Parents Choice Awards

When one person gives advice, you can take it or leave it. But when hundreds of people chime in on the best places to spend your time, and your money … well, it just makes sense to perk up your ears.

So listen up — and even take notes if you need to — these are the first annual Parent’s Choice Award winners, brought to you by SBParent.com, N.E.W. (Network of Enterprising Women), and the South Coast Beacon.

Birthday and Shower Invitations

Winner: Paper Ink

3325 State St.

Santa Barbara, CA 93105

687.3580

Honorable Mention: Glenda’s Party Cove

3319 State St.

Santa Barbara, CA 93105

687.4500

Whether you’re looking to create your own invitations, or buy them off the rack, Paper Ink has everything you could possibly need to announce the festivities. And honorable mention winner Glenda’s Party Cove is just a few steps away.

Holiday Cards

Winner: Costco

7095 Market Place Drive

Goleta, CA 93117

685.4461

With bargain prices on both photo cards and traditional boxed sets, it’s no wonder that Costco’s a local favorite.

Honorable Mention: P J’s Hallmark Shop

6990 Market Place Dr.

Goleta, CA 93117

685.5588

Birthday Supplies and Favors

Glenda’s Party Cove and Pacific Company were tied for first place. Luckily for you, they’re both located in Loreto Plaza, just a few doors down from one another.

Winner: Glenda’s Party Cove

3319 State St.

Santa Barbara, CA 93105

687.4500

Winner: Pacific Company

3309 State St. #A

Santa Barbara, CA 93105

682.9552

Place to Host a Birthday

Winner: My Gym, Children’s Fitness Center

3888 State St.

Santa Barbara, CA 93105

563.7336

www.my-gym.com

With an all-inclusive package that provides everything but the cake, My Gym is a great choice for busy parents with active kids.

Honorable Mention: local parks

Visit www.santabarbaraca.gov/Parks/ for information on facilities and rental availability for Santa Barbara City Parks and www.sbparks.org/ for Santa Barbara County Parks information.

Best Birthday Cakes

Winner: Costco

7095 Market Place Drive

Goleta, CA 93117

685.4461

Honorable Mention: Anna’s Bakery

7018 Market Place Dr.

Goleta, CA 93117

968.5590

For a big party, there’s no better value in town than Parent’s Choice winning Costco cake. Honorable Mention winner Anna’s Bakery, just across the parking lot at Camino Real Marketplace) is known for its creative decorations (the big wave surfing cake is a favorite) and having a wide variety of confections.

Babysitter

Grandma and Grandpa were the winners in this category, hands-down. However, if you’re not lucky enough to have grandparents in town, some of the other sitters mentioned were: Christin Allrich, Yolanda Espinoza, Erin Feeney, Jessica Fink , Kayla Howard-Anderson, Lauren Klapp, Caitlin Leff, Sara Martinovich , Christina Palacio, Pamela Palacio, Sloan Pettersen, Stacy Radujko, Nicole Richardson, Corrigan Speicher , Christina Villalovos, Sierra Young, Kristi Ware and Beth Williams.

Preschool

Winner: Circle of Friends Children’s Center

400 Puente Drive

Santa Barbara, CA 93110

692.8516

A perennial favorite among local parents, Circle of Friends is also known for having really fun fundraisers.

Honorable Mention: The Oaks Parent-Child Workshop

Director – Marilyn Statucki

605 W. Junipero St.

Santa Barbara. CA 93105

682.7609

Elementary School

Winner: Foothill Elementary School

711 Ribera Drive

Santa Barbara, CA 93111

681.1268

www.foothill.goleta.k12.ca.us/

Honorable Mention: Hope Elementary School

3970 La Colina Road

Santa Barbara, CA 93110

563.2974

www.sbceo.org/~hope/

Pediatrician

Not unexpectedly, given their longevity in town, the Children’s Medical Clinic dominated this category, with Dr. David Abbott (father) and Dr. Steven Abbott (son) coming out in first and second places. Sometimes it pays to go into the family business.

