After what seems like the toughest winter in years, Hopkinton residents are starting to reappear on sidewalks and in public parks. At Milford's Louisa Lake, the bike path is clear of snow for the most part, and the water is starting to reappear from its covering of ice. Last week, the recreation oasis attracted a steady flow of runners, dog walkers and bicyclists, including a group from Hopkinton.  So the turning weather and the trip out of town to visit a new recreation spot make  Louisa Lake this week's Great Escape for Hopkinton. The lake's swans are starting to swoon over each other again…

Where:  Platinum Salon, 97 West Main St., Hopkinton Why: Melissa is magic! One customer said she now skips the trip to Boston for her highlights and gets them right here in Hopkinton. When: Closed Sunday, Monday, Tuesday. 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday. Appointments only on Friday. Saturday 9 to 3. Why: Aahhh. Relax. This company is upfront about everything you want to know and has great customer service and attitude. Voted the No. 1 Hair Salon, the No. 1 Mani and Pedi Salon and an honorable mention for Day Spa. Like them on FACEBOOK (Platinum Cut & Color Boutique) and get $5 off …

Today's Great Escape is a cozy spot of warmth right on Hopkinton's East Main Street. Weston Nurseries is open for another year of business. Spring isn't far behind. Check out the gardening tools, seeds and everything else you need to make this spring a blooming beauty.  Weston's experts are on hand in the Garden Center and Floral Shop from 9-5 every day but Sunday for the month of March. 508-435-3414

Where: Absolute Yoga, 77 West Main St., Hopkinton. What: Basic Yoga is geared toward beginners and those wishing to refresh their practice. What should I bring? A yoga mat, towel and water. Yoga mats are available for rental ($2) and purchase ($25-$50) What do I wear? Wear something that stretches and you find comfortable. Yoga is practiced barefoot. The room is heated. Can I eat before class? It is recommended that you practice yoga on an empty stomach. You can have a light snack 1-2 hours prior to class. Do you have to be flexible to practice yoga? No. Yoga can be adpated to all kinds of …

Hopkinton mom Amy Ritterbusch likes the book club on her street because it gives her a chance to meet people of all ages who are her neighbors. It's easy for all of us to meet people whose children are the same age as ours. And as a busy volunteer in Hopkinton, Amy meets lots of people. But recent fiction and getting to know the people on her street relaxes her. When it was her turn to choose a book, she chose Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. "I read the original," she said. "So I decided to try this and I liked it." There's nothing better than laughter as a way to relax. Ritterbusch also …

Victoria Saldana, like all teachers of young children everywhere, leads a busy life. Besides being a math tutor at Hopkinton's Center School, she has two children, ages 11 and 5, at her home in Franklin. So what does she do to relax? "I play piano," she said. Mostly she likes classical music but she also gets into Beatles tunes when she's in the mood. Victoria also reads historical fiction. "One of my favorites is Phillipa Gregory," she said, recommending Gregory's most recent novel, The White Queen. The White Queen is the story of the royal family at the center of what has become known as …

Karen Mezitt, a Hopkinton mother of three and buyer at Hopkinton's Weston Nurseries unwinds with a good cup of coffee, a good book and exercise. "I like non-fiction," Karen said Wednesday. She is in a book club and it was her turn to choose a book so she picked The Same Kind of Different as Me, by Ron Hall, Denver Moore and Lynn Vincent. Mezitt said the book is the true story of a wealthy art dealer who meets a homless man, how they become friends and learn to trust each other. "It's a great book, an uplifting story," she said. As for exercise, Karen said she gets plenty at work. Wednesday …