In Greek mythology, the Phoenix rises from the flames to be born anew.

This year, although we didn't light ourselves on fire, we visited the deserts of Phoenix to kick-start our own health re-incarnation.

At the vast The Boulders Resort, we rode bikes around the five mile desert circuit, played tennis on the clay courts, rambled up the hills to see the amazing 12 million-year-old boulder formations up close, and jogged the nature path, with sightings of bright red cardinals and families of cottontail rabbits.

A vitamin-C facial in the world-class spa facility had our skin glowing anew, and all that was left to do was to cozy up in front of the wood burning fireplace at our private casita and plan for the morning.

Sunrise yoga? Because tomorrow is a brand new day…. —Sarah Bancroft

The Boulders Resort, a Waldorf Astoria Resort, 34631 N Tom Darlington Dr., Carefree, Arizona, 480-488-9009, www.theboulders.com

A recent trip to the “West’s most Western town” uncovered a hot new hotel, sizzling kitchens, and fab food carts.

Drinks
Does this outdoor fireplace look enticing? And so are the gorgeous pickled red and gold beets (served with whipped ricotta and crostini, $8) as well as the handcrafted classic cocktails at Old Town Whiskey, The Saguaro, 4000 N Drinkwater Blvd., Scottsdale, AZ, 480-308-1068, www.jdvhotels.com/hotels/saguaro

Lunch
Overlooking a beautiful park, the patio at Distrito lures with the scent of barbeque from the smoker. Serving modern Mexican fare, the whimsical décor (like this wall of Mexican wrestling masks) compliments the fun, interactive tasting dishes. Tortillas are pressed inside the restaurant and delivered to tables still warm in baskets. Fill them with whatever is in the smoker and you will be one happy camper. Distrito, The Saguaro, 4000 N Drinkwater Blvd., Scottsdale, AZ, 480-308-1068, www.jdvhotels.com/hotels/saguaro

Dinner
A play on “Food and Beverage,” FnB has been a hit with industry folks, serving street food dishes late at night on Sundays. But everyone will appreciate the chef’s hustle as she prepares delicious little dishes like braised leeks in mustard breadcrumbs topped with a fried egg ($14) in the salamander while grilling lamb tenderloin ($32) over charcoal in the middle of the room. It’s like dinner and a show, all in one. FnB, 7133 E. Stetson Dr., Scottsdale, AZ, 480-425-9463, www.fnbrestaurant.com

Room-Service
The new Saguaro Hotel is the place to stay so you can order the Old Town Burger ($12) with beef that’s coarsely ground in-house and tangy house-made Thousand Island, poolside or bedside, your choice. 4000 N Drinkwater Blvd., Scottsdale, AZ, 480-308-1068, www.jdvhotels.com/hotels/saguaro

Breakfast
Old Town Scottsdale Farmers Market. Beautiful produce (pink grapefruit for a quarter each) plus a row of food carts around the perimeter make it a great way to start the day. Go early for croissants from the French bakery stall, and coffee from this retro trailer called Shine. Saturday, 8am to 1pm, corner of Brown St. and First Ave, Scottsdale, AZ, www.arizonafarmersmarkets.com  —Sarah Bancroft

www.experiencescottsdale.com

For more photos from our Scottsdale trip, please visit our Editor’s Diary. 

“Travel more” appears on our to-do list every year, so maybe 2012 will be the year we finally dust off our adventure bags.

Instead of the usual Metropolitan or beach destinations, why not venture into a new kind of vacation: a volunteer one. GoVoluntouring is a new website that allows one to search over 900 volunteer vacations around the world, filtering the options by destination, program type, duration, cost ($0-$1500), fitness level, and age. So if your dream is to make friends with baby elephants in Thailand, bring out your inner Indiana Jones with an archeology team in the Grenadines, or get handy while building an orphanage in Guatemala—there is an option for that. — Anya Georgijevic

www.govoluntouring.com

Our secret undiscovered spots (until now!)

Union Wood & Supply Co.
When we inherited a 12-foot long harvest table with only one bench, Craig Pearce was the man to make us a matching one. He still does custom commissions (often using reclaimed materials from demolition sites) in his new Railtown workshop, but just opened is the retail store attached. Now you too can purchase the canvas shop aprons worn by the staff of Meat & Bread, plus industrial antiques, vintage wire baskets and lighting. Union Wood & Supply Co., 503 Railway St., Vancouver, 604-675-9033, www.unionwoodco.com—Sarah Bancroft

I Found Gallery
It's easy to get lost in I Found. This creative treasure trove on the edge of Main Street’s shopping district is filled with beading material, woven carpets and beautiful vintage clothing. I Found Gallery, 578 Main St., Vancouver, 604-876-2218, www.ifoundgallery.com —Kelsey Dundon

