Every year, Little Rock Family asks our readers to nominate their favorite restaurants, schools, events, parks, service providers and more for our Family Favorites Awards.

For our 2013 awards, more than 560 local families told us where they like to eat, play, shop, learn and explore. We’ve tallied the votes and reveal the triumphant winners in our June issue.

Did your family’s favorite spot make the list? Keep reading to find out!

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• ENTERTAINMENT
• FOOD & DINING
• LEARNING / EDUCATION
• HEALTH PROVIDERS
• PARTY SUPPLIES
• SHOPPING & SERVICES

ANNUAL FESTIVAL/EVENT
GOLD WINNER: Riverfest
SILVER (tie): Little Rock Film Festival, Arkansas State Fair
BRONZE: Greek Food Festival     

DAY TRIP
GOLD WINNER: Hot Springs

Staff Recommendations: “The fact that there are getaways like Hot Springs so close to Little Rock makes central Arkansas an even better place to live than it is already. Between the lakes, hiking trails, museums, dining hot spots and more, you really can’t go wrong spending a Saturday here. For the adventurous, climb to the top of Hot Springs Mountain and the tower on foot. It’s a workout, but the view is spectacular.” — Samuel G. Smith, Assistant Editor of Consumer Special Pubs at Arkansas Business Publishing Group

SILVER: Petit Jean
BRONZE: Pinnacle Mountain

FIELD TRIP
GOLD WINNER: Little Rock Zoo
SILVER: Museum of Discovery
BRONZE: Arkansas Arts Center

INDOOR PLAYGROUND
GOLD WINNER: The Wonder Place
SILVER: Jump Zone
BRONZE (tie): Playtime Pizza, Church at Rock Creek

MUSEUM
GOLD WINNER: Museum of Discovery
SILVER: Arkansas Arts Center
BRONZE: Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art

OUTDOOR PARK/PLAYGROUND
GOLD WINNER: Burns Park

Staff Recommendations: “On weekends, my six-year-old daughter will suggest where we should go for fun. On one Saturday, she’ll want to fly a kite. Other weekends, I’ll hear mentions of hiking down a wooded path, hitting the rides at Funland, having a picnic or checking out the rocket ship slide playground. What I think she doesn’t suspect is that all these places are in one place at Burns Park. There are even horse rides and soccer games for when she’s a little older, a BMX track maybe for her little brother, and definitely two 18-hole golf courses for me. It’s safe, accessible, affordable and it makes me proud to call North Little Rock my adopted hometown.” —Tre Baker, Deputy Online Editor at Arkansas Business Publishing Group

SILVER: Pinnacle Mountain State Park
BRONZE: War Memorial Park

PLACES TO RIDE BIKES
GOLD WINNER: Big Dam Bridge

Staff Recommendations: “My daughter Sarah and I love riding to the top of the Big Dam Bridge. I like resting my bones on one of the benches at the top while we look over railing at the river. On a clear day, we can see for miles. But the most fun is riding down the incline on the bridge. It seems as though we reach speeds of 100 mph! What fun!” —Mark Friedman, Senior Editor of Arkansas Business

SILVER: Two Rivers Park
BRONZE: Arkansas River Trail

PLACE TO TAKE VISITORS
GOLD WINNER: William J. Clinton Presidential Library & Museum

Staff Recommendations: “This is one of my favorite places to go in Little Rock. I always like to check out new exhibits that come through, and the main exhibit showcasing President Bill Clinton’s tenure at the White House never gets old. I always find myself learning something new about the 42nd president. And the food at the museum’s restaurant Forty-Two isn’t bad, either!” —Lauren James, Associate Editor of InArkansas.com and Little Rock Family contributing writer

SILVER: River Market
BRONZE: Big Dam Bridge

POOL/WATER PARK
GOLD WINNER: Wild River Country
SILVER: Magic Springs Water and Theme Park

Staff Recommendations: “When my 12-year-old grandson, Colten, comes to visit me during the summer, he looks forward to going to Magic Springs. He enjoys both the rides and the water park. His favorite ride is the Boogie Blast—a surfing experience right here in Arkansas. The wonderful thing about this park is my 72-year-old Mother loves it as much as my grandson. She has a season’s pass and goes there for the concerts and is right there beside Colten for all the water and ride fun. My 6-year-old niece Alley often goes, too, and she loves the carousel.  It is truly fun for all ages and a family day well spent.” —Tona Jolly, Publisher and Production Manager of Little Rock Family

