Personal Services – Baton Rougeans know a thing or two about pampering themselves. This category reveals a variety of top-flight places that make it fun to be No. 1.

7450 Jefferson Highway, 932-9522
Founded: 2005
Owner: Casey Little

Bumble Lane 36.94%
2nd place: Paris Parker Aveda Salon and Spa, multiple locations 25.30%
3rd place: The Gallery Salon and Day Spa, 7645 Jefferson Hwy., 927-0259 8.18%

From humble beginnings in the back room of a children’s clothing store to its current incarnation in Towne Center, Bumble Lane has remained Baton Rouge’s most sumptuous spa experience. Voted top of the class in last year’s poll, it retains that title this year with a continuing commitment to spoiling the heck out of you. Let their experts sweep you away with one of their many massage packages, and feel your stress just melt away. Closest competitor Paris Parker is the winner of Best Massage ’06; their magic fingers might just be what you need to loosen up.

multiple locations
Bumble Lane and Classy Nails 21.54%
3rd place: Paris Parker, multiple locations 20.60%

In our first and only first-place tie in the history of this poll, upscale spa/beauty parlor Bumble Lane locks horns (and votes) with budget pamperers Classy Nails. Indulgence is the name of the game at Bumble Lane—their spa atmosphere may have you indulging in an extra service or three while you’re waiting for your hands to finish soaking. Classy Nails may be more cut-and-dry, but their work is still nothing but quality. Your cuticles have never looked so, well, cute!

multiple locations
Founded: 1990
Owner: Debra Neill, CEO

Paris Parker’s Aveda concept salons are so dedicated to the green movement that they even employ an environmental sustainability director. Plus, they manufacture their signature products using 100% wind energy. Green must really be the new black.

Paris Parker Aveda Salon and Spa 31.73%
2nd place: Rigsby Frederick Salon Gallery Spa, 7520 Perkins Rd., 769-7903 17.75%
3rd place: The Gallery Salon and Day Spa, 7645 Jefferson Hwy., 927-0259 12.21%

Looking for a whole new you? Our poll says that your destination should be Paris Parker. Drift dreamily as you get pampered and primped in this Aveda salon that’s as chic as a New York salon, but without the skyscraper-high prices. A full-service spa in addition to a hair salon and beauty parlor, their expert stylists will revitalize your tired ‘do and make you look (and feel) fabulous. By the time you’re done, you may not recognize yourself—but in a good way, we promise.

Multiple locations
Founded: 1917
CEO: Bob Jacobs

Think twice about ogling the lady on the treadmill next to you—the YMCA was founded originally as a place for young Christian men in Victorian England to stay while free from temptation. Nowadays, most chapters take a more secular, holistic approach to the bettering of mind and body, and are open to people of all creeds.

YMCA 29.97%
2nd place: Woman’s Center for Wellness Fitness Club, 9637 Jefferson Hwy., 924-8300 16.75%
3rd place: Spectrum Fitness, multiple locations 13.32%

It may be a cliché, but Baton Rouge really does seem to feel that it’s fun to stay at the YMCA—at least to work out at one of the more than half-dozen locations across the Greater Baton Rouge area. Reasonable “household” rates mean that you, your spouse and even your children can enjoy the Y’s modern and copious amenities, including tennis, kickboxing and aerobics classes and dozens of specialized exercise machines. They’ve even got yoga classes to align your chi while you work on your new six-pack abs.