Over the course of January, we invited readers to vote for the very best the St. Croix Valley area has to offer. The reader poll is closed and the votes are tallied. Now, it’s time to meet the finalists (listed in alphabetical order) for Best of St. Croix Valley 2024.
Stay tuned for our Best of St. Croix Valley 2024 issue this June, when the winners will be revealed.
Dining
Best Bakery
- Buddy’s Bakery
- St. Croix Baking Company
- Sweet Beet Bakery
Best Bar, Brewery or Distillery
- 45th Parallel Distillery
- Hop & Barrel Brewing Company
- Pitchfork Brewing
Best Breakfast or Brunch
- Key’s Café & Bakery
- Oasis Café
- San Pedro Café
Best Burger
- Agave Kitchen
- Barker’s Bar & Grill
- Milwaukee Burger Company
Best Desserts or Ice Cream
- Knoke’s Chocolates and Nuts
- Nelson’s Ice Cream
- St. Croix Baking Company
Best International Cuisine
- Miko Thai Kitchen
- San Pedro Café
- Sapporo Japanese Restaurant
Best Outdoor Dining Space
- Junior’s Restaurant and Tap House
- Pier 500
- San Pedro Café
Best Pizza
- Bricks Neapolitan Pizza
- EJ’s Pizzeria
- Melt Pizza Company
Best Plant-Based or Vegan Menu
- Protein House
- The Wild Hare
- Urban Olive & Vine
Best Restaurant
- LoLo American Kitchen and Craft Bar
- Pier 500
- San Pedro Café
Abode
Best Carpet and Flooring Store
- Carpeting By Mike
- H & F Home Furnishings
- Larry’s Floor Covering
Best Custom Home Builder
- Derrick Custom Homes
- Hartman Homes
- Wittstock Builders
Best Garden Center
- Black’s Greenhouse
- Farrill’s Sunrise Nursery and Garden Center
- Rose Floral
Best Home Décor or Furniture Store
- Brick + Linen
- H & F Home Furnishings
- The 715
Best Interior Design Firm
- Bobbie Peterson Interiors
- Brick & Linen
- Kelli Kaufer Designs
Best Landscape Design Service
- Earthworks Landscaping
- Stone & Leaf Landscaping
- Willow River Company
Best Remodeler
- Derrick Custom Homes,
- Petta Building & Design
- W3 construction
Best Senior Living Residence
- Boutwells Landing
- Christian Community Homes
- Red Cedar Canyon
Self Care
Best Barbershop
- Creative Blendz
- Prohibition Barbers
- The Hudson Barber Shop
Best Boutique Fitness or Yoga Studio
- Fit PT
- Light House Yoga + Fitness
- Solo Yoga + Bxng
Best Hair Salon
- 4 North Beauty Collective
- Tangled Salon & Spa
- The Colour Lounge
Best Manicure and Pedicure
- 21 Nails
- INails & Spa
- Turbo Nails Oak Park Heights
Best Massage
- Just For Me “The Spa”
- Lori’s Salon & Day Spa
- The Calla Lily Day Spa
Best Med Spa (must have licensed physician on site)
- St Croix Skincare
- Stillwater Skin MedSpa
- Northern Allure Aesthetics
Best Spa (for skin care and body and beauty treatments)
- Just for Me “The Spa”
- Lori’s Salon & Day Spa
- Northern Allure Aesthetics
Wellness
Best Chiropractic Practice
- Croixview Family Chiropractic
- McCabe Chiropractic & Wellness Center
- Vitality Chiropractic
Best Dental Practice
- Associated Dentists & Orthodontics
- Oakwood Dental
- Park Dental
Best Dermatology Practice
- Advanced Dermatology Care
- Dermatology Consultants
- Forefront Dermatology
Best Eye Care Practice
- Associated Eye Care
- Christensen Vision Care
- Ritzinger Eye Clinic
Best Family Medicine Practice
- HealthPartners Clinic Stillwater
- Hudson Physicians
- Western Wisconsin Health
Best Holistic Wellness Practice
- Autumn Enloe Nutrition
- Fit PT
- Healing Waters Health Center
Best OB-GYN Practice
- Hudson Physicians
- Evensong Women’s Health and Midwifery
- Minnesota Women’s Care
Best Orthodontic Practice
- Brettin Orthodontics
- Orchin + Orchin
