Jetsetting With Actress Traci Dinwiddie
You might recognize actress Traci Dinwiddie from her award-winning performance as Peyton Lombard in “Elena Undone” or from her recurring spot as badass and blind psychic Pamela Barnes on the CW’s “Supernatural.” Or you might know Dinwiddie through Twitter where, as @groovegoddess, she leads a community of fans known as “T-bugs.” Dinwiddie shared with Jetset Extra her travel personality, her most memorable trip, and where she hopes to visit next.
Q: What type of traveler are you? (i.e., adventurer, cultural explorer, free spirit, rejuvenator, spa aficionado, etc.)
A: I must say I am a bit of a travel mutt. I like a mix of adventure, culture, relaxation, and spa, along with some completely free-flowing exploration.
Q: What types of activities do you like to do on your travels? Do you look for a place where it’s quiet and you can relax, or someplace that has great activities or nightlife?
A: When traveling, I often fill my days with snorkeling, hiking, kayaking, and a bit of zip lining. Then I’ll switch gears to soak up a warm, healing spa treatment or find a charming setting where I might read a good book and meet friendly locals.
Q: When thinking about where you will travel to next, what inspires you to make a decision? And what, if any, research do you do on that destination?
A: My first question would be: Does it have good snorkeling and a spa? I tend to seek out gorgeous, mystical lands with ocean side views, tons of outdoor activities, and an artsy ambience.
Q: What is the most memorable trip you’ve taken and why?
A: My most memorable trip would have to be when I traveled throughout Turkey with a tribe of sufis in my early twenties. I have a deep reverence for Rumi’s poetry, and to see his shrine at the Maulana Rumi Mausoleum (Mevlana Museum) in Konya was extremely special. Cappadocia was out of this world, too. It’s a very remote land with mountainous, cone-shaped, sand castle-like structures in which people reside. I felt as though I was in a fairy tale.
Q: What is the best food find you’ve ever found on a trip?
A: That’s a tough one! I did recently drool over the taste of Monstera Deliciosa, a tropical fruit I found at an adorable fruit stand while driving from Kalapana (on the Hilo side of the Big Island in Hawaii) to the City of Refuge.
Q: What, if anything, do you always take with you when you travel?
A: You probably won’t believe me, but I always carry a baggie of moustaches with me. I like to spice up my days by spontaneously sporting a moustache while out and about. It brings smiles and laughter to people, including me.
Q: What’s your best piece of travel advice?
A: If it’s a long trip with multiple destinations, schedule in rest and spa time on your landing days. Steam and soaking eases the travel weary. In addition, fresh cucumber on a plane is a must. It is easy to pack, very hydrating, and always a funny topic of conversation at the airport.
Q: Is there a destination where you can’t imagine not returning?
A: I absolutely cannot imagine my life without returning to the Big Island of Hawaii. It is a magical place with 11 of the world’s 13 climate zones. I don’t know of any other place like it. The snow-capped mountain, active volcanoes, rain forests, and coral reefs make it extraordinary. The various sand beaches (black, white, and green) make it so unique. It’s like transporting yourself inside a Michael Kraehmer painting or one of E.E. Cumming’s love poems. The land and culture is romantic and rich with the dance of shadow and light.
Q: Where are your favorite weekend getaways?
A: I have three, actually: Palm Springs, Las Vegas, and Big Sur. Living in California definitely has its advantages.
Q: Where would you like to travel next?
A: Tahiti, hands down. I dream about writing letters from my little cabana by the sea and splashing into the water for a morning snorkel.
Q: Tell us about your upcoming project(s)?
A: I have two feature films in post-production. “Awakened” is a sci-fi indie film about a group of insomniacs who join a spooky sleep study. In this film, I took on the leading role of Lula Baker, a far-out stoner. She was a hoot for me to play. “Destiny Road” is the other feature, in which I play an elegant woman named Fiona who is seemingly helpful to a troubled man but turns out to be demonic in nature. I am currently the voice of Tanzy, one of the lead ninjas on “Zombies Vs. Ninjas” for ShutUp! Cartoons. This is a dream job. Michael Granberry, the creator, has had me voice several of the “guest celebrity” characters such as Kim Kardashian, Kate Gosselin, Ashley Simpson, and Bill O’Reilly, to name just a few. As for my personal endeavors, I’m currently writing several projects including a quirky tale about a woman in the throes of perimenopause. It will be in the form of a comedic Web series with some stop-motion animation to add extra fun. Updates are available on my website.
Traci Dinwiddie’s Bio: Traci Dinwiddie is a self-described actress, yogini, West African drummer, part-time badass, and full-time fruitcake. She has appeared in films including “Elena Undone” and “To.Get.Her” and on television as a recurring character on the CW’s “Supernatural.” On stage, Dinwiddie has portrayed Patsy Cline, Titiana, Lady M, and Mrs. Forrest. In addition to West African drumming and Anusara yoga, she also takes part in trapeze and aerialist training and community improv theater in her spare time. Dinwiddie’s life motto comes from 13th-century Persian Muslim poet Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Rūmī, known simply as Rumi: “Let the beauty we love be what we do.”
