Jae-Ha Kim
Chicago Tribune
December 27, 2022
For Danielle Collins, working out daily is a must, but she does so with mindfulness. “I always try to get a workout in every day and hit the court,” the 29-year-old tennis player said. “It’s true that our bodies absolutely need time to recover after a long season of training and competition. You simply cannot continue to push your body to the limit 365 days a year. That’s when I try to focus more on functional movement and strength development, while not losing touch on the court.” Based out of Florida where she grew up, Collins is also an ambassador for Waterdrop, a sustainable hydration brand that’s mission is to encourage people to drink more water.
Q: Which cities do you think are the most tennis friendly?
A: I’d say Melbourne and Rome. I love visiting these tennis-enthusiast cities. The courts are pristine, the fans are always lovely and after returning time and time again for tournaments, they’ve begun to feel like homes away from home.
Q: What is your favorite vacation destination?
A: Byron Bay, Australia, and Santorini, Greece. When I first visited Santorini, it was like nowhere I’d ever been. The water is spectacular, the food is out of this world and the history is absolutely everywhere you look. I also recommend surfing in Australia. It’s my favorite sport besides tennis. Australians take their surfing very seriously and the swells match their enthusiasm. Byron Bay in particular was a special spot where I’ve had some of my favorite afternoons riding waves and taking in the surf.
Q: Where have you traveled to that most reminded you of home?
A: The place I’ve traveled to the most that reminds me of home is Australia. I love the warm weather, beaches and friendly spirits. There’s something incredibly special about the way Australians live. They take their leisure time very seriously and, just like Florida, are obsessive about their water and water sports. The locals are kind, welcoming and made my stay feel like I was right at home.
Q: Where would you like to go that you have never been to before?
A: The beaches of Zanzibar look absolutely unreal — like another planet almost. I love to explore nature and cultures that are unlike anything I’ve ever seen, so this is a big bucket trip item for me. Zanzibar is an island off of Tanzania, so it’s tough to get to with several plane changes typically if you’re flying from the United States, but I hear it’s beyond worth it.
Q: When you go away, what are some of your must-have items?
A: A huge priority of mine is maintaining healthy habits. The biggest thing for me while on the go is preventing dehydration, a usual by-product of traveling by plane. Waterdrop’s LUCY Smart Cap connects to an app on your phone to track hydration progress and filter your water and the brand’s Microlytes are dissolvable cubes with electrolytes and vitamins. Keeping your mind clear and immune system up is key when traveling both for work and pleasure and hydration plays a large role in this.
Q: What kind of research do you do before you go away on a trip?
A: Obviously, I love to scope out the best tennis courts on a trip. Practicing on vacation is a must for me, so I want to make sure there’s somewhere I can go to be in my happy place and stay in tune. Next is what kind of adventure I can experience. Is there surfing? Scuba diving? A volcano to hike? Even if it’s a city, I want to find some sort of experience that I’ll never forget. Restaurants are (also at the) top of my research list. I like to get as many recommendations from friends as possible before turning to the internet.
Q: What is your guilty pleasure when you’re on the road?
A: I love trying to find dairy-free ice cream in each country I travel to. Obviously, dairy-free is easier to find in some locales than others, so it’s a real hunt sometimes to find in countries that are less focused on plant-based dairy. I love traveling to California for this very reason. The dairy-free options are endless!
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