2021 Annual Reader’s Choice Awards – Contra Costa County

The recipients of hundreds of places to explore, shop, dine and play, along with schools, preschools and enrichment programs plus health and wellness for Contra Costa County are all listed below.

CAMPS

Best Academic Summer Camp

THE WINNER

• Viva el Español

THE TOP 5

• Adventure Day Camp
• City Of El Cerrito Recreation Department
• Salesian College Preparatory
• The Saklan School
• Viva El Español

Best Animal Encounter Summer Camp

THE WINNER

• Lindsey Wildlife Experience

THE TOP 5

• East Bay Regional Parks
• Lindsey Wildlife Experience
• Oakland Zoo Camp
• Sienna Ranch
• Tony La Russa’s Animal Rescue

Best Arts and Crafts Summer Camp

THE WINNER

• City Of El Cerrito, Recreation Department

THE TOP 5

• Adventure Day Camp
• City Of El Cerrito, Recreation Department
• i heart art
• Richmond Art Center
• Steve & Kate’s Camp

Best Ballet Summer Camp

THE WINNER

• The Ballet School Performing Arts

THE TOP 5

• Cerrito Dance Arts Center
• Contra Costa Ballet Centre
• Kids N Dance N Theater Arts
• Orinda Ballet
• The Ballet School Performing Arts

Best Circus Arts Summer Camp

THE WINNER

• Camp Winnarainbow

THE TOP 5

• Camp Winnarainbow
• City Of El Cerrito Recreation Department,
• Clownsnotbombs Circus Camp
• Kids N Dance N Theater Arts
• Kinetic Arts Center

Best Culinary Summer Camp

THE WINNER

• City Of El Cerrito Recreation Department

THE TOP 3

• City Of El Cerrito Recreation Department
• Cooking Round The World
• Salesian College Preparatory

Best Dance Summer Camp

THE WINNER

• City Of El Cerrito Recreation Department Dance And Drama Summer Camp

THE TOP 5

• City Of El Cerrito Recreation Department Dance And Drama Summer Camp
• DA Dance Center
• Katie’s Dance Studio – Dance Camp
• Kids N’ Dance
• The Ballet School Performing Arts

Best Faith-Based Summer Camp

THE WINNER

• Salesian College Preparatory

THE TOP 5

• Camp Gan Israel
• Eastwood Leadership Camp
• First Presbyterian Church
• Frontier Ranch Camp
• Salesian College Preparatory

Best Foreign Language and Cultural Immersion Summer Camp

THE WINNER

• Viva el Español

THE TOP 5

• City Of El Cerrito Recreation Department
  Summer Camp
• Salesian College Preparatory
• Su Yun’s Chinese Learning Center Summer Camp
• The Saklan School
• Viva el Español

Best General and Traditional Summer Day Camp

THE WINNER

• City Of El Cerrito Recreation Department Traditional Summer Camps

THE TOP 5

• Adventure Day Camp
• City Of El Cerrito Recreation Department Traditional Summer Camps
• El Cerrito Community Center
• Roughing It Day Camp
• The Saklan School

Best Gymnastics Summer Camp

THE WINNER

• City Of El Cerrito Recreation Department Gymnastics Camp

THE TOP 5

• Black Diamond Kids Center
• City Of El Cerrito Recreation Department Gymnastics Camp
• EncoreGym
• Liberty Gymnastic Training Center
• San Ramon Valley Dance Academy

Best Health and Special Needs Summer Camp

THE WINNER

• Walnut Creek Specialized Recreation Daycamp

THE TOP 3

• Orion Academy
• Quest Therapeutic Camp
• Walnut Creek Specialized Recreation Daycamp

Best Holiday and Vacation Camp

THE WINNER

• Camp Concord

THE TOP 5

• Camp Concord
• City Of El Cerrito Recreation Department Holiday Weeks, President Week And Spring Break Camps
• Roughing it
• Steve & Kate’s Camp
• Viva el Español

Best Horse-riding Camp

THE WINNER

• Roughing It Day Camp

THE TOP 5

• Castle Rock Arabians
• Kenilworth Stables
• Roughing It Day Camp
• Sienna Ranch
• Skyline Ranch

Best Leadership Development Summer Camp

THE WINNER

• Salesian College Preparatory

THE TOP 5

• City Of El Cerrito Recreation Department L.I.T
• Crestmont Summer Camp
• Diablo Theatre Company’s Singout
• Eastwood Leadership Camp
• Salesian College Preparatory

