We’re excited to reveal the Monterey Bay Parent Family Favorites for 2026—your top picks for family life across Monterey County! With nearly 10,000 votes cast in 74 categories, our readers showed up in a big way to celebrate the local businesses, organizations, and places that help our families thrive.
Congratulations to this year’s winners and finalists, and thank you to everyone who voted and supported the people and programs that make the Monterey Bay such a wonderful place to raise kids.
For a directory with more information on many of our winners and finalists.
CAMPS, LESSONS & ACTIVITIES
Afterschool Program
Winner: Mathnasium of Monterey
Finalists: All Saints Day School; Monterey YMCA
Art Classes
Winner: Art Abilities
Finalists: The Hot Spot; Progress Not Perfection
Dance Studio
Winner: Salinas School of Dance
Finalists: The Dance Center; City of Monterey Recreation
Gymnastics
Winner: Rising Star Gymnastics
Finalists: Shea’s Gymnastics; Monterey Bay Gymnastics
Music Studio / Lessons
Winner: Emma Bartlett Music
Finalists: Dennis Murphy School of Music; YOSAL
Sports Lessons / League
Winner: Monterey Sports Center
Finalists: Next Level Sports; Surf Soccer
Summer Camp: Counselor in Training
Winner: Monterey Sports Center
Finalists: Hidden Hills; Clover Sports
Summer Camp: General
Winners: Hidden Hills; City of Monterey Recreation
Finalist: Monterey Sports Center
Summer Camp: For Toddlers
Winner: All Saints – Little Saints
Finalists: Rising Star Gymnastics Junior Camp; City of Monterey Recreation – Hilltop Park Center
Summer Camp: Specialty
Winner: Rising Star Gymnastics
Finalists: Hidden Hills Ranch; Monterey State Parks
Summer Camp: Sports
Winner: Monterey Sports Center
Finalists: Clover Sports; City of Marina Recreation
Summer Camp: The Arts
Winner: SODA / Pac Rep
Finalists: Emma Bartlett Music; ARIEL Theatrical
Swim Lessons
Winner: Peak Potential ISR
Finalists: Rising Tide Swim; ISR Monterey Bay
Theatre Classes
Winner: SODA / Pac Rep
Finalists: ARIEL Theatrical; YOSAL
COMMUNITY
Bank / Credit Union
Winner: Monterey Credit Union
Finalists: Chase Bank; Wells Fargo Bank
Church / Synagogue
Winner: Shoreline Church
Finalists: Wellspring Church; Compass Church
Library
Winner: Marina Branch Library
Finalists: Monterey Public Library; Pacific Grove Library
Nonprofit Serving Families
Winner: The Village Project
Finalists: All-In Monterey; Community Human Services
Parent Support / Education
Winner: Parent’s Place
Finalists: Partners for Peace; Birth Network of Monterey County
Resale Shop
Winner: Rosebuds Kids Co.
Finalists: Chatterbaux; Carmel Kids Consignment
Shopping Center
Winner: Del Monte Shopping Center
Finalists: Northridge Mall; The Barnyard
Special Needs Support
Winner: Children’s Therapy Center
Finalists: Breakthrough Behavior; Special Kids Connect
EDUCATION
Charter School
Winner: Monterey Bay Charter School
Finalists: Monterey County Home Charter School; Bay View Academy
Daycare
Winner: Moro Cojo ELC Daycare & Preschool
Finalists: Jessica’s Littles; Ryan Ranch Children’s Center
Parent / Child Activity
Winner: Monterey Zoo
Finalists: Parent’s Place; Sensory Story Time at Olivia & Daisy
Preschool
Winner: Rosebuds Preschool
Finalists: Wellspring Preschool; All Saints Day School
Private School: Lower Grades
Winners: Sacred Heart School; Santa Catalina School
Finalist: All Saints Day School
Private School: Upper Grades
Winner: Santa Catalina School
Finalists: Chartwell School; Palma School
Public School: Lower Grades
Winner: Robert Down Elementary
Finalists: Monte Vista TK-8; Lincoln Elementary
Public School: Upper Grades
Winner: Monterey High School
Finalists: Everett Alvarez High School; Pacific Grove High School
Tutoring
Winner: Mathnasium of Monterey
Finalists: RISE Literacy; Kumon Learning Center
FAMILY FUN
Indoor Activity
Winner: MY Museum
Finalists: Monterey Skates; Monterey Bay Aquarium
Low-Cost or Free Activity
Winner: Sensory Story Time at Olivia & Daisy
Finalists: The Farm Salinas; Dennis the Menace Playground
Museum
Winner: MY Museum
Finalists: Monterey Museum of Art; Pacific Grove Natural History Museum
Must-Have Family Membership
Winner: Monterey Zoo
Finalists: Monterey Bay Aquarium; MY Museum
Park
Winner: Dennis the Menace Playground
Finalists: Windy Hill Park; Tatum’s Treehouse
Place to Swim
Winner: Monterey Sports Center
Finalists: Carmel Valley Community Pool; Pattullo Swim Center
Storytime
Winner: The Farm Salinas
Finalists: Sensory Story Time at Olivia & Daisy; Earthbound Farm
Toddler Activity
Winner: MY Museum
Finalists: Daytime Playtime at Rising Star Gymnastics; The Farm
FOOD
Bakery / Desserts
Winner: Tiffany’s Specialties
Finalists: Super Secret Sweet Shop; Ad Astra Bread Co.
