Editor's Note: The Family Choice Awards feature recently published in Memphis Parent's "printed" winter issue (Dec '25 - Feb '26) includes an inaccurate listing of winners in the category of Education — Best Independent/Private School, which included St. Agnes Academy and St. Dominic School - 1st, Woodland Presbyterian School - 2nd, and Christian Brothers High School - 3rd. The corrected listing includes the following: Grace-St. Luke’s Episcopal School - 1st, St. Agnes Academy-St. Dominic School - 2nd, and Woodland Presbyterian School - 3rd, which have been updated in all "digital" publishings.
Memphis Parent is a great resource for families. But you, our readers, also have insider secrets on what to do, where to go, and who to see for this and that across the Mid-South.
The results are in from the 2025 Family Choice Awards, which puts the spotlight on places that you say are the best of the best around town. We hope these listings give you some new places to try when searching for food, services, resources, or entertainment for your family — from pediatricians and schools, to great escapes both near and far.
Thank you for your votes, and congratulations to all of the winners of the Family Choice Awards. Continue exhibiting excellence!
Education
Best After School Program
Grace-St. Luke’s Episcopal School - 1st
Memphis Jewish Community Center - 2nd
St. Agnes Academy-St. Dominic School - 3rd
Best College
Rhodes College - 1st
University of Memphis - 2nd
University of Mississippi “Ole Miss” - 3rd
Best Dance Lessons
Ballet Memphis - 1st
New Ballet Ensemble - 2nd
Ginny Mount School of Dance - 3rd
Best Independent/Private School
Grace-St. Luke’s Episcopal School - 1st
St. Agnes Academy-St. Dominic School - 2nd
Woodland Presbyterian School - 3rd
Best Music Lessons
School of Rock - 1st
The Music Box - 2nd
Amro - 3rd
Best Parent Night Out Program
Memphis Jewish Community Center - 1st
Ninja 901 Adventure Course - 2nd
Best Parent Day Out Program
Christ Methodist Day School - 1st
Lindenwood Christian Church - 2nd
St. Louis Catholic Church - 3rd
Best Preschool
Little Harding (Harding Academy) - 1st
Presbyterian Day School - 2nd
Barbara K. Lipman Early Learning Center at Temple Israel - 3rd
Best Public School
White Station High - 1st
Peabody Elementary - 2nd
Grahamwood Elementary - 3rd
Best Special Needs Program
Madonna Learning Center - 1st
Jewish Community Partners - 2nd
Shine Ministry - Second Presbyterian Church - 3rd
Best Sports Lessons
Soccer Shots - 1st
Building Blocks Soccer - 2nd
Ms. Donna’s Swim School - 3rd
Best Theater Program
The Orpheum Theatre Group - 1st
Playhouse on the Square - 2nd
Theatre Memphis - 3rd
Best Tutoring Services
Inquisitive Mind Tutoring - 1st
Jamie Katz - Blooming Minds Tutoring - 2nd
Remarkable Readers - 3rd
Family Services
Best Child Care at a Fitness Center
YMCA - 1st
The Salvation Army Kroc Center - 2nd
Memphis Jewish Community Center - 3rd
Best Family Fitness Center
The Salvation Army Kroc Center - 1st
YMCA - 2nd
Germantown Athletic Club - 3rd
Best Group Fitness Program
CycleBar - 1st
ATC Fitness - 2nd
InsideOut Gym - 3rd
Best Spa for Mom (or Dad)
Gould’s Salon Spa - 1st
Feathers Spa at the Peabody - 2nd
Sundara Wellness - 3rd
Get Out There
Best Annual Event for Families
Le Bonheur Zoo Boo - Memphis Zoo - 1st
Chalkfest - Memphis Brooks Museum - 2nd
