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Family Favorites 2008
Our ‘Family Favorites’ Reader Survey Awards

By Metro Parent Staff

We always knew that Portland area parents had definite opinions on a lot of topics – think cloth diapers, immunizations, circumcisions and, of course, politics. But we were overwhelmed by the sheer quantity of our readers who had opinions about their favorite places to take the family. More than 400 of you logged on to Metro-Parent.com and made yourself heard in this year’s “Family Favorites” survey. Thank you, readers, for sharing your thoughts with us – and the rest of the area’s parenting community!

The other noteworthy thing that this year’s survey revealed – or, rather, confirmed – for us is that the metropolitan area is truly a parenting paradise. With so many kid-friendly destinations and attractions, this sensational region is surely one of the top spots in the country to raise kids.

Here are this year’s winners:

The ‘Happy Highchair’ Award

The Region’s ‘Family Favorite’ Restaurant

With the closure of P.B. & Ellie’s Café earlier this year, the “Happy Highchair” award was up for grabs – and parents had a ton of local eateries to choose from that display a high tolerance for the picky taste buds, noise and general chaos that come with kids. Both this year’s winner and the runner-up have gone the extra mile to offer supervised play areas for children, allowing parents a chance for uninterrupted dining time.

The “Happy Highchair” winner is Grandma Leeth’s (10122 SW Park Way at Hwy 26 and 217; 503-291-7800; www.grandmaleeths.com). Along with healthy food choices and helpful staff, the big draw here is the supervised “Performance Area” for kids. One reader summed up her experience this way: “Adults have time to enjoy a meal (while) their children play and eat, all with the attention and interaction of trained, positive and energetic staff.” A (very) close second in the “Happy Highchair” race was newly-opened Me Too! (16755 Baseline Rd. #102, Beaverton; 503-439-6586; www.metoobeaverton.com) – and for similar reasons. “I love the fact that the kids have a safe place to play and I can have a yummy lunch and an adult conversation.” (Both restaurants charge for child supervision in the play areas.)

The other two restaurants to receive the most votes in this category were Laurelwood Public House & Brewery (Sandy Blvd., Kearney and NE 40th locations; www.laurelwoodbrewpub.com) and Laughing Planet (Belmont, Woodstock, Mississippi, NW 21st and Gabriel Park locations; www.laughingplanetcafe.com). Of Laurelwood, one reader comments: “Good kids’ menu, two play areas and games you can bring to the table make for a fun time.” And this quote from a Laughing Planet devotee was typical: “Fresh veggies, kids’ menu, even toy dinosaurs to play with – what’s not to love?”

Coffee Shop

Parenting young children requires, no, demands caffeine. Thankfully, the area has a host of great coffee shops that cater to kids. Sip & Kranz (503-336-1335; 901 NW 10th Ave.; www.sipandkranz.com) snagged first place in this year’s survey for its good java and glassed-enclosed children’s area. “We can sip in peace while watching our kids play in the cool playroom.” Urban Grind (2214 NE Oregon St.; 503-546-0649; www.urbangrindcoffee.com), with its “huge play areas” was another big hit with area parents as was Café Sip-n-Play (3000 SE 164th Ave.; www.cafesipnplay.com; 360-896-4446) and its play space. And newcomer Airplay Café (701 E Burnside St.; 503-808-7908; www.airplaycafe.com) earned praise for its kid-friendly ambience, music – and beer.

Ice Cream Parlor

Cold Stone Creamery (multiple locations; www.coldstonecreamery.com) garnered first place in the ice cream category. The vast number of options and combinations possible were cited by many parents. “My kids love to make their own. Watermelon sherbet and M&M’s anyone?” Ben & Jerry’s took second place for similar reasons. “You can’t argue with Chocolate Fudge Brownie Ice Cream.” (multiple locations; www.benjerry.com). Staccato Gelato tied with Ben & Jerry’s as the runner-up with parents pointing out a variety of amenities, from a Moroccan-style play area at the Westmoreland location to the fact that they recycle their gelato cups. (232 NE 28 and 1540 SE Bybee; 503-231-7100; www.staccatogelato.com)

Toy Store

Once again we had a near tie for the favorite toy store honors but, once again, Finnegan’s (922 SW Yamhill; 503-221-0306; www.finneganstoys.com) edged out Thinker Toys (7784 SW Capitol Hwy; 503-245-3936; www.thinkertoysoregon.com), but just barely! Both stores received kudos for their amazing variety, kid-friendliness and local ownership. About Finnegan’s: “Great place to just play, take relatives and find toys outside of the mainstream box stores.” Re: Thinker Toys: “Kids get hands-on play time and parents don’t get overwhelmed with commercialized toys.” Parents sang similar praises for Piccolo Mondo (4768 SW Bethany Blvd.; 503-617-0250; www.piccolomondotoys.com), which placed a strong third as well as Kids at Heart (3445 SE Hawthorne Blvd.; 503-231-2954; www.kidathearttoys.com), Green Frog (1031 NW 11th; 503-222-2646; www.greenfrogtoys.com) and SpielWerk (7956 SE 13th; 503-736-3000; www.spielwerk.net).

