We get our nails done for two reasons. First, we like to look good. We liked it in 3000 B.C., when the practice was first recorded in China, and in the time of ancient Egypt, where even low-ranking citizens felt obliged to spruce up with a modest nude coat. We like it now, willingly subjecting our hands to repeated blasts of concentrated UV light and harsh acetone soaks in exchange for two full weeks of gelled, chip-free, perfectly glossy fingertips. The other reason we get our nails done is that we love to pamper ourselves. The mani-pedi is a bimonthly ritual to which we gladly sacrifice two hours and an expense we very rarely call into question, lest we tumble down the slippery slope that is YouTube DIY nail art tutorials. Thus, finding a great nail salon is like coming home. At Venetian Nail Spa in Fort Lauderdale's Flagler Village, home is a nearly 4,000-square-foot Eden with high ceilings, arched entryways, gauzy curtains, and flatscreen TVs streaming endless episodes of Barefoot Contessa and Pioneer Woman. Dedicated receptionists (not a technician juggling the phone and his next wax appointment) check you in and offer you a cold beverage as you select a polish. Walk-ins are welcome, and if you're looking to book a large group (wedding parties, anyone?), Venetian's airy space with four sectioned-off pedicure areas provides the perfect luxe, clean, and calm atmosphere without the Boca price tags. Gel manis start at $36, a basic spa pedi costs $26, and a regular mani-pedi starts at $40.

Readers' choice: Tipsy Salonbar

The box says "honey blonde," but the mirror clearly says "brassy tuba." What now? It's time to call the professionals at M. Evans Salon. There's a deep, sacred bond between client and stylist. You make a conscious decision to trust him or her with fast-moving, potentially deadly scissors mere inches from your face. The stylists at M. Evans salon respect this relationship, and maintaining the quality of your precious locks is always a top priority. The staff routinely goes through training workshops to deliver hair perfection with all the hot trends like ombre and balayage. Updos created here are nothing less than art. Whether your damaged hair needs a desperate save, you need a trim, or you just want to update your look, the stylists at M. Evans are on standby to help you look your best. On your way out, be sure to pick up a bottle of Marula Oil for only $40 to keep your cut looking shiny and fresh.

Readers' choice: Incognito Salon

The spa experience should be about getting away from the mean streets of South Florida and forgetting about your heinously busy schedule for a few hours. The new spa at the Fort Lauderdale Marriott in Pompano Beach, SiSpa, is a tranquil escape right on the ocean. Book an appointment at this resort, and you are welcome to enjoy the pool or beachfront area for the day. Guests sit in white, cozy lounge chairs with a spectacular ocean view while waiting for their service and enjoying a cup of tea or cucumber water. SiSpa has three treatment stations named after oceans and seas around the world and monthly specials featuring all-natural products. Pick the Indian Si Scrub, Atlantic Detox Body Envelopment, or Remineralizing Sargasso Body Treatment. While you do need to get pampered once in a while, SiSpa encourages guests to give back by purchasing specific treatments that donate a percentage of profits to a charity of your choice. Take your rejuvenation a step further with onsite yoga classes. This small but cozy getaway is the perfect prescription for when you're feeling stressed.

Readers' choice: Bliss Spa at W Fort Lauderdale Hotel

As with transmission repairs and hair styling, massage is best left to the professionals. Sure, your friend/lover/large pet can try kneading your back, but to really find a solution to your muscular woes, you need someone who knows your knots, soothes your strains, and can give you the best 60 minutes you've ever had lying down. Boris Bohachevsky has the hands that can work the kinks out of your life. And if you're stuck on your rump all day at a nine-to-five desk job, Bohachevsky can make the cramps in your bum melt like butter — because butt cramps are a thing, and you shouldn't suffer in silence anymore.

Yoga studios are, by their nature, usually lovely spots full of lovely people, and Fort Laudy is lucky to have a bunch of them. That said, it’s the little things that make some studios a bit more inviting than others. The Yoga Joint has all the key details nailed: an immaculately clean, airy space; natural light and hardwood floors; and showers! They also boast a signature style (“hot fusion flow”), multiple locations, and a solid crew of instructors who are as friendly as they are competent (including co-owner Paige Held, who has graced the cover of Yoga Journal). But where the Yoga Joint really blasts the competition is its unbeatable pricing structure: A drop-in class is a pretty standard $20, but the better-value packages come with no expiration date. You can spring for that ten-class pass ($140) without a second thought or splurge on $360 for 30 classes, which drops the price to just $12 per session. For newcomers, the welcome special is a no-brainer: $40 for unlimited classes for two weeks. And for those of us with young’uns, there’s that magic word: babysitting. Ommmm my gosh, sign us up!

