We catch some rays

It turns out that sunlight, at least in small doses, may actually be good for us. It generates vitamin D, which helps reduce the risk of cancer, fight osteoporosis, and alleviate depression.

Try something new:

Journey to the sun. Yuma, Arizona, claims

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We're farmer groupies

We graze on fruits and veggies and nuts such as raw almonds and macadamias. Farmers' markets are what we do for fun. And don't even get us started on overnight farm stays. Lucky us. Plus veggies pack antioxidants, which help fight aging, and blueberries are the superfruit; they also may improve brain functioning.

Try something new: Visit Bybee-Nims Blueberry Farms (mid-Jul-end of Aug; bybeenimsfarms.com or 425/888-0827) in the shadow of Mt. Si, 30 miles east of Seattle. Check local harvest.org for fresh produce sources.

We drink wine

Scientists now think a molecule called resveratrol--found in grape skins--may play a role in longevity and are working on a pharmaceutical form of it. In the meantime, a glass can't hurt. Try something new: Sign up for a daylong retreat ($150; reservations required; deloachvineyards.com or 707/526-9111) that combines yoga, a garden tour, a vegetarian meal, and wine tasting at DeLoach Vineyards in Sonoma's Russian River Valley. (Have some Pinot Noir--it's believed to have some of the higher levels of resveratrol.)

We enjoy spas

Stress creates the hormone cortisol, which promotes brain aging. There's no better place to relax than a spa, and the West is the capital of therapies. By the way, enough can't be said for human touch (hint: massages).

Try something new: Detoxify with an adobe clay wrap at the Golden Door Spa at the Boulders Resort in Scottsdale ($160; 34631 N. Tom Darlington Dr.; thebaoulders.com or 800/553-1717).

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We love to inhale

Scientists once believed that brain cells slowly die and are never replaced. Now evidence shows that physical activity and deep breathing regenerate neurons.

Try something new: Take a meditation retreat at Spirit Rock Meditation Center in West Marin. California (retreats from $280; reservations required; spiritrock.org or 415/488-0164 ext. 234) or a workshop in Anusara yoga (anusara.com) to calm the mind and practice deep breathing.

We take stairs. We climb mountains

Half of our functional loss--we're talking muscle mass and bone density--after the age of 50 is attributable to inactivity and lack of exercise. Physical activity helps sharpen the brain too (perhaps more so than mental activity).

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Try something new: Weight-bearing exercise, strength training, and flexibility are the holy trinity. On a San Francisco weekend, climb the Filbert or Lyon stairs. In Santa Barbara, take the "thousand steps" to the beach (more steps, fewer people). In Boulder, you can do it all--hike, bike, climb a mountain.

The following people helped with the information for this article: nutritionist Cristiana Paul, gerontologist Kelly Ferrin, super-centenarian researcher Dr. L. Stephen Coles, and Dr. S. Mitchell Harman of the Kronos Longevity Research Institute.