Book Shop

That bastion of independent booksellers – and tourist attraction in its own right – Powell’s City of Books (1005 W Burnside; 503-228-4651; www.powells.com) overwhelmingly took the top spot in this category for the second year in a row. (Maybe next year we should add a separate category called “family-favorite-bookshop-that-doesn’t-take-up-an-entire-city-block”?) More than a dozen readers mentioned the fact that Powell’s carries used books right on the shelf next to the new ones – and every family can use a bargain these days. Other amenities include the very tangible – comfortable chairs and tables – and the intangible, yet priceless, evidenced by this sentiment: “Showing a child this massive city of books seems to always make reading an adventure.”

National chain Barnes & Noble (multiple locations; www.bn.com) earned points for storytelling and other kid-friendly events. Indie bookshops A Children’s Place (4807 NE Fremont; 503-284-8294; www.achildrensplacebookstore.com) and Annie Bloom’s (7834 SW Capitol Hwy; 503-246-0053; www.annieblooms.com) drew praise for their selections, staff and family-friendliness.

Kids’ Clothing/Shoe Store

Cuteness and quality are the top criteria for area parents when searching for children’s clothing. Portland-based kids’ clothing empire Hanna Andersson (327 NW 10th; 503-321-5275; 7 Monroe Parkway, Lake Oswego; 503-697-1953; www.hannaandersson.com) barely edged out Black Wagon (3964 N Mississippi Ave.; 503-916-0004; www.blackwagon.com) for top honors in this category. Hanna Andersson was praised for its “Excellent quality, natural fiber clothing” and Black Wagon for its “fashionable kids’ clothes and sustainable/eco-friendly toys and children’s products.” Had we had a separate category for kids’ shoe store, our third-place winner, Haggis McBaggis (6802 SE Milwaukie; 503-234-0849; www.haggismcbaggis.com) would surely have taken top honors: “Clearly the best selection of kid’s shoes in PDX, and the staff are SO nice and knowledgeable.”

Children’s Hair Salon

Little Clippers (15082 SW Bangy Rd., Lake Oswego; 503-620-0240; 10822 SE 82nd Ave., Clackamas; 503-353-9999; www.littleclippers.com) was our winner in this category with parents citing multiple kid-friendly amenities. “Can’t beat the play area, cool chairs, videos, lollipops, balloons, certificate with a lock of hair for baby’s first haircut and stylists who actually know how to handle a screaming kid.” Runner-up Kids’ Castle Cuts (10120 SW Hall Blvd., Suite 104; 503-244-0360) drew similar kudos: “They have fabulous fun seats for the kids, lots of little extras (glitter hairspray, little cute bands for pig tails, etc.) great play area and fabulous couches while we sit and wait.” Pigtails & Crewcuts (2219 NW Allie Ave., Suite 1430, Hillsboro; 503-336-4778; www.pigtailsandcrewcuts.com) was also popular. “(My son) always has a great haircut and no trauma, very fun environment!”

Indoor Destination

Our survey this year took place during the summer months – but you can’t live in the metro area without knowing that indoor options are of the utmost importance most of the year. Local families adore OMSI, our family favorite in this category, rain or shine. “Worth an OMSI membership to make it through Portland’s seemingly endless rain and winter weather when you’ve got energy-filled toddlers.” (1945 SE Water Ave.; 503-797-4000; www.omsi.edu)

Portland Children’s Museum is also a favorite among area parents. “A great way to spend a few kid-focused hours.” (4015 SW Canyon Rd.; 503-223-6500; www.portlandcm.org)

Outdoor destination

There’s just something about animals and kids, isn’t there? Whatever that primal connection is, area parents are clued in because the Oregon Zoo topped the list of family-friendly outdoor destinations this year – in a region where outdoor destinations are sacred. One typical Zoo-loving parent opined, “No matter how many times you go, there are always new things to see.” (4001 SW Canyon Rd.; 503-226-1561; www.oregonzoo.org.)

The City of Portland’s parks garnered second place with many parents voting for the entire park system and others naming specific favorites, like Washington, Mt. Tabor, Overlook and Laurelhurst parks (www.portlandonline.com/parks). And Baby Boot Camp was named by a number of readers – perhaps because so many of the sessions take place in places like city parks and the Zoo (www.babybootcamp.com).

Theater

“Child care provided” seems to be a theme for our family favorites winners this year. Parents overwhelming voted Academy Theater (7818 SE Stark; 503-252-0500; www.academytheaterpdx.com) as the top place to watch a flick – but not just because babysitting is offered. Also cited were the Flying Pie pizza, cheap movies – and beer. But the childcare was a big incentive. As one parent noted, “Just having a theater that offers in-house baby sitting is a huge benefit. As a parent, it works out great not to have to worry about scheduling a sitter.”

McMenamin’s Kennedy School (5736 NE 33rd; 503-249-3983; www.mcmenamins.com) earned runner-up honors for those comfy couches, the laid-back atmosphere – and, of course, Mommy Matinees.

Vacation Destination

Oregon’s glorious coastline was overwhelmingly voted the favorite family vacation spot for the second year running. This quote captures the prevailing sentiments: “Whether you like camping in the rough, yurts, rental cabins or a full-service hotel, you can find it all at the Oregon Coast! Nature, amusement park rides, arcades, hikes, candy shops, fine dining…” There were also multiple specific mentions of Seaside, Newport, Lincoln City and Cannon Beach.

Holiday Event/Attraction

Once again ZooLights dominated this category. It’s not difficult to understand why. Readers love the dazzling displays of lights, the train rides, sipping cocoa and listening to carols. One reader summed up the experience succinctly: “Magical!” (begins Nov. 29; www.oregonzoo.org)