Category: Travel

Go Away With … Matt Marinovich

Jae-Ha Kim

Author Matt Marinovich says that his ultimate excursion would involve his career. “As a writer, I would love to be able to cover a true crime story that would lead me to strange places across the country, preferably in a mid-sized rental car,” says Marinovich, whose latest thriller — “The Winter Girl: A Novel” (Doubleday, $24.95) — is set in the Hamptons. “I’ve always envied the backstory of how Truman Capote became involved with ‘In Cold Blood.’ It was one of the most memorable books I’ve read.”

Go Away With … Isidora Goreshter

Jae-Ha Kim

“Shameless” actress Isadora Goreshter says, “There’s nothing in the world quite comparable to Los Angeles, but I have visited Russia with my family and was able to see where my roots come from. I am first-generation American, so I was raised immersed in Russian culture, art and food; so Russia, in a way, reminded me of my childhood home.”

Go Away With … Tia Mowry

Jae-Ha Kim

Sixteen years after Tia Mowry became a household name on the sitcom, “Sister, Sister,” the busy actress stars in two series. She appears on TV Land’s “Instant Mom” and “Tia Mowry at Home,” her own lifestyle show on the Cooking Channel. Married to actor Cory Hardrict, she says her family travels all the time and never tires of it.

Go Away With … Serdar Acar

Jae-Ha Kim

“Each language has its own advantages,” says Dino Lingo founder Serdar Acar. “I realized that being able to communicate in (more) languages opened new doors and opportunities for me. But when it comes to traveling, I think English speakers are a bit luckier, because you can find an English-speaking person most of the time, especially if you stick to the tourist routes. That is why most people in other countries learn English.”

Go Away With … Kunal Nayyar

Jae-Ha Kim

“It’s interesting living and working in two different countries — both India and the United States,” says “The Big Bang Theory” star Kunal Nayyar. “Whenever I have time, I go to India and see my mom and dad. We’ll be there for Christmas. And for work, I’m based out of Los Angeles.”

Go Away With … Lea Salonga

Jae-Ha Kim

Broadway star Lea Salonga’s latest role is in “Allegiance.” Starring opposite George Takei, she portrays an American woman of Japanese descent whose family is locked away in an internment camp during World War II. Based out of Manila, Salonga has relocated to New York for the production’s run. Just 17 when she auditioned for “Miss Saigon” — a role that would win her a Tony Award — Salonga has gone on to star in musicals such as “Les Miserables.”

Go Away With … Cary Elwes

Jae-Ha Kim

“I’m blessed in my life to have had the good fortune to travel and I never take that for granted,” says actor Cary Elwes. “It’s a wonderful gift to go to new places and meet new people.” Elwes’ breakthrough role came almost 30 years ago when he was selected to play the dashing (and funny) Westley in the movie “The Princess Bride.” Since then, the Los Angeles-based Brit has appeared in numerous films, such as “Glory,” “Liar Liar” and “Saw.”

Go Away With … Megan Alexander

Jae-Ha Kim

“I grew up in Seattle, so Hawaii was a popular destination for my family and a decently close plane ride,” says “Thursday Night Football” sports reporter Megan Alexander. “Lahaina, Maui, has got to be one of the most beautiful islands on the planet. The beaches are beautiful, the Hawaiian people are so relaxed and friendly and the tropical drinks are delicious, because of the fresh fruit. There is just something magical about the plane touching down in Hawaii and the pilot saying, ‘Aloha and Mahalo.’”

Go Away With … Josh Gates

Jae-Ha Kim

When asked for a unique destination that he would recommend, “Expedition Unknown” host Josh Gates says, “Cuba. Go right now and you’ll see Havana as it existed 50 years ago — classic cars, sleepy streets and music in the air. Go in five years and there’ll probably be an Applebee’s where (Ernest) Hemingway used to drink.”

Go Away With … Joe Morton

Jae-Ha Kim

Fans love to hate Joe Morton’s portrayal of Rowan (Olivia Pope’s father) on the hit ABC drama, “Scandal.” The actor, 68, remembers, “I was in Williamstown, Mass., to see some plays and this woman came up to me and said, ‘I didn’t recognize you right away, but I knew I hated you!’” Laughing, he adds, “We had a lovely long conversation after that. But people do react to my role on ‘Scandal.’”

Go Away With … David Baker

Jae-Ha Kim

“Many of the winemakers crush the grapes in the streets in front of their houses,” says David Baker, the author of “Vintage.” “They make the wine in their basements.” Where is this magical place that only seems to exist on “I Love Lucy”? Read my interview with the Oregonain to find out.

Go Away With … Will Shafroth

Jae-Ha Kim

“A lot of people only think about five or six national parks, but there are more than 400 national parks across the country,” says Will Shafroth, president and CEO of The National Park Foundation. “A few examples: are the Pullman National Monument in Illinois, the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site in Georgia and the Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park in California.”

Go Away With … Karin Slaughter

Jae-Ha Kim

“Pretty Girls” author Karin Slaughter has a zest from travel. She says, “I do find that when I’ve done something unusual on a trip, like swim with the sharks in Australia or sit in a sauna in Finland, then jump naked into the iced-over Baltic, that it has given me an appreciation for the comforts of home. Nothing makes you love fried chicken and a warm biscuit even more than eating limp meat from a roadside stand in Croatia.”

Go Away With … Travis Wall

Jae-Ha Kim

“I’ve been really fortunate to get to see a good part of the world through dance,” says choreographer and dancer Travis Wall, 28. “One of my favorite places was Australia, which just felt like home. It was one of the nicest places and the people were so nice to Americans! I’m really looking forward to touring there next year.”

Go Away With … Anthony Carrino and John Colaneri

Jae-Ha Kim

Cousins Anthony Carrino and John Colaneri are the hosts of the HGTV television series “America’s Most Desperate Kitchens.” Based out of New Jersey, Carrino, 36, and Colaneri, 34, travel constantly for work. Despite this, they say that they still enjoy traveling for fun. Carrino just returned from a motorcycle trip around Italy. And Colaneri says he looks forward to taking another road trip, like the kind he took as a kid with his parents. “Experience and do as much as you can while traveling,” Colaneri says. “This is the time to get adventurous and immerse in the culture.”

Go Away With … Kelly Clark

Jae-Ha Kim

Kelly Clark is a four-time Winter Olympian (2002 through 2014) who has won a gold medal and two bronze medals. The halfpipe specialist has said that if she stays at the top of her game, she would love to represent Team USA at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
“There’s nothing like the Olympics,” she says. “The Salt Lake City Games was such a memorable experience. For me, winning the first gold medal for the United States on U.S. soil was a big moment in my career.”