Small Town Feels Cozy, Like Home
Actress Meg DeLacy is known for her work on “The Fosters” and “Chicago P.D.” She is also a singer, whose song “Trapeze” paid tribute to the on-screen relationship between her character, Grace, and Brandon (played by her real-life boyfriend, David Lambert).
An avid traveler, DeLacy says Lake Powell, Ariz., is dear to her. “I’ve been going to Lake Powell since I started to walk,” she says. “It was a very special place for me growing up and still is. For four or five days you are off the grid beach-camping, water-skiing, taking your boat through the canyons of the lake and finding swimming holes and places to read a book and be lazy. You wake up when the sun comes up and wind down when the sun goes down. It’s the best to be on the lake and do nothing or do a whole bunch of things. There are a million stars to see every night.”
An edited version of our conversation follows.
Q: What untapped destination should people know about?
A: Oz Farm in California, near Big Sur. It’s a sustainable farm with yurts and cabins in the middle of the redwoods. All the produce is grown on the farm — five types of apples — and a river flows through the middle of the farm. Living off the land is really a different kind of vacation experience.
Q: What’s the most important thing you’ve learned from traveling?
A: In order to really appreciate traveling anywhere, you have to immerse yourself in an environment that could be so different from what you live every day. See the sights that make that place unique; eat the local cuisine. And even if the place you’re visiting is not the most welcoming, bring out your welcoming self. You’re a visitor in someone’s home, so observe, appreciate and participate.
Q: Where are your favorite weekend getaways?
A: San Francisco. Great walking, great cultural places like the Japanese Tea Garden, Fisherman’s Wharf, the Presidio and great food. Laguna Beach is a local favorite. You can find a secluded cove and spend a day at the beach and then walk into the quaint town for some great sushi or enjoy a cocktail.
Q: If you’ve ever gone away for the holidays, which was the best trip?
A: Chicago in mid-December. It was snowing, and I was walking the Chicago Riverwalk, then ducking into one of the bar lounges and getting a warm drink.
Q: Where have you traveled to that most reminded you of home?
A: Shelburne Falls, Mass. I was there for two weeks filming a movie. It’s a small town, but it had a really chill vibe. You could visit this cute cat named Boswell at his bookstore and walk the Bridge of Flowers. I was there during the fall, so the leaves were turning color. It just felt cozy, like home.
Q: Where would you like to go that you have never been to before?
A: Bali, to just relax.
Q: What would be your dream trip?
A: I would love to spend time in Greece and stay in one of those whitewashed, blue-tiled-roof, hillside villas. The food would be amazing, I’m sure.