Winner: Dr. David Abbott

Children’s Medical Clinic

15 E. Arrellaga St.

Santa Barbara, CA 93101

965.1095

Honorable Mention: Dr. Steven Abbott

Children’s Medical Clinic

15 E. Arrellaga St.

Santa Barbara, CA 93101

965.1095

Honorable Mention: Dr. Gerard Brewer

2421 Bath St., Suite B

Santa Barbara, 93105

682.7771

Pediatric Dentist

Winner: Dr. Robert Ruby & Dr. Yvonne Rochon

15 E. Arrellaga St. Suite 4

Santa Barbara, CA 93101

963.4404

Honorable Mention: Dr. Steven Mascagno

2780 State St., Suite 5

Santa Barbara, CA 93105

687.4141

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends a child’s first dental visit be by the time he is a year old. By age 3, the average child has three decayed teeth — and that is with only 50% of children seeing a dentist — so the earlier the better to prevent problems before they occur, said Dr. Marc Grossman.

Obstetrician/Gynecologist

Winner: Dr. Margaret Echt

2329 Oak Park Lane

Santa Barbara, CA 93105

682.8166

Honorable Mention: Dr. Susanne Ramos

Sansum-Santa Barbara Medical Foundation Clinic

515 W. Pueblo St.

Santa Barbara, 93105

681.8911

Honorable Mention: Dr. Ayesha Shaikh

2323 Oak Park Lane, Suite 202

Santa Barbara, 93105

687.5500

Occupational/Physical Therapist

Winner: Dr. Mark Brisby

5638 Hollister Ave., Suite 301

Goleta, CA 93117

681.7273

Family Therapist/Psychologist

Winner: Michael Madden

23 W. Mission St.

Santa Barbara, CA 93101

569.2272

Holistic Health Care

Winner: Maes Center for Natural Health Care

9 E. Mission St.

Santa Barbara, CA 93101

563.8660

www.maescenter.com

Honorable Mention: Santa Barbara Center for Natural Medicine

34 E. Sola St.

Santa Barbara, CA 93101

966.3003

www.sbcnm.com

Child Friendly Restaurants

Winner: California Pizza Kitchen

719 Paseo Nuevo (on Chapala St.)

Santa Barbara, CA 93101

962.4648

www.cpk.com

Honorable Mention: Beach Grill at Padaro

3765 Santa Claus Lane

Carpinteria, CA 93013

566.3900

Honorable Mention: Red Robin

3825 State St. (in La Cumbre Plaza)

Santa Barbara, CA 93105
687.4000

www.redrobin.com

California Pizza Kitchen has great kids meals, with sundaes as a special treat. You can’t beat the view – or the sandbox – at the Beach Grill at Padaro, and you can’t beat the bar at Red Robin.

Grocery Store

A lot of people discovered Trader Joe’s when the big chains went on strike last year, and apparently the appetite for well-priced, high-quality, health-conscious food has stuck.

Winner: Trader Joe’s

Trader Joe’s (Goleta)

5767 Calle Real

Goleta, CA 93117

692.2234

Trader Joe’s (Santa Barbara North)

3025 De La Vina

Santa Barbara, CA 93103

563.7383

Trader Joe’s (Santa Barbara South)

29 South Milpas St.

Santa Barbara, CA 93103

(805) 564-7878

www.traderjoes.com

Honorable Mention: Vons

1040 Coast Village Road (Montecito)

34 W. Victoria St. (Santa Barbara)

163 S. Turnpike Rd. (Santa Barbara)

3855 State St. (Santa Barbara)

165 N. Fairview Ave. (Goleta)

850 Linden Ave. (Carpinteria)

Grocery Delivery

A godsend for new parents who often have a hard time getting into the shower in those early weeks, let alone getting into the car, grocery delivery is fast becoming a way of life for many on the South Coast.