Best Lego Summer Camp

THE WINNER

• City Of El Cerrito Recreation Departments Lego Camps

THE TOP 3

• City Of El Cerrito Recreation Departments Lego Camps
• Play-Well Teknologies
• Techknowhow

Best Music and Singing Summer Camp

THE WINNER

• Village Music School

THE TOP 5

• Cazadero Music Camp
• City of El Cerrito Madcap Musical
• Performing Academy Musical Theater
• Poison Apple Musical Theater Summer Camp
• Village Music School

Best Nature and Outdoor Summer Camp

THE WINNER

• City Of El Cerrito Summer Camp

THE TOP 5

• City Of El Cerrito Recreation Department Summer Camp
• Roughing It Day Camp
• Salesian College Preparatory
• Sienna Ranch
• Viva el Español

Best Overnight Summer Camp

THE WINNER

• Camp Concord

THE TOP 5

• Camp Concord
• City Of El Cerrito Recreation Department Camp Ravencliff
• CYO Camp
• Eastwood Leadership Camp
• Project Ember

Best Performing Arts Summer Camp

THE WINNER

• City of El Cerrito Summer Camps

THE TOP 5

• Bay Area Children’s Theatre
• City of El Cerrito Summer Camps
• Contra Costa Civic Theatre
• East Bay Center for the Performing Arts
• Pinole Young Actors

Best Preschool Age Summer Camp

THE WINNER

• Viva el Español

THE TOP 5

• Adventure Day Camp
• Poison Apple Productions
• San Ramon Valley Dance Academy
• The Saklan School
• Viva el Español

Best Sports Summer Camp

THE WINNER

• Viva el Español

THE TOP 5

• Athenian Sports Camp
• El Cerrito Sports Camp
• Saint Mary’s College Athletic Camps
• Salesian College Preparatory
• Viva el Español

Best STEM Summer Camp

THE WINNER

• City of El Cerrito Specialty STEM Camps

THE TOP 5

• Camp Galileo
• City of El Cerrito Specialty STEM Camps
• Lawrence Hall of Science
• Play-Well Teknologies
• Tech Know How

Best Teen Focused Summer Camp

THE WINNER

• City Of El Cerrito Recreation Departments Explorers Camp

THE TOP 5

• Camp Carondelet
• City Of El Cerrito Recreation Departments Explorers Camp
• East Bay Center For The Performing Arts
• Richmond Art Center
• San Ramon Valley Dance Academy

CLASSES AND ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS

Best Arts and Crafts Summer Camp

THE WINNER

• Richmond Art Center

THE TOP 5

• City of El Cerrito Recreation Department
• Richmond Art Center
• San Ramon Valley Dance Academy
• Shadelands Art Center
• Village Center for the Arts

Best Ballet Classes

THE WINNER

• East County Performing Arts Center

THE TOP 5

• Contra Costa Ballet Centre
• DA Dance Center
• East County Performing Arts Center
• San Ramon Valley Dance Academy
• The Ballet School Performing Arts

Best Circus Arts Classes

THE WINNER

• Kids ‘N Dance ‘N Theater Arts

THE TOP 3

• City Of El Cerrito Recreation Department
• East Bay Center For The Performing Arts
• Kids ‘N Dance ‘N Theater Arts

Best Classes for Musical Instrument Instruction

THE WINNER

• School of Rock

THE TOP 5

• East Bay Center for the Performing Arts
• Lamorinda Music
• School of Rock
• Strings & Keys
• Village Music School

Best Dance Classes

THE WINNER

• East Bay Center for the Performing Arts

THE TOP 5

• Clayton Valley Dance Academy
• East Bay Center for the Performing Arts
• In Motion Dance Center
• San Ramon Valley Dance Academy
• The Ballet School Performing Arts

Best Enrichment and After-School Programs

THE WINNER

• Viva el Español

THE TOP 5

• City of El Cerrito Recreation Department
• East Bay Center for the Performing Arts
• Holbrook Language Academy
• Village Center for the Arts
• Viva el Español

Best Faith-Based Cultural Awareness Program

THE WINNER

• Salesian College Preparatory

THE TOP 3

• JCC Contra Costa
• Salesian College Preparatory
• St David School

Best Gymnastics Classes

THE WINNER

• EncoreGym

THE TOP 5

• City Of El Cerrito Recreation Department – Gymnastics Program
• Community Youth Center
• EncoreGym
• Liberty Gymnastic Training Center
• My Gym

Best Language Class

THE WINNER

• Viva el Español

THE TOP 5

• Contra Costa Chinese School
• Holbrook Language Academy
• Kurumi Japenese
• Spanish for Children
• Viva el Español

