By Jae-Ha Kim
Tribune Content Agency
May 31, 2016
Asked to pick a favorite destination, Joanna Going didn’t hesitate: Newport (Rhode Island), where she grew up. “When I was 18, I took it for granted and was eager to move on to the bigger cities like Boston and then New York,” says the Los Angeles-based actress. “But I’ve been to enough places to have gained a greater appreciation for the beauty and rich culture of all of Rhode Island. I am grateful for all that it offered during my childhood.”
Going, 52, is one of the stars of “Kingdom,” which airs on AT&T’s Audience Network. Fans may keep up with her on Facebook and Twitter.
Q. What was the first trip you took as a child?
A. My family didn’t travel outside of the state much. My first flight was in my early 20s, from New York City to Los Angeles, to shoot a Cherry 7-UP commercial. I remember one awful, but thankfully, brief car trip to western Connecticut — my parents and six kids, aged nine and under, packed into the Cadillac. Five of the kids were known to get carsick. Whoever was sickest at the moment got to sit in front between my parents. The trip had something to do with one of my father’s clients. We went to a rodeo and stayed overnight in a motel. We never did that again.
Q. What’s the most important thing you’ve learned from your travels?
A. Hit the pavement and walk around. Have at least one goal in mind for each day, but don’t schedule yourself to the hilt. Enjoy what there is to discover along the way.
Q. Have you traveled to a place that stood out so much that you felt compelled to incorporate it into your work?
A. I did a television series that shot in Jamaica. We were working in Ocho Rios, but I traveled all over the island in my off time with people who grew up there, or on my own, or playing tour guide to visiting friends and family. Jamaica was very much a part of the show and my experience of landing there from New York City and getting used to the Jamaican way of life ran a close parallel to my character’s experience on the show. I fell in love with the country, the culture and the people. Wrapping the show and returning to New York in the middle of winter was quite a painful adjustment.
Q. Where are your favorite weekend getaways?
A. Palm Springs, Cambria, Santa Barbara.
Q. What are your favorite hotels?
A. I love hotels. I generally prefer smaller boutique hotels to large chains, especially when attention and wit has been given to interesting design elements and beautiful bathrooms. Though I must say, the Radisson I stayed at in Cape Town was over-the-top fantastic. In Palm Springs, my daughter and I like the Ace Hotel for the relaxed atmosphere and because our dogs are welcome. I’m dying to stay at the Korakia Pensione. That one might require more romantic company than my kid and a couple of canines.
Q. What are your five favorite cities?
A. New York, Paris, Newport, Cape Town, Santa Fe.
Q. When you go away, what are some of your must-have items?
A. My iPhone for camera, Yelp, GPS, language and currency apps. My iPad loaded with books. And, I’m happiest if the place that I’m staying has a great bathtub.
Q. What would be your dream/fantasy trip?
A. A three-month-long luxury safari trip throughout Africa, followed by two weeks in Paris to soften the blow of heading home.
Q. What is your guilty pleasure when you’re on the road?
A. Eating and drinking whatever I want.
Q. What kind of research do you do before you go away on a trip?
A. I do a lot of online research and download guidebooks to my iPad. I’m always looking for what there is to see that’s weird and wonderful and off-the-beaten path. My daughter and I have started taking road trips around California and one of my favorite recent discoveries is a blog called “California Through My Lens.” (The blogger and photographer) Josh is determined to explore as much of California as he can and he gives great recommendations on routes to drive, where to eat and stay, historic stops and bizarre things to see along the way.
Q. To someone who was going to your childhood city of Newport for the first time, what would you recommend that they do during their visit?
A. There are a thousand guidebooks about Newport and Rhode Island, and a lot of what you should do there is obvious — gorgeous beaches, spectacular sailing and magnificent mansion tours. Along with the summer cottages of the uber wealthy, such as The Breakers, built by Cornelius Vanderbilt II, I would also urge visitors to tour some of the earliest Colonial era homes, such as the Wanton-Lyman-Hazard House, the oldest surviving house in Newport. There are wonderful candle light tours of these early structures at Christmas time. Fun fact, you can visit the house I grew up in. The Isaac Bell House is an outstanding example of Victorian Shingle style architecture, designed by Stanford White. After my family lived there for 25 years, (during which it was pretty much falling apart around us) the Preservation Society of Newport County bought the house and did a miraculous, award-winning, forensic restoration. It was a crazy and wonderful home to us and we understood its importance as a National Historic Landmark. As a kid, I used to proudly give tours to busloads of architecture students. It makes my heart happy to see it returned to the glory it deserves. A very short list from my very long list of more things to do in Newport: Walk the Cliff Walk at sunrise, drive around Ocean Drive at sunset; hike the Norman Bird Sanctuary out to Hanging Rock; fly a kite at the Newport Kite Festival; go to the Aquidneck Lobster Company on Bowen’s Wharf and see the huge tanks of live lobster (little kids love this); visit Sweet Berry Farm in Middletown; tour the Newport Storm Brewery and have some great beer; eat at The White Horse Tavern, Flo’s Clam Shack, The Black Pearl; eat clam cakes, clam chowda, stuffed Quahogs, steamers, lobster, strip pizza (unique to RI), Johnny cakes, coffee milk (the official state drink) and Del’s Frozen Lemonade.
Q. Where is the most romantic destination?
A. Gorah Elephant Camp, South Africa.
Q. If you’ve ever gone away for the holidays, which was the best trip?
A. My favorite places to travel to for the holidays are New York City and my home town of Newport, R.I.
Q. Where have you traveled to that most reminded you of home?
A. There’s no place like home.
Q. Where would you like to go that you have never been to before?
A. Namibia.
© 2016 JAE-HA KIM
DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY, LLC.
