
Tracee Ellis Ross celebrates travelling alone in new show
Tracee Ellis Ross may have perfected the art of travelling alone. In her new docuseries, Solo Traveling with Tracee Ellis Ross, she shows herself preparing for trips to Marrakech, Morocco; Cancún, Mexico; and Marbella, Spain.
Article content
Two things are clear. First, the woman is not a minimalist — she packs for every scenario as well as for her own comfort. And second, fashion is essential. Ross stocks multiple suitcases with shoes and clothes, many in statement colours, patterns and silhouettes, and all chosen for their ability to bring her joy.
Article content
Article content
'I am sharing my particular version of solo travel, which is not about adventure,' she explains in one episode. 'It's about how I can experience my own company in a joyful, holistic way — while still being in beautiful places and discovering new things.'
Article content
The actress, 52, first travelled alone in her 20s. She was a model in the early 1990s (which could explain the fashion fixation) and went on to star in the TV shows Girlfriends and Black-ish.
Article content
But it's in Solo Traveling with Tracee Ellis Ross, now streaming three episodes on The Roku Channel, where she lets viewers see her as she is in real life: vulnerable yet vibrant. Sometimes Ross muses about being single, childless and occasionally lonely. Other times, she's feeling fabulous and revelling in it.
Article content
In Marrakech, for example, she shops for rugs crafted by the Berber tribe. In Marbella, she samples artisan olive oils. In Cancún, she dons bright pink spandex for tennis — later it's a red bikini for swimming in the rain.
Article content
Article content
That's not to say everything goes smoothly. Downpours in Cancún mean indoor pursuits, and a raccoon raids the fruit in her room. Then en route to Marbella, Ross gets food poisoning. She's bed-bound and eats rice cakes for supper. Phone calls to her brother and mother (singer Diana Ross) help her through.
Article content
For Ross, it's all part of adapting to whatever life brings.
Article content
'So much of what travelling is about is, for me, not waiting for something in order to walk towards my life, in order to be in my life, in order to experience my life,' she says.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Style Blueprint
8 hours ago
- Style Blueprint
Harlem Hellfighters Honored in Kentucky Black Trailblazers
Share with your friends! Pinterest LinkedIn Email Flipboard Reddit When recalling Kentucky history, names like Alexander Beaumont (a cook and private in the U.S. Colored Troops) and Oliver Lewis (the first Kentucky Derby winner) are too often overlooked. Now, their stories and those of 17 other trailblazing African Americans are brought to life through Kentucky Black Trailblazers, an immersive augmented reality (AR) experience spanning six counties. With the help of their smartphones, visitors can stand among war hero graves and hear Harlem Hellfighters recount WWI, or visit Muhammad Ali's hometown to learn about the segregation he faced despite global fame, bringing long-overdue recognition to these impactful lives. Pin How Kentucky Black Trailblazers Came to Be Janette Marson, president and CEO of ShelbyKY Tourism, says the wine brand 19 Crimes initially sparked the idea for Kentucky Black Trailblazers. 'You can use your smartphone on the QR codes on the wine bottles, and then an augmented reality experience appears before you,' she explains. 'I've always wanted to use that technology in conjunction with tourism, but it was cost-prohibitive.' Thanks to a multi-jurisdictional grant from the American Rescue Plan Act, Janette and ShelbyKY Tourism Vice President Mason Warren (along with partners in five other Kentucky counties) were able to secure funding for the project. 'Even though ShelbyKY Tourism took the lead,' Janette says, 'there is no way that Mason and I could have done this by ourselves.' She adds that it took a team of more than 100 people to get the project up and running, and it all started with finding stories to tell. Each county team met with Black historians to determine which tales fit best. Once the stories were selected, they moved on to scriptwriting. Writing Scripts and Writing Code 'The scripts were written by Black historians,' Janette adds, explaining that they went through the production process with three questions in mind: What does the Black community in each area want to hear? What stories do they want to tell? And in what way should those stories be told? 'The stories are wonderful … stories of resilience, triumph over adversity, and just some of the most incredible, not necessarily well-known people,' Janette adds. 