Grab the girls and head to the mountains for a weekend of spas, steaks and sun. 

dine
The brand new Sidecut steakhouse at the Four Seasons Hotel boasts an infrared grill that creates the perfect crispy char. Customize your steak with a choice of dipping sauces and rubs, like the spicy and smoky Edison’s Medicine. Sit on the pretty patio and marvel at the serene views. Is that a bear up there? www.fourseasons.com/whistler

drink
The Bearfoot Bistro’s new Miami-style poolside patio opened officially on July 1. If you can’t take the heat, duck into the restaurant’s new Belvedere Ice Room, don a Canada Goose-down parka, and taste specialty vodkas stored in a wall of ice. Now that’s cool. www.bearfootbistro.com

recover
The new Scandinave Spa off the Lost Lake Trail is a self-contained hydrotherapy haven. Detox in the Finnish sauna and steam room then refresh in the hot and cold plunge pools. Relaxation rooms stocked with contemporary magazines and a policy of silence will help with your head, as will a restorative bowl of lemongrass-miso soup in the bistro. From $55, www.scandinave.com

relax
Consider taking the Rocky Mountaineer train to Whistler and arrive already relaxed after a spectacular 3-hour journey through valleys, rivers and waterfalls not seen from the highway. A complimentary drinks cart (remember those?) is a welcome retro touch. Now that’s our idea of “personal training.” From $129, www.whistlermountaineer.com

If it’s good enough for Jennifer Aniston, it’s good enough for us. Mexico’s pristine and serene San Jose Del Cabo on the Sea of Cortes (think Cabo’s sophisticated sister) had us at “Ola.”    

stay
At the Mexican-owned Marquis Los Cabos resort, they’re so serious about relaxation, they’ll bury your BlackBerry for you. While pondering the hotel’s impressive collection of art and sculpture, enjoying spacious private casitas and eavesdropping on the international clientele, you won’t miss it a bit.

swim
The resort’s pool is a good metaphor for the pleasures you’ll have: absolutely infinite. If the soft, sandy beaches, crashing surf and grey whale sightings don’t get you, how about baby sea turtles?

spa
Sunrise yoga on the breezy spa deck will get those limbs limber for beach walks. Follow with an all-organic Holistic Breakfast of egg white omelets and celery smoothies and you’ve now earned those margaritas.

do
Take a trip onto the charming village of San Jose, where the boutique hotel Casa Natalia tucked off the main square offers sublime cocktails in a romantic courtyard, perfect for a marriage proposal. www.casanatalia.com

I Do
The stunning arch of the open-air lobby of Marquis Los Cabos mimics the shape of the Baja Peninsula. Could there be a more memorable setting for a sunset wedding?

To view rates and packages, visit www.marquisloscabos.com

An hour and a half outside of Vancouver, the city girl in us happily went country with the other kind of wild weekend in Harrison-Agassiz.

stay
Whether you vacationed there as a kid or not, the Harrison Hot Springs Resort & Spa will have you feeling nostalgic (think Kellerman’s Resort in Dirty Dancing). In between dips in the hot mineral pools and sessions at the Healing Springs Spa, make sure you reserve one night to mambo like Baby and Johnny at the historic Copper Room. Book a deluxe lakeview suite in the East Tower or really commit to the kitsch in one of their retro cottages. Rooms $159-$284, www.harrisonresort.com

eat
Hop in the hybrid and take a self-guided Circle Farm Tour of the area. There are stops for everything from coffee to hazelnuts, but our faves are the artisan cheeses from the award-winning Farm House Cheeses and Limbert Mountain Farm with its hillside garden of herbs and quaint tea room where they serve up scrumptious lunch and afternoon tea on weekends. www.circlefarmtour.com

If you’re the biking type, then you’ll want to set aside August 21 for the Slow Food Cycle, which stops at those same spots, and ends with a Chehalis Traditional Salmon Feast. www.slowfoodvancouver.com

do
Take the gang on a tour of the Harrison River by boat to see wildlife (a Sasquatch even) and let the wind blow in your hair. Especially spectacular is the Fall Eagle Tour, where hundreds perch to feast on spawning salmon. Or if you prefer to do the fishing yourself, catch and release trips can be arranged. www.harrisonecotours.com

Check out photos from our Harrison-Agassiz getaway on the Editors’ Diary.