Winner: www.Albertsons.com

Health Food Store

Winner: Lazy Acres Market

302 Meigs Road

Santa Barbara, CA 93109

564.4410

www.lazyacres.com

Honorable Mention: Lassen’s Health Foods

5154 Hollister Ave,

Goleta, CA 93117

683.7696

Take-out Meals

Winner: Santa Barbara Chicken Ranch

Santa Barbara Chicken Ranch (Santa Barbara)

2618 De La Vina St.

Santa Barbara, CA 93105

569-1872

Santa Barbara Chicken Ranch (Goleta)

63 North Fairview Ave. (in the Fairview Shopping Center)

Goleta, CA 93117

569.1872

www.sbchickenranch.com

Honorable Mention: Fresco

3987 State St.

Santa Barbara, CA 93105

967.6037

Childbirth Classes

Winner: Cottage Health System

Both Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital (682.7111) and Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital (967.3411) childbirth classes had plenty of fans.

New Parent Classes

Winner: PEP- Baby Basics

Postpartum Education for Parents

564.3888

www.sbpep.org

Honorable Mention: Infant Times

Taught by Laura Sobell

Santa Barbara City College Adult Education

300 N. Turnpike Rd.

Santa Barbara, CA 93111

964.6853

Parent Support Groups

Winner: PEP (Postpartum Education for Parents)

564.3888

www.sbpep.org

Honorable Mention: Santa Barbara Parents of Multiples

www.santabarbaramoms.org/

Diaper Services

Winner: Enviro-Baby

2445 Murrell Rd.

Santa Barbara, CA 93109

967.5370

www.enviro-baby.com

Advertising that they’ve saved more than 574,276 diapers from Santa Barbara landfills as of Feb. 1, Enviro-Baby provides weekly pickup and delivery of cotton diapers, as well as odorless diaper pails.

Doulas and Nurses

Winner: Kitty Maxwell

682.5606

Art Supplies

Winner: Art Essentials

32 E. Victoria St.

Santa Barbara, CA 93101

965.5456

Honorable Mention: Michaels Arts and Crafts

187 North Fairview Ave.

Goleta, CA 93117

967.7119

www.michaels.com

Toys

Winner: Kernohans

Kernohans (Goleta) 5739 Calle Real

Goleta, CA 93117

964.6499

Kernohans (Santa Barbara)1324 State St. (in La Cumbre Plaza)