Best Martial Arts Classes

THE WINNER

• City Of El Cerrrito Recreation Department Karate Classes

THE TOP 5

• City Of El Cerrrito Recreation Department Karate Classes
• Dae Han Martial Arts
• East Bay Judo Institute
• El Cerrito Martial Arts
• Jue’s Taekwando

Best Math Programs After School

THE WINNER

• Mathnasium

THE TOP 5

• Berkeley Math Club
• Huntington Learning Center
• Kumon
• Mathnasium
• Russian School of Mathematics

Best Swim Classes

THE WINNER

• City Of El Cerrito Swim Center

THE TOP 5

• AquaTech Swim School – Concord
• Canyon Swim School
• City Of El Cerrito Swim Center
• Little Dipper Aquatic Center
• Splash Swim Center

Best Theater and Performing Arts Classes

THE WINNER

• East Bay Center for the Performing Arts

THE TOP 5

• Contra Costa Civic Theater
• East Bay Center for the Performing Arts
• Poison Apple Productions
• San Ramon Valley Dance Academy
• Village Music School

Best Tutoring or Educational Support Programs

THE WINNER

• Viva el Español

THE TOP 3

• Classroom Matters
• Huntington Learning Center
• Viva el Español

Early Childhood Family Music Class

THE WINNER

• East Bay Music Together

THE TOP 5

• Creative Play Center Tot Time
• East Bay Center for the Performing Arts
• East Bay Music Together
• Gymboree Play & Music
• One Heart Music

FUN AND ATTRACTIONS

Best Amusement Parks

THE WINNER

• California’s Great America

THE TOP 5

• California’s Great America
• Happy Hollow Park & Zoo
• Oakland Zoo
• Pixieland Amusement Park
• Six Flags Discovery Kingdom

Best Athletic Clubs

THE WINNER

• Renaissance ClubSport Walnut Creek Fitness

THE TOP 5

• Club Pilates
• Fitness 19
• Lakeridge
• Renaissance ClubSport Walnut Creek Fitness
• YMCA Irvin Deucher

Best Indoor Play Place

THE WINNER

• Sky High Sports

THE TOP 3

• Diablo Rock Gym
• Sky High Sports
• Studio Grow

Best Local Farm

THE WINNER

• Tilden Little Farm

THE TOP 5

• Balestrieri Family Farm
• Clayton Valley Pumpkin Farm & Christmas Trees
• Sienna Ranch
• Smith Family Farm
• Tilden Little Farm

Best Museums

THE WINNER

• Lindsay Wildlife Experience

THE TOP 5

• Blackhawk Auto Museum
• California Academy of Science
• Lawrence Hall of Science
• Lindsay Wildlife Experience
• Rosie the Riveter Museum

Best Place for Ice Skating

THE WINNER

• Walnut Creek Downtown

THE TOP 3

• City Of Martinez’s Ice Skating Pop-Up Rink
• Dublin Iceland Ice Skating
• Walnut Creek Downtown

Best Zoo or Aquarium

THE WINNER

• Oakland Zoo

THE TOP 5

• California Academy of Sciences
• Lindsay Wildlife Experience
• Monterey Bay Aquarium
• Oakland Zoo
• San Francisco Zoo

Coolest Place to take a Tour

THE WINNER

• Alcatraz Island

THE TOP 5

• Alcatraz Island
• Jelly Belly Factory
• John Muir House
• Rosie the Riveter Museum
• Vasco Caves Regional Park

FOOD

Best Family Friendly Coffee Shop

THE WINNER

• El Cerrito Natural Grocery

THE TOP 5

• Barrelista Coffee House
• Coco Swirl
• El Cerrito Natural Grocery
• ROOTED
• Steeltown Coffee & Tea

Best Ice Cream Parlor

THE WINNER

• Steeltown Coffee & Tea

THE TOP 5

• As You Wish Frozen Yogurt
• iScream
• Lottie’s Creamery
• San Francisco Creamery
• Steeltown Coffee & Tea

Best Pizza Parlor

THE WINNER

• Cheese Board Pizza

THE TOP 10

• Blue Line Pizza
• Cheese Board Pizza
• Melo’s Pizza & Pasta
• MOD Pizza
• panCoast Pizza
• Papi’s Pizza Roma
• Pizza My Heart
• Rocco’s Ristorante Pizzeria
• Round Table Pizza
• Skipolini’s Pizza

Best Place to Buy a Birthday Cake

THE WINNER

• A Sweet Affair Bakery

THE TOP 5

• A Sweet Affair Bakery
• Danville Bakery
• Happy Heart Bakery
• Katrina Rozelle Pastries and Desserts
• Lunardi’s Markets

