Celebrity Travel: Go away with Kellie Gerardi

Becoming an astronaut was a no-brainer for Kellie Gerardi, who was born in Jupiter … Florida, that is. “I’ve always been fascinated with space, but I definitely think growing up in Jupiter with a view of the Space Coast gave me invaluable exposure to human spaceflight,” said Gerardi. “I quite literally had front-row seats to the final frontier, so it didn’t seem quite so far out of reach. I feel like the dream of space exploration has crossed every child’s imagination at least once. As I grew older, that dream definitely grew bolder. But my dream was always so much bigger than flying to space myself. I wanted to help blow open the door to commercial human spaceflight. It still feels both incredible and surreal that I was able to walk through that door myself as an astronaut. But the real sense of fulfillment comes from helping to hold it open wider for the next generations of researchers to use space as a laboratory to benefit humanity.”

She is also the author of the “Luna Muna” children’s series, which explores a young girl’s dreams of becoming an astronaut. For more information about Gerardi’s work, follow her on Instagram and TikTok (user handle @kelliegerardi).

Q: When you've already been in outer space, do normal vacations seem blase to you?

A: Earth is my favorite planet, so exploring it will never get old! That said, I’ll admit that when I was flying home to Florida after my spaceflight, it was a bit harder to adjust back to life in seat 23B after leaving the planet in a spaceship.

Q: What were you allowed to bring when you went on your explorations?

A: Packing is pretty light, since all of my research missions are same-day science spaceflights. Virgin Galactic transforms the spacecraft into a suborbital science laboratory for the research crew. I’m a payload specialist, which means I’m trained to operate specific equipment and experiments in space. While most of what I carry with me to space is research equipment, I carry personal mementos too! On my first spaceflight last November, I carried friendship bracelets, photos, mission patches and little hearts from Build-A-Bear that my six-year-old daughter could put inside her stuffed animals at home.

Q: Do you have any upcoming trips planned?

A: I have a few fun trips planned. First up is Ottawa, Canada, where I’ll be leading a microgravity research flight campaign at the National Research Council of Canada. I serve as a test director and astronaut instructor for these flights. In October, I’ll be traveling to Scotland for the wedding of a childhood friend. I’ve never been to Scotland, so I’m quite excited.

Q: Have you visited places for work that were so nice that you returned for a personal trip?

A: I have a tendency to turn most of my work trips into family trips. From my own spaceflight out of Spaceport America in New Mexico, to joining the president and the first lady at the White House Easter egg roll, or flying with the Thunderbirds during an air show, I always bring my family with me to experience something special. There was a period last year where I felt like I was constantly pulling my daughter out of kindergarten, but each opportunity felt like a once-in-a-lifetime type of experience that I wanted to share with her. I joke that I’m like a modern-day Ms. Frizzle and I feel so lucky to be able to share my world with her and give her some Magic School Bus adventures along the way.

Q: What is your favorite vacation destination? What makes it your favorite?

A: For me, the standout trips are always centered around experiences versus destinations. I love spending quality time with my daughter and sharing special experiences with her. Some of my favorite vacations were to places I’ve visited many times before, but which I experienced in an entirely new way with either my daughter or thanks to a loved one’s wedding.

Q: What untapped destination should people know about?

A: Vermont, hands down. It’s gorgeous in the summer, but it’s absolute magic in the fall. I can’t get enough of it. The crisp air, changing leaves, bucolic scenes. … It truly ignites my soul. I think I’d like to be buried there one day.

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

A: Over the years, I’ve learned to slot in and prioritize relaxation in my itineraries. I’m all for maximizing all that I can see, do and eat in a new location, but having very limited free time, it’s really important to me that I can come home feeling somewhat rested and – ideally – not feeling like I need a vacation after the vacation.

Q: If you go away for the holidays, where are they to?

A: I’m an only child, but my mother is one of seven. Our entire extended family returns to New York to celebrate Thanksgiving together each year.

Q: What are your five favorite cities?

A: Woodstock [Vermont], Jupiter and New York City are my top three. Then probably the North Shore of Oahu and Tokyo.

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

A: I’d love to travel to see the Northern Lights one day.

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

A: I’m a pretty low-maintenance traveler. My favorite travel product is probably Nuun hydration tablets. Years of flight training have instilled a paranoia about peak hydration.

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

A: When I’m traveling, I love the novelty of having a bed entirely to myself. My perfect night is staying in with room service and reality TV. And going to bed early. It’s heaven.

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

A: My best travel memory was pretty recent. I took my mom and my daughter to Austin for the total solar eclipse. Experiencing a celestial phenomenon like totality was incredibly special and doing so with three generations of women in my family is something I’ll remember forever. My worst vacation memory is any time that I’ve been sick on the road. It’s a special kind of misery to have to find medicine or travel when you’re feeling unwell.

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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).)