Santa Barbara, CA 93101

687.3777

www.kernohanstoys.com

Honorable Mention: KB Toys

136 S. Hope Ave #47 (in La Cumbre Plaza)

Santa Barbara, CA 93105

682.6026

Honorable Mention: Toyland

3821 Santa Claus Lane

Carpinteria, CA 93013

684.3515

Educational Materials

Winner: Bennett’s Educational Materials

5130 Hollister Ave.

Santa Barbara, CA 93111

964.8998

www.bennettseducational.com

Maternity Clothes

Winner: Due Maternity

1223 State St.

Santa Barbara, CA 93101

966.4400

www.duematernity.com

Honorable Mention: Motherhood Maternity

121 S. Hope Ave. (in La Cumbre Plaza)

Santa Barbara, CA 93105

682.7040

Kid’s Clothes

Winner: Gymboree Clothing

3815 State St. (in La Cumbre Plaza)

Santa Barbara, CA 93105

682.7773

www.gymboree.com

Honorable Mention: The Gap Kids

617 Paseo Nuevo

Santa Barbara, CA 93101

899.9124

Kid’s Shoes

Winner: Nordstrom

17 W. Canon Perdido St. (in Paseo Nuevo)

Santa Barbara, CA 93101

564.8770

www.nordstroms.com

Honorable Mention: Payless Shoe Stores

627 State St.

Santa Barbara, CA 93101

962.2866

197 S. Turnpike Road

Santa Barbara, CA 93111

683.1861

Used Kid’s Clothes and Toys

Winner: Polar Bear

726 Anacapa St.

Santa Barbara, CA 93101

965.6637

Honorable Mention: Replay

2945 De La Vina St.

Santa Barbara, CA 93105

569.1313

Kid’s Sports Equipment

Winner: Play it Again Sports

4850 Hollister Ave.

Santa Barbara, CA 93111

967.9889

www.playitagainsports.com

Honorable Mention: Sportmart

7035 Marketplace Dr.

Goleta, CA 93117

968.8551

Baby Furniture/Equipment

Winner: Baby Furniture & Accessories Santa Barbara

1936 De La Vina St.

Santa Barbara, CA 93101

682.7517

Honorable Mention: Chicken Little

1236 State St.

Santa Barbara, 93101

962.7771

Children’s Furniture

Winner: Hopscotch Fine Furnishings

110 South Hope Road (in La Cumbre Plaza)

Santa Barbara, CA 93105

730.1007

www.hopscotch.com

Honorable Mention: Baby Furniture & Accessories Santa Barbara

1936 De La Vina St.

Santa Barbara, CA 93101

682.7517

Bookstore for Kids

Winner: Chaucer’s Books

3321 State St.

Santa Barbara, CA 93105

682.4067

www.chaucers.booksense.com

Honorable Mention: Border’s Books, Music & Café

900 State St.

Santa Barbara, CA 93101

899.3668

7000 Marketplace Dr.

Goleta, CA 93117

968.1370

Kid’s Haircuts

Winner: Kids Cuts

4317 State St.

Santa Barbara, CA 93101

681.9596

With a child’s dream playroom full of toys and videos, there’s no need to be nervous about your baby’s first haircut. The only difficult thing about Kids Cuts is getting your kids to leave.

Honorable Mention: Tortoise and the Hare

1221 State St. #4 in Victoria Court

Santa Barbara, CA 93101

963.3393

Scrapbook Supplies

Winner: Santa Barbara Scrapbooks

918 Chapala St.

Santa Barbara, CA 93101

962.5099

www.sbscrapbooks.com

Not only does Santa Barbara Scrapbooks offer everything you need to preserve your family’s memories, it now offers free Mommy and Me memory classes as well as kid’s scrapbooking classes for a nominal fee.

Honorable Mention: Michaels Arts and Crafts

187 North Fairview Ave.

Goleta, CA 93117

967.7119

www.michaels.com

Family Photographer

Winner: Brad Elliot

565.6052

Place to get Car Seat Checked

Winner: California Highway Patrol

6465 Calle Real

Goleta, CA 93117

967.1234

Outdoor Fitness / Health Clubs

Winner: YMCA

Santa Barbara Family YMCA

36 Hitchcock Way

Santa Barbara, CA 93105

687.7727

Montecito Family YMCA

591 Santa Rosa Ln.

Santa Barbara, CA 93108

969.3288

www.ymca.com

Honorable Mention: Moms in Motion

HOME Countdown

Place to Volunteer with Kids

Winner: Unity Shoppe

1219 State St.

Santa Barbara, CA 93101

965.4122

www.unityshoppe.org

Kids Parade

Winner: Fiesta Children’s Parade

Honorable Mention: PEP Halloween Parade

Hiking Trail with Kids

Winner: Rattlesnake Canyon

To reach the trailhead for the Rattlesnake Canyon Trial, exit the 101 Freeway at Mission in Santa Barbara. Follow the signs to the Mission and from there, proceed north on Mission Canyon Road to Foothill Road and turn right. Make a quick left, once again onto Mission Canyon Road, and take it to Las Canoas Road and turn right. Take Las Canoas about 1-1/2 miles, look for a wide turnout near the second stone bridge and park your car along side the road.

