By Jae-Ha Kim
Tribune Content Agency
June 7, 2016
“Entertainment Tonight” correspondent Cameron Mathison says that living in California makes it easy for his family to take mini vacations throughout the year. “We have so many options for an easy weekend getaway,” says the 46-year-old actor. “We have the ocean, mountain, forest and desert choices — all within a few hours.”
Known for his breakthrough role portraying Ryan Lavery on “All My Children,” his latest project is the “Murder, She Baked” made-for-TV films on Hallmark’s Movies and Mysteries. The latest is “Murder, She Baked: A Deadly Recipe.” Mathison lives with his family in Altadena, Calif. Fans may stay in touch with him via Twitter and Facebook.
Q. What untapped destination should people know about?
A. Well, if it’s untapped I don’t want to give it away. I think the most incredible vacation I’ve been on to an almost untapped location was to the Galapagos Islands. It totally blew my mind. Every island is different. Some look like you are on the moon. The wildlife is everywhere, some animals only exist there and, of course, the history of Charles Darwin. It’s like nothing I’ve ever seen or done before.
Q. What was the first trip you took as a child?
A. The first trip I remember taking was to Disney World as a child. We lived in Montreal, so it was a big deal to make it down to Orlando. I was physically handicapped at the time — I had a degenerative bone disease called Legge Perthes in both my femur bones — and had to wear a large rigid metal A-frame brace on my legs. I remember how tricky it was to get around and how incredibly accommodating Disney was. I couldn’t fit on many of the rides and Disney did their best to fit me in where possible.
Q. Have you traveled to a place that stood out so much that you felt compelled to incorporate it into your work?
A. I haven’t really had the opportunity to incorporate a favorite place by choice, but I am lucky enough to work a ton in Vancouver. A lot of films shoot up there and I love that city. Turns out in the last four years, I’ve shot nine independent and TV movies there. When I’m there, I always make sure to hike The Chief and in the winter make a day trip up to Whistler Blackcomb to ski. Sometimes my family is able to visit me while shooting in Vancouver and we’ve been able to do some sightseeing together. Our favorites are Galiano Island and Capilano Suspension Bridge Park.
Q. Where is the most romantic destination?
A. The most romantic destination I have ever been to was the Four Seasons in the Maldives. My wife, Vanessa, and I went for our honeymoon and it was so spectacular it almost felt like a dream. I’m not even sure I can put it into words — perfectly clear water, white beaches, unimaginable snorkeling and scuba diving and, of course, the weather was flawless.
Q. What are your five favorite cities?
A. New York, Paris, London, Vancouver and Tokyo.
Q. Where would you like to go that you have never been to before?
A. This summer my wife and kids are doing a five-week tour of Europe and I’m joining them for 10 days. I’ve never been to Budapest, Vienna or Venice and I will visit those cities with them this July.
Q. What would be your ideal trip?
A. My dream trip is to Southeast Asia. I can’t wait to someday explore Thailand, Burma, Bali and the Philippines. There is so much natural beauty there with the white sandy beaches and exotic jungles. I absolutely love Southeast Asian food and I find their culture magnificent. I look forward to photographing the temples, stupas and Buddhas.
Q. What is your guilty pleasure when you’re on the road?
A. Warm cookies from room service. I can’t resist them.
Q. What is your best and/or worst vacation memory?
A. My favorite memory would be Maldives for my honeymoon and Galapagos. For my worst, one year we decided to drive to Vail for Christmas instead of fly. On our drive home, my daughter, Leila, got sick and she ended up throwing up the entire drive home. Needless to say, that was the last time we drove.
Q. To someone who was going to Vail for the first time, what would you recommend that they do during their visit?
A. If you’re going during the winter then skiing is a must! I would say definitely hit the back bowls, it’s what makes Vail so unique. There is an insane amount of wide open terrain that make powder days go on and on. If skiing is not your thing, then snowmobiling through the Aspen groves is a beautiful and fun experience. There are also a lot of fun summer activities like hiking up to Hanging Lake, which is a short drive just outside of Glenwood Springs. Hanging Lake has two waterfalls and is one of the most beautiful lakes in Colorado. For the adventurist, kayaking down the Colorado River is a blast!
Q. What are your favorite hotels?
A. The Bacara Resort & Spa in Santa Barbara and the Four Seasons anywhere! I also like the London in New York City.
Q. What are your favorite restaurants?
A. Lark Spur in Vail is amazing and also has a special place in my heart because it is where our wedding reception was held. Cafe Luxembourg in New York City is a neighborhood landmark in the Upper West Side that I love and it’s where my wife and I had our first date! I have to mention Le Jules Verne in Paris, not only because of the food but because you are in the Eiffel Tower! I also just discovered Union in Pasadena — so delicious.
Q. What kind of research do you do before you go away on a trip?
A. I actually leave that up to my very organized and thorough wife.
Q. Where have you traveled to that most reminded you of home?
A. Chicago. I grew up mostly in Toronto and they are very similar.
Q. If you’ve ever gone away for the holidays, which was the best trip?
A. We spend every other Christmas in Vail which is a winter wonderland. With the little town covered in snow, great skiing, snowmobiling, ice skating and world-class restaurants — it’s pretty hard to beat.
Q. Where are your favorite weekend getaways?
A. Being here in California, we have so many options for a weekend getaway. Some of our favorites are: a spa getaway at the Bacara Resort & Spa near Santa Barbara, skiing in Mammoth, glamping at El Capitan Canyon and canyoneering at Anza-Borrego State Park. We have ocean, mountain, forest and desert choices all within a few hours!
Q. What’s the most important thing you’ve learned from your travels?
A. A connection to all people. We may all come from different countries, have different traditions, have different beliefs, but underneath all of our differences, we all have the same heart wish. We all want to be happy and free from suffering, and in that way we are all exactly the same. The more I travel, the more I recognize that.
Q. When you go away, what are some of your must-have items?
A. When I am away for work, I need to have a way to FaceTime with my kids! We spend hours and hours on FaceTime or Skype. I don’t make them stay on camera with me, I just let them do their thing, but we keep FaceTime on in the room. It helps us not feel so far apart when I’m away for a long movie shoot or if I’m a long distance away for “Entertainment Tonight.” I’ll hear, “Hey, Dad. Can you help me with my homework?” and I’ll walk over to the camera and we’ll do a bit of homework and then we both go back to our own thing but leave the FaceTime on. I also like to travel with my new Sony Alpha a7 Mirrorless Digital Camera. I am an amateur photographer and love to take photographs while on set and, of course, when I travel for pleasure. I also just started using Adobe Lightroom to perfect all of my photos. It’s a photographer’s dream with all of its editing possibilities.
© 2016 JAE-HA KIM
DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY, LLC.