BRONZE: Splash Zone

SPORTING EVENT
GOLD WINNER: Arkansas Travelers baseball
SILVER: Razorback football

BURGER
GOLD WINNER: David’s Burgers
SILVER: Five Guys Burgers and Fries
BRONZE: Big Orange

FRIES
GOLD WINNER: McDonald’s
SILVER: David’s Burgers
BRONZE: Big Orange

DESSERT
GOLD WINNER: Trio’s
SILVER: Chili’s
BRONZE: Purple Cow

FAMILY BREAKFAST
GOLD WINNER: Dunkin’ Donuts

Staff Recommendations: “My family and I go to Dunkin’ Donuts almost every Sunday for breakfast. We love the coffee and my son loves the munchkins!” —Bethany Johnson, Marketing Coordinator at Arkansas Business Publishing Group

SILVER: IHOP
BRONZE: Cracker Barrel

FAMILY RESTAURANT
GOLD WINNER: Purple Cow
SILVER: Cracker Barrel
BRONZE: All Aboard

KIDS EAT FREE
GOLD WINNER: Shorty Small’s
SILVER (tie): Larry’s Pizza, Zaxby’s

PIZZA
GOLD WINNER: Larry’s Pizza
SILVER: U.S. Pizza
BRONZE: Shotgun Dan’s

DATE NIGHT
GOLD WINNER: Bravo! Cucina Italiana
SILVER: YaYa’s
BRONZE: Brave New Restaurant

CHILDCARE FACILITY
GOLD WINNER: Access
SILVER: Helping Hand
BRONZE: First United Methodist CDC

PRIVATE ELEMENTARY
GOLD WINNER: Pulaski Academy
SILVER: Little Rock Christian Academy

Staff Recommendations: “I’ve never met a more caring and genuine group of administrators and teachers who are personally invested in the spiritual and educational well-being of our children.”
—Heather Bennett, Editor of Little Rock Family

BRONZE: Access

PRIVATE MIDDLE
GOLD WINNER: Pulaski Academy
SILVER: Little Rock Christian Academy
BRONZE: Access

PRIVATE HIGH SCHOOL
GOLD WINNER: Pulaski Academy
SILVER: Little Rock Christian Academy
BRONZE: Catholic High School for Boys

PUBLIC ELEMENTARY
GOLD WINNER: Don R. Roberts Elementary School
SILVER: Thomas Jefferson Elementary
BRONZE: Baker Interdistrict Elementary School

PUBLIC MIDDLE
GOLD WINNER: Pulaski Heights Middle School
SILVER: Horace Mann Middle School
BRONZE: Bethel Middle School

PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL
GOLD WINNER: Little Rock Central High School
SILVER: Hall High School
BRONZE: Parkview Arts Science Magnet High School

PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT
GOLD WINNER: Little Rock
SILVER: North Little Rock
BRONZE: Bryant

ART PROGRAM
GOLD WINNER: Arkansas Arts Center
SILVER: UALR
BRONZE: THEA

MUSIC PROGRAM
GOLD WINNER: Carolyn’s Keyboard
SILVER: Arkansas Symphony Orchestra
BRONZE: UALR

DANCE/CHEER
GOLD WINNER: Cheer City United
SILVER: The Little Gym
BRONZE: Tommie’s Dance Academy

DAY CAMP
GOLD WINNER: Lake Nixon
SILVER: The Little Gym
BRONZE (tie): Junior Arts Academy at Arkansas Arts Center, Summer Academy at Pulaski Academy

EQUESTRIAN
GOLD WINNER: Hearts and Hooves

GYMNASTICS
GOLD WINNER: River City Gymnastics of Little Rock
SILVER: The Little Gym
BRONZE: Cheer City United

MARTIAL ARTS
GOLD WINNER: Unity Martial Arts LLC
SILVER: Arkansas Taekwondo Academy
BRONZE: Westside MMA

