Continued from Page 8
EDUCATION Best preschool 1. Montessori Country Day 158 Bradley Branch Road, Arden, 654-9933, montessoricountryday.org.
2. Lutheran Church of the Nativity 2425 Hendersonville Road, Arden, 6840352, nativity.ws.
3. North Asheville Preschool Asbury United Methodist Church, 171 Beaverdam Road, 253-4110. Honorable mention: Academy of Asheville, Arden Presbyterian Preschool, Around the Son, Bent Creek, Brevard Davidison River Presbyterian Preschool, Casa de Bambini, First Baptist of Asheville, Waynesville First Methodist, Jewish Community Center of Asheville, Little Beaver Day Care Center, Mountain Area Child and Family Center, Pumpkin Patch Preschool, Rainbow Mountain School, Regent Park Early Childhood Development Center, Son Shine.
Best after-school program 1. YMCA 30 Woodfin St., Asheville, 210-9622; 3 Town Square Blvd., Asheville, 651-9622; 348 Grace Corpening Drive, Marion, 659-9622; ymcawnc.org.
2. YWCA 185 S. French Broad Ave., Asheville, 2547543, ywca.org/asheville.
3. (tie) Jewish Community Center 236 Charlotte St., Asheville, 253-0701, jcc-asheville.org.
Montessori Country Day 158 Bradley Branch Road, Arden, 654-9933, montessoricountryday.org. Honorable mention: Arden, Asheville Parks and Rec, Hominy Valley, Mars Hill Elementary School, Oakley Elementary, Rainbow Mountain School, Young Chefs Academy.
AROUND TOWN Best park 1. Carrier Park, Asheville 2. Fletcher Park, Fletcher 3. Royal Pines Park, Arden Honorable mention: Amboy Road, Avery’s Little Corner, Azalea Park, Beaver Lake, Flat Rock park, Jones Park, Kate’s Park, Lake Julian, Lake Louise, Leicester Community Center, Malvern Hills Park, Montford, Robert Lake Park at Montreat, Weaver Park, WNC Nature Center.
Most family-friendly place of worship 1. (tie) Biltmore Baptist 35 Clayton Road, Arden, 687-1111, biltmorebaptist.org.
Lutheran Church of the Nativity 2425 Hendersonville Road, Arden, 6840352, nativity.ws Honorable mention: Avery’s Creek United Methodist, Beth Israel synagogue, Biltmore United Methodist Church, Calvary Episcopal, Central United Methodist Church, Covenant Community Church, Ecclessia Baptist Church, First Baptist of Asheville, First Congregational UCC, Grace Community Church, Hendersonville Pentecostal Holiness, Highland Christian Church, Jubilee, Montmorenci United Methodist, Mud Creek Baptist Church, New Covenant, New Life Community Church, Oak Forest, Pole Creek, St. Barnabas Catholic Church, St. Eugene Catholic Church, St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, Stoney Fork Independent Missionary Baptist, Trinity of Fairview, Unitarian Universalist Church of Asheville, Vision Baptist Church-Mars Hill, West Asheville Baptist, Westminster Presbyterian.
Most family-friendly place to work No winner
158 Bradley Branch Road, Arden, 654-9933, montessoricountryday.org.
Honorable mention: ABCCM, Allstate Insurance Merrimon, Asheville Citizen-Times, Asheville Endocrinology Biltmore Farms, Carolina Mountain Dermatology, Champion Credit Union, Chick-fil-A, Chuck E. Cheese’s, Cintom’s Frozen Custard, Fun Depot, GDS, Grove Arcade, home, Isgett Distributors Inc., Lucky Otter, Macon Bank, Madison County government, Montessori Country Day, Mountain BizWorks, Nona Mia, Pack Place, Park Ridge Hospital, Pisgah High School, State Farm, Volvo Construction Equipment, YMCA.
2. Grandparents 3. Biltmore Academy
Best place for family fun
Best child care 1. Montessori Country Day
1594 Hendersonville Road, Asheville, 2749092; 1 Pond St., Asheville, 681-0202. Honorable mention: Mountain Area Child & Family Center, Lutheran Church of the Nativity, Jewish Community Center, YMCA, Casa de Bambini, Eliada, Emmanuel Lutheran Church, First Baptist Asheville, Hilda’s House, Hominy, Little Beavers, Love and Learning, Mud Creek Christian, Pumpkin Patch Preschool, Rainbow Mountain, Regent Park.
