10 Iconic Summer Movie Filming Locations You Can Actually Visit

Summertime and movies go hand in hand as much as summer and travel. There are people who enjoy their evenings watching a great movie based on the season; others prefer to venture outside of their home and explore what life has to offer. Then, of course, there are those who love to do both.

Anyone who falls into the latter category, or wants to, can easily combine a love for movies with a penchant for wanderlust.

Of course, choosing the destinations can be daunting. After all, cinema is filled with countless films set in the summer. However, not all have filming locations that the average fan can visit. Typically, this is because they no longer exist, were filmed on backlots or studios, or are not accessible to the general public.

Depending on one’s generation or specific taste, this kind of list will vary drastically. For the more well-rounded cinephile, the following filming locations represent an array of iconic and popular movies, where visiting will make you feel as if you’ve stepped into a favorite summer flick.

 

When it comes to quintessential summer movies, you don’t get more iconic than Jaws. Hailed as the first ever “blockbuster,” Steven Spielberg’s 1975 classic has been thrilling viewers for over 50 years. Creating a fear of sharks notwithstanding, a huge appeal to Jaws is its lovely and picturesque setting that acts as a stark contrast to the film’s narrative.

Jaws takes place on Amity Island, which in reality is Martha’s Vineyard, located off the coast of Massachusetts. Fans can visit key locations from the film, including Chief Brody’s (Roy Scheider) house, the local village, police station, and beach where the shark makes its presence known to horrified tourists and residents.

Located at 265 Chop Drive in Vineyard Haven, the Brody residence looks different from how it did in the film, with the house completely remodeled. But it’s still a thrill to stand in this very spot. Looking strikingly the same as it did 50 years ago, Downtown Edgartown remains a pretty and peaceful place with white picket fences and charming stores. Lastly, the Amity Beach scenes took place at 125 Seaview Ave. in Edgartown. Though it’s changed over the years with a lot of grass overgrowth, near the water remains almost identical to the film, suitable for playfully recreating those iconic and terrifying onscreen moments.

For a detailed look at all filming locations, check out Going to the Movies on YouTube.

 

In 1987, Baby and Jonny (Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze), and millions of romantics had the time of their lives with Dirty Dancing. The coming-of-age story captured the hearts of so many and inspired a generation to attempt the iconic lift from the movie’s climactic dance sequence.

In the film, Baby and her family visit the Kellerman Lodge in the Catskills, New York. In reality, this was the Mountain Lake Lodge in Pembrooke, Virginia. Thankfully for fans, the lodge still looks very much the same, with only some minor differences from how it appeared in the film.

The lodge itself and grounds still feature the beautiful stonework and grassy areas. They’ve since added a pool, but the cabins, nearby lake (though it’s now dry), gazebo, and restaurant remain almost the same. Guests can even stay in the same cabin that Baby and her family did. Visitors will also appreciate the signs located throughout the property that highlight the filming spots, embracing the film’s legacy and beloved status. Daze With Jordan the Lion tours the Lodge and all these spots in this video.

 

Baseball and heartwarming, hilarious coming-of-age movies don’t get much better than The Sandlot. For a small California suburban town in the summer of 1962, filmmakers chose Utah, specifically Salt Lake City, Midvale, and Ogden. Fans can walk in Scotty’s (Tom Guiry), Benny’s (Mike Vitar), and Hamilton’s (Patrick Renna) footsteps right outside their respective houses at S. 2000 E. in Salt Lake City. Though the homes have been repainted, everything else looks pretty much the same.

The Sandlot field itself may disappoint some fans as the baseball diamond is no longer visible, and it’s not accessible to the general public. Still, the field that’s located at 1388 Glenrose Dr. in Salt Lake City can still be viewed from the street.

However, the prime filming spots sure to create a warm sense of nostalgia remain Vincent’s Drugstore and the Community Pool. The name of the store where the boys obtain their coveted baseballs and enjoy a cold Coca-Cola around the back was not changed for filming. Vincent Drug, at 7696 N. Main Street in Midvale, is empty inside but looks quite similar on the outside. Today, the period touches are gone, but the memories remain, especially thanks to the wall mural of Squints (Chauncey Leopardi).

Remarkably, the Lorin Farr Community Pool (located at 1691 Gramercy Ave in Ogden) looks identical to the movie, right down to the same painted waves details on the surrounding building. The only thing missing is the diving board. So, no recreating Squint’s misguided attempt to kiss Wendy Peffercorn (Marley Shelton). However, a fun-nostalgic day can still be had.

 

The Pirates of the Caribbean franchise spawned five films and has earned billions at the box office. One can attribute this success to multiple things, from the impeccable cast to the creative stories and impressive special effects. One aspect that definitely contributes is the filmmaker’s attention to detail and use of real filming locations, rather than green screens.

These locations add to each film’s authenticity and grandeur and help make them the spectacular movies they are. For this list, we’re focusing on the first, and still best film, The Curse of the Black Pearl.

A trip to Pirates filming locations means traveling to the actual Caribbean and relishing in the gorgeous locales. Shot on the island of St. Vincent in the Grenadines, fans can see the rock where Captain Jack Sparrow saluted his fallen comrades, and the dock where he first arrived in the fictional Port Royal.

