Celebrity Travel: Go away with Eloise Mumford

Eloise Mumford (“50 Shades of Grey,” “The Right Stuff,” “Standing Up, Falling Down”) is based out of Los Angeles, but the actress said most of her year is spent filming on location in other cities. “Between filming and traveling, I mostly just go home to water my plants and check on my avocado tree,” said Mumford, who will next be seen in the Prime Video series “Cross.” “[The show] takes place in Washington, D.C., and the city is a huge part of the fabric of the series,” she said. “We filmed pivotal exteriors there. But as often is the case, the majority of the show was filmed somewhere else to double as D.C.” Fans may stay in touch with the actor on Instagram, whose username is @eloisemumford.

Q: Where did you film “Cross”?

A: Toronto! I love Canada [and] Canadians. I love filming in Canada, so I was thrilled. Toronto was delightful. I walked many miles along the lakefront, I found my favorite coffee shop – shout-out to White Squirrel Coffee Shop! – next to my favorite book shop, Type Books, and became a member at my favorite art museum, [Art Gallery of Ontario].

Q: Do you have any upcoming trips planned?

A: Copenhagen. I’ve long wanted to go to Scandinavia. Between fashion, food and design, Copenhagen seems like my dream city. I try to dress like I already live there. If you have recommendations for this trip, send them to me on Instagram!

Q: What is your favorite vacation destination?

A: Hawaii. My grandma unexpectedly moved to a small apartment in Waikiki when I was little, so my first memories of Hawaii were from her balcony, overlooking the bustling International Market [Place]. I feel like I learned how to snorkel before I learned how to read. I fell even more in love while filming a show there for six months, finding my favorite hidden reefs, hikes and shave ice stands. My dream vacation day is the longest beach day in the world, loaded up with all the snacks and sandwiches, a good book and enough sunscreen to last me jumping in and out of the ocean all day.

Q: How do you separate work from vacation trips? Or do you work while you’re on vacation?

A: I’m incredibly lucky that most of the time, my work means I’m living in a new city. And all the hours that I’m not at work, I’m out exploring. In my 18 years acting, I’ve only filmed one movie in L.A. Everything else filmed somewhere else. While this aspect of the job can be very lonely, I’ve come to cherish it. I adore trying on a city [and] becoming a temporary local. I spend a lot of time just walking. That’s the best way to learn a new place and to find unexpected gems. This turns work trips into a way to see the world. Combining the two is the best. For example, I lived in Chicago for months while filming “Chicago Fire” and I fell in love. The amount of times I did the River Architecture Tour alone makes me blush, not to mention all the shopping in Andersonville, the pie consumed in Wicker Park and the hours spent in the Fern Room at Garfield Park Conservatory.

Q: What untapped destination should people know about?

A: National parks! We are lucky to live in a country with tremendous natural beauty and so many national parks [and] state and county parks, too. It’s imperative that we continue to protect these areas for generations and that we get out there and enjoy them. I’ve been delighted every time I’ve gone. Find one near you on a map and go for it!

Q: What was a trip you took as a child that stands out?

A: I grew up in the Pacific Northwest and most of the travel we did when I was a kid was to nearby nature. To this day, backpacking in the mountains of the Olympic National Park is my favorite activity in the world. It must have gotten in my bones and I’m so glad it did.

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

A: Kindness transcends everything. Finding human connection through small kindnesses across culture and language is so powerful and deeply needed in our world.

Q: If you could only pick one place to eat, would you prefer a food truck or fine dining?

A: While I’ll never say no to a fancy meal, my favorite eating moments are everyday meals, cooked with care and eaten with community. So give me a food truck any day!

Q: Where are your favorite weekend getaways?

A: Joshua Tree, Big Sur, Mendocino and Point Reyes.

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

A: Patagonia, Argentina. I want to hike in the outrageous vistas and then finish the days with outrageously good local meals.

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

A: Dunkin’ Donuts and an excellent playlist.

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(Jae-Ha Kim is a New York Times bestselling author and journalist. You can reach her at www.jaehakim.com, follow her on Instagram and X @goawaywithjae, or read more from her on Substack (jaehakim.substack.com).)