Breakfast / Brunch
Winner: Butter House
Finalists: First Awakenings; From Scratch
Budget-Friendly Restaurant
Winner: Noodle Bar
Finalists: Butter House; Lucy’s on Lighthouse
Burger
Winner: Whitey’s Classic Burgers
Finalists: Alvarado Street Brewery; Sur Burger
Coffee House
Winner: Captain + Stoker
Finalists: Acme Coffee Roasting; BookWorks
Date Night / Special Occasion
Winners: Old Fisherman’s Grotto; Passionfish
Finalist: Cella Restaurant
Family-Friendly Dining
Winner: Rosine’s
Finalists: Peppers Mexicali Cafe; Hula’s Island Grill
Ice Cream / Yogurt
Winner: Revival Ice Cream
Finalists: MYO; Scoops Ice Cream Parlor
Pizza
Winner: Pizza My Heart
Finalists: Gianni’s Pizza; Angelina’s Pizzeria
Sushi
Winner: Harumi
Finalists: Sapporo Sushi & Steakhouse; Zum Sushi
HEALTH & WELLNESS
Gym / Exercise Facility
Winner: Monterey Sports Center
Finalists: The Lab; Montage Wellness Center
Personal Trainer
Winner: Bovine Strength Systems
Finalists: The Lab Monterey; Monterey Sports Center
Behavioral Therapist
Winner: Ohana Center
Finalists: Maegen Pierce (Breakthrough Behavior); Sofia Zapata Santos
Birth Support
Winner: Jamie Meyerhoff, CNM
Finalists: Michele Nizza (Mum’s the Word); Shauna Worthington
Chiropractor
Winner: Kristina Montellese, DC
Finalists: Brian Rector, DC; Aaron Gaily, DC
Family Dentist
Winner: Moonflower Dentistry
Finalists: J. Mark Bayless; Matthew Miller
Family Physician
Winner: Kirk Mulgrew, MD
Finalists: Gerard S. Issvoran, DO; Jill J. Airola, MD
Obstetrician
Winner: Jennifer Zeidberg, MD
Finalists: Keith Bradley, MD; Elizabeth Clark, MD
Occupational Therapist
Winner: Children’s Therapy Center
Finalists: Peninsula Pediatric Therapy; Adventure in Development
Optometrist
Winner: Blink Optometry Carmel
Finalists: Peninsula Eye Care Center; Vantage Eye Center
Orthodontist
Winner: Wow Smiles
Finalists: Cassady Orthodontics; Monterey Bay Orthodontics
Pediatric Dental Practice
Winner: Monterey Pediatric Dentistry (Dr. Miller)
Finalists: Monterey Pediatric Dentistry (J. Mark Bayless); Little Bristles
Pediatric Dentist
Winner: J. Mark Bayless, MS, DDS
Finalists: Rajneesh Dail, DDS; Matthew Miller, DDS
Pediatrician
Winner: James Bennett, MD
Finalists: Cynthia Lee, MD; Sara Liu, MD
Pediatric Medical Practice
Winner: Stanford Medicine Children’s Health
Finalists: Monterey Peninsula Pediatric Medical Group; Salinas Pediatric Medical Group
Speech Therapist
Winner: Brittany Kalinowski
Finalists: Erin Saldivar; Brenda Ongley
Urgent Care
Winner: MOGO
Finalists: Doctors on Duty; PrimeCare
PARTIES
Balloons & Yard Signs
Winner: Poptopia
Finalists: Creative Decor; Forever Sundays
Party Entertainment
Winner: Big Sur Barmaid Burros
Finalists: DJ John Upshaw; HeartBank Photobooths
Party Venue: Indoors
Winner: Oscar’s Playground
Finalists: Tutu School of Monterey; MY Museum
Party Venue: Outdoors
Winner: Monterey Zoo
Finalists: City of Monterey – Hilltop Park; Marina Equestrian Center
SERVICES
Massage Therapist / Spa
Winner: Refuge
Finalists: Spa on the Plaza; Bernardus Lodge & Spa
Family Photographer
Winner: Laura Ellis Photography
Finalists: Letty Sloma Photography; Jenn Petty Photography
Realtor
Winner: Alecia Hull
Finalists: Devon Meeker; Matt Velasquez
