Annie Wersching shares her travel highlights and tips with Kelly Carter of USA TODAY.

Q: What’s the first thing you do when you walk into a hotel room after checking in?
A: Definitely check the view. Especially if I’m in another country, I really want to be able to look out the window and feel like I’m another country. If there are going to be hours wasted sleeping in a hotel room when you could be out exploring, I need to be able to feel like I’m not just in Anywhere USA. Although, don’t get me wrong, I’ve stayed in just about every Motel 6 along Route 66.

Q: What’s the most surprising/unexpected place you’re ever visited?
A: Probably Jamaica. We went there for a family member’s destination wedding, and it was fabulous in a wonderfully authentic way. For example, we decided to go on a white water rafting trip. We thought we were going on a somewhat commercial/touristy excursion, and it ended up being so authentic we were happy we made it back alive. When we first arrived there were two completely deflated rafts just lying there and we watched these two native gentlemen pump up our rafts by hand while smoking a joint, or twelve. Not kidding. But then cut to our actual rafting experience, and they did things like pulled over and climbed to the very top of a tree barefoot and threw us fresh mangoes that we ate in the raft. They caught for us what’s called ‘breadfruit’ so we could take it back to the hotel and fry it. They stopped so we could jump off a huge cliff into the water. (Okay, only I and one other guy did that one.) We were happy we survived, but I wouldn’t change that experience for any other commercial, boring one.

Q: Where have you been recently, and what did you like about it?
A: I had a few weeks off from shooting and I took a trip to Italy. It was a very special trip, because I was able to take my mom along. Thirty-eight years or so ago, my mom and dad took a group of students from the acting class he taught at Washington University and formed a Commedia d’ell Arte troupe. They took a boat to Italy and for 30 days travelled from town to town performing (traditional Italian comedy) in the streets. I’ve heard stories about this trip for years! It was amazing to be able to go back there with her to the places they had been. In particular, the small town of Spoleto was really special. It seemed as if it had barely changed and still had its small-town, old-world charm. My ma glowed on this trip.

Q: What’s the sexiest place you’ve ever visited and why?
A: This is so cliché I know, but I was absolutely blown away by Paris. When you’ve heard over and over about the city of love, you think it may not live up to the expectations. But, wow, did it! I left there literally feeling it was a magical place. … There’s really the most amazing feeling in the air. I can’t wait to go back.

Q: What’s your favorite vacation spot?
A: A cabin on a lake. Since the one my grandparents had when I was younger isn’t an option anymore, my favorite getaway cabin is in Manitowish Waters, Wis. It’s the perfect small town, yet it’s big enough to have enough adventures at hand to add a little excitement. Other than that, my favorite vacation spot would be one that I’ve never been to before, a place that’s completely undiscovered and is just waiting for the adventures to begin.

Q: Can you offer an insider tip or recommendation?
A: I spent a summer working at the Utah Shakespearean Festival in Cedar City, Utah, and I think everyone should experience Utah. It is absolutely beautiful. I recommend a hike in Zion National Park. You must hike the Zion Narrows. It’s a long, rough hike that is 60% wading in water, but it is absolutely breathtaking. Not to be missed.