Magazine Ranks Best Cities for Families; Washington, DC Takes Top Slot

Monday, June 20th, 2011

Parenting magazine has published its annual list of the 100 best cities for families to live in, ranking cities based on 8,000 pieces of data covering school quality, home affordability, job availability, crime rates, and green space.  The top 10 cities are:

1. Washington, District of Columbia
2. Austin, Texas
3. Boston, Massachusetts
4. St. Paul/Minneapolis, Minnesota
5. Des Moines, Iowa
6. Madison, Wisconsin
7. Honolulu, Hawaii
8. Omaha, Nebraska
9. Seattle, Washington
10. Louisville, Kentucky

The magazine said this about Washington, DC, its top choice:

The history, the government, the breathtaking architecture and inspiring monuments—you don’t have to be a child to get an amazing education in this city. Our nation’s capital is also known for its plenitude of museums—in fact, there are 44, second only to the Big Apple! If your kid enjoys visiting the National Air and Space Museum, imagine fostering his love of airplanes with trips to nearby Gravelly Point Park for front-seat views of the takeoffs and landings at Reagan National Airport. The Capital Crescent Trail, a hard-surface trail from Georgetown to Bethesda, MD, developed on an abandoned rail bed, is a great bike trip that is off the beaten track.

Family dinner nights are easy at quirky local favorites like Matchbox restaurants or Busboys & Poets—both provide a place adults and kids can enjoy. And, of course, any child growing up in Washington, DC, will have a special place in his heart for the famous cherry blossoms and festival held each spring.

The bottom 5 cities are all in California (Fresno, Long Beach, Bakersfield, Riverside, and Anaheim), preceded by Las Vegas, Nevada.

Check out these Parents.com features on best places to raise your family:

The 10 Best Cities for Babies

90 More Best Cities for Babies

The Best Big Cities for Babies

The Best Small Cities for Babies

How do you feel your city should rank as a place for families to live?

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President Obama Announces Fatherhood Initiative

Friday, June 17th, 2011

This week, as Father’s Day (June 19) approaches, President Barack Obama announced a yearlong initiative called “Strong Fathers, Strong Families” designed to help fathers be more involved in the lives of their children in fun, meaningful ways.

The kickoff event was a screening of the Disney/Pixar film “Cars 2″ for military dads and their kids.  Throughout the year, the program will offer dads free admissions or discounts to zoos, aquariums, bowling centers, and sporting events, as well as special deals on the group buying websites Groupon and LivingSocial.

“Father’s Day reminds us parents that we have no more solemn obligation than to care for our children.  But far too many young people in America grow up without their dads, and our families and communities are challenged as a result,” said President Obama in a statement.  “Through my administration’s fatherhood initiative and the year of Strong Fathers, Strong Families, we’re taking steps to offer men who want to be good fathers a little extra help, while working with partners around the country to encourage personal responsibility and help fathers connect with kids.”

Fathers can sign up for updates at fatherhood.gov.

Explore Parents.com extensive Father’s Day page for gift ideas, recipes, and traditions to start in your family.

(image via: http://www.parade.com)

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