Hollywood is very good at making people want to be where the characters in the movie are. Exploring hidden tombs, taking a dog sled across snowy terrain, or walking the vineyards in France really can be done by someone who isn’t a famous actor or actress. There are many movies that have made me put a particular place on my wish list of places to go during my lifetime. In my opinion, here are the 8 best movie destinations to visit if you get the chance.
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8. Alaska, USA
I have a friend who moved to Alaska and raved about how gorgeous it was and how friendly the people were. I still have yet to make it that far north, but maybe some day. I’ve seen numerous movies which showed the beauty she was talking about; Alaska, Into the Wild, White Fang, and Dr. Dolittle 2 just to name a handful. Each of these was either filmed completely in Alaska or had portions shot there. It is an excellent place to visit if you enjoy scenic views no matter where you turn.
7. Japan
I love the movie The Ramen Girl. I’d always been interested in visiting Japan, but this movie made me want to go there more than ever. I think it was the quaint little place where she learned to make ramen. The whole atmosphere was inviting and the people were so sweet. Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift gave a whole different side of life in Japan, which seemed a bit fast-paced for me. I would love to see the floating torii and Itsukushima Shrine in person at least once.
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6. Greece
The scenery is always breathtaking in all the movies filmed in Greece. Tomb Raider introduced many people to the beauty of Santorini in case they missed it in Summer Lovers, while Mama Mia! mostly took place on Skopelos Island and made Greece look like a fun place to be. Even a portion of Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 was filmed in Greece.
5. Scotland
I know this is a rather general destination, but there are so many movies that portray different aspects of this beautiful country. Braveheart made me fall in love with the highlands of Scotland. It was great to visit Scotland much later on in my life and see these hills in person. I also enjoyed seeing the train from the Harry Potter movies as it passed through the town of Fort William. The Jacobite is the train used in the movies and it offers rides to passengers daily.
4. Chicago, Illinois, USA
I have to say; Ferris Bueller made Chicago look like a great place to spend the day if you had nothing better to do. While You Were Sleeping, My Best Friend’s Wedding, and When Harry Met Sally also take place in Chicago. This last movie was where I got my first glimpse of Hyde Park. It’s a great park located on the south side of Chicago. I took my son there when we visited the Windy City quite some time ago. It was fun to be in a city where so many movies I have enjoyed over the years were filmed. There were many streets and buildings that looked very familiar, which was comforting.
3. Paris, France
French Kiss portrayed the romantic side of Paris, Julie and Julia brought awareness to the wonderful cuisine of France, The Da Vinci Code added a sort of spooky side to things, while GI Joe had plenty of action scenes shot in Paris. Each of these movies shows a very different side to this amazing city and all it has to offer. I think I would go mainly to see the Eiffel Tower and to taste the wonderful food!
2. London, England
Movies that are supposed to take place in England are generally filmed in London, at least a portion of them anyway. I remember watching Mary Poppins as a kid and being enamored with London. This movie made me want to hop on a plane and fly to England as soon as possible. Of course I think it would be a lot more fun if I had the likes of Dick Van Dyke and Mary Poppins to accompany me during my travels through the city.
1. New York City, New York, USA
Numerous movies have been filmed in New York, so most people are familiar with many popular sights there. Home Alone II, Big, Elf, The Night at the Museum, Kate and Leopold, and plenty of action films take place in the busy city of New York. The Statue of Liberty, the MoMA, the Empire State Building, FAO Schwartz, and the American Museum of Natural History are some of the places featured in movies that are great to visit at least once in your lifetime.
Out of this list of the 8 best movie destinations to visit, which would you put as your number one favorite?
Top Photo Credit: davidgutierrez photography
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