Celebrity Travel: Go Away With Emily Wickersham

Born in Kansas, raised in New York and currently a resident of California, actress Emily Wickersham portrays Special Agent Eleanor Bishop on the popular CBS series, "NCIS." An avid proponent of exploring the world, she says, "Every time I travel, a little piece of that trip comes back with me and it becomes a part of me. Experience is something that adds to anyone's life and work. For actors, I think the more you know and learn, the more you're able to add to the richness of the characters you play." Fans may follow Wickersham on Twitter (https://twitter.com/EmilyWickersham).

Q. What is your favorite vacation destination?

A. Right now it's St. Barts. I just got back from a great trip there. It's really a beach vacation. I mean you can make it as fancy or not as you want. I would recommend going there to completely recharge and relax. But, you also have the option of being super social there and going out every night if you like.

Q. What was the first trip you took as a child? And did you love it ... or not so much?

A. My first trip was when I moved from Kansas to Chicago when I was three years old. We drove and I remember getting to sleep in the back of this van with my favorite glow-in-the-dark sheets and kind of made my own little fort. I guess this wasn't really a trip, but it was my first time leaving home and I remember feeling a sense of excitement, even at (the age of) three!

Q. What's the most important thing you've learned from your travels?

A. That the world is big and filled with so many wonderful people and places. We tend to get stressed in our day-to-day lives and the world becomes so small. But when you step outside of that, you are reminded of the important things. Whenever I travel, that sense of excitement and freedom comes back. It's this feeling of little responsibly and stress. So every time I travel, I'm reminded that it's something I need to incorporate more into my normal life. My goal is to feel the way I do when I travel in my everyday life.

Q. Where are your favorite weekend getaways?

A. Palm Springs is so close and fun. I used to go there as a kid to visit my grandparents, so it always brings back fun memories. I love the Parker Hotel.

Q. Where is the most romantic destination?

A. Paris!

Q. If you've ever gone away for the holidays, which was the best trip?

A. New Year's in Aspen is always fun.

Q. What are your favorite hotels?

A. I usually love boutique hotels. I stayed in the Hotel Amour (http://www.hotelamourparis.fr/en/) in Paris a couple years ago and it was so cute and quaint. It had this sweet little apartment feel to it and kind of made me feel like I just lived there. Oui!

Q. What are your five favorite cities?

A. New York, Paris, Los Angeles, Rome, Barcelona.

Q. Where have you traveled to that most reminded you of home?

A. Oddly, Colorado. There's something that has always felt familiar about Colorado, even though I'm from the East Coast.

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

A. The Maldives.

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

A. I always need good shoes. Walking and running shoes are a must. A camera. I try to pack on the lighter side with a carry-on bag, but sometimes that's a struggle, depending on where I'm headed.

Q. What would be your dream trip?

A. To travel all over the world for a year.

Q. What are your favorite restaurants?

A. In my daily life? Marvin (http://www.chezmarvin.com/) and Pace (http://www.pacerestaurant.com/) in Los Angeles are my go-tos.

Q. What is your guilty pleasure when you're on the road?

A. Shopping, dessert and wine. It's fun to find little things on your travels that you wouldn't normally find at home. And dessert and wine seem to be indulgences that go out the window on trips.

Q. What kind of research do you do before you go away on a trip?

A. I usually ask friends about their favorite restaurants and things to do. Or I'll look online a bit. But I really like to discover and stumble upon things myself.

Q. What is your best and/or worst vacation memory?

A. My best vacation memory might being going to Paris for the first time. There is something so amazing about that city. It's very romantic and inspiring. I was so happy just walking around and getting lost in the streets there. I don't know if I have a bad vacation memory. Even if a trip isn't great, I still love the adventure of being away.

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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.)