“Sea, Sex and Sun” sings Brigitte Bardot, but if you’re willing to trade sea for Seabreeze cocktails, you’ll be right at home at The Parker, Palm Springs.

South of France meets Alice in Wonderland best describes the sprawling grounds, where dwarf rabbits hop along the winding paths amid massive bougainvilleas and outsize rosemary bushes.

A tiny door in the hedge leads into the lawn of the marble ballroom, and an authentic French pétanque court with French bistro furniture lures near the adult Lemonade Stand.

Twelve beautiful private villas are celeb-friendly (Will Ferrell was checking out when we arrived) and even the regular rooms come with Jonathan Adler décor, chic amenities, and cult novels like Jacqueline Susann’s Once is not Enough.

We couldn’t agree more.

www.theparkerpalmsprings.com

To see behind-the-scenes photos in Palm Springs, please visit our Editors' Diary.

Los Angeles may not have the exotic elegance of, say, Istanbul or Barcelona, but with a little digging we unearthed bits of other cities hidden beneath her blonde, Botoxed exterior.

stay
The revamped Petit Ermitage Hotel in West Hollywood has the boho elegance of a pied-à-terre you’d find on the France-Italy border. Inspired by his world travels, the owner sourced the décor from far-flung places like Ecuador and Jerusalem. We spent our time monopolizing the rooftop, where there’s a romantic garden and saltwater pool. Make sure to book your stay for a Sunday when they screen old movies outside (faux fur blankets and popcorn provided). From $198, www.petitermitage.com

brunch
Joan’s On Third reminds us of New York City’s Dean & Deluca with its laidback gourmet way. Sit yourself at a street-side café table and keep your eyes open for celebs doing the same. www.joansonthird.com

drink
The equivalent to that cool old bar you stumbled upon in Chicago or London is Silver Lake’s new Thirsty Crow. Specializing in whiskey and bourbon-based drinks and dimly lit, you can kill two birds with one stone here—those being, drowning the sorrows of your last relationship then rendezvous-ing with a new manly man. www.thirstycrowbar.com

dine
The revelation that Ryan Gosling co-owns a Moroccan restaurant called Tagine is, shamefully, what led us to eat there, but it was the fabulous food that redeemed us. From the first forkful of cucumber, tomato and lemon sorbet salad to the last spoonful of sea bass bathed in butternut squash soup, we were smitten. www.taginerestaurant.com

See photos from our trip to L.A. on today's Editors' Diary.

Having your BFF from Calgary crash at your small studio apartment when she was single was one thing, but now that she totes a kid, husband and pooch, you’re threatening to make them sleep in their SVU.

In the Ecoloft, they get a place of their own and quash their carbon footprint in one fell swoop. As cool as it is eco-friendly, the modern loft in the residential Cedar Cottage neighbourhood is solar-heated and built with non-toxic and sustainable materials like bamboo. All the conveniences of home are included too—full kitchen, in-suite laundry and HDTV.

Now you can crash on their couch after stopping by for dinner.

From $99/night, Ecoloft, 1155 E. 23rd Ave, Vancouver, 604-736-5797, www.ecoloft.ca

The greenest city in the U.S. is a perfect mix of laid-back cool and thrilling buzz. An ideal weekend getaway, here are our picks for the City of Roses.

