Celebrity Travel: Go away with Kayden Muller-Janssen

The daughter of the Dutch national team’s dressage coach Sjef Janssen and dressage trainer Kerensa Muller, Kayden Muller-Janssen paved a different career path for herself. A former competitive baton twirler, the 20-year-old singer is best known these days for her acting career, which includes Disney’s “The Villains of Valley View.” Based out of Wellington, Florida, Muller-Janssen describes her character, Hartley, as “an interesting character. She’s charismatic and loves to help others and her community. She doesn't like to lie so that is a big challenge for her throughout the show. I think Hartley would be a great travel partner. She always has a positive outlook on life and knows how to have a good time.”

Q: What are your plans for this summer?

A: I’ve been filming “The Villains of Valley View” for the past few months. I just got back home, so I’m going to spend some time with family and friends. I want to go to the beach to enjoy the sun and humidity. Next summer, though, I plan on traveling to Greece for the first time so I am very excited for that!

Q: What was the first trip you remember taking?

A: It was to Livonia, Michigan. Our family friend has a farm there where my mother would train horses, so I spent my time playing with ducks, donkeys and helping with barn chores. I loved it when I was a kid. They also have some great lakes out there so I loved to swim in the summer.

Q: What is your favorite vacation destination?

A: Last year I traveled to Portugal with my father for the first time. It was amazing! There were beautiful cliffs that led to the beach. I have to say it is one of the most beautiful places I’ve seen so far.

Q: What untapped destination should people know about?

A: My parents are actually from the Netherlands. I love it there and always recommend it to anyone traveling to Europe. The cities are melting pots. There are so many different cultures and people so the food is absolutely amazing. The small villages are also great to visit. You can see what farm life is like. They also have beautiful castles – some are museums. You can visit, learn all about Dutch history and even do scavenger hunts too.

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

A: Pack it, even if you think you don’t need it. I’ve traveled so many times thinking I wasn’t going to need this or that, but then I end up getting there and regret not bringing what I needed. Whether it's a bathing suit, favorite pair of jeans or a really cute hat, just bring it!

Q: Have you taken any road trips during this pandemic?

A: I actually stayed in my hometown during the entire pandemic, which I think was a good thing. I got to spend a lot of time with my family and around our farm.

Q: Where are your favorite weekend getaways?

A: I have a secret beach spot in Jupiter, Florida, that not a lot of people know about. I love to go there with my friends on the weekend and hang out.

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

A: The best holiday trip I’ve taken so far was spending Christmas in the Netherlands. They celebrate Christmas a bit differently there so it was really cool to have a new holiday experience.

Q: Do you speak any foreign languages? And in the same train of thought, do you pick up new languages easily?

A: I am not fluent in any other languages, but I do understand Dutch a little bit. If I spend enough time in Holland, I start to pick it up pretty quickly.

Q: What would be your dream trip?

A: My dream trip would be to travel to Seoul, South Korea. It is just one place I have always wanted to visit since I was a kid.

Q: What are your five favorite cities?

A. Bedford Hills (New York), New York City, South Lyon (Michigan), Stein (Netherlands),

Loxahatchee (Florida).

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

A: I think Bedford Hills was a place that reminded me a lot of home. The people and the environment were just so peaceful. I felt like I fit right in.

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

A: I would love to go to Florence, Italy. I’ve heard such great things about it, so it is on my travel bucket list.

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

A: I need to have my leave-in conditioner, favorite pair of jeans and, of course, sunscreen. Even if it's cold, you can still get sunburned.

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

A: This is going to sound weird, but I need to have a glass of milk wherever I travel. Every country’s milk tastes different, which is kind of cool. I’ve always liked milk since I was a kid so that’s something I’ve always done when I travel.

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

A: I just make sure that we are in a safe area, have the right transportation and always have fun things planned to do.

Q: What is your worst vacation memory?

A: It was getting food poisoning right before going on a plane headed back home. I projectile vomited in front of everyone in the plane headed from New York City to Florida. It was the most embarrassing moment of my life!

========

(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.)