Celebrity Travel: Go Away With Bob Saget

Actor Bob Saget is best known for his work on the '80s sitcom "Full House" and as the host of "America's Funniest Home Videos." But the comic also has a cult following of fans that enjoy his off-color stand-up routines. Saget, 58, is also an author who writes about his life in the book, "Dirty Daddy: The Chronicles of a Family Man Turned Filthy Comedian" (It Books, $26.99). A resident of Los Angeles, the entertainer describes himself as a Twitter-head, who may be found at https://twitter.com/bobsaget.

Q. What is your favorite vacation destination?

A. I like tropical places. Waterfalls, ferns, gullies -- anywhere, in fact, that looks like a scene from "FernGully: The Last Rainforest." I enjoy the ocean, beach and suntan lotion with a SPF factor over 50. I'd recommended going there with someone who doesn't complain about the tropics. Make sure the person you're going with -- even if it's your partner of five to 10 years -- just adores the tropics. I've always liked Hawaii a lot. With my kids, in relationships ... I always loved Hawaii 'cause it's a dry, yet moist heat. I've always liked the combination of things dry yet moist.

Q. What untapped destination should people know about?

A. Wow, that's a tough one. Untapped means people haven't been there. I guess Johnny Depp's (Caribbean) island (Little Hall's Pond Cay), but I wouldn't wanna go there because I don't know him. It'd be super creepy and probably close to impossible for me to just show up there. I did enjoy going to Bora Bora a couple years ago, but that's far from untapped. I do look forward to escaping to an untapped little island one day with someone special who is also relatively untapped.

Q. What was the first trip you took as a child?

A. I traveled so little as a child. One of my favorites was just a road trip with my dad, Ben, who drove us a mere two hours from Norfolk to Richmond, Virginia. I think I was nine. It was a business trip for him. The special part of it was getting a crazy good deli sandwich in Richmond. Just him and me eating hardcore deli. I've always been like that with my own kids. Sometimes the best trip is the smallest and most economical trip that just happened, and you got to spend special time with your dad, or your mom, or your caretaker, if you're getting up there in years.

Q. What's the most important thing you've learned from your travels?

A. To be in the moment. Kind of what I strive to do if I'm at home not even going anywhere. But one of the things that's so wonderful, as I've been fortunate enough to travel, is it's a reboot of your life. A good trip away has allowed me to step back just when things seem to reach a boiling point and take in completely different surroundings. That inherently gives you a mark in time and a disconnect from the same patterns that can sometimes lead to futility. Sorry, I got a little heavy with that one.

Q. Where are your favorite weekend getaways?

A. From Los Angeles, I've always loved anything in Northern California. Big Sur always centers me. I've always enjoyed going there alone. Not always by choice. But it's a great alone place for anyone, also romantic as h--l. And ironically I have spent some time in h--l. That's a really hot getaway, which is maybe why I also have a thing for Palm Springs. Maybe it's the old love of the Rat Pack in me. I also always loved Laguna. That's a great go-to weekend getaway, alone, with kids or possibly even with a nice romantic lady, as long as she doesn't bring her parents.

Q. What are your five favorite cities?

A. Uh, this is so easy. Chicago, New York, San Francisco, Philly and L.A., because it is home. I also like Dayton, Ohio, because no one's ever said that in print, so I thought I'd give them a little boost. They're not in most people's top five. If you live in Canton, Ohio, Dayton is number two.

Q. Where have you traveled to that most reminded you of home?

A. Well I've had a few homes. Philly is where I was born and later graduated college from. Norfolk, Virginia, is where I lived from like four to 14, so my puberty was left in that town. But since L.A. is home, I'd say San Francisco reminds me of home, because it's what L.A. would be if it was done better and it wasn't just all about people trying to make it in show business. Oh, I forgot to mention Boston and Washington, D.C., because I just love those towns for multiple reasons. Performing comedy in both those cities is very meaningful to me.

Q. When you go away, what are some of your must-have items?

A. Bathing suits, flip-flops and a muumuu. Gotta look like I fit in when visiting Hawaii. Don't wanna be the laughing stock of the luau.

Q. What are your favorite restaurants?

A. In-and-Out, any of the half a dozen Italian restaurants in New York that are each so good they are indefinable. A few local spots near my house in L.A. that just feel like home to me. Like they're my kitchen, because I'm just too lazy to cook that well or have that many people over, or get a liquor license. I like a good steak place like Gibson's in Chicago and a great sushi restaurant like Morimoto in New York City.

Q. What is your best and/or worst vacation memory?

A. Best would be a trip with some dear friends to St. Barts in the Caribbean. Worst would be another trip to St. Barts, because the house we stayed in had cats in it so I was on Benadryl the whole time trying to fight the allergy they invoke in me. A good dream vacation memory for me has no cats in it. And the relationship is on the way up, not at its end of days. Unless Australia is overrun with cats right now, this could be the week where great memories may be created.

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Jae-Ha Kim is a New York Times bestselling author and travel writer. You can respond to this column by visiting her website at www.jaehakim.com. You may also follow "Go Away With..." on Twitter at @GoAwayWithJae where Jae-Ha Kim welcomes your questions and comments.