Traveling with the Stars: Jordin Sparks

ByABC News
July 10, 2009, 6:38 PM

— -- American Idol Season 6 winner Jordin Sparks' second album, Battlefield, drops June 21. The 19-year-old travels frequently currently she's touring the United States with the Jonas Bros. but continues to live at home with her family in Arizona. She shares her travel highlights and tips with Kelly Carter for USA TODAY.

Q: Where have you been recently that you liked or were surprised by?

A: Denver. I've been before but I haven't been able to walk around. We had a day off there. I was walking around and never realized all the free little trams, the cute little side places where you can eat and an outdoor mall. Everybody's really happy there. The air is must be better. It was beautiful. They've got the Rockies and the mountains that I want to see. I want to try rock climbing there, which I've done before. Every time I've done it, I've had a lot of fun. I love the outdoors.

Q: What's the best place you've ever visited and why?

A: I would have to say Hawaii. It was so beautiful. I went when I was nine years old. We went for vacation for about a week. One of my best memories from that trip is the oysters. They say you can crack it open and find the pearl. I cracked mine open and had a black pearl in mine. That was awesome. My mom put it on a ring and I still have it. It was so much fun, not to mention beautiful.

Q: What's the most surprising/unexpected place you're ever visited and why?

A: Africa. I went at the First Lady's (Laura Bush) request at the time. We went to help spread awareness about malaria. It was amazing. It was the first time I had ever gone anywhere outside of the United States besides Mexico, but that doesn't really count. I was in Ghana. President Bush did a press conference or speech there and I got to sing the national anthem in front of him. I was really honored. It's the President of the United States.

Q: What's your favorite vacation spot and why?

A: This is going to be funny but Arizona, which is where I live. I barely get to be there anymore so when I go back I consider it a vacation. Even if I didn't live there it would be one of my favorites just because it's so beautiful. It's got so many great places: Flagstaff if you want to ski, Sedona if you want to go exploring and the Grand Canyon. It does get hot but there's a water park five minutes from my house. I love being able to go back home. I'm still at the house in Arizona that I was in before Idol happened. My room is still exactly the same and I love that. I'm always on the road. I've gotten to the point where I wake up and I don't know where I am or why my alarm is going off. It's such a weird and scary feeling.