Celebrity Travel: Go away with Emma Malouff

Actress Emma Malouff (“1883”) said she loved working on Ryan Murphy’s FX series “Impeachment: American Crime Story.” “Having had the opportunity to portray Allison Tripp, the daughter of Linda Tripp — played by the brilliant Sarah Paulson — was an experience I will never forget,” said the Los Angeles resident. “When (filming) took place, Allison and I would have been the same age — 18. She had to watch her mother degraded and ridiculed by the public. To make it truthful for myself, I had to step back. How would I feel if my mom was bombarded by hurtful headlines and our family's privacy stripped away in an instant? I had to create those experiences and emotions for myself and imagine the thoughts she must have had running through her head at the time, so my performance could be present.” Fans may follow her on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/emmamalouff/).

Q: Tell me a bit about where you grew up.

A: I was born in Seattle and grew up there until my family and I moved to Austin, Texas, when I turned 10. Seattle truly is one of the most gorgeous places in the country and I do miss it. Living there, the rain just sort of becomes a part of your daily life. It was never something I paid that much attention to because everyone has a great raincoat and rain boots. In school, we played outside almost every day for recess, except for the occasional indoor days, and my mom did a great job of making life fun with lots of visits to the Pacific Science Center. The rain may not be everybody’s favorite, but nothing compares to a Seattle summer!

Q: When you moved to Texas, did you face any kind of culture shock?

A: When I was younger, I wanted to be a cowgirl which, in all honesty, is a dream still very alive and active today. So, when we moved to Austin, I felt like I fit right in among the Southern accents and cowboy boot-wearing locals. In fact, the day we landed in Austin, I remember my 10-year-old self speaking in a Southern accent to the car rental guy, because I wanted him to think that I was from Texas. I even told (my mom) to speak with an accent, too, so that she wouldn't give us away, but she didn't. So, I don’t know if I really felt culture shock. Of course, as I got older, I began to notice that it is very much its own culture. I love Texas so much. When people ask me where I am from, I now always claim Texas.

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

A: Sun Valley, Idaho. My grandparents have a little home there, so that is where we went for our big family trips. In the winter, we would go skiing. In the summer, we would hike, bike, swim and fish. Sun Valley is home to some of my favorite memories.

Q: If you could only pick a casual meal at a street cart or fine dining, which would you choose?

A: Sushi is the way to my heart, so if I had to pick it would be fine dining. And if I had to pick a specific restaurant right now, it would be Uchiko in Austin. Hands down, some of the best sushi I have ever had.

Q: Where are your favorite weekend getaways?

A: When I am in L.A., I love escaping to Malibu or Santa Barbara on the weekends. I love exploring and taking picnics to watch the sunset. I am definitely a beach person. Any chance I can get in the ocean, I take it.

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

A: Does everywhere count? There are so many places I want to experience, but top of my list would have to be Greece, France, Sweden, Austria, Italy, England, Japan, South Korea and Iceland.

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

A: I am your classic over-packer, so you can always count on me to bring everything I need and everything I don't need. But when it really boils down to it, I am bringing along my skincare, some simple staple outfits, snacks, headphones, chargers and a couple of makeup products. But like I said, I will definitely end up packing way more.

Q: What would be your dream trip?

A: To spend an entire year touring Europe. I would love the extended time, so I could build relationships with people and gain a deeper knowledge, (rather) than simply seeing the most famous landmarks.

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

A: I will be researching all of the places to eat! That is my self-designated job before any trip. Where is the best food, how do I get there, and can I get a reservation? Sometimes it is a classic must-go restaurant, sometimes it’s to try a specific chef’s offering and sometimes it is about finding that amazing little hole in the wall that does one or two things really well.

Q: What is your best vacation memory?

A: My family and I went on a cruise around the Caribbean with our best friends. Our two families had the most incredible time and I am so, so thankful for the memories made and the fun that we shared. We went snorkeling, ate at delicious restaurants and saw so many great shows. It was my favorite vacation to date. I hope we’ll get to do it again sometime.

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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.)