CSI Files
Captain
<I>CSI: New York</I>'s <font color=yellow>Melina Kanakaredes</font> (Stella Bonasera) likes to embrace her Greek heritage when she goes on vacation.<p>Kanakaredes is a second-generation Greek American, and Greece is her favorite place to travel with her family. "Aside from the obvious benefits of our children continuing to learn about our culture and being allowed the opportunity to practice the Greek language, the country has so much to offer in the form of tourism," the actress told <A class="link" HREF="http://www.usatoday.com/">USA Today</a>. "We frequent both northern and southern Greece traveling there every summer."<p>"I would say one of my favorite locations is Halkidiki, which is a three-fingered peninsula two hours away from Thessaloniki," Kanakaredes continued. "The water is crystal clear with the most amazing shade of blue." She recommended that people stay at the Sani Asterias Suites if they visit Halkidiki. "A room on the ocean is best and the restaurants are phenomenal," she shared.<p>Kanakaredes said the best place she ever visited was Monemvasia. "It is one of the most romantic, beautiful places in Greece and it's where the Greeks go for their honeymoon," she explained. "I've traveled to Greece so many times and it wasn't until a few years ago that I discovered it. It's a mountain that had been separated from the mainland during an earthquake in 375AD."<p>"It is now an island without cars," the actress continued. "You are either on foot or donkey. The exterior of the buildings are 500AD, but the inside is 2009. You dive off the rocks into the ocean to swim. You are surrounded by amazing 360-degree views of the water. It has five restaurants, all great. It is the ultimate secluded honeymoon getaway."<p>The original interview is from <A class="link" HREF="http://www.usatoday.com/travel/celebrity/2009-05-04-melina-kanakaredes_N.htm">USA Today</a>.<center></center>
