Celebrity Travel: Go Away With Michael Vlamis

Vacationing in Argentina this past Christmas was special for Michael Vlamis because it was the first trip he paid for himself. "Up until then, the only time I traveled was because of work or on family vacations," he says. "As an actor starting out, you're a slave to the Hollywood system, but my (CW series) 'Roswell, New Mexico' gave me the freedom and financial flexibility I needed to go see the world." Raised in Chicago and currently a resident of West Hollywood, Vlamis, 28, stays in touch with fans on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/michaelvlamis/) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/michaelvlamis).

Q. What is your favorite vacation destination?

A. New Zealand's North and South Islands are equally special. In the north, don't miss the Bay of Islands. In the south, Milford Sound is the special spot. But honestly, you can't go wrong anywhere you go.

Q. What untapped destination should people know about?

A. I don't think it's untapped, but if you haven't explored Patagonia, you must.

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

A. A road trip from Chicago to Florida with my parents and two sisters all shoved into a purple minivan. We stopped somewhere in Georgia to get some sleep and the only motel in the area was so dirty that my mom opted to sleep in the car instead. My sisters and I slept on towels on top of the motel bedsheets. Needless to say, we never road tripped again. I took my first flight the following year.

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

A. Perspective. It's important to see how other people live outside of the bubbles we can sometimes trap ourselves in. Exploring helps me stay inspired and grateful.

Q. If you could only pick one place to eat, would you choose a food truck or fine dining?

A. My mom's kitchen back in Chicago. But between a truck and a restaurant, I'd probably go with the restaurant, because even though I love casual meals, the restaurant would have more options, as well as dessert. Dessert is never getting past me.

Q. Where are your favorite weekend getaways?

A. I'm a big fan of Palm Springs, but also enjoy Lake Tahoe or a drive up the coast to San Francisco.

Q. Do you speak any foreign languages?

A. In Cabo San Lucas, when I was 15, all the honors Spanish classes paid off and I was able to speak the language. Since I haven't used Spanish since, my skills have drastically slipped. I don't pick up new languages easily, so it'd be a mission to get back to where I was.

Q. What are your five favorite cities?

A. This is tough! I'm going to stick with U.S. cities to make this answer easier: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Austin and Santa Fe.

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

A. New York. I love the constant action and people.

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

A. Lebanon, Greece and Serbia. I need to explore my heritage.

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

A. My Patagonia rain jacket that folds up into its own pocket for ridiculously easy transport.

Q. What would be your dream trip?

A. Escaping to Paris, where I'd drink all the wine, eat the best food and write my next feature screenplay.

Q. What is your guilty pleasure when you're on the road?

A. The sun. I love tapping into my European and Middle Eastern roots and getting so tan people don't recognize me. And while I'm not the best at wearing sunscreen, I'm working on it.

Q. What kind of research do you do before you go away on a trip?

A. I make a list of all the restaurants I want to try, as well as the destinations I'd like to explore. I don't make an itinerary I stick to, but I definitely know the places I'll visit.

Q. What are your best and worst vacation memories?

A. The best was scuba diving Australia's Great Barrier Reef. It was the coolest thing I've ever done. I don't believe in bad memories, because they still provide you with stories and experiences you can look back and laugh at. This includes picking up a hitchhiker in Fiji who tried assaulting me. But that's a story for another day.

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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.)