Best Weekend Getaway
San Diego/La Jolla
In a tie for local readers’ favorite quick getaway—La Jolla’s debut on the readers’ list was neighboring San Diego’s sixth year—visitors can kayak off La Jolla’s famous cove and sea caves, or spend the day at the San Diego Zoo and Balboa Park, or evening at a winery, on a dinner cruise, or at Del Mar Race Track.
Editors’ Choice – Best Family Vacation
Maui
Whether it’s for relaxation or adventure, a trip to this gorgeous Hawaiian island will be sure to satisfy your family to-do list. The adventures are limitless, with more than 20 hiking trails, horseback riding, humpback whale-watching, helicopter tours, ziplining and oh so much more.
visitmaui.com | Hawaii
Best Shopping Destination
South Coast Plaza
The carousel in the middle of 250 shops and 30 restaurants is a nice way to balance shop and play, but the kid-friendly options for clothing and food also make it a cinch for when you need to fit and feed different ages. It earned 33 percent of the vote, to top the readers’ list for the ninth year.
southcoastplaza.com | Santa Ana
Editors’ Choice – Best Offbeat Shopping Destination
The LAB (pictured above) and The CAMP (pictured below)
Twenty-five years after Shaheen and Linda Sadeghi launched this bohemian, counter-culture, retail experiment, the center still stands welcoming creatives of all kinds. Across the street, the Anti-Mall’s more outdoorsy counterpart, The CAMP, beckons to the nature- and fitness-loving types.
thelab.com | thecampsite.com | Costa Mesa
Best Nanny/Babysitting Service
OC Nannies and Newport Domestics
The placement service for trustworthy babysitters and nannies has, for 35 years, been delivering them to the parents who need them. The company screens and interviews candidates to ensure their suitability before placing them with families. In their sixth year topping the readers’ list, they won 46 percent of the vote.
ocnannies.com | Newport Beach
Best Family Photographer
Ana Brandt Photography
Parents like to think of their babies as a work of art, and photographer Amy Brandt’s portraiture literally makes them so. Though she’s a renowned family photographer, maternity and infant imagery is her specialty. This year, she tops the readers’ poll for the third time.
bellybabylove.com | Tustin
Best Pet Groomer
PetSmart
At locations all over the county, a team of trained groomers with special equipment gets the grooming done that you can’t. One customer said they felt comfortable dropping their dog off for grooming and some doggie daycare because they “get feedback on their day and what friend they made and played with at play time.” PetSmart topped the readers’ poll for the fifth year with 53 percent of the vote.
petsmart.com | Multiple Locations
Best Pet Vet
Banfield
The veterinary services of Banfield make their debut on the readers’ list this year. With 16 of their 22 Orange County locations inside PetSmart stores, pet parents really enjoy the convenience and accessibility. But they also get preventive care to emergency services at reasonable prices.
banfield.com | Various Locations
Editors’ Choice – Best Holistic Vet
Hemopet Holistic Care Veterinary Clinic
Founded by world-renowned holistic veterinarian and diagnostician Dr. Jean Dodds, this integrative clinic includes a team of two other holistic veterinarians as well as animal technicians. The clinic has access to an advanced diagnostics laboratory, along with unique food sensitivity and thyroid testing. Alternative treatments offered at the clinic include acupuncture, massage therapy, herbal medicine and laser technology.
hemopet.org | Garden Grove
Editors’ Choice – Best Dog Hotel
Wagly Tustin
This full-service pet campus offers daycare—including twice-daily, hour-long, in-room training sessions—group and private training classes, boarding, grooming and a state-of-the-art veterinary hospital. They also offer chauffeuring to and from appointments at the campus and for daycare and boarding pickups. The Wagly staff is trained in helping pets have a fun and fear-free experience through positive reinforcement.
wagly.com | Tustin
Editors’ Choice – Best Place for Dog Yoga
WAGS Pet Adoption
In the seven years since opening, the shelter serving Westminster and Stanton has adopted out more than 5,000 animals. Expanding its space dramatically this year, it’s now able to offer special activities with adoptable animals, including an hour of yoga with dogs—or cats—with just a $10 donation. “The dogs are let out, they run around, they play,” says CEO Michelle Russillo.
wagspetadoption.org | Westminster
Best Shopping for Deals
The Outlets at Orange
Making its debut on the readers’ poll, The Outlets at Orange garnered 65 percent of the vote. The outdoor shopping center’s 115 stores, restaurants and movie theaters offer a lot of choice for less money. From Nordstrom Rack, Neiman Marcus Last Call and Bloomingdale’s, to the Vans Skatepark, to Japanese, Italian, seafood and American food restaurants.
theoutletsatorange.com | Orange
Editors’ Choice – Best Ocean View Shopping
Outlets at San Clemente
Orange County’s first and only coastal outlet shopping destination now features nearly 60 stores and restaurants. The center features a game area, family-friendly dining and great store options for kids of all ages. Upcoming openings include the highly-anticipated Rockwell’s Café & Bakery at the end of summer and the 45,000-square-foot luxury cinema Metropolitan Theatres in late 2019.
shoposc.com | San Clemente
Best Family Dentist
Lollipop Dental
Specialized dentistry for kids and teens in a comforting environment at locations in Garden Grove and Placentia, helped push Lollipop Dental to its debut on the readers’ list this year, with philosophy that emphasizes prevention through knowledge and building good dental hygiene habits.
lollipopdental.com | Garden Grove and Placentia
Best Auto Dealer
Toyota of Orange
Buying or leasing a family-friendly car in a family-friendly environment is not too much to ask … In its debut year topping the readers’ poll, Toyota of Orange offers new and used cars and trucks to get you to and from every family destination.
toyotaoforange.com | Orange
Readers’ Choice Awards 2018 Sections
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