We headed to Modernism Week to bring you the best and the brightest of Palm Springs (just in time for Coachella).

Stay
The new Saguaro Palm Springs took a foreclosed Holiday Inn and brought it back to life in full living colour, adding an Iron Chef for good measure. With wide-open mountain views (request 3rd floor facing the pool), daily yoga on the lawn, cruiser bikes, Ping Pong and boules, the place was built for good times. But if you prefer to doze by the pool listening to French pop songs, gazing up at the palm trees and sipping bubbly, we’ll meet you there. Saguaro Palm Springs, 1800 E. Palm Canyon Dr., Palm Springs, CA, 877-808-2439, www.thesaguaropalmsprings.com

Shop
At the recently opened Mr Cox vintage couture (named for the owner’s late dapper dad) we spied a gorgeous YSL cape with Gwyneth written all over it, ’70s caftans for the pool, and a gold-and-ecru Pierre Cardin wet bar (pictured) that we really need for the cabana.  Mr. Cox, 457 N Palm Canyon Dr., Palm Springs, CA, 760-898-6443, www.mrcoxps.com

Do
The Sunnylands 200-acre estate in nearby Rancho Mirage is a sight to behold, with its golf course, stunning Visitor’s Center (with Rodin’s Eternal Spring sculpture sitting casually in the corner), and of course, the estate itself, built by publishing magnate Walter Annenberg, the founder of Seventeen magazine. Go for lunch and peruse the multi-media exhibits that take you back to the height of the Mad Men era. The Sunnylands, 37977 Bob Hope Dr., Rancho Mirage, CA, 760-328-2829, www.sunnylands.org

Eat
The new Tinto restaurant, helmed by celebrity chef Jose Garces, is named for red wine (in Spanish) and looks to the Basque region for culinary inspiration. And inspired we were by standout dishes like Suquet ($11), a sublime tomato-saffron soup with mussels, shrimp, escarole and potato (so much so we ordered it three times)! The arugula salad with Serrano ham and perfect spheres of deep fried goat’s cheese was an excellent pre-flight snack. At dinner, be sure to finish with the date ice cream (even if you are dateless). www.jdvhotels.com/dining/riverside/tinto

Book
Palm Springs Modernism Week, February 14-24, 2013, www.modernismweek.com

For more from Modernism Week, please visit our Editors’ Diary.

With the best Spring skiing conditions in years, it was time to hit the slopes. The vacation-planning company Enjoy Whistler has local experts who craft itineraries that can save you time and money, plus experience more of the mountains. We put ourselves in their capable hands:

Valley Girl
Off to the Callaghan Valley for an epic day in the Whistler Olympic Park, where the cross-country tracks ($22) are for all levels. But weilding a rifle in the marksmanship portion of the Olympic biathalon course had us shooting sharp ($10/round).  www.whistlerolympicpark.com

Suite Sleep
Our junior suite at the Westin Resort and Spa had an amazing view of the Blackcomb gondola and managed to feel as cozy as a cabin while offering the amenities of a world-class hotel (like its own daycare). It’s home to Whistler’s most lovely lobby, an oasis of fireplaces, couches, and fragrant bouquets of sweet peas. Westin Resort and Spa, 4090 Whistler Way, 604-905-5000, www.westinwhistler.com 

Moving Mountains
Nothing beats heading up Blackcomb in the sun when there are five feet of fresh powder. And when the Telus World Ski and Snowboard Festival arrives (April 13-22) there will be even more to love.

Giddyup!
Kids will love a apres-ski sleigh ride at Nicklaus North golf course complete with hot chocolate, warm blankets, and a pair of horses called Tom and Jerry. www.blackcombsleighrides.com

Best Bistro
The set menus at Alta Bistro open up the local larder with a rutabagga soup from Pemberton’s North Arm Farm, and charcuterie made by nearby Nita Lake Lodge. Owned by seasoned locals, it’s the toughest reservation to get in town. Alta Bistro, 4319 Main St., Whistler. BC, 604-932-2582, www.altabistro.com —Sarah Bancroft

To book and view Whistler experiences, visit www.enjoywhistler.com

First comes Valentine’s Day, then comes Family Day.

Whether it’s a getaway for two, or for the entire gang, hit the highway and check-in to Canmore’s Mystic Springs Chalets and Hot Pools for the weekend.

Wrapped around a snowy courtyard and steaming hot pools and nestled under the Three Sisters Peaks, each two-storey, two-bedroom chalet sleeps up to six adults and includes a dining area, kitchen and living room. 

After a day of hiking or skiing, when the going gets tough with your own sisters, or, love-forbid, your Valentine, you can always escape from the escape with an on-site spa treatment.

Chalets from $199 (two bed chalet, sleeps 4), Mystic Springs Chalets and Hot Pools, 140 Kananaskis Way Canmore, 1-866-446-9784, www.mysticsprings.ca

One of the many Turks and Caicos Islands, Providenciales' (Provo to the locals) turquoise waters and white beaches make it the perfect place for some sun, swim, rest and relaxation.

sleep
Take island chic to a new level at the uber-modern Gansevoort Turks and Caicos, the sister hotel to New York’s Meatpacking District location. We loved the outdoor yoga area (catch a class early before the heat sets in) and that each of the 91 rooms (from $350) has a view of the pristine Grace Bay beach. But beware: it’s a daily toss-up between the sand and the hotel’s stunning 7,000-square-foot pool. Grace Bay Beach, Providenciales, 888-844-5986, www.gansevoortturksandcaicos.com

sip
Drinking out of a coconut is fun, but when a refreshing brew calls, try the island’s own Turk’s Head beer. This lager is light in appearance but heavy on taste. Turk’s Head Brewery, Discovery Dr., Providenciales, 649-941-3637.

eat
Tucked away in the Village at Grace Bay, Lemon Café blends Morroccan cuisine with Mediterranean influences. Order the grilled calamari stuffed with merguez, olives and rice or try one of three tasty tagines. Village at Grace Bay,
 Providenciales, 649-941-4059, www.lemoncafe.tc