RESIDENTIAL CAMP
GOLD WINNER: Camp Aldersgate
SILVER: Ferncliff
BRONZE: Brookhill

TUTORING SERVICES
GOLD WINNER: Huntington Learning Center
SILVER: Access School
BRONZE: Sylvan

FAMILY DENTIST
GOLD WINNER: Dr. Niki Carter
SILVER: Kitchens Pediatric
BRONZE (tie): Dr. Michael Cooper, Dr. Roy Jolley

ORTHODONTIST
GOLD WINNER: Phelan Orthodontics
SILVER: Art For The Face (Dr. John Daniel)
BRONZE: Wardlaw Orthodontics

PEDIATRIC GROUP
GOLD WINNER: All for Kids
SILVER: Little Rock Children’s Clinic
BRONZE: Little Rock Pediatric Clinic

PLACE TO GIVE BIRTH
GOLD WINNER: Baptist Health
SILVER: St. Vincent
BRONZE: UAMS

SPECIAL NEEDS SERVICE
GOLD WINNER: Helping Hand
SILVER: Access
BRONZE: Kidsource Therapy

BIRTHDAY CAKE
GOLD WINNER: Mickey’s
SILVER: Blue Cake Company
BRONZE: Community Bakery

PARTY ENTERTAINER
GOLD WINNER: The Little Gym
SILVER: Derrick Rose, Tommy Terrific
BRONZE: The Main Thing

PARTY FACILITY
GOLD WINNER: The Little Gym
SILVER: The Wonderplace
BRONZE: Jump Zone

BANK
GOLD WINNER: First Security Bank
SILVER: Arvest Bank
BRONZE: Bank of the Ozarks

BOOK STORE
GOLD WINNER: Barnes and Noble
SILVER: Wordsworth
BRONZE: Books A Million

CHILDREN’S CLOTHING
GOLD WINNER: The Toggery
SILVER: The Children’s Place
BRONZE: Gymboree

CHILDREN’S FURNITURE
GOLD WINNER: Kid’s Furniture
SILVER: Duck Duck Goose
BRONZE (tie): Dillard’s, Pickles and Ice Cream

CHILDREN’S HAIRCUTS
GOLD WINNER: Pigtails and Crewcuts
SILVER: Salon Karizma

CHILDREN’S SHOES
GOLD WINNER: Heel to Toe
SILVER: The Toggery
BRONZE: Shoe Connection

CONSIGNMENT STORE
GOLD WINNER: Duck Duck Goose
SILVER: Rhea Lana’s
BRONZE: Caroline’s

FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHER
GOLD WINNER (tie): Lizzy Yates Photography, Jennifer Mcham

FAMILY FRIENDLY EMPLOYER
GOLD WINNER: Arkansas Children’s Hospital
SILVER: Kidsource Therapy
BRONZE: Access

GARDEN CENTER
GOLD WINNER: The Good Earth

Staff Recommendations: “Shopping at Good Earth is like going on a field trip...a creative and natural experience.  Even our kids say, ‘I love that place’ when we drive by.” —Heather Bennett, Editor of Little Rock Family

SILVER: Lowe’s
BRONZE: Home Depot

SALON
GOLD WINNER: Salon Karizma
SILVER: Salon Deval
BRONZE: That French Salon

SHOPPING CENTER
GOLD WINNER: The Promenade at Chenal

Staff Recommendations: “I love spending the afternoon window shopping, enjoying an early dinner at one of the local restaurants and sticking around for a movie at the theater. Plus, they have great events for families, including a pumpkin patch in the fall, photos with Santa during the holidays and Promenade Express Train in warm weather.” —Blair Neel, Managing Editor of Little Rock Family

SILVER: Pleasant Ridge Town Center
BRONZE: McCain Mall

TOY STORE
GOLD WINNER: Toys “R” Us
SILVER: Learning Express
BRONZE (tie): Target, Duck Duck Goose

VEHICLE
GOLD WINNER: Toyota
SILVER: Honda/ Honda Pilot
BRONZE: Lexus

WOMENS’ CLOTHING
GOLD WINNER: Dillard’s
SILVER: Loft
BRONZE (tie): Belk, Dress Barn