Honorable Mention: Jesusita Trail

To reach the top of the trail, exit the 101 Freeway at Mission Street, head northeast to Foothill Road and turn right. Turn left on Tunnel Road and take it to the trailhead. Beyond the gate look for signage for Inspiration Point and Jesusita Trail.

Annual Family Event

Winner: Old Spanish Days Fiesta

Get ready for this year’s festivities at the annual costume sale on May 7 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Carriage Museum. For more information call Mally Sneddon at 964.7650.

Honorable Mention: Summer Solstice

Places to Take a Field Trip

Winner: Santa Barbara Zoo

500 Ninos Drive

Santa Barbara, CA 93103

962.5339 x26

www.santabarbarazoo.org

Honorable Mention: Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History

2559 Puesta del Sol Rd.

Santa Barbara, CA 93105

682.4711

www.sbnature.org

Honorable Mention: UCSB Marine Science Institute

893.3765

www.msi.ucsb.edu

Beach

Winner: Goleta Beach Park

5986 Sandspit Road

Goleta, CA 93117

967.1300

Park/Playground: TODDLER

Winner: Hidden Valley

This park, at Calle de Los Amigos and Torino Drive, is tailor-made for toddlers, with lawn, barbeque facilities and a great little playground, plus over 15 acres of creekside foliage and wildlife accessed by a walking path. The only downside: there’s no bathroom.

Honorable Mention: Willowglen Park

600 Willowglen Road

Honorable Mention: La Mesa Park

At Cliff Drive and Meigs Road

Honorable Mention: Chase Palm Park

East Cabrillo Boulevard at Garden Street

Honorable Mention: Hilda McIntyre Ray Neighborhood Park

1400 Kenwood Dr.

Honorable Mention: Goleta Beach Park

5986 Sandspit Road
Goleta, CA 93117

967.1300

Park/Playground: PRESCHOOL

Winner: Kids World

Located in downtown Santa Barbara at Garden and Micheltorena Streets, this park is a favorite for elementary school kids too, with whimsical community art contributions throughout the playground.

Honorable Mention: Chase Palm Park

This 10-acre facility on East Cabrillo Boulevard features fountains, creeks, a lagoon, carousel, snack bar and a Shipwreck Playground modeled after an ocean schooner from the turn of the century. The city-sponsored free Summer Concert series is also a favorite for families.

Camp 3-6 year olds

Winner: Zoo Camp (Santa Barbara Zoo)

500 Ninos Drive

Santa Barbara, CA 93103

962.5339 x48

www.santabarbarazoo.org

Honorable Mention: My Gym, Children’s Fitness Center

3888 State St.

Santa Barbara, CA 93105

563.7336

www.my-gym.com

Camp 6-12 year olds

Winner: Westmont Sports Camp (at Westmont College)

Westmont Summer Camps

955 La Paz Rd.

Santa Barbara, CA 93108

565.6010

www.westmont.edu/sports/summer_camps/camps.html

Honorable Mention: UCSB Camps

UCSB Department of Recreation

893.3913

www.par.ucsb.edu/youthprog/youthprog.html

Overnight Camp

Winner: YMCA Camp Arbolado

562.943.7241

www.ymcawhittier.org

Best Parent & Child Class

It was a tie between Kindermusik and My Gym, both of which offer great parent participation sessions for young children.

Winner: Kindermusik

1213 State St.

Santa Barbara, CA 93101

884.4009

www.kindermusik.com

Winner: My Gym, Children’s Fitness Center

3888 State St.

Santa Barbara, CA 93105

563.7336

www.my-gym.com

Afterschool Program

Winner: Girls Inc. of Greater Santa Barbara

531 E. Ortega St.

Santa Barbara, CA 93103

963.4017

www.girlsincsb.org

Honorable Mention: Creative Arts Inc.