Health Adventure, Home Depot, Lexington Avenue Arts & Fun Festival, Mountains to Sea Trail (Blue Ridge Parkway), Oteen go-karts, outdoors, Pack Place, Pisgah National Forest, swimming pool, Tourists baseball, UNC Asheville Concerts on the Quad, YMCA.
JUST FOR YOU Best place to relax without children 1. Home 2. Grove Park Inn Spa 290 Macon Ave., Asheville, 252-2711, ext. 2772, groveparkinn.com. Honorable mention: Bathtub, beach, Beaver Lake, Beef ‘O’ Brady’s, Biltmore Estate, Cinebarre, Dog Park on River Road, downtown Asheville, Ed Bourdreaux’s Bayou Bar B-Q, Epic Theater, French Broad Chocolate Lounge, Hot Springs, Jack of the Wood, Jolie Rouge, Kathleen’s Tea Room, library, Migun beds, movies, Old Europe Bistro, Pomodoro’s, Sante, Sensibilities, Shoji, Sourwood Inn, Starbucks, pool, Spa at Biltmore Village, Usual Suspects, Westville Pub.
Market Grill, Sushi Thai, Texas Roadhouse, The Bistro, The market place, Stone Ridge Tavern, Usual Suspects, Vincenzo’s.
Best weekend getaway 1. Gatlinburg, Tenn. 2. Hot Springs 3. Grove Park Inn Honorable mention: Atlanta; Banner Elk; Blue Ridge Parkway; Boone; Charleston, S.C.; Chattanooga, Tenn.; Folly Beach, S.C.; Harrah’s Cherokee Casino; Heritage Cabins, Highlands; Inn at Hot Springs; Lake Lure; Myrtle Beach, S.C.; Outer Banks; Pigeon Forge, Tenn.; send kids to grandmas and stay home; Sourwood Inn.
Best place to get back into shape 1. YMCA 30 Woodfin St., Asheville, 210-9622; 3 Town Square Blvd., Asheville, 651-9622; 348 Grace Corpening Drive, Marion, 659-9622; ymcawnc.org
2. Curves Several area locations; curves.com
Best date night restaurant 1. Zambra! 85 W. Walnut St., Asheville, 232-1060, zambratapas.com.
Honorable mention: Asheville Racquet and Fitness Club, Biltmore Fitness, Blue Ridge Parkway (on a bicycle), Bodyshop, Fitness Fundamentals, High Flight Gym, Ladies Workout Express, The Pump House, walking in Grove Park, Waynesville Recreation Center, Weight Watchers, Workout Express, YWCA.
2 Gerber Road, #101, Asheville, 274-7111, frankiebonesasheville.com.
Best mom’s club/support group
3. Carrabba’s
1. MOPS
10 Buckstone Place, Asheville, 281-2300; 332 Rockwood Road, Arden, 654-8411; carrabbas.com.
Various area groups.
2. Frankie Bones
Honorable mention: Black Forest, The Boathouse, Bonefish Grill, Café on the Square, Chef’s Table, Chili’s, Corner Kitchen, El Chapala, Fig, Flat Rock Grille, Flying Frog, Frank’s Roman Pizza, Heiwa, Hob Nob, Ichiban, Ikibana, Jeruselem Garden, La Caterina Trattoria, Laughing Seed, Limones, The Lobster Trap, Mayfel’s, Mela, Olive Garden, Ophelia’s, Outback, Papas and Beer, Peddler, Pomadoro’s, Savoy, Table, Stone
2. (tie) Asheville Mamas ashevillemamas.org and groups.yahoo.com/ashevillemamas
La Leche League of Asheville Lllofnc.org/group/asheville.shtml Honorable mention: Cafemom, Mission Hospitals Stroller Club, Rainbow Mountain Children’s School moms.
1. Fun Depot 7 Roberts Road, Asheville, 277-2386, ashevillesfundepot.com
2. WNC Nature Center 75 Gashes Creek Road, Asheville, 298-5600, wildwnc.org. Honorable mention: Asheville Pizza and Brewing Co., Asheville Botanical Gardens, Bath Junkie, Carrier Park, Biltmore Estate farm, Grandfather Mountain, Hands On! A Child’s Gallery, The
W N C PA R E N T P R E S E N T S W N C M O M . C O M , T H E P L AC E W H E R E L O C A L M O M S C O N N E C T
9