Go Away With … Kate Siegel

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By Jae-Ha Kim
Chicago Tribune
December 7, 2021

“One of the best parts of my job is all the places I get to visit,” said “Midnight Mass” and “Hypnotic” actress Kate Siegel. “In the last decade, I’ve filmed in Panama, Hawaii, Atlanta, Vancouver and New York City. I’m really racking up those airline miles.” Based out of Los Angeles, Siegel currently is working on the HBO series, “The Time Traveler’s Wife.” Fans may follow her on Instagram and Twitter.

Q: How have you been spending your free time during this pandemic?
A: My pandemic experience was unique, since I’ve spent most of it working in Vancouver with my family. We were days away from starting production on “Midnight Mass” when the borders closed in March of 2020, and we settled back into our L.A. home for about 100 days until Canada was letting people with work permits travel again. Since June of 2020, I’ve gotten to explore so much of what western Canada has to offer – mini road trips to Whistler and Lion’s Bay, as well as Grouse Mountain. There are so many beautiful outdoor places to enjoy with my kids in this area. The pandemic has me staying generally close to home and outdoors these days. We used to enjoy far off travel, but I don’t miss the long plane rides with young children.

Q: You studied in London when you trained with Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. How was that experience?

A: Syracuse University has a wonderful semester abroad program that I took part in during my junior year. Living in London with a group of my closest friends remains one of my most cherished life experiences. We studied classical acting at the Globe Theatre, saw performances all over the West End and spent our weekends visiting neighboring countries using our Eurail pass. It was a dream.

Q: How will you be spending the upcoming holidays?
A: Strangely enough, sunny Los Angeles is my favorite place to spend the holidays. We’ll be there this year. Most people leave during that time to visit their families, so L.A. is delightfully empty. The days hit that perfect warm temperature and the freeways are less crowded. And if we’re craving snow, Big Bear Mountain is only a few hours away.

Q: If you had to cancel travel plans due to the pandemic, where were they to?
A: The disappointing travel cancellation was the press tour for “Midnight Mass.” Normally, the cast, director and producer would all travel together for screenings and press in different cities and countries. It’s a great time to explore new locations and travel with friends. Unfortunately, it’s all done over Zoom now, which lacks some of the same excitement.

Q: What is your favorite vacation destination?
A: Big Sur is one of the most spectacular places on the planet. And one of the best parts of visiting is that you can experience the best parts of Big Sur on any budget. There are gorgeous campsites and one of my favorite hotels, Post Ranch Inn. Be sure to have lunch at Nepenthe and browse the gift shop there. Then head to Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park for a quick walk to an iconic Big Sur waterfall view.

Q: What was the first trip you took as a child?
A: My family traveled every year to the great American West, as my mom called it. We explored Moab, Utah, Yellowstone National Park, Jackson Hole, Wyoming and many more. I remember it fondly now, but as a child I was very grumpy about all the hiking and driving.

Q: What’s the most important thing you’ve learned from your travels?
A: It’s no secret that travel broadens the mind, but I don’t think you can really grasp that until you’ve left your home bubble and seen how other people live. I traveled a lot as a child, and the love of travel has stayed with me as an adult. Experiencing other cultures, other languages and meeting other people creates a compassion for humanity.

Q: Where are your favorite weekend getaways?
A: Here in Vancouver, I love to escape to Whistler for the weekend. Either skiing in the winter or hiking in the summer. And a getaway is never complete without a stop at the Scandinave Spa Whistler to soak in the outdoor hot and cold pools.

Q: Do you speak any foreign languages?
A: I speak enough Spanish to get by, but I’m limited in conversation. Languages have never been easy for me, although if I’m headed somewhere with a different primary language than English, I try to learn a few key phrases to help things go smoothly.

Q: What are your five favorite cities?
A: Such a tough choice! In no particular order, New York, Vancouver, London, Lisbon and Moscow.

Q: Where would you like to go that you have never been to before?
A: I still have Seoul and Tokyo on my bucket list. And I’m hoping to spend some time in South America soon. I’m desperate to get to Brazil and Argentina.

Q: When you go away, what are some of your must-have items?
A: I always make sure I have my Amex, any medications I need, my passport (obviously) and my husband. The rest I can buy along the way.

Q: What is your guilty pleasure when you’re on the road?
A: I always tell myself that candy doesn’t count in airports. I love to load up with local treats for a long plane ride.

© 2021 JAE-HA KIM
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