Readers' choice: The Yoga Joint

From the outside, LaLa Couture doesn't look like much. It's situated in an unassuming shopping plaza off Sunrise Boulevard. Inside, though, LaLa Couture is reminiscent of Marie Antoinette's closet. Each wall is a different shade of pink, and an ornate chandelier lights the store. Frilly cocktail dresses, geometric tops, distressed jeans, and crocheted bikinis hang off racks. Stilettos and sandals line the walls and are displayed on shelves. Necklaces, earrings, and bracelets are on display near the counter. The owner, a friendly woman named Molly Carey, opened an online shop after moving to Florida from Los Angeles. Eventually, her store became so popular that she opened up a bricks-and-mortar. Molly is often spotted near the register and is always happy to offer fashion advice based on either the occasion or your personal style. Since pieces cost about $100 to $300, you'd better come here after a birthday or bar mitzvah.

Readers' choice: A Nose For Clothes

The best bookstores offer a sense of community. You want to feel like the staff has read everything in the store and can predict what you're in the mood for just by getting a whiff of your cologne. When it comes to books about death and intrigue, store manager Joanne Sinchuk is the bookseller of your dreams (er, nightmares?). Murder on the Beach specializes exclusively in mystery novels, and Sinchuk was even the former president of the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association back when, she remembers, there were between 60 and 70 mystery-only bookshops in the nation. Now, there are barely 30. "We had to disband the association two years ago," she says morosely. But her passion for the genre hasn't waned. There's no better place to dig into a good mystery novel than the beach, and if you're a collector, Murder on the Beach sells signed books online to people all over the world. "We've got a big client in Finland," Sinchuk says. Luckily, you won't have to travel that far to get your fix.

Readers' choice: Murder on the Beach Bookstore

Your butt is sunken in on one of two black couches in the front of the parlor while your eyes move shiftily around the surrounding walls from drawing to drawing and painting to painting. Trophies and awards line the shelves. Whether it's your first or 50th time getting inked, you have no reason for jitters at No Hard Feelings. The owner, Chris Blinston, was on the sixth season of Ink Master, where his commitment to quality and attention to detail were broadcast to a national audience. All five of the shop's artists are exceptionally skilled at realistic as well as traditional-style tattoos, delivering custom masterpieces on the daily. What's more, they're as friendly and professional as they are talented. Whether you're looking to get a few stars on your ankle or a blue-ringed octopus from shoulder to elbow, going to No Hard Feelings for it is a no-brainer.

Readers' choice: Kreepy Tiki Tattoo

It's easy to miss Joy's Liquors. It's located in a shopping center in Tamarac beside a quiet nail salon. Most shoppers en route to Publix quickly dart by, heads turned down as though focused on their weekly grocery lists, and miss it. But those of us paying attention will see the tiny window storefront — a collage of Heineken, Coors Light, and Sam Adams signs. At the door, a statue of a life-sized turkey with a medal hanging around its neck keeps watch. A friendly and knowledgeable attendant is typically pacing the store's three tall, narrow aisles that display the inventory of beer, wine, and spirits. Their supply of Caribbean rums and gins is a point of pride. Regulars are called out by name. In the back, a vending machine sells cigars. It's also acceptable to ditch your shopping cart full of groceries outside and stop in on your way back to your car from Publix.

At Cosmic Charlie's, it's business in the front, party in the back. By "business," we mean shelves packed with Bob Marley and Grateful Dead memorabilia, incense, and huge tie-dye tapestries like the one your first high school boyfriend had covering the window in his bedroom. And by "party," we mean a ROOR-ing good time (wink wink). Need some glassware for your 420-friendly party? Charlie's got you covered. Interested in vaporizing some of that, uh, tobacco? They've got a Volcano stocked that's ready to erupt. Best of all, it's right next to Mojo Donuts and North Perry Airport, so you can dish on some of Broward's best donuts while catching the red-eye flight in the parking lot.

Readers' choice: Peace Pipe