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Celebrity Travel: Go Away With Megan Alexander

By Jae-Ha Kim, Tribune Content Agency on

A. I have covered five Super Bowls for work. By far, my favorite was Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans. That city is just magnetic to me! It oozes with culture, history, charm and spirit. The Southern hospitality of New Orleans made Super Bowl XLVII one of the best assignments I have ever covered. Three years later, I had the great fortune of covering Mardi Gras for CBS. I always thought Mardi Gras was just one day -- Fat Tuesday -- but I quickly learned it is a month-long event that is much more than drinking and beads. It is a celebration of the various cultures and ethnicities that make up that great city. I covered the parades, artwork, music and food of Mardi Gras, all of which are simply spectacular. I think New Orleans is one of the most interesting and unique cities in America. When you think of what that city went through during and after Hurricane Katrina, how it bounced back and the strength and soul of those people ... it's just amazing. I can't wait to go back!

Q. Where is the most romantic destination?

A. Don't laugh. (Laughs). The Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disneyland has a restaurant. You sail past it in your boat when you go on that ride. The place has romantic lighting, candles, the sound of crickets and a soft banjo playing. I have never been there, but every time we go on that ride, I want to stop and eat there with my husband! I think it's so romantic.

Also, Le Mansion hotel on the River Walk in San Antonio is really romantic. I stayed there when I was interviewing for a job in San Antonio. My husband and I walked to the Alamo at night and sat on a bench in front of it discussing our future. That's a beautiful historical landmark, especially at night all lit up.

Q. If you've ever gone away for the holidays, which was the best trip?

A. Now, I try not to go anywhere for Christmas, because I love being home with the kiddos. But when we lived full time in New York City, we got to experience the Big Apple in all its glory at Christmas -- walking in the snow in Central Park, ice skating, Christmas service at St. Patrick's Cathedral and "The Nutcracker" at Lincoln Center. Incredible. Nothing like it!

Q. Where would you like to go that you have never been to before?

 

A. Athens, Greece. I would also love to visit the Holy Land and walk where Jesus walked. I'd love to visit Bethlehem where he was born, see Jerusalem and the Wailing Wall.

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

A. Passport, travel-size everything -- hair spray, toothbrush -- black pants, comfy sweats, because hotels are usually cold, and workout clothes, because it's great to run in a new city in the morning!

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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.)


(c) 2015 DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.

 

 

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