Welcome to the 2023 Official Des Moines Family Favorite Awards!
We have all seen the fun voting that happens around our city to highlight all the amazing businesses and organizations in the Des Moines area. Now is your chance to share your family’s favorite places to shop, play, eat, and service providers in the Des Moines area.
The results are in! Over 1,300 people voted in 60 categories in our very first year.
Each organization will be mailed a Winner or Runner-Up sticker to place in their business if they wish. Keep your eyes around the city and see if you can spot the ribbon stickers! Thank you to everyone who participated. The next round of voting will take place in October 2024.
2023 Winners + Runner-Up’s
| Category | Place |
| Best Place for Indoor Play | |
| JouJou Des Moines | Winner |
| Des Moines Children’s Museum | Runner-Up |
| Best Park | |
| Raccoon River Park | Winner |
| Triumph Park | Runner-Up |
| Best Trampoline Park | |
| Get Air | Winner |
| Urban Air | Runner- Up |
| Best Nature Center | |
| Jester Park Nature Center | Winner |
| Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge | Runner-Up |
| Best Splash Pad/Wading Pool | |
| Ashby Park | Winner |
| Fox Creek | Runner-Up |
| Best Outdoor Aquatics Facility/ Water Park | |
| Clive Aquatics | Winner |
| Cascade Falls | Runner-Up |
| Best Apple Orchard | |
| Center Grove Orchard | Winner |
| Deal’s Orchard | Runner-Up |
| Best Pumpkin Patch | |
| Center Grove Orchard | Winner |
| Howell’s Greenhouse and Pumpkin Patch | Runner-Up |
| Best Museum for Families | |
| Science Center of Iowa | Winner |
| Des Moines Children’s Museum | Runner-Up |
| Best Place to Bowl | |
| Spare Time Des Moines | Winner |
| Warrior Lanes | Runner-Up |
| Best Children’s Outdoor Entertainment | |
| Blank Park Zoo | Winner |
| The Brenton Arboretum | Runner-Up |
| Best Family-Friendly Movie Theater | |
| B&B Theatres Ankeny 12 & B-Roll Bowling | Winner |
| The Palms Theatres & IMAX | Runner-Up |
| Best Indoor Play Space for Younger Kids (5 years and younger) | |
| JouJou Des Moines | Winner |
| Des Moines Children’s Museum | Runner-Up |
| Best Mini Golf Course | |
| Jester Park | Winner |
| Blank Golf Course | Runner-Up |
| Best Place to Play Arcade | |
| Spare Time Des Moines | Winner |
| Game Day | Runner-Up |
| Best Playground | |
| Triumph Park | Winner |
| Raccoon River Park | Runner-Up |
| Best Local Library | |
| West Des Moines Public Library | Winner |
| Franklin Avenue Library | Runner-Up |
| Best Place to Roller Skate | |
| Skateland | Winner |
| Skate South | Runner-Up |
| Best Children’s Party Venue | |
| JouJou Des Moines | Winner |
| Emerge Academy | Runner-Up |
| Best Christmas Tree Farm | |
| Howell’s | Winner |
| The Christmas Tree Farm, Maxwell | Runner-Up |
| Best Family-Friendly Egg Hunt | |
| Ted Lare Garden Center | Winner |
| Wauke Parks & Recreation | Runner-Up |
| Best Family Festival or Fair | |
| Iowa State Fair | Winner |
| Des Moines Arts Festival | Runner-Up |
| Best Pet-Friendly Spot | |
| Paws & Pints | Winner |
| Kinship | Runner-Up |
| Best Iowa Vacation – City | |
| Dubuque | Winner |
| Clear Lake | Runner-Up |
| Best Holiday Experience | |
| Festival of Trees and Lights | Winner |
| Christkindlmarket Des Moines | Runner-Up |
| Best Summer Camp | |
| Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa | Winner |
| Living History Farms | Runner-Up |
| Best Children’s Theatre | |
| Des Moines Playhouse | Winner |
