written by Marjorie Rothstein

Remember the back-to-school days where your first assignment was “What I did on my summer vacation”? (A show and tell with photos and props.)

The summer of 2010 is almost over and it went by too fast. I didn’t get to spend enough time on the beach, walking along the water’s edge or even swimming in the ocean. I didn’t go to an outdoor concert in an amphitheater to hear one of my favorite Rock n’ Roll oldies but goodies. (This Labor Day weekend is Earth, Wind and Fire at the Hollywood Bowl.) I didn’t swim enough in the warm pool, or do my moonlit laps as the sunsets and the full moon is rising. I didn’t even have a summer lover or romance leading to a long-term commitment as I had planned. Many of my friends were traveling the south of France or Tuscany, or just back east to visit friends and family . I spent most of the time hanging out with friends.

Being a July 4 Birthday girl, I started out with a bang! I promised myself that while everyone else was celebrating Independence Day, I would make sure I did something special for my day, too. But this year, I didn’t end up on the beach watching the fireworks in Malibu. I did plan something very special for myself. Something that was so great, it would last the rest of the year. I am passionate about off-season travel, so while everyone is headed towards the beach, I go to the most unpopular places, Sometimes Florida and this year, Tucson, Arizona, especially to spend a week at Canyon Ranch . As a spa trends specialist, I had heard of this leading edge resort that is “fundamentally a boomer brand with an average clients cluster around 50″. (C/o Newsweek Magazine, 10/15/07) Founded by Mort Zuckerman in 1975 after having an epiphany in his own life, at the age of 50, from overweight and out of shape to younger than his years in a couple of months at a ‘fat farm’. He decided to follow his heart (which was not in such good shape, his body) and create his own resort spa environment that dealt with the whole person. Not just a spa to get pampered and go home to the same old habits, his dream was to help others change their lifestyle and bring home healthy habits.

While dealing with weight, health challenges and overall wellbeing, this resort lives up to its reputation as the premier destination spot to deal with weight and pampering and fitness, covering all the bases for the mind/body/spirit trend. As a trendsetter, this resort has always led the way, with a full program on nutrition and gourmet health food and medical workups. The Signature programs offered are so diverse, from Life Enhancement to Executive Health Packages, as well Golf to Peak Performance, Continuing Medical Education to the basic weight loss/change your life here to last a lifetime. For some, it is the turning point and last ‘resort’ and, for others, it is a way of life that is in place with yearly visits and life management programs.

For me, it was a chance to get an overview of the ...