Celebrity Travel: Go Away With Misty Copeland
Ballerina Misty Copeland has the distinction of being one of the few African-American soloists in the world of ballet. In her newly released memoir "Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina" (Touchstone Hardcover, $24.99), Copeland chronicles her tumultuous childhood, a late start in dance (she was 13) and joining the American Ballet Theatre's corps de ballet as a teenager. Now 31 and based in New York, Copeland is a recipient of the Leonore Annenberg Fellowship in the Arts. Fans may follow her on Twitter at https://twitter.com/mistyonpointe.
Q. What is your favorite vacation destination?
A. I love Vieques, Puerto Rico. My boyfriend and I visited last year for about a week. The exclusivity of the Vieques Island is enchanting. From the moment we arrived, I knew it was going to be a very special getaway. The W Hotel Resort and its private beaches made this one of my favorite trips. It was just so lush. And the food! Just incredible on every level.
Q. To someone who was going there for the first time, what would you recommend that they do during their visit?
A. You definitely have to visit Bioluminescent Bay. I had no idea what to expect with the bay, but it was this hidden and magical place. We trekked through mud and dirt roads to get there, but the end of the trek was a very serene bay. The water glowed in our hands. I paddled through it in a row boat. The water is said to heal, so I stuck my leg in the water to help with a surgery I had just had. It was almost a spiritual experience.
Q. What was the first trip you took as a child?
A. My family drove through the U.S. in our forest green Aerostar van! Haha! I was seven years old, and it was like one big adventure. The one place I clearly remember visiting was Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota. It was so cool and felt like a real-life history lesson.
Q. What's the most important thing you've learned from your travels?
A. The biggest thing is to not sweat the stuff you can't control. Things happen all the time when we're traveling that we have absolutely no control over. I've had to sit on the floors of airports in a yoga position for hours in order to keep my mind at peace when I've encountered insane traveling problems and delays.
Q. Have you traveled to a place that stood out so much that you felt compelled to incorporate it into your work?
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