Best Place to Buy Cupcakes

THE WINNER

• SusieCakes

THE TOP 3

• James & the Giant Cupcake
• Kara’s Cupcakes
• SusieCakes

SERVICES

Best Birthday Indoor Party Venue

THE WINNER

• Pump It Up

THE TOP 5

• Bounce Farm
• Pump It Up
• Sky High Sports – Concord
• The Ballet School Performing Arts
• THE LOT City Center

Best Family Photographer

THE WINNER

• Gretchen Adams Photography

THE TOP 5

• Gretchen Adams Photography
• Hold Em’ Photography
• Jessica McCoy Photography
• Nornhold Photography
• Yuri Pettengill Photography

Best Kids Party Entertainment

THE WINNER

• Fabulous Frank of Playland-Not-at-the-Beach

THE TOP 5

• Fabulous Frank of Playland-Not-at-the-Beach
• Magician Mike Della Penna
• Sandi and Stevie
• The Ballet School Performing Arts
• Vivarium

Best Place for a Kids Haircut

THE WINNER

• Cool Tops

THE TOP 5

• Cool Tops
• Pigtails and Crewcuts
• Pony Tails
• Salon One 50
• Straight Edge Barber

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Best Dentist for Kids

THE WINNER

• Aloha Pediatric Dentistry

THE TOP 5

• Aloha Pediatric Dentistry
• Danville Pediatric Dentistry
• Fong Karen T DDS
• Pediatric Dentist of Pleasant Hill
• Pediatric Dentistry San Ramon

Best Hospital/Medical Centers

THE WINNER

• John Muir Health Medical Center

THE TOP 5

• Alta Bates Summit Medical Center
• John Muir Health Medical Center
• Kaiser Permanente
• San Ramon Medical Center
• UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital

Best Optometrists

THE WINNER

• UC Berkeley School of Optometry

THE TOP 5

• East Bay Ophthalmology
• Gabe Resperio OD
• Lamorinda Optometry
• Ruzicka and Lacey OD
• UC Berkeley School of Optometry

Best Orthodontists

THE WINNER

• San Ramon Orthodontics

THE TOP 5

• Axelrode Orthodontics
• Josh McCormick, DDS
• Scott McElroy DDS, MDS
• San Ramon Orthodontics
• Smile Power Orthodontics

Best Pediatricians

THE WINNER

• Philip A. Rush, MD, John Muir Health

THE TOP 5

• East Bay Pediatrics
• Montgomery Kong MD
• Philip A. Rush, MD, John Muir Health
• San Ramon Valley Primary Care
• Tri-Valley Pediatrics

CHILD CARE

Best Child Care

THE WINNER

• Choice in Learning Montessori

THE TOP 10

• Baby Yale Academy, Inc.
• Buena Children’s Club
• Choice in Learning Montessori
• City of El Cerrito Recreation Department
• Creative Play Center
• Nomura Preschool
• Old Firehouse School
• St. Patrick School
• The Child Day School
• Valley Christian Preschool

Best Special Needs Child Care

THE WINNER

• Kids Gym Berkeley

THE TOP 5

• Ala Costa Centers
• Easter Seals Kaleidoscope
• Kids Overcoming, LLC
• School Of Imagination
• Tinkergarten

PRESCHOOLS

Best Bilingual Preschool

THE WINNER

• Nomura Preschool

THE TOP 5

• Black Diamond Kids Center
• El Cerrito Preschool Co-op
• La Casita Bilingue Montessori School
• Nomura Preschool
• Spanish 4 Children

Best Faith-Based Preschool

THE WINNER

• St John’s Preschool

THE TOP 5

• King’s Valley Preschool
• St David School
• St John’s Preschool
• St Mary School
• St Paul School

Best Independent Preschool

THE WINNER (TIE)

• Choice in Learning Montessori
• The Child Day School

THE TOP 10

• Choice in Learning Montessori
• Clayton Valley Parent Preschool
• Creative Play Center
• El Cerrito Preschool
  Co-Op
• Fountainhead Montessori School
• Happy Days Learning Center
• Nomura Preschool
• Old Firehouse School
• The Child Day School
• The Saklan School

Best Large Preschool (Total Capacity 31 Children or More)

THE WINNER

• Nomura Preschool

THE TOP 10

• Clayton Children’s Center
• Choice in Learning Montessori
• Creative Play Center
• El Cerrito Preschool Co-Op
• Happy Days Learning Center
• La Casita Bilingue Montessori School
• Larson’s Children’s Center
• Nomura Preschool
• Old Firehouse School
• Play and Learn School

