Feeling the need to build an ark? Don't gather the animals two-by-two just yet, there is a warm-weather reprieve in sight.

Take a jaunt to sunny Palm Springs for a Vitamin Daily-approved vacation at completely reno'd desert bungalow. You'll live like California royalty with high-quality modern designer furniture fit for a magazine spread (speaking of, it will be a magazine spread soon enough!). Lounge on the 1800 square foot pool deck or seek some shuteye in the shade in an outdoor cabana-covered bed. Make mealtime a breeze with an outdoor kitchen and dining area or ditch dinner prep altogether (after all, you're on vacation) and hit one of the nearby downtown restaurants for some West Coast fare.

Tip your family and friends to what you really want for Christmas and forward this dose (or play hero this holiday season, and book it as a gift for someone else).

California, here we come.

Exclusive to VitaminDaily.com readers: use promo code VitaminVIP for  25% off your booking - click here for more details.

We like our wilderness without too much wildness.

So we were in our element at the West Coast Wilderness Lodge on the Sunshine Coast. Its most recent addition – six ocean-view rooms perched on top of a cliff – is so new, this editor was the first person to stay in her room. But you won’t want to spend all your time in your suite. Hop in a kayak and explore the islands outside your window. Or take a hike to the Skookumchuck Narrows and treat yourself to a Skookum cinnamon bun at the Green Rosette Bake Shop at the trailhead.

It’s a walk on the not-too-wild side.—Kelsey Dundon

From $175 a night. Westcoast Wilderness Lodge, 6649 Maple Rd., Egmont, 604-883-3667, www.wcwl.com

Ford isn’t the only Harrison that has us smitten. B.C.’s Harrison Hot Springs provides fun in the sun for the whole family.

Stay
The little-known rustic cottages (if you can call flat screen TV’s rustic) book up fast, but are situated in the resort’s beautiful garden in close proximity to the nature trails. Plus, they are pet friendly. www.harrisonresort.com/cottages

Spa
The medicinal pools at Harrison Resort and Spa are the perfect compliment to a soothing facial from the Healing Waters Spa, which uses skincare products from France. www.harrisonresort.com/spa-treatments

Rent
These 5-seater pedicabs are a fun way to explore the quaint town (via bikelane) and the pretty lakeshore. Keep the kids away from the horn! $25/hour, Jamie’s Quadricycle Rentals, 604-703-8951.

Do
If two-wheels are more your thing, sign up for the upcoming Slow Food Cycle Tour in neighbouring Aggasiz this July. www.slowfoodvancouver.com

Visit
Make sure to stop at Farmhouse Cheese to see baby goats and pick up their famous cheese, yogourt, and yes, ice cream. www.farmhousecheeses.com —Sarah Bancroft

For more information about the area and events, please visit www.harrisonresort.com

Of course you can’t skip the Louvre and Ladurée, but these insider spots will have you feeling like a Parisian.

Do
Avoid the crowds of Champs-Élysées and be a flâneur in Paris’s chicest neighborhood, Le Marais. Here you’ll find the city’s hidden gems, from Jewish bakeries to art galleries to independent designer shops, including the elusive Azzedine Alaïa. Keep an eye out for style-savvy Parisians as they stroll away on these cobblestone streets. Métro: Saint-Paul (M1).

Shop
Our fashion editor—a former Parisienne—recommended Didier Ludot, a high-end vintage and consignment store. It’s truly spectacular, with finds ranging from $200 costume earrings by Dior to several-thousand dollar Givenchy couture. Tip: if it looks closed, ring the doorbell. Didier Ludot, 24 Galerie Montpensier - Jardin du Palais Royal, 01 42 96 06 56, www.didierludot.fr

Eat
The French chef Pierre Jancou of Vivant is a trailblazer. This tiny 20-something seat spot serves traditional French fare, the greatest selection of natural wines, foie gras out of this world, and perhaps the finest bread in the right bank. Hip Parisians love this spot, so reservations are a must. Vivant, 43 rue des Petites Ecuries, 01 42 46 43 55.

Drink
People often skip Le Café de Flore, deeming it too touristy. But the truth is that this legendary café, once visited by the likes of Sartre and de Beauvoir, is just as beloved by locals. Its fashionable clientele includes Sofia Coppola and Inès de la Fressange. We spotted the illustrious Yohji Yamamoto enjoying his afternoon espresso! Le Café de Flore, 172 Boulevard Saint-Germain, 01 45 48 55 26, www.cafedeflore.fr

See
In the city where one could go to the Louvre and Palais de Tokyo, it might sound silly—bordering on crazy—to be recommending a public toilet. If I tell you that the Toilettes de la Madeleine is the world’s most beautiful bathroom, we wouldn’t be lying. A throwback to the dreamy Belle Epoque era, its carved wood panels and stained glass windows will transport you to a different time, Midnight In Paris style. —Anya Georgijevic

Toilettes de la Madeleine, Place de la Madeleine
Check out our Parisian Street Style pics in our Editors’ Diary.

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

One of the best ways to beat the winter blues is to book a holiday as far away as possible from the cold. Of course you’ll need some new threads to go with that holiday. Here are some of the best resort 2012 dresses, depending on your holiday budget.

Hut on a private dock in the Maldives
A dream holiday deserves a gorgeous dress, and this Jason Wu number fits the bill. $1785 from The Room at The Bay, 674 Granville St., Vancouver, 604-754-4672, www.thebay.com

Villa in Bali
This candy pink Sachin + Baby dress has discreet woven pleats and will be perfect for dinners overlooking the sunset. $532 from Violet Boutique, 3012 Granville St., Vancouver, 604-569-1514, www.violetboutique.ca

Hotel in Hawaii
Allison Wonderland’s belted pink dress can be worn barefoot on the beach, or with flat sandals whilst sipping Blue Hawaiis. $184 from www.allisonwonderland.ca

Timeshare in Mexico
This dress’ loose back leaves lots of room for a cooling breeze, and we love the abstract painted print. $69.95 from H&M Pacific Centre, 609 Granville St., Vancouver, 604-692-0308, www.hm.ca —Alexandra Suhner Isenberg

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

“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.