Breathe easy, parents — June is the month you're allowed to play favorites. In fact, we encourage it!
Every year, our readers (an opinionated bunch!) tell us their picks for the spots that make Findlay such a great place to raise a family — their top places to eat, play, learn, and be cared for — in our Family Favorites awards. Their votes create an annual guide to the best of the best for the families of Northwest Ohio.
Use the 2013 results as your family resource — and feel free to let your favorites be known!
Place for winter fun
Findlay Reservoir Sledding
www.hancockparks.com
Runner up: Snow Trails Ski Resort
Rainy-day activity
Findlay-Hancock County Public Library
206 Broadway St. 419-422-1712
www.findlaylibrary.org
Runner up: Ice Skating at the Cube
Sunny-day activity
Riverbend Recreation Area
16618 Township Rd. 208 419-425-7275
www.hancockparks.com
Runner up: Emory Adams Park
Place to sneak in a history lesson
Hancock Historical Museum
422 W. Sandusky St. 419-423-4433
hancockhistoricalmuseum.org
Runner up: Litzenberg Woods
Dance class
Becky's School of Dance
14550 US 224
419-423-7423
www.beckysschoolofdance.net
Runner up: Studio 1 Dance
Martial arts program
Findlay Martial Arts Academy
1740 Lima Ave. 419-427-3988
findlayma.com
Runner up: Academy of Martial Arts
Art class
Awakening Minds Art
515 S. Main St. 419-302-3892
www.awakeningmindsart.org
Runner up: Findlay Art League
Music class
Music Together of Findlay
208 Broadway 419-421-0543
www.musictogetherfindlay.com
Runner up: Val King Piano
Teacher Extraordinair
Free activity
Mazza Museum Funday Sunday
1000 N. Main St. 419-422-8313
www.findlay.edu
Runner up: Easter Sand Sculpture
Family-friendly fair or festival
St. Michael the Archangel Parish Festival
617 W. Main Cross St. & 750 Bright Rd.
419-422-2646
www.findlaystmichael.org
Runner up: Hancock County Fair
Live theater for kids
The Arts Partnership
618 S. Main St.
419-422-3412
www.artspartnership.com
Runner up: Fort Findlay
Place to hop on a horse
Project Hope Equine Therapy
16195 W. Poe Rd., Bowling Green
419-469-0415
www.projecthope-equinetherapy.com
Runner up: Sanderson Stables
Place to volunteer
Habitat for Humanity
2042 Tiffan Ave. 419-429-1400
www.habitatfindlay.org
Runner up: Blanchard Valley Center
Park or Playground
Riverside Park
231 Mcmanness Ave. 419-424-7176
www.ci.findlay.oh.us
Runner up: Riverbend Park
Story hour location
Mazza Museum
1000 N. Main St. 419-422-8313
www.mazzacollection.org
Runner up: Findlay-Hancock County Public Library
Swim lessons
YMCA
300 E. Lincoln St. 419-422-4424
www.ymca.net
Runner up: Gold Medal Gymnastics
Place to Swim
Riverside Park
231 McManness Ave. 419-424-7176
www.ci.findlay.oh.us
Runner up: YMCA
Indoor water park
Maumee Bay State Park
www.maumeebaystateparklodge.com
Runner up: Great Wolf Water Park
Vacation that won’t empty your wallet
Cedar Point
1 Cedar Point Dr., Sandusky 419-627-2350
www.cedarpoint.com
Runner up: The Toledo Zoo
Family-friendly gym
YMCA
300 E. Lincoln St. 419-422-4424
www.ymca.net
Runner up: The Gym by Jamie
Gymnastics center
Gold Medal Gymnastics Fitness
1850 Manor Hill Rd. 419-425-4653
goldmedalgymnastics.us
Runner up: Findlay Elite Gymnastics and Cheer
Place to play rec sports
YMCA
300 E. Lincoln St. 419-422-4424
www.ymca.net
Runner up: Allen Thompson
Sports Complex
Bowling alley
Ali's Bowling Alley
132 E. Crawford St. 419-424-5750
Runner up: Seneca Lanes
Family restaurant
Tony’s Restaurant
10280 US 224
419-424-3100
www.tonysrestaurantfindlay.com
Runner up: Cheddar’s Casual Café
Healthy fast food
Chipotle
15075 US 224
419-424-0905
www.chipotle.com
Runner up: Main Street Deli
Pizza joint (non-chain)
