Celebrity Travel: Go away with Jake Horowitz

Jake Horowitz’s latest role is as a carnival worker in the film “Bones and All.” While he won’t divulge too much about the character he plays, the actor gave us some insight when asked if he would readily travel with the carny. “He’s a thrill seeker – that friend who would encourage you to hop the fence into the abandoned building (and) to say yes to the stranger’s party invite,” the Manhattan resident said. “He’s a bit of a wild card and trouble maker. So, depending on your taste, he’d either be an excellent or horrifying travel mate. You might not make it back but, if you did, you’d have some stories to tell...”

Q: Where did you film “Bones and All”?

A: Cincinnati. I didn’t have too much time to explore, but we were staying close to the river, so I was able to take some long walks down by the river and through the parks along the water, which were beautiful and really nicely maintained. Also, (I ate) some amazing food. Had great Indian and Japanese meals, and I also went to this steakhouse called The Precinct, which was out of this world.

Q: Are you a warm or cold weather fan for vacations?

A: I’m a big beach lover. The ocean is a huge healing and happy place for me. I love San Diego for that reason – so many beautiful and varying beaches all up and down the coast there.

Q: What is your favorite vacation destination?

A: I cannot recommend Iceland enough. It just took me by surprise. It was wild and mesmerizing and otherworldly. The waterfalls and the hikes were unforgettable – specifically Glymur. Don’t miss that one if you go! And you have to go to the Blue Lagoon, the outdoor geothermal spa. It felt like swimming on the moon. A lot of the country feels otherworldly like that. When I was there, it was always light out. I want to go back in the winter for the Northern Lights when it’s dark all day long.

Q: What’s the last active trip you went on?

A: A few summers ago, my best friend and I biked from San Francisco to Los Angeles over eight days and it was so beautiful. The bike path is easy to follow and we did the trip pretty much without using Google maps at all – just a printed map that laid out the bike path. Biking Big Sur was one of the best days of my life. It was uphill for what seemed like hours. But the whole way up and down the cliffs and coastline are stunning. And along the way there are these farms with fresh fruit, the strawberries in particular. I mean, it was just the greatest. If you like biking, do it as soon as you can!

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

A: I grew up in Brooklyn. I’m pretty sure the first trip my parents took me on was to Niagara Falls. I vaguely remember being on that boat that takes you close to the waterfall. I remember crying into my dad’s shoulder. The early trips I really remember are to Ocean City, New Jersey, where I have a lot of family. It’s a Jersey beach town like any other, but for me it will always represent that dreamy nostalgia of being a kid, walking up and down the boardwalk with sandy feet (while) eating some disastrously sugary snack.

Q: What are your five favorite cities?

A: New York for the surprises, San Diego for the beaches, Chicago for the creative people there – and my mom’s side of the family, hey fam! – London for the walking, Venice because, Venice, and because I had the best meal of my life there at a small restaurant that filleted a fish and I haven’t been the same since.

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

A: Hawaii. I’ve wanted to go for years. I’m fascinated by the history there and I think it would offer such a beautiful combination of restful experiences and exciting adventures.

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

A: Hate to go cliché but, gotta bring a book. I’m an embarrassingly slow reader so I only need one. But nothing beats reading and people-watching in a foreign place.

Q: What would be your dream trip?

A: Bike trip through Italy, then a week on the Cinque Terre.

Q: What is your best vacation memory?

A: A few years ago I went to Death Valley with my mom and brother. My brother and I woke up at 4 a.m. and drove to the base of Telescope Peak, a mountain whose summit is the highest point in the national park. It was January so the peak wasn’t reachable without ice shoes, but we hiked it just shy of the summit. We could see it, but the wind was whipping and the path was getting slippery and dangerous and the drop was just staring at us like, turn back, kiddos. So, we listened. It was still unforgettable though. We had a clear view east of the Sierra Mountains that was breathtaking. And with my brother! Yeah, that’s got to be one of the best memories.

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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.)