'They … are lesser known, but did incredible things — not just for Kentucky, but for the United States as well.' With the help of Black actors, costume designers, and a Black director, the Kentucky counties hired Tactic — the same company that created the AR storytelling for 19 Crimes — to pull it all together. Pin Using technology similar to Pokémon GO, which blends the real world with the virtual world through augmented reality and GPS technology, Kentucky Black Trailblazers came to life in July 2024. Since then, thousands of QR code scans have allowed people to experience Kentucky legacies in a new dimension. Each location is linked to Google Maps coordinates, making it easy to find spots off the beaten path. Once someone gets started with their first QR code, the app acts as a digital passport of sorts, tracking their way along the trail. Pin The Trailblazers 'You've got all 19 people listed on your app,' Janette explains, 'and as you do an experience, it becomes full color — almost like you're getting a digital sticker for completing that experience.' The stories of strength and resilience include those of: Daniel Arthur Rudd , who co-founded the American Catholic Tribune and was a founding member of the Catholic Press Association , who co-founded the American Catholic Tribune and was a founding member of the Catholic Press Association Dorsey Wickliffe , a black enslaved nanny who cared for the children of some of Kentucky's most prominent figures , a black enslaved nanny who cared for the children of some of Kentucky's most prominent figures Mack Rowan , who was born with clubfoot and became a highly sought-after master boot and shoemaker for bespoke footwear , who was born with clubfoot and became a highly sought-after master boot and shoemaker for bespoke footwear The First Black Baptist Church in Elizabethtown, a testament to the enduring spirit and faith of the African American community in Elizabethtown, a testament to the enduring spirit and faith of the African American community General Braddock , a body servant to a British general during the French and Indian War, also believed to have served with George Washington before being enslaved , a body servant to a British general during the French and Indian War, also believed to have served with George Washington before being enslaved Margaret 'Ma' Collier , the first African American woman to serve as a hostess in military service clubs , the first African American woman to serve as a hostess in military service clubs Mary Cunningham Smith , whose actions helped lead to African Americans securing the right to sit and ride on Louisville streetcars long before the civil rights movement , whose actions helped lead to African Americans securing the right to sit and ride on Louisville streetcars long before the civil rights movement Muhammad Ali , a world-renowned symbol of greatness both inside and outside the boxing ring , a world-renowned symbol of greatness both inside and outside the boxing ring Oliver Lewis , a cook and private in Company E of the 116th Infantry, U.S. Colored Troops, who fought for liberation and justice , a cook and private in Company E of the 116th Infantry, U.S. Colored Troops, who fought for liberation and justice Eliza Brooks , who escaped slavery at the age of 50 with her two children and a friend , who escaped slavery at the age of 50 with her two children and a friend Henry Bibb , who was born into slavery and later became a leading abolitionist and advocate for freedom , who was born into slavery and later became a leading abolitionist and advocate for freedom Elijah P. Marrs , who rallied 27 other African Americans to join the Union Army, enlisting in the 12th Regiment of the U.S. Colored Heavy Artillery , who rallied 27 other African Americans to join the Union Army, enlisting in the 12th Regiment of the U.S. Colored Heavy Artillery The Harlem Hellfighters , an award-winning African American combat unit during World War I , an award-winning African American combat unit during World War I Whitney M. Young Jr. , the head of the National Urban League who worked to dismantle employment discrimination and improve government services for Black Americans , the head of the National Urban League who worked to dismantle employment discrimination and improve government services for Black Americans Annie Mitchell Reed , a nanny, cook, laundress, and seamstress who survived the deadliest train wreck in Kentucky history , a nanny, cook, laundress, and seamstress who survived the deadliest train wreck in Kentucky history Mattie Owens , a teacher who instructed first through eighth grade in a single room until desegregation , a teacher who instructed first through eighth grade in a single room until desegregation Reverend Charles Henry Parrish Sr., a Kentucky Normal and Theological Institute graduate who co-founded Eckstein Norton University Pin Janette recalls witnessing a visitor's reaction during the Harlem Hellfighters experience: 'I remember someone breaking down in tears at Calvary Cemetery because they knew that their loved one was buried there somewhere, but they had no idea [about] all that they had done in history,' she says. 'That was surprising and wonderful.' Though Kentucky Black Trailblazers currently features 19 stories, Janette hopes to eventually expand its coverage, perhaps adding more tales or expanding upon the existing ones. 'The project truly is an experience,' she exclaims. 'It brings history to life in a completely new way. I don't think I've been with anyone who didn't walk away feeling … changed. It just feels immersive and transformational.' ********** Give your inbox the Southern makeover it deserves. Subscribe to our daily emails. About the Author Lennie Omalza Originally from Hawaii, Lennie Omalza is a Louisville-based freelance writer of over 18 years. Lennie is a yoga-loving foodie who travels as often as she can and enjoys writing about food, homes, and weddings. You can find more of Lennie's work at Eater, Hawaii Home & Remodeling, and The Louisville Courier-Journal.