Joey Fratello’s
116 E. Sandusky St.
419-427-5639
www.joeyfratellos.com
Runner up: Flag City Pizza
Burger place (non-chain)
Keith’s Dugout
3112 N. Main St. 419-423-7911
Runner up: Wilson’s Sandwich Shop
Ice cream shop
Mr. Twister
631 Trenton Ave. 419-427-2663
Runner up: Dietsch Brothers
Place where kids eat free
Fricker’s
1410 W. Main Cross St.
419-423-9464
www.frickers.com
Runner up: City BBQ
Kid-friendly grocery store
Great Scott Community Market
2021 Broad Ave 419-422-7853
www.communitymarkets.com
Runner up: Kroger
Natural food store
Apple a Day
600 S. Blanchard St. 419-423-3973
Runner up: Health Yourself
Entertainer
Fun-ominal Face Painting and Entertainment
419-421-0632
Facebook page: Funominal Face Painting
Runner up: Magic & Memories Magician
Birthday party venue
Stevi B’s Pizza Buffet
7535 Patriot Dr. 419-427-9999
www.stevibs.com
Runner up: Kiya Papaya Boutique
Place for goody
bag loot
Rolling Thunder Skating and
Family Fun Center
2225 Keith Parkway 419-422-7227
www.rollingthunderskatefindlay.com
Runner up: Pirate’s Cove
Place to buy cake
Buggy Whip Bakery
111 E. Crawford St. 567-301-2203
www.buggywhipcakes.com
Runner up: Phat Cakes
Kid’s clothier
Kiya Papaya Boutique
213 E. Crawford St. 419-957-1743
Runner up: Trends Too!
Kid’s shoe shop
Stride Rite
Visit website for locations
www.striderite.com
Runner up: Scoot’s
Kid’s consignment
Once Upon a Child
1825 Tiffin Ave. 419-422-0400
www.onceuponachild.com
Runner up: Your Kids Closet
Place to buy maternity clothes
Old Navy
Visit website for locations
www.oldnavy.com
Runner up: Goodwill
Place to furnish your little one’s “nest”
Once Upon a Child
1825 Tiffin Ave. 419-422-0400
www.onceuponachild.com
Runner up: Babies 'R Us
Locally-owned specialty toys/gifts
Kiya Papaya Boutique
213 E. Crawford St. 419-957-1743
Runner up: Trends on Main
Support group for moms
Parent-2-Parent
www.parent-2-parent.com
Runner up: Newcomer’s Club
Mom-friendly play date
Findlay Village Mall
1800 Tiffin Ave. 419-423-8732
www.shopfindlayvillagemall.com
Runner up: Newcomer’s Club
Place for single parents to meet
Church
Runner up: Playground
Parent blog
Moms in Heels, Lisa Harst
www.momsinheels.net
Runner up: www.patheos.com
Date-night restaurant
Rossilli’s Restaurant
217 S. Main St. 419-423-5050
www.rossillisrestaurant.com
Runner up: Logan’s Irish Pub
Place for Mom to be pampered
Journey Salon and Day Spa
127 W. Hardin St. 419-427-2420
www.journeysalonspa.com
Runner up: Designer Group
Romantic Getaway
Belamere Suites Hotel
12200 Williams Rd., Perrysburg
419-874-2233
www.belameresuites.com
Runner up: Triple T Western
Bed and Breakfast
Best Neighborhood
Lakeview
Runner up: Golden Gayle Drive
Program (activity for preschoolers)
Hancock Park District
1424 E. Main Cross St. 419-425-7275
www.hancockparks.com
Runner up: Oakwood’s Discovery Center
Summer day camp
Camp Discovery
Visit website for details,
www.campdiscovery.findlaycityschools.org
Runner up: Findlay E Free
Tutor/ learning center
Kumon of Findlay
2020 Tiffin Ave. #2
567-208-5287
www.kumon.com
Runner up: Sylvan Learning Center, Ottawa
Teacher
Cheryl Bays, 6th and
7th grade math
Van Buren Middle School
217 S. Main St., Van buren 419-299-3384
Runner up: Arlene George, Montessori Children’s Village
Family-friendly car dealership
Reineke Ford Lincoln, Inc.
