Jae-Ha Kim
Chicago Tribune
September 24, 2019
Amanda Deibert remembers the family vacations she took as a child with fond memories. “When I was a little girl, we only had one vacation,” says the television and comic book writer (“Wonder Woman ‘77,” “DC Super Hero Girls,” “Teen Titans Go!”). “It was road trips from Florida to North Carolina to visit my grandparents. I loved stopping at all the weird roadside attractions.” Based out of Los Angeles with her family, Deibert recommends visiting North Carolina’s Shackleford Banks: “It took me a long time to understand that not everyone went to the beach by taking a boat to an island full of wild ponies.” Active on social media, Deibert stays in touch with her readers on Twitter and Instagram.
Q. What is your favorite vacation destination?
A. I am a person who likes to go someplace new if I am traveling for vacation, but one of my favorite places is Scotland. The royal mile in Edinburgh is a must for the first visit. It’s all the touristy things you’d want to do in an easily walkable jaunt. Also, Edinburgh has incredible arts festivals, so if you are there during one you absolutely should experience it. I also recommend getting off the beaten path and finding local places and events. Glasgow is also incredible, as is Loch Ness. And by all means, go island hopping through the isles. It’s just stunning.
Q. What was your first trip out of the country?
A. Canada with my grandparents as a teen. We stayed on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls, which is stunning, and then went to Toronto, which felt like a cleaner, more European version of New York City to me as a teen. I happened to be in Toronto the day gay marriage was legalized there and as a closeted teen from the deep southern United States, it felt like hope. I hid a newspaper in my bag to bring home.
Q. How has traveling changed since you became a mother?
A. It’s much less frequent and becomes more calculated. We’ve taken road trips up and down the entire Pacific Coast of the U.S. with our 4-year-old and she’s been fantastic. She’s also a really great flyer, but we haven’t taken her out of the country yet. The other big thing for me is that I am not quite as adventurous a traveler now that I am a mom. In my early 20s, I studied abroad and went backpacking through the U.K. alone and traveled to Germany by myself. I didn’t have much of a plan backpacking and would just hope for room at hostels. It was reckless, but also a fantastic way to meet people and to be open to experiences. One day in Scotland, I ended up arm in arm with a grandmother I met on a bus as she gave me an impromptu tour. It can be really magical. But now I am a mom and someone depends on me, so my travel plans are a lot more practical.
Q. Where is the most romantic destination?
A. It’s cliche to say Paris, but the entire place is beautiful and poetic and thoughtful. It’s one of the loveliest places I have ever been, both visually and culturally. For me personally, New York City is romantic. I got married in Central Park in front of the Bethesda Fountain, and then a few years later we went back and rented a rowboat in that same area while I was pregnant with my daughter. I’ve had so many life milestones there, so it wins hands down, but I do think anywhere can be romantic with the right travel companion.
Q. Do you speak any foreign languages? If so, do you pick up new languages easily?
A. I speak conversational Spanish and have an OK time picking up languages. When I was in Germany, I learned enough to get by and had the same experience in France. I feel guiltily spoiled that so many people speak English, which makes traveling even to places where I don’t know the language a lot easier.
Q. What would be your dream trip?
A. My wife really wants to take our daughter to Italy for a family trip. She’s a visual artist and the idea of sharing her favorite places and works of art with our child is so appealing to her that the fantasy has kind of rubbed off on me. Really though, my dream trip is going with my wife and daughter to someplace none of us has ever been and experiencing the adventure together. I don’t even really care where. If I had the means and the time, I’d want to travel nonstop.
Q. Where would you like to go that you have never been to before?
A. So many places. Japan is very high on my list as is Hawaii for personal reasons. My family lived in Hawaii and I’ve heard so many stories, but I’ve never been which is kind of criminal considering I am only a short flight away.
© 2019 JAE-HA KIM
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