Gorilla Food
Sure, it’s been around for a while, but I’m always surprised how many people in the city have never heard of Gorilla Food. And when I tell them it’s vegan, wheat-free, gluten-free, sugar-free and raw, I get funny looks. Don’t knock it ‘til you try it: Gorilla Food features some of the most innovative raw cooking in town, offering items beyond just salads, such as zucchini noodles (or “new-dles”), sunflower seed pizzas, and even sugar-free cookies. Before starting Gorilla, chef Aaron Ash concocted his vegan delicacies for Beastie Boy Mike D, serving as his personal chef for several years. Time to ch-check it out. Gorilla Food, 101-436 Richards St., Vancouver, 604-684-3663, www.gorillafood.com —Anya Georgijevic

Kafka's Coffee and Tea
In a city jam-packed with coffee shops, Kafka's Coffee and Tea has become my go-to for consistently great coffee. A good book, a vanilla latte and one (or two) of their so-good-it-hurts caramel salt cookies and you'll be one happily caffeinated camper.  Kafka's Coffee and Tea,  2525 Main St., Vancouver, 604-569-2967, www.kafkascoffee.ca —Kelsey Mulyk

Envision Optical
While most of us spend our cash on accessories like bags and shoes, it is in fact your glasses that will make the biggest statement. They sit on your face! We love Envision Optical on Fourth, not only do they have one of the best selections of fashion eyeglass frames in the country, but they carry unique, hard-to-find European brands. There’s no chance you’ll run into someone wearing the same frames as you, which is a risk you take when you buy Prada or Gucci. The owner, Monny, is fantastic at helping you pick out the right frames for your face, and he’s always got something amazing tucked in the back. I guess you could say he has a discerning eye.  Envision Optical, 2675 W. Fourth Ave., Vancouver, 604-733-2020, www.envisionoptical.ca —Alexandra Suhner Isenberg

If your girlfriend getaways are like mine, conversations range from stock tips to sex tips and activities include both trail runs and booze runs.

You'll appeal to to all the whims in your diverse group (Bridesmaids, anyone?) with the Pan Pacific Whistler's new Sporty & Spa Girlfriend Getaway. Propose a toast in your luxurious suite right in the middle of the Village, then fill up on comfort food at the Irish pub while the night is young (there's plenty of time to burn it off on the dance floor). Moving on to day two, we highly recommend biking the Valley Trail to the Scandinave Spa near Lost Lake where hot and cold Nordic bath experiences and steams will shake off any vestiges of the night before.

But your high school mishaps, dating disasters and brutal student jobs—those stories are still sticking, apparently. —Sarah Bancroft

The Sporty & Spa Girlfriend Getaway at the Pan Pacific Whistler package for two ($699) includes two nights accommodation in a two bedroom suite, daily breakfast, one day's bike rental, a Scandinave Spa Bath experience, dinner at the Dubh Linn Gate Irish Pub and complimentary valet parking. Until October 10, 2011, www.panpacificwhistler.com

Summer may be over, but BC’s gentle climate allows for exciting road trips in the early fall.

Our road trip of choice? The Fall Okanagan Wine Tour, where we can be immersed in gorgeous surroundings with dreamy views and taste some of the best wines on the continent. So much to see, so much to taste…Here are top five Okanagan stops:

Tantalus
Tantalus is situated in the eastern slopes, overlooking Kelowna. Known for its remarkable whites, the winery is also part gallery, with a tasting room filled with works of art.

Editor’s pick: Riesling 2010

Nichol
This little gem of a winery is located at the tail end of Naramata Bench, overlooking Summerland. Nichol creates a wonderful array of wines cultivated on their unique soils made of glacial till, granite shards, bedrock and silt.

Editor’s pick: Cabernet Franc Syrah 2007

La Frenz
Also in Naramata Bench this charming little winery has swept up lots of awards in the last couple of years. Using biodynamic practices, its wines are sustainable and as tasty as it gets.

Editor’s pick: Sauvignon Blanc 2010

Blue Mountain
Blue Mountain overlooks the spectacular Vaseaux Lake, near the Okanagan Falls. As one of the oldest family-operated wineries in the valley, it has championed many new grape varieties in the region, making delicious…well, everything.

Editor’s pick: Gamay Noir 2010

Orofino
Located near Cawston in the Similkameen Valley, Orofino is Canada’s only strawbale constructed winery, keeping the wines naturally cool in the hot desert summer and maintaining constant barrel room temperature in winter. Known for exceptional reds, Orofino is a must visit.

Editor’s pick: Pinot Noir 2009 —Anya Georgijevic

The Fall Okanagan Wine Festival runs from September 29 to October 9, 2011, www.thewinefestivals.com

We love out-of-town guests.

Just not when they’re crashing on our couch. From now on, we’re sending our family and friends straight from YVR Arrivals to check in at the Burrard Hotel. The Vancouver staple has been a landmark since it first turned on its neon sign decades ago, but its brand new look earns it a spot in the hearts of the economically minded jetset. With an inner courtyard filled with palm trees and pastels, it hardly feels like Vancouver.

