5 ways to pamper yourself around Denver - The Denver Post

[Jamie Siebrase]

Editor’s note: This is part of The Know’s series, Staff Favorites. Each week, we offer our opinions on the best that Colorado has to offer for dining, shopping, entertainment, outdoor activities and more. (We’ll also let you in on some hidden gems).

Who wouldn’t benefit from some pampering right about now?

After a particularly divisive election season, the winter holidays loom, thick and amorphous as nimbostratus clouds, loaded with the possibility of all the stressful things we tend to dread: tense conversations, family drama, grief, loneliness, excess spending – (hello, inflation!) – travel delays, gray days, overwhelming schedules and, for parents, all of those school days off.

Now is the time to show yourself a little love by prioritizing your well-being. In Denver, there are plenty of ways to indulge.

The toes knows​

Basic, everyday maintenance tasks – drinking enough water, getting plenty of sleep (and regular haircuts) – don’t count as self-care, FYI. But a good pedicure will suffice. For that, my favorite is Bee Nails, where you can treat yourself to an hour-long spa pedicure that includes a lengthy massage with hot stones. The salon’s no-phone policy ensures a relaxing escape. 1121 E. Fourth Ave., 303-778-6688; bnailsdenver.com

Stress relief​

The bodywork team at Washington Park Chiropractic always comes through with a 60-minute “deep tissue” massage. (Provided by Washington Park Chiropractic)

A massage will also leave you feeling great, but do yourself a favor and skip the franchises. I’ve been seeing the same massage therapist for at least 15 years. When she’s booked, the bodywork team at Washington Park Chiropractic always comes through with a 60-minute “deep tissue” massage. Swedish, sports, prenatal and specialized massages are also offered, along with chiropractic care, acupuncture, and nutrition consultations. 1313 S. Clarkson St., 303-744-7100; washparkchiro.com

Eat well​

And speaking of nutrition, healthy eating is definitely an important form of care. Jessica Crandall Snyder and her team of registered dieticians at Vital RD offer a range of services and wellness programs for clients with all sorts of nutritional needs. 7564 S. Xenia Court, Centennial, 303-562-4500; vitalrd.com

Get out​

A short walk in a natural environment can also heal from the inside out. Research on the science-backed benefits of movement in nature shows that quick and regular hits of urban green space can have a profound impact on a person’s wellbeing. If you can’t escape to the mountains during this busy holiday season, try utilizing nearby nature instead. In Denver, here are a few ideas:

• Check out the dirt trails behind Denver Audubon’s Kingery Nature Center (11280 Waterton Road).
• If you live between Park Hill and Green Valley Ranch, you might want to visit Bluff Lake Nature Center (11255 E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.), a revitalized airport crash zone that now gives wildlife, plants and humans a peaceful layover spot.
• Between Golden and Boulder, I’m a big fan of Flatirons Vista Trailhead (3663 State Highway 93), with a short loop trail plus a connector trail that’ll take hikers into Eldorado Springs and beyond.
• Easily accessible from Carson Nature Center (3000 W. Carson Drive) is the Mary Carter Greenway Trail, an 8.25-mile paved path running from C-470 to River Point at Sheridan, passing through Littleton, Englewood and Sheridan in the process.
• For a long, flat route with a natural surface, I’ll hit the 71-mile-long High Line Canal Trail, specifically Segment 13, an especially pastoral section winding past Three Pond Park (4100 S. Colorado Blvd.) and Marjorie Perry Nature Preserve, which is south of Belleview Avenue between Colorado Boulevard and South Holly Street.
• If you have time to spare, you won’t regret a day trip to Staunton State Park (12102 S. Elk Creek Road), a memorable destination chock-full of natural beauty, Western history, and 37 miles of trails.

Take a mid-afternoon tea break at Babe’s Tea Room, with locations in downtown Denver and Golden. (Provided by Babe’s Tea Room)

Sip and savor​

Walking in nature in November has a way of triggering my need for something warm.

A couple of months ago, I learned about all of the tea times available between Fort Collins to Colorado Springs. Ever since, my favorite guilty pleasure has been taking mid-afternoon tea breaks at Babe’s Tea Room, with locations in downtown Denver and Golden. Do let me know if you find a winter hobby that’s cozier than sipping loose-leaf tea and nibbling scratch-baked English scones on a cold afternoon as daylight peters out behind the snow-capped foothills preceding the Rocky Mountains. In Denver at 2401 15th St., 303-455-4832; and in Golden, 1027 Washington Ave., 303-954-9064; babestearoom.com

Jamie Siebrase is a Denver-based freelance writer and author of “Exploring Colorado With Kids” (Falcon Guides, 2024).

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, In The Know, to get entertainment news sent straight to your inbox.