Holiday Wonders at the Garden - Memphis Botanic Garden - 3rd
Best Attraction
Memphis Zoo - 1st
The Orpheum Theatre Group - 2nd
Stax Museum of American Soul Music - 3rd
Best Family Day Trip
Tennessee Safari Park - 1st
Discovery Park of America - 2nd
Big River Crossing - 3rd
Best Field Trip for Kids
Children’s Museum of Memphis - 1st
National Civil Rights Museum - 2nd
Memphis Zoo - 3rd
Best Hiking Spot for Kids
Shelby Farms Park - 1st
Lichterman Nature Center - 2nd
Wolf River Greenway - 3rd
Best Overnight Summer Camp
Mid-South Youth Camp - 1st
Alpine Camp for Boys - 2nd
Mud Camp - St. Columba Episcopal Camp and Retreat Center - 3rd
Best Recreational Outing for Families
Amuse - The Adventure Museum - 1st
Shelby Farms Park - 2nd
Splash Park - Memphis Zoo - 3rd
Best Summer Camp
The Orpheum Theatre Group - 1st
Harding Academy - 2nd
Playhouse on the Square Summer Conservatory - 3rd
Healthcare
Best Eye Doctor
Dr. Andrew Shum - The Optical Boutique Family Eyecare - 1st
MyEyeDr. - 2nd
Dr. Joseph Fong (Hamilton Eye Institute) - 3rd
Best Hospital
Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital - 1st
Baptist Memorial Hospital - Collierville - 2nd
Methodist Germantown Hospital - 3rd
Best OB-GYN
Dr. Mary McDonald - McDonald Murrmann Center for Wellness and Health - 1st
Bluff City OBGYN Associates - 2nd
Dr. Shannon Riedley-Malone - Consolidated Medical Practices of Memphis - 3rd
Best Orthodontist
Dr. Taylor Collazo - Pediatric Dental Group and Orthodontics - 1st
Saddle Creek Orthodontics - 2nd
Dr. Susan Welch - 3rd
Best Pediatric Asthma & Allergy Specialist
Dr. Joseph S. Fahhoum - Allergy & Asthma Specialists of Memphis - 1st
Dr. Cory Bunch - Mid-South ENT - 2nd
Dr. Greg Hanissian - Hanissian Allergy - 3rd
Best Pediatric Dentist
Pediatric Dental Group and Orthodontics - 1st
Reedy Family Dentistry - 2nd
Children’s Dental Center Midtown - 3rd
Best Pediatrician
Pediatrics East - 1st
Dr. Harry Phillips - Memphis Children’s Clinic - 2nd
All Better Pediatrics - 3rd
Best Therapy Services
Campbell Clinic Orthopaedic Doctors - 1st
Kelsey Harris - HeartLife Soul Care - 2nd
Midsouth Therapy Group - 3rd
Party Services
Best Kids Party Destination
Children’s Museum of Memphis - 1st
Pump It Up - 2nd
We Rock the Spectrum - 3rd
Best Kids Party Entertainment
Main Event - 1st
Memphis Zoo - 2nd
The Orpheum Theatre Group - Illusions Series - 3rd
Best Local Bakery
Muddy’s Bake Shop - 1st
Frost Bake Shop - 2nd
Hive Bagel & Deli - 3rd
Shopping
Best Car Dealership
Wolfchase Honda - 1st
Landers Ford - 2nd
Jim Keras Subaru - 3rd
Best Jewelry Store
Mednikow Jewelers - 1st
Sissy’s Log Cabin - 2nd
King’s Furs and Fine Jewelry - 3rd
Best Local Store for Baby Gifts
Spoiled Sweet Boutique - 1st
Cotton Tails - 2nd
Itty Bitty Bella - 3rd
Best Locally Owned Children’s Store
Cotton Tails - 1st
Itty Bitty Bella - 2nd
Spoiled Sweet Boutique - 3rd
Best Music Store
Amro Music - 1st
Memphis Drum Shop - 2nd
Martin Music - 3rd
Tasty Eats
Best BBQ
Central BBQ - 1st
The Bar-B-Q Shop - 2nd
Corky’s BBQ - 3rd
Best Date Night Restaurant (w/o kids)
Amelia Gene’s - 1st
Folk’s Folly Prime Steak House - 2nd
Coastal Fish Company - 3rd
Best Menu for Kids
Huey’s Restaurant - 1st
BABALU - 2nd
Belly Acres - 3rd
Best Local Pizzeria
Memphis Pizza Cafe - 1st
Hog & Hominy - 2nd
Aldo’s Pizza Pies - 3rd
Best Meal-To-Go
Cocozza American Italian - 1st
Huey’s Restaurant - 2nd
Katie’s Kitchen - 3rd ⎢