Go Away With … Tamera Mowry

By Jae-Ha Kim
Tribune Content Agency
August 11, 2015

Born in Gelnhausen, Germany, and raised in Hawaii, actress Tamera Mowry lives in California with her husband, journalist Adam Housley, and their children Aden and Ariah. Best known for her television series “Sister, Sister,” which also starred her twin, Tia, Mowry was recently named the Resident Mom of the Year by Residence Inn by Marriott. Part of her duties include coming up with parent-friendly “Mom Hacks” for the company’s social media sites.

One tip she recommends is to take “Manuka Honey on the road. It improves skin tone, texture and is great for blemishes. It’s also a good item for kids if they are feeling sick while traveling. Just a drizzle over yogurt soothes the throat.”

Read more about Mowry at her website.

Q. What is your favorite vacation destination?

A. Pre-baby it was Paris. But now that I am a mom, I absolutely love Hawaii. It is a terrific place to visit with the family. It is a relaxing and beautiful destination and a quick trip from California. Aden loves airplanes, but I’ve also learned that flying with young kids can be challenging. It is hard to keep him entertained for more than a few hours, especially once he loses interest in watching his favorite cartoons, so Hawaii is ideal for us. Our favorite part of Hawaii would have to be Big Island, Hawaii. It’s not a huge tourist attraction and it’s just so peaceful and perfect for families. They also have a number of private beaches on this island and there’s something so serene about looking out into the ocean and being at peace with your family.

Q. Where are your favorite weekend getaways?

A. Our family home in Napa. I’m lucky to have a home in a locale that’s one of my favorite vacation destinations. The air is so fresh and invigorating and the setting is so peaceful. Especially now that I have another baby, I can really appreciate having a nearby weekend escape from the chaos of everyday life. When it comes to Napa, there is so much more than the incredible wine. My favorite restaurant is Il Posto Trattoria. I love Italian food and this is the perfect place to enjoy an amazing meal and a glass of wine. My husband and I also really enjoy Peju Winery and Silverado Vineyards when we want to relax and get some quality time together.

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

A. Switzerland in the wintertime. I love the snow. Probably because I was (raised) in Hawaii and lived in California for most of my life and I also want (our children) to experience the snow. If I could choose, I would like to visit Lake Lucerne in Switzerland. It looks absolutely breathtaking!

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

A. When I’m on a flight, I always need a blanket, water and lip gloss! I use coconut oil for everything. When it comes to my beauty must-haves, I always take sunscreen with me. And if I’m planning to have a date-night with Adam, I keep my look minimal. Just a good mascara and lipstick go far. I also like to bring some of my favorite hats to use in case of a bad hair day and some sunglasses to look fly.

Q. What would be your dream trip?

A. I would love to go somewhere beautiful and exotic like Bora Bora. The water is beautiful and crystal clear. It’s also been a dream of mine to sleep in an over-water bungalow villa.

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

A. The first trip I took with my family was to Disney World and I absolutely loved it! I was 16 years old and we did the Mickey Mouse Club tour and I got to meet Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake and Christina Aguilera. I hope to share a Disney experience with my family in the coming years. It’s such a fun and exciting trip for the whole family!

Q. How do you stay healthy on the road?

A. I like to be creative to uncover fitness opportunities around me. For example, sometimes I skip the elevator and take the stairs for a good cardio workout! I can swim in (hotel) pools or take advantage of fitness centers. On the road, when it comes to healthy eating, nowadays all restaurants have healthy options. I know it’s not easy to go for that healthy option, but I live by the 80 percent healthy principle. You should feel like you are able to treat yourself 20 percent of the time. Also a great tip for meals in restaurants, just to make it a little healthier, is asking them to leave the butter off of steak and chicken. Finally, I try to watch my portion control. Just because you are being served a large portion, does not mean you have to eat the whole thing.

Q. If you’ve ever gone away for the holidays (Christmas, etc.), which was the best trip?
We hardly ever travel during the holidays because we love being at home, but my best trip was when my whole family went to visit my aunt in Pennsylvania.

Q. What’s the most important thing you’ve learned from your travels?
A. Honestly, there is no place like home. It doesn’t matter where you go — your bed is the most comfortable place in the world! When traveling, I actually like to bring along comforts of home that are easy to pack. This is also a great tool when traveling with kids, as it helps to ease them into their sleeping routine. Even just bringing along their favorite book, nightlight or stuffed animal/blanket sprayed with a bit of your perfume.

© 2015 JAE-HA KIM
DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY, LLC.