681.1200

www.creativeartsinc.org

Sports Programs

Winner: AYSO Soccer

Goleta — 685.6806

Santa Barbara — 687.4134

www.soccer.org

Honorable Mention: Blaze Water Polo

Directors Beth Tompkins (637.0250) and Cathy Schreier (637.2040)

www.blazewaterpolo.com/

Tutoring Program

Winner: Dublin Learning Center

112 W. Cota St.

Santa Barbara, CA 93101

926.7122

Art Program

Arts Alive! a newcomer on the arts scene, and the Santa Barbara Museum of Art’s Ridley-Tree education program tied for the best children’s art program. Both offer a wide variety of well-loved classes for budding artists.

Winner: Arts Alive! Dance and Creativity Center

1 N. Calle Cesar Chavez

Santa Barbara, CA 93103

963.2278

www.artsalivesb.com

Winner: Ridley-Tree Education Center at McCormick House

1600 Santa Barbara St.

Santa Barbara, CA 93101

926.1661

Cooking Classes for Kids

Winner: Healthy Cooking with Kids

683.2525

www.healthycookingwithkids.com

Dance Classes

Winner: Gustafson Dance

322 State St.

Santa Barbara, CA 93101

965.6690

www.gustafsondance.com

Honorable Mention: Santa Barbara Jazz & Dance Academy

www.sbjda.com/company.html

Gymnastics Program

Winner: The Spirals Gymnastic Foundation

Robertson Gymnasium

University of California, Santa Barbara

968.2453

www.spiralsgymnastics.org

Honorable Mention: My Gym, Children’s Fitness Center

3888 State St.

Santa Barbara, CA 93105

563.7336

www.my-gym.com

Science & Marine Program

Winner: Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History

2559 Puesta del Sol Rd.

Santa Barbara, CA 93105

682.4711

www.sbnature.org

Etiquette Program

Winner: Mind Your Manners

565.4149

www.mindyourmanners.biz

Swim Lessons

Winner: Wendy Fereday Swim School

964.7818

Honorable Mention: Wilson Swimming

964.7795

Water Sports Program

Winner: Blaze Water Polo

Directors Beth Tompkins (637.0250) and Cathy Schreier (637.2040)

www.blazewaterpolo.com/

Honorable Mention: UCSB Surf & Kayak Camp

893.3913

www.par.ucsb.edu/youthprog/surfcamp.html

Tennis Programs

Winner: Cathedral Oaks Athletic Club

5800 Cathedral Oaks Rd.

Goleta, CA 93117

964.7762

www.calwestgroup.com/coac

Honorable Mention: Santa Barbara Parks & Recreation classes

www.sbparksandrecreation.com

Best Travel Agent

Winner: AAA Travel Agency

3712 State St.

Santa Barbara, CA 93105

682.5811

www.aaa-calif.com

Best Local Hotel for Families

Winner: Four Seasons Biltmore Hotel

1260 Channel Dr.

Santa Barbara, CA 93108

969.2261

www.fourseasons.com

Check out the “Kids for All Seasons Program,” a complimentary service, where you can leave your child with counselors to dine at “The Raft” (poolside cafe) and do arts and crafts, games, and swimming. Friday night date nights are also available, where parents can leave their children to watch movies.

Honorable Mention: Harbor View Inn

28 W. Cabrillo Blvd.

Santa Barbara, CA 93101

963.0780

Honorable Mention: Fess Parker’s Doubletree Resort

633 E. Cabrillo Blvd.

Santa Barbara, CA 93103

564.4333

Can’t get enough? Look for more in-depth profiles of some of the Parent’s Choice Award-winning businesses in upcoming issues of the South Coast Beacon.

Did we miss anything? If there are categories you would like to see next year, or awards that you just plain disagree with, let us know by emailing opinion@scbeacon.com.

Special thanks to the following vendors who donated prizes for our drawing: This Little Piggy Wears Cotton – My Gym – SB Axxess Book – Ty Warner Sea Center – Books – Pizza Mizza – Jelly Photography – Due Maternity – Artesia Spa – Serafina

Originally published in South Coast Beacon on April 14, 2005.

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