Celebrity Travel: Go Away With Howie D
Nearly 20 years after their last No. 1 album, the Backstreet Boys' debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with their latest release, "DNA." As the group prepares to kick off their North American tour, Howie D (born Howard Dorough) is also celebrating the July 12 release of his debut children's album, "Which One Am I?" "Being in a boy band, I am constantly being asked which band I am in or which member of X band I am," says Dorough, 45. "(The title track) is essentially a spoof on those interactions." He and his wife, Leigh, reside in Brevard County, Fla., with their two young sons. Stay in touch with the musician via his website (https://howied.net/#!/), Twitter (https://twitter.com/howied) and Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/HowieD/).
Q. What was the first trip you took as a child?
A. My first trip was actually to Puerto Rico. My mom's family is from there, so we went to visit them. That's when I fell in love with the island and my Latin heritage.
Q. How did your upbringing shape who you became?
A. Growing up in a multi-ethnic family, I was always challenged with trying to see where I fit in between my different ethnicities. When I was younger, people always assumed I spoke Spanish, given the way I look. I didn't grow up speaking Spanish and didn't start learning the language until high school. I always felt uncomfortable that I didn't fit in with that part of my identity. These encounters challenged me to learn more about my background and also to never judge a book by its cover. I continued learning Spanish in college. I certainly don't consider myself to be proficient, but I can definitely get by when I am with my family in Puerto Rico.
Q. What is your favorite vacation destination?
A. The Caribbean! I absolutely love the beach, especially the beaches in Puerto Rico. It doesn't get better than that. You definitely need to go with a big appetite. The food is amazing. They have an unbelievable rain forest called El Yunque. I would also recommend visiting Old San Juan. It has the true feel of the Caribbean. For a winter getaway, I have to go with Park City or Lake Tahoe. I've been snowboarding for almost 20 years now. My wife taught me how to snowboard when we first met.
Q. What untapped destination should people know about?
A. I recently went to northern Montana for the first time and visited some friends. The scenery was so beautiful. Everything from the mountains to the fresh-water lakes had me in awe. The people were also especially friendly.
Q. What's the most important thing you've learned from your travels?
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