Best Montessori Preschool

THE WINNER

• Choice in Learning Montessori

THE TOP 5

• Choice in Learning Montessori
• Fountainhead Montessori School
• La Casita Bilingue Montessori School
• Montessori School of Concord
• Step By Step Montessori Preschool

Best Small Preschool (Total Capacity 30 Children or Less)

THE WINNER

• Clayton Valley Parent Preschool

THE TOP 5

• Clayton Valley Parent Preschool
• Creative Play Center
• East Bay Waldorf School
• Skytown Preschool
• The Saklan School

ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

Best Alternative Learning Styles Elementary School

THE WINNER

• East Bay Waldorf School

THE TOP 5

• East Bay Waldorf School
• Holbrook Elementary School
• St Joseph School
• St Mary School
• The Saklan School

Best Bilingual Elementary School

THE WINNER

• Viva el Español

THE TOP 5

• Holbrook Elementary School
• Meadow Homes Elementary School
• St David School
• Viva el Español
• Ygnacio Valley Elementary School

Best Faith-Based Elementary School

THE WINNER

• King’s Valley Christian School

THE TOP 5

• Christ the King Catholic School
• King’s Valley Christian School
• St Catherine of Siena School
• St David School
• St Mary of the Immaculate Conception

Best Independent Elementary School

THE WINNER

• Prospect Sierra Elementary School

THE TOP 10

• Cornell Elementary School
• East Bay Waldorf School
• Holbrook language Academy
• Montessori Family School
• Prospect Sierra Elementary School
• St Isidore School
• St Mary School
• The Meher School
• The Saklan School
• The Seven Hills School

Best Montessori Elementary School

THE WINNER

• Montessori Family School

THE TOP 5

• Eagle Peak Montessori School
• Montessori Family School
• Montessori School of Concord
• Montessori School of San Ramon
• Pearlite Montessori House of Children

Best Progressive Elementary School

THE WINNER

• Prospect Sierra Elementary School

THE TOP 5

• Athenian School
• Crestmont Elementary School
• Holbrook Elementary School
• Montessori Family School
• Prospect Sierra Elementary School

MIDDLE SCHOOLS

Best Bilingual Middle School

THE WINNER

• East Bay German International School

THE TOP 5

• East Bay German International School
• Ecole Bilingue de Berkeley
• Escuela Bilingue Internacional
• Shu Ren International School
• The Renaissance International School

Best Faith-Based Middle School

THE WINNER

• St David School

THE TOP 5

• Christ the King
• St David School
• St John the Baptist
• St Patrick School
• St Paul School

Best Independent Middle School

THE WINNER

• Prospect Sierra School

THE TOP 5

• Crestmont School
• East Bay Waldorf School
• Prospect Sierra School
• The Athenian School
• The Seven Hills School

Best Montessori Middle School

THE WINNER

• Fountainhead Montessori School

THE TOP 3

• Eagle Peak Montessori School
• Fountainhead
• Montessori Family School

Best Progressive Middle School

THE WINNER

• Crestmont School

THE TOP 5

• Crestmont School
• Prospect Sierra School
• The Saklan School
• The Seven Hills School
• Tilden Preparatory School

Best Special Needs Programs in a Middle School

THE WINNER

• Tilden Preparatory School

THE TOP 3

• Hope Academy For Dyslexics
• Pine Hollow Middle School
• Tilden Preparatory School

HIGH SCHOOLS

Best Alternative Learning Style High School

THE WINNER

• Salesian College Preparatory

THE TOP 5

• Orinda Academy
• Orion Academy
• Salesian College Preparatory
• The Athenian School
• Tilden Preparatory School

Best Boarding School in the Bay Area

THE WINNER

• The Athenian School

THE TOP 5

• Archbishop Riordan High School
• Eastside College Preparatory School
• San Domenico
• The Athenian School
• Woodside Priory School

Best Faith-Based High School

THE WINNER

• Salesian College Preparatory

THE TOP 5

• Berean Christian High School
• Carondelet High School
• De La Salle High School
• St Mary Catholic School
• Salesian College Preparatory

Best Independent High School

THE WINNER

• Salesian College Preparatory

THE TOP 5

• Bentley School
• Holden High School
• Orinda Academy
• Salesian College Preparatory
• The Athenian School

Best Special Needs Programs in a High School

THE WINNER

• Tilden Preparatory School

THE TOP 5

• Fusion Academy
• Holden High School
• Orinda Academy
• Orion Academy
• Tilden Preparatory School