WBZ-TV (Channel 4) news anchor Lisa Hughes has been on the air in Boston for nearly 17 years, and while she loves it here — she lives in Wellesley with her husband, photographer Mike Casey, and their two children — Hughes said she enjoys returning as often as possible to her roots in the Pacific Northwest. Hughes, 48, who coanchors the 5, 6, and 11 p.m. newscasts for the local CBS affiliate, was raised in Moscow, Idaho, and attended the University of Washington. A cycling and running enthusiast, she just signed up for her seventh Pan-Mass Challenge charity bikeathon. We caught up with Hughes to talk about all things travel.
Favorite vacation destination? I’m a Gemini. So I’ll pick two. For the total experience — people, history, food, animals — South Africa. My husband and I spent almost two weeks there on our honeymoon. Unforgettable. [Then the] Pacific Northwest. It’s where I grew up. My parents still live there. My kids love the carefree pace and activities. And my hometown [Moscow, Idaho] finally has good bike trails, restaurants, and breweries.
Favorite food or drink while vacationing? I totally subscribe to the “When in Rome . . . ’’ philosophy. I want to eat and drink what’s local — especially if it’s something I’ve never had before. The thrill of discovery is part of what makes traveling so much fun.
Where would you like to travel to but haven’t? Everywhere! I love traveling so much that there are few places I wouldn’t want to go, but at the top of my list right now? Southern Italy, the Galapagos Islands, Acadia National Park, and Portugal. We have two Portuguese water dogs. Maybe they’d stop eating my mail — and checkbook — if I learned a few words in their native language.
One item you can’t leave home without when traveling? My Kindle. I love to read and never have enough time. I recently sat on the tarmac at Logan for almost three hours in a snowstorm and didn’t mind a bit. The delay gave me enough time to finish Ann Patchett’s “Commonwealth.’’ To have time to read feels like a luxury. To have time to read and a vacation? That’s a gift!
Aisle or window? Aisle. I drink a lot of water and hate stepping over people midflight.
Favorite childhood travel memory? Camping in the Tetons. We were supposed to be in a tent, but before the trip, my brother and a friend had been playing with the poles — either as swords or spears — and forgot to put them back in the bag. It wasn’t until my dad was laying out all the parts of the tent in Wyoming that he discovered several poles were missing. He was furious and my brother was very, very quiet. But family tension aside, it meant that, on a beautiful summer night, we slept in our puffy sleeping bags under the stars. The magic was short-lived. It rained the next day and we had to move to a crummy motel. But hey, it’s still a great memory.
Guilty pleasure when traveling? Local beer — or wine — and ice cream.
Best travel tip? Streamline the process. Spend the money for Global Entry. It will usually spare you the longest security lines. Use packing cubes to organize what’s in your bag. Try — without pushing the boundaries of what’s reasonable — not to check luggage. And if you’re visiting friends or family, get a flat-rate box and mail your clothes in advance. It’s hard to be that organized, but it frees you up to focus on snacks, toys, devices, stuffed animals, and stickers your kids will use to create a nest at every stop along the way.
JULIET PENNINGTON