sleep
The Nines is a chic space with an impressive modern art collection.You may find yourself sharing the elevator with one of the L.A. Lakers at this downtown hotel that’s popular among the It crowd. From $159 per night. The Nines, 525 SW Morrison, Portland, 1-877-229-9995, www.thenines.com

shop
A graduate of the Parsons School of Design, Portland-based Modi Soondarotok worked for Peter Som, Donna Karan and Armani before launching Idom, her line of colourful, vintage-inspired pieces. We swooned over every dress at her charming boutique.  Idom, 827 NW 23rd Ave. Portland, 503-477-6818, www.idomdesigns.com

eat
Named as one of the “Top 10 Best New Restaurants in America” by GQ, Ping lives up to the hype. Its menu is packed with mouth-watering “multi-Asian” fare. Start with a selection of the skewers (from $2) and you'll be dreaming about the laksa nonya coconut noodle soup ($12) long after the last bite. Ping, 102 NW Fourth Ave., Portland, 503-229-7464, www.pingpdx.com

sip
Portland is known for its coffee fanaticism and Stumptown Coffee Roasters indeed serves one of the best cups we’ve ever had. Stumptown Coffee Roasters, www.stumptowncoffee.com

swirl
When it’s time for a stronger bevy, head to the Doug Fir Lounge where you’ll find hipsters of all ages listening to live acts like Sloan or St. Vincent while enjoying local brews. Doug Fir Lounge, 830 East Burnside, Portland, 503-231-9663, www.dougfirlounge.com

Mumbai, formerly known as Bombay, is India's smooth and sultry gateway city. Herewith, our insider's guide to the bustling metropolis.

spa
At Tahaa Spa, a jewel-like space near the well-shaded, old money neighbourhood of Malabar Hills, therapists trained from the famed Banyen Tree spa in Thailand work out your kinks. Expect your bliss state to survive the city's chaos (well, at least for an afternoon). 69/A, Manisha Building, Napeansea Road, Mumbai, 022 23681001.

shop
Head straight to the flagship Bungalow 8, an eclectic gallery-shop where Indian design and intricate craftsmanship flaunt a contemporary global twist.  Find Ikat print dresses by Parisian designer Mathieu Leguillon (formerly at Lanvin), jewellery by the owner's mother, artist Jamini Ahluwalia, and accoutrements and furniture that you will want to ship home immediately. www.bungaloweight.com

eat
Old favourite Indigo, where the Clintons dine on their visits to India, is the opposite of stuffy. Waltz into the chic space in an old Colaba bungalow and sip a glass of surprisingly tasty Indian vino at the long bar, then dine on local oysters and whatever happens to be on the daily specials menu. The food is sublime and the people watching essential. www.foodindigo.com

drink
Hit up Blue Frog, a space-age-esque lounge, bar and restaurant in the city's revitalized Mill District, which features some of the best acoustics in the city. Perfect for listening to a new Indo-jazz band or some indie music. After a mango martini, you'll be humming along. www.bluefrog.co.in

Sure spring break used to mean cheap trips to Mexico with the girls, too many tequila poppers and questionable hookups with frat boys from a fly-over state.

For a more civilized spring break, book into The Modage, a charming and spacious townhouse in Vancouver’s Kitsilano neighbourhood. Made for a family-size entourage, the eclectic and modern space has two bedrooms, a den, two-and-a-half baths (no screaming matches over the shower!) and sleeps six.

The eclectic and colourful decor mixes vintage pieces with modern must-haves (like flat screen TVs and free internet), and little add-ons like baby equipment rentals and ready-to-cook gourmet meals from Indishspensable make traveling with the clan easy breezy.

Break out the tequila!

For rates and Olympic booking inquiries visit www.modagevancouvervacationrentals.com

The next time your BFF comes into town on business, tell her to tack on a weekend and pack lighter.

It sounds backwards, but not if she stays at the Georgian Court Hotel, which in its recent renovations added the Orchid Floor suited solely to the needs of female travelers. For no additional charge the 18 rooms include a flat iron, curling iron, ample-sized Aveda toiletries and a ladies-only emergency kit stocked with neutral nylons, sewing kit, hair spray, nail polish remover and all important products for that time of the month.

There are even style magazines and a yoga mat, so she can multitask picking her Proenza Schouler Spring 2010 with posing in Sun Salutation.

From $127 per night, Georgian Court Hotel, 773 Beatty St., Vancouver, 1-800-663-1155, www.georgiancourt.com