The Best of Colorado Lifestyle
Where to go to celebrate, take a load off or explore in 2018
BEST PET BOARDER + DAY CARE
Camp Bow Wow opened one of the first dog day cares in Colorado in 2000. The success of the first location prompted a second, and then the idea to franchise the business model took hold. Over the last 16 years, Camp Bow Wow has grown into a more than $100 million pet-care company that has sold nearly 150 franchises in 42 states and Canada. It expects to open more than 20 camps this year.
RUNNERS-UP
BEST SPA
Guests at the 10,000-square-foot Spa at St. Julien can enjoy spa refreshments in the relaxation lounge or get a little exercise in the 50-foot indoor lap pool. There's also a hot tub and fitness center with mountain views and a patio for relaxation. The spa has 12 treatment rooms, a full-service salon, locker rooms and a retail boutique. The Spa at St. Julien offers massages, scrubs and wraps, facials, waxing and makeup.
RUNNERS-UP
DEVIL'S THUMB RANCH RESORT + SPA
BEST STYLING SALON
MATTHEW MORRIS SALON + SKINCARE
The stylists at Matthew Morris Salon and Skincare provide a professional and luxurious experience that ensures clients' hair is an artistic expression of their brand individuality and brand identity. The salon offers styling, color, texturizing services, as well as in-salon treatments like Inoa Color and Kerastase Ritual. The salon, which serves both men and women, is a L'Oreal Professional Black Elite Salon carrying L'Oreal Professional and Inoa color. It's also a Kerastase Exclusive K Salon and a MENSDEPT flagship barbershop.
RUNNERS-UP
BEST FLORIST
The way people buy flowers has changed. Veldkamp's Flowers and Gifts, a third-generation family owned and operated business, has kept up by building a state-of-the-art facility. The Lakewood center has a greenhouse, a studio with gifts and decor, and products for do-it-yourselfers to work on their own gardens.
"We wanted to create a destination location that's worth driving to," says John Veldkamp, president and CEO.
Also there are flowers imported from South America, Israel, Holland and even peonies from Alaska. Veldkamp's offers same-day service in an industry where competitors offer two-day service, and their high-quality flowers often last two weeks.
RUNNERS-UP
BEST JEWELER
The Shane Co. still uses radio commercials, and it has added social media, including photos of lots of sparkly jewelry, to the marketing mix. The longtime jeweler sells diamonds graded by specialists certified by the Gemological Institute of America. The stores also sell jewelry with other stones besides diamonds, and Shane Co., even buys unwanted jewelry through a Sell by Mail service.
