Five Miles Up with ... Megan Rapinoe

The first destination that comes to mind when thinking about soccer midfielder Megan Rapinoe is London, of course. That's where she scored three goals and tallied a team-high four assists to lead the United States to win a gold medal in the 2012 Olympics. The second locale associated with Rapinoe is Seattle, where she plays for the Sounders. Rapinoe’s passion for travel is obvious. One need only look at her bio on the U.S. Soccer website (ussoccer.com), where she lists her favorite cities as Sydney, London, San Francisco, Phuket, Chicago and Boston. Her favorite attractions to frequent: zoos. What she can’t travel without? Gum, a hair straightener, her computer, neck pillow, iPod, Blackberry and toothbrush. As for that gold medal, we’re guessing she’s wearing it proudly right through security.

Carry-on or check-in?
Both, but if I can, I carry on.

Window or aisle?
Window for long flights, aisle for short flights.

What’s your idea of the perfect vacation?
Good people, good food, good drinks, good coffee, and a bit of adventure, of course.

Tell us about a vacation you’ve taken that’s come close thus far.
Australia!

What’s the worst vacation you’ve taken?
Never had a bad vacation.

Where’s your favorite destination for enjoying your sport?
In a big European stadium packed full with people with a title on the line.

What's the most unusual souvenir you ever came back with?
Boomerangs for the little ones in my family.

Ever try a food that you wished you hadn't?
Not that I wished I hadn't, but definitely some that I would never try again, like sour plums from Japan.

Your favorite hotel?
Ace Hotel in Portland.

What's the biggest regret you've ever had while on vacation?
I missed out on going to the Great Barrier Reef; it partly wasn’t my fault, but at some point I will make sure I get up there.

What's the one thing you're willing to splurge on above all else?
Travel.  I don’t really hold back in that aspect.  If I want to go somewhere, see something or stay somewhere, I try to make it happen.  Traveling and seeing the world is one of the best things in this life. There is just so much to see. And food!

Three artists on your travel playlist?
Florence and The Machine, Of Monsters and Men, Bon Iver.

Where would you take someone visiting your hometown of Redding, Calif., for the first time?
Jack’s Grill for dinner.

You only get one more trip in your lifetime. Where will it be?
That is just too hard to say.  All over Europe, through Southeast Asia, India and Africa.