that when Parent readers want a little alone-time without the little ones, they drop the munchkins off with a babysitter and head to this “beyond casual” restaurant (either location will do) for a beer (or two) and some great seafood. Sorry, kids. Maybe next time.

Parents Pick for…
Best Date Restaurant
Calvert’s
475 Highland Ave., Surrey Center
706-738-4514
calvertsrestaurant.com
Whether it’s for a birthday or anniversary celebration, Calvert’s is the perfect date restaurant, according to Parent readers. And we couldn’t agree more. Craig and Bev Calvert have created a Surrey Center tradition going back nearly 30 years and offer fine dining in a relaxed atmosphere. Don’t forget to try their Sunset Dinner for 2 for $28.95 from 5-6:30 p.m. each evening — it’ll get you home just in time to tuck the kids in for bed.

Parents Pick for…
Best Spa
Tuscany
706-210-5335
608 Ponder Place, Evans
tuscanyclassicspa.com
Imagine a place where you can be pampered with 11 different types of massage (including one designed especially for expectant moms), nine varieties of facials and a full-body immersion into a bath or fragrant herbs. Sounds pretty nice, eh? Parent readers have spoken, and according to them, Tuscany spa is the place to be pampered. If you’re looking to detox, get a pedicure or (gently) remove a few layers of aging skin, Tuscany has got you covered.

Parents Pick for…
Best Weekend Getaway
Atlanta and Charleston (tie)
What sounds better: A metropolitan city or a historic town where visitors can tour cobbled streets by carriage or stroll by the sea? With each location less than three hours away from the CSRA, both are easy to get to and offer a variety of attractions for everyone. Can’t choose? It’s OK, Parent readers couldn’t either. Don’t worry, though — there’s plenty to see and do in both cities.

Parents Pick for…
Best Moms Club/Support Group
MOPS
Trinity on the Hill, Augusta
706-738-8822
orgsites.com/ga/trinityumcmops
West Acres Baptist Church, Evans
706-860-6573
wabcmops.gmail.com
Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) is a national faith-based group for moms and children that meets twice a month at two local churches. Mothers who join MOPS look forward to fellowship with like-minded moms and planned activities at each meeting, all while their children are cared for nearby. That means everybody’s happy!

Parents Pick for…
Best Place to Lose Weight
PHC Weight Loss
Various locations around the CSRA
Phcweightloss.com
The staff at PHC Weight Loss accepts clients as young as six years old and
coordinates weight loss measures with
their clients’ primary care physicians.
They review medical histories, do lab work, and treat each client through individualized programs that include counseling, journaling, family support, meal plans and exercise. No wonder our readers voted overwhelmingly for PHC’s positive approach to weight loss.