12000 County Rd. 99
800-531-2613
www.reinekefamilydealerships.com
Runner up: LaRiche Toyota
Kid-friendly emergency room
Blanchard Valley Hospital
1900 S. Main St. 419-423-4500
www.bvhealthsystem.org
Runner up: Walk-In Urgent Care
Place to take Dad for Father’s Day
Bistro On Main
407 S. Main St. 419-425-4900
Runner up: Bass Pro Shop
Place to take Mom for Mother’s Day
Cedar Valley Cafe
1132 Tiffin Ave. 419-425-8866
www.cedarvalleycafe.com
Runner up: Rossilli’s Restaurant
Kid-friendly salon
Rustic Razor
227 W. Crawford St. 419-423-7177
Runner up: Generations Salon and Spa
Picnic spot
Riverside Park
231 Mcmanness Ave. 419-424-7176
www.ci.findlay.oh.us
Runner up: Litzenberg Woods
Parent-friendly work place
Blanchard Valley Health System
1900 S. Main St. 419-423-4500
www.bvhealthsystem.org
Runner up: Nissin Brake Ohio, Inc.
Bank/financial institution
First Federal Bank
Visit website for locations
www.first-fed.com
Runner up: Fifth Third Bank
Family Lawyer
Michael J. Malone
Oxley, Malone, Hollister, Warren & Spaeth
301 E. Main Cross St. 419-422-8713
www.oxleylaw.com
Runner up: Gregory Rakestraw, Rakestraw & Rakestraw LLC.
Dentist/Orthodontist
Dr. Bruce Heater
310 W. Hardin St. 419-423-1499
www.bruceheaterdds.com
Runner up: Dr. William Kibbey
Place to give birth
Blanchard Valley Hospital
1900 S. Main St. 419-423-4500
www.bvhealthsystem.org
Runner up: Mercy Tiffin Hospital
OB/GYN
Dr. Kimberlee Perkins
301 W. Wallace St. 419-424-0180
www.bvhealthsystem.org
Runner up: Dr. Carmen Faye Doty-Armstrong
Optometrist
Dr. Liane Wilt
334 S. Main St. 419-422-2015
www.eyesonmainvisioncenter.com
Runner up: Dr. Kurt Ebersole, Spectrum Eye Care
Midwife
Kathy Fries, C.N.M, Cascade Women’s Health
1641 Lake Cascades Ct. 419-425-1510
www.findlaycwh.com
Runner up: Debra Moore, C.N.M., Blanchard Valley Women’s Care
Pediatric practice
Dr. Andrew Ritz, Blanchard Valley Pediatrics
1818 Chapel Dr. 419-424-1922
www.bvpediatrics.com
Runner up: Dr. Romena Moorjani
Doctor
Dr. Ami Orr, Blanchard Valley Pediatrics
1818 Chapel Dr. 419-424-1922
www.bvpediatrics.com
Runner up: Dr. Cheryl Huffman
Chiropractor
Dr. Chris Lofquist, Trenton Chiropractic and Rehab
643 Trenton Ave. 419-427-6300
www.trentonchiropracticandrehab.com
Runner up: Dr. Chris Berry
Allergist
Dr. Ghassan Safadi
1818 Chapel Dr. 419-427-2900
www.findlayallergy.com
Runner up: Dr. Gary Petro
Veterinarian
VCA Animal Medical Center
15028 E. US Route 224
419-424-9737
www.vcahospitals.com
Runner up: Blanchard Valley
Veterinary Clinic
Place to nurse a baby
Home
Runner up: Findlay Village Mall
Kids photographer
Amy Cook
www.amycookphotos.com
Runner up: Goodrich Photography
Special needs services
Blanchard Valley Center
1700 E. Sandusky St. 419-425-6387
www.blanchardvalley.org
Runner up: Special Kids Therapy
Place to worship
St. Wendelin Catholic Parish
323 N. Wood St., Fostoria 419-435-6692
www.stwendelin.org/parish
Runner up: Findlay Evangelical Free Church
Preschool
Montessori Children’s Village
220 Cherry St. 419-722-8797
Runner up: Something Special Learning Center
Daycare
Montessori Children’s Village
220 Cherry St. 419-722-8797
Runner up: Around the Clock Child Care
Family-friendly restroom
Findlay Village Mall
1800 Tiffin Ave. 419-423-8732
www.shopfindlayvillagemall.com
Runner up: Owen’s Community College