| CAP Theatre | Runner-Up |
| Best Family-Friendly Spot to See a Live Performance | |
| Des Moines Performing Arts | Winner |
| Des Moines Playhouse | Runner-Up |
| Best Toy Store | |
| The Learning Post Toys | Winner |
| Janes Des Moines | Runner-Up |
| Best Arts & Crafts Store | |
| Hobby Lobby | Winner |
| Michaels | Runner-Up |
| Best Kids Boutique | |
| Janes Des Moines | Winner |
| Once Upon A Child | Runner-Up |
| Best Bike Shop | |
| Bike World | Winner |
| Kyle’s Bikes | Runner-Up |
| Best Shopping Mall or Center | |
| Jordan Creek Town Center | Winner |
| Merle Hay Mall | Runner-Up |
| Best Bookstore | |
| Storyhouse Bookpub | Winner |
| Beaverdale Books | Runner-Up |
| Best Kids Consignment Store or Event | |
| Duck Worth Wearing | Winner |
| Once Upon A Child | Runner-Up |
| Best Place to Purchase Children’s Furniture | |
| Homemakers | Winner |
| Suite Dreams | Runner-Up |
| Best Donut Shop | |
| Hurt’s Donuts | Winner |
| Donut Hut | Runner-Up |
| Best Pizza Place | |
| Pagliai’s Pizza | Winner |
| Leaning Tower of Pizza | Runner-Up |
| Best Family Friendly Coffee Shop | |
| Smokey Row | Winner |
| The Slow Down Coffee Co. | Runner-Up |
| Best Kid’s Eat Free Restaurant | |
| Pizza Ranch | Winner |
| Paws & Pints | Runner-Up |
| Best Family Friendly Restaurant | |
| Either/Or | Winner |
| Pizza Ranch | Runner-Up |
| Best Family Friendly Brewery | |
| Big Grove Brewery | Winner |
| Confluence Brewery | Runner-Up |
| Best Bakery | |
| La Mie | Winner |
| ChaCha’s Hiland Bakery | Runner-Up |
| Best Ice Cream Shop | |
| The Outside Scoop | Winner |
| Black Cat Ice Cream | Runner-Up |
| Best Family Chiropractor | |
| Vero Health Center | Winner |
| True Roots | Runner-Up |
| Best Pediatric Dentistry | |
| Walnut Hills Pediatric Dentistry | Winner |
| Pediatric Dentistry of Des Moines – Dr. Molly | Runner-Up |
| Best Place for Swim Lessons | |
| Goldfish Swim School | Winner |
| Foss Swim School | Runner-Up |
| Best Dance Studio | |
| Dance Vision | Winner |
| Studio Bea Dance | Runner-Up |
| Best Gymnastics Studio | |
| Emerge Academy | Winner |
| Mid Iowa Gymnastics | Runner-Up |
| Best Place to Take Karate Classes | |
| Triumph Martial Arts | Winner |
| Dojo’s – Johnston | Runner-Up |
| Best Parks & Recreation Department | |
| West Des Moines Parks & Recreation | Winner |
| Des Moines Parks & Recreation | Runner-Up |
| Best Pediatrician | |
| Dr. Dan Pelzer | Winner |
| Be Well Pediatrics | Runner-Up |
| Best Children’s/Family Eye Doctor | |
| Urbandale Eye Care – Dr. Melissa Kyler | Winner |
| Ankeny Family Vision Center | Runner-Up |
| Best Family-Friendly Photographer | |
| Wendy Sorensen Photography | Winner |
| Jamie Lynne Photography | Runner-Up |
| Best Daycare/Child Care Center | |
| New Horizon Academy | Winner |
| Generation Next | Runner-Up |
| Best Family Bank | |
| Veridian Credit Union | Winner |
| Bankers Trust | Runner-Up |
| Best Church | |
| Lutheran Church of Hope | Winner |
| Valley Church | Runner-Up |
| Best Place for a Child’s Haircut | |
| Shear Madness | Winner |
| Franklin Barbershop | Runner-Up |
| Best Labor/Delivery/Postpartum Staff | |
| Broadlawns | Winner |
| Methodist West | Runner-Up |
| Best Birth and/or Postpartum Doula | |
| Blessed Births & Beyond – Shannon Lee | Winner |
| Rural Black Doula – Jazzmine Brooks | Runner-Up |
All winners and runner-ups will receive an email and their ribbon sticker in the mail. If you have any questions please email ehuiatt@desmoinesparent.com