Huh. Maybe we’ll book a night there and leave our friends at our place instead. —Kelsey Dundon

The Burrard, 1100 Burrard St., Vancouver,  604-681-2331, www.theburrard.com

Our latest visit to BC's capital city uncovered the best new places to, eat, drink….and shop.

Shop
The neighbourhood of Oak Bay is home to a brand new women’s store Public, stocked with eye catching jewellery by Giles Brother (modeled after the designers’ grandmother’s estate collection), fine cashmere sweaters from England’s John Smedley, and Tibi New York. After, head next door to the new Vis-à-Vis winebar for a charcuterie plate. Public, 201-2250 Oak Bay Ave., Victoria, 250-590-6405, www.publicboutique.ca

(Let’s Hear it) For the Boys
Public’s sister store, Citizen, carries-carefully curated menswear and accessories like Filson bags, handmade shoes, reams of silk ties, Denham jeans and retro bicycles for the dapper man about town. Citizen Clothing, 2541 Estevan Ave., Victoria, 250-590-6716, www.citizenclothing.ca  

Do
Renting bikes from Cycle BC will get you to Oak Bay along the oceanfront in no time. Start at Beacon Hill Park, do the seaside route, and return via the Empress Hotel Veranda for a glass of rosé. Cycle BC, 685 Humboldt St.
, Victoria, 250-380-2453, www.cyclebc.ca

Spa
What’s a getaway without a spa stop? The boutique-size Spa at the Grand does a top-notch pedicure (while you recline on a bed) and the RMT massages were both therapeutic and relaxing. Hotel Grand Pacific, 463 Belleville St., Victoria, 250-386-0450, www.hotelgrandpacific.com

Dim Sum
A surprising discovery was the Ocean-Wise Dim Sum at The Pacific with locally-sourced ingredients. Order off the Asian tea menu (we loved The Philosopher Brew) and start with the BC Seafood Congee ($12) which is light and delicious. Cowichan Valley Springrolls ($8) and Qualicum Scallop Dumplings ($8) are a modern spin on locavore fusion—and a great idea, we might add. Hotel Grand Pacific, 463 Belleville St., Victoria, 250-386-0450, www.hotelgrandpacific.com

Fly
Helijet’s 25-minute harbour-to-harbour flights are the preferred mode of island hopping for those (like me) who hate to wait. The aerial views of porpoise pods? Bonus. www.helijet.com

Dine
Open daily with no reservations, the new 200-seat Zambri’s is truly an international-level restaurant in the shiny-new downtown Atrium building. Would saying it was the best meal of our year be too much? I think not. Dish after sublime dish—vegetable-forward and ultra-progressively Italian—was a delightful surprise. House-cured meats pushed appies up (bread dumplings with ground salumi wrapped in spec, do you hear me?) and silky, egg-y pastas roll off the tongue like the romance languages. Zambris, 820 Yates St., Victoria, 250-360-1171, www.zambris.ca

Dine Again
Ulla’s proprietors are a young couple who honed their skills at Vancouver’s Cibo among other fine dining establishments. On the edge of Chinatown, it’s a loft-y space with a formidable cookbook collection (try the Momofuku chicken wings, an ode to New York’s David Chang). A $7 glass of Cava sets the tone for a fun evening and pairs perfectly with the octopus salad ($12). Ulla, 509 Fisgard St., Victoria, 250-590-8795, www.ulla.ca —Sarah Bancroft

Read more about our Victoria trip in our Editors' Diary.

It’s not every day we ride in a private chopper.

Unless we’re hiking with the pioneers of the heli-adventure, that is. Canadian Mountain Holidays runs guided heli-hiking treks through the stunningly beautiful Bugaboo Mountains just outside Banff. There, we walked in the hoofsteps of mountain goats, summited thousand-foot peaks, and dipped our toes in alpine lakes before returning to the lodge for massages, whirlpools and the most gourmet fare we’ve ever been served in the backcountry.

Now that’s what we call roughing it. —Kelsey Dundon

From $2,490, www.canadianmountainholidays.com

Every corner of this mountain town boasts breathtaking vistas, but there’s much more to see in Canmore than just mountain peaks.

eat
Swine and dine. We think the TroUgh’s subtle pig theme gives us a green light to pig out on their award-winning fare.

stay
Don’t worry about packing light—the massive suites at the Grande Rockies Resort will fit you, your friends and all your oversized luggage too.

shop

Pick up some mountain-chic housewares at Stonewaters then grab some luxe Lollia bath products at Stella’s right next door.

see
It’s not just the fresh mountain air that’ll do you good. The Gaia Clinic offers everything from yoga to acupuncture to Shirodhara head massages.

do
Verde Day Spa just opened a new location at Grande Rockies Resort and an organic facial there is like a raw food diet for your pores.

—Kelsey Dundon