- Valley Orthodontics
Best Pediatric Practice
- Central + Priority Pediatrics
- Hudson Physicians
- St. Croix Kidds Pediatric Dentistry
Learning
Best Dance Studio
- Helmer Dance Studio
- The Dancing House
- The Phipps Center for the Arts
Best Preschool Program
- Bethel Highland Preschool
- Sunny Hill Preschool
- Trinity Academy
Best Swim School or Lessons
- Foss Swim School – Vadnais Heights
- Hudson YMCA
- River Falls Swim Club
Pet Care
Best Dog-Friendly Business (Dining or Retail venue)
- Angel’s Pet World
- Hop & Barrel Brewing Company
- Urban Olive & Vine
Best Dog Park
- Andy’s Bark Park
- Hudson Dog Park
- River Falls Dog Park
Best Pet Boarding or Daycare Service
- Goldwood Kennels
- K9-Playtime
- Paws and Claws Pet Resort
Best Pet Grooming Service
- Angel’s Pet World
- Diggity Dawg Grooming
- Paws and Claws Pet Resort
Best Veterinarian Practice
- Animal Care Center
- Croix Valley Veterinary Hospital
- Kinnic Veterinary Service
Shops
Best Apparel Boutique
- La Rue Marche
- One:Nine Boutique
- The Purple Tree
Best Florist
- Blooms for Happiness
- Hudson Flower Shop
- Rose Floral & Greenhouse
Best Gift Shop
- Somerscents Candles
- The Bee’s Knees
- The Purple Tree
Best Jewelry Store
- Beth’s Jewelry Shop
- Diamonds on Main
- Stokes Jewelry
Best Specialty Food or Kitchen Store
- Fresh and Natural Foods (now Hudson Grocery Cooperative)
- Grand Fête
- Knoke’s Chocolates and Nuts
Leisure
Best Beach, Open Space or Park
- Perch Lake
- Lakefront Park
- Willow River State Park
Best Date Night Spot
- Lolo American Kitchen + Craft Bar
- Pier 500
- San Pedro Café
Best Outdoor Spot for Graduation Photos
- Pioneer Park
- Stillwater Lift Bridge
- Willow River State Park
Best Place for Family Activities
- Glen Park
- Hudson GNG
- Willow River State Park
Best Venue to Watch Fourth of July Fireworks
- Downtown Hudson
- Downtown Stillwater
- Lakefront Park
Best of the East Metro
Best Alpine Hill or Nordic Ski Trail
- Afton Alps
- Lake Elmo Park Reserve
- Trollhaugen Ski Area
- Willow River State Park
Best Biking or Hiking Trail
- Brown’s Creek State Trail
- Kinnickinnic State Park
- Whitetail Ridge
- Willow River State Park
Best Bridal or Formal Wear Store
- Bella Bridal Boutique
- Our Shop Bridal
- Raffiné Bridal
Best Family Photographer
- Isa Wines Photography
- Lisa Buth Photography
- Markfortography
Best Financial Services (financial planners, wealth management, estate planning, etc.)
- Edward Jones
- Leverty Financial Group
- RBC Wealth Management
Best Golf Course
- Troy Burne Golf Club
- Kilkarney Hills Golf Club
- White Eagle Golf Club
Best Law Practice
- Galowitz Olson Law Firm
- Heywood, Cari, Anderson, S.C.
- Mudge Porter Lundeen & Seguin, S.C.
Best Music School
- Donna B’s Creative Arts
- Brickhouse Music
- Hovland Conservatory
Best Outdoor Skating Rink
- Burton Field
- M Health Fairview Sports Center
- Perro Park
Best Private School
- Saint Patrick Catholic School
- St. Bridget Parish School
- Trinity Academy
Best Professional Theatre
- Open Window Theatre
- The Phipps Center for the Arts
- The Zephyr Theatre
Best Staycation Hotel
- Hotel Crosby
- Lora Hotel
- Lowell Inn
Best Summer Camp
- Hidden Pines Ranch
- YMCA Camp St. Croix
- YMCA Camp DayCroix
Best Wedding Photographer or Videographer
- Dakota Layne Photography
- Isa Wines Photography
- Markfortography
- Sophia Huber Photography
Best Wedding Venue
- Belle Âme Vineyard
- JX Venue
- Larson Barn
Best Winery
- 7 Vines Vineyard and Winery
- Cracked Barrel Winery
- Rustic Roots
