Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/1056266
TRAVEL 14 BCA A .COM WINTER 2018 Getty Images ESCAPE WINTER Quick getaway: Scottsdale, Arizona A quick trip south will land a sun-seeking family in Arizona, where daytime highs flirt with 20°C-plus all winter long, and the lure of the Wild West beckons for a weekend of sun, desert hikes and barbecue eats. Check in to the Westin Kierland Resort & Spa in Scottsdale (tip: prices are at some of their lowest in mid-December), which has a life-saving Kids Club – so parents can enjoy at least one adults-only dinner – as well as a giant pool, lazy river and waterslide. Many nearby attractions and activities are either free or affordable. The Western Spirit museum wows with cowboy artifacts, plus an impressive collection of Native American art. McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park boasts model railroads, a train you can ride and a western-themed playground. At the Desert Botanical Garden in Papago Park, between Phoenix and Scottsdale, stroll past desert flora, such as the stately saguaro and squat prickly pear cacti. To experience the real desert, head to nearby McDowell Sonoran Preserve and tackle the Taliesin Overlook Trail. This 6.4-km round-trip traverses a topography of cacti and scrubby bushes to a viewpoint over Frank Lloyd Wright's historic Taliesin West – once the architect's winter home and campus, now a museum and architecture school. Back downtown, nothing refuels like a brisket sandwich and fried chicken for the kids, with ribs and rye for parents, from Starlite BBQ. Then head back to the "ranch" for a restful poolside afternoon to prepare for another day on the range. Weeklong escape: Varadero, Cuba Fashion designer Christian Dior was so taken with this beach in Cuba, he created MEMBERS SAVE BCAA Members save or more at Westin Hotels and Resorts. bcaa.com/westin (clockwise from above) Stately saguaro cacti dot a desert landscape in Scottsdale, Arizona; all-inclusive resort guests frolic in Varadero's azure waters; vintage cars line the streets of Havana, Cuba; kids play in the spray on a FlowRider surf machine at Scottsdale's Westin Kierland Resort & Spa.