Edmonton Journal
a day ago
- Edmonton Journal
Tracee Ellis Ross celebrates travelling alone in new show
Article content Tracee Ellis Ross may have perfected the art of travelling alone. In her new docuseries, Solo Traveling with Tracee Ellis Ross, she shows herself preparing for trips to Marrakech, Morocco; Cancún, Mexico; and Marbella, Spain. Article content Two things are clear. First, the woman is not a minimalist — she packs for every scenario as well as for her own comfort. And second, fashion is essential. Ross stocks multiple suitcases with shoes and clothes, many in statement colours, patterns and silhouettes, and all chosen for their ability to bring her joy. Article content Article content 'I am sharing my particular version of solo travel, which is not about adventure,' she explains in one episode. 'It's about how I can experience my own company in a joyful, holistic way — while still being in beautiful places and discovering new things.' Article content The actress, 52, first travelled alone in her 20s. She was a model in the early 1990s (which could explain the fashion fixation) and went on to star in the TV shows Girlfriends and Black-ish. Article content But it's in Solo Traveling with Tracee Ellis Ross, now streaming three episodes on The Roku Channel, where she lets viewers see her as she is in real life: vulnerable yet vibrant. Sometimes Ross muses about being single, childless and occasionally lonely. Other times, she's feeling fabulous and revelling in it. Article content In Marrakech, for example, she shops for rugs crafted by the Berber tribe. In Marbella, she samples artisan olive oils. In Cancún, she dons bright pink spandex for tennis — later it's a red bikini for swimming in the rain. Article content Article content That's not to say everything goes smoothly. Downpours in Cancún mean indoor pursuits, and a raccoon raids the fruit in her room. Then en route to Marbella, Ross gets food poisoning. She's bed-bound and eats rice cakes for supper. Phone calls to her brother and mother (singer Diana Ross) help her through. Article content For Ross, it's all part of adapting to whatever life brings. Article content 'So much of what travelling is about is, for me, not waiting for something in order to walk towards my life, in order to be in my life, in order to experience my life,' she says.


National Post
a day ago
- National Post
Tracee Ellis Ross celebrates travelling alone in new show
Tracee Ellis Ross may have perfected the art of travelling alone. In her new docuseries, Solo Traveling with Tracee Ellis Ross, she shows herself preparing for trips to Marrakech, Morocco; Cancún, Mexico; and Marbella, Spain. Article content Two things are clear. First, the woman is not a minimalist — she packs for every scenario as well as for her own comfort. And second, fashion is essential. Ross stocks multiple suitcases with shoes and clothes, many in statement colours, patterns and silhouettes, and all chosen for their ability to bring her joy. Article content Article content 'I am sharing my particular version of solo travel, which is not about adventure,' she explains in one episode. 'It's about how I can experience my own company in a joyful, holistic way — while still being in beautiful places and discovering new things.' Article content The actress, 52, first travelled alone in her 20s. She was a model in the early 1990s (which could explain the fashion fixation) and went on to star in the TV shows Girlfriends and Black-ish. Article content But it's in Solo Traveling with Tracee Ellis Ross, now streaming three episodes on The Roku Channel, where she lets viewers see her as she is in real life: vulnerable yet vibrant. Sometimes Ross muses about being single, childless and occasionally lonely. Other times, she's feeling fabulous and revelling in it. Article content In Marrakech, for example, she shops for rugs crafted by the Berber tribe. In Marbella, she samples artisan olive oils. In Cancún, she dons bright pink spandex for tennis — later it's a red bikini for swimming in the rain. Article content Article content That's not to say everything goes smoothly. Downpours in Cancún mean indoor pursuits, and a raccoon raids the fruit in her room. Then en route to Marbella, Ross gets food poisoning. She's bed-bound and eats rice cakes for supper. Phone calls to her brother and mother (singer Diana Ross) help her through. Article content For Ross, it's all part of adapting to whatever life brings. Article content 'So much of what travelling is about is, for me, not waiting for something in order to walk towards my life, in order to be in my life, in order to experience my life,' she says. Article content