Additionally, many props from the film remain, such as canons and anchors. The local town and its restaurants have also embraced the film’s legacy with production photos, autographs, and behind-the-scenes tidbits. The island has become a top tourist destination, especially for cruise ships.

 

The three Gidget films represent a fascinating time in American culture, when surfing became all the rage, and a more carefree lifestyle, the ideal for many young individuals. Today, Gidget (1959), Gidget Goes Hawaiian (1961), and Gidget Goes to Rome (1963) have a nostalgic and wholesome quality to them. Perfect for summer viewing, each movie also has filming locations that fans can visit and create everlasting memories.

Most of the original Gidget was filmed on the Columbia Studios backlot. However, quite a few of the beach and surfing scenes were filmed at Leo Carrillo State Beach at 35000 Pacific Coast Highway in Los Angeles, California. Fans can soak up the sun, sand, and waves, where Gidget (Sandra Dee), Moondoggie (James Darren), and the Big Kahuna (Cliff Robertson) once did. Diehard fans should also visit Gidget’s house at 267 18th St. in Santa Monica.

A visit to filming locations for Gidget Goes Hawaiian not only makes for an amazing vacation to Hawaii, but also seemingly a trip back in time. As seen in this video from Reshoots on YouTube, little has changed at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel in Honolulu since 1961. It’s pinky peach paint scheme, an overall design and vibe remains the same.

In Gidget Goes to Rome, Gidget and her friends take a sightseeing tour that fans can still take today, in that they visit famous and beautiful landmarks. These include the Trevi Fountain, the Colosseum, the Spanish Steps, and the Ruins of the Senate Forum.

 

The film that moved and slightly traumatized an entire generation, My Girl’s peaceful suburban setting reflects its wistful tone. Although the film was set in 1970s Madison, Pennsylvania, filming actually took place in Central Florida, namely Bartow, Clermont, Plant City, and Sanford.

Fans can visit many of the film’s most prominent locations, many of which have barely changed since filming. Located on 555 E Stanford St in Bartow, the Saltenfuss residence and Funeral Parlor, where Vada (Anna Chlumsky) and her father Harry (Danny Aykroyd) live, once served as a bed and breakfast but has once again become a private residence. So, keep that in mind while visiting. Still, the entire neighborhood remains a picturesque gem.

Likewise, the historic downtown of Sanford served as the town where Vada and Thomas Jay (Macaulay Culkin) rode their bikes and visited the local doctor. Vada’s schoolhood crush, Mr. Bixler’s (Griffin Dunne) charming house, looks exactly as it does on screen, and is located at 605 Magnolia St. in Sanford; you can also visit Thomas Jay’s home at 603 Myrtle Avenue, in Sanford, as well as the creative writing school at 605 N Collins St in Plant City.

Overall, each place brings forth those emotions felt while watching My Girl, and longing for a childhood of climbing moss-covered trees and riding our bikes till the sun goes down. This video from Launch Ramp Productions highlights every location.

 

For a complete change of pace film-wise, one of the quintessential slasher horror films, I Know What You Did Last Summer, continued the longstanding tradition of setting the film in lovely, peaceful places. In this case, the film takes place in the coastal town of Southport, North Carolina.

Interestingly enough, only part of the movie was filmed in North Carolina. Several scenes were shot in California, notably the road where the movie’s narrative hook (no pun intended) takes place. However, for the wanderlust individuals, North Carolina remains the number one place to visit for fans of I Know What You Did Last Summer’s most memorable moments.

The most notable locations include:
• Amuzu Theatre, where Helen (Sarah Michelle Gellar) wins the beauty pageant, and Barry (Ryan Phillippe) is slain in the theater’s balcony.
• Helen’s Family Store, Shiver’s, is actually Harrell’s Department Store in Southport, and features the terrifying chase scene and Helen’s sister, Elsa’s (Brigette Wilson-Sampras), death.
• Julie (Jennifer Love Hewitt), Helen, and Barry’s houses, all beautiful two-story Cape Cod-style homes, are located in Southport.
• Missy’s (Anne Heche) atmospheric homestead in Currie, North Carolina.
• Julie’s famous “What are you waiting for?” quote took place at 303 W Brown St in Southport.

Each location will transport fans back to the 1997 classic, making it a bucket list destination for horror aficionados. Going to the Movies has an excellent video guide to all these locations and more.

 

Coming-of-age stories have become commonplace for summer movies, most likely because it’s a time when kids and teenagers have more freedom and the possibility of adventure. One of the finest, most poignant remains Rob Reiner’s classic, Stand By Me.

Set in 1959 Oregon, the film was shot around Oregon and California, capturing a sense of serenity, wistfulness, and foreboding simultaneously. And each location reflects those contrasting feelings.

Fans can visit numerous locations in Oregon, such as the tree where the four boys have a treehouse (in Brownsville), Gordie’s (Will Wheaton) house (in Brownsville), and the tracks and train bridge where the boys embark on their journey, now simply a pathway (in Cottage Grove).

Fans can also make the trek to Burney, California, in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. There, they’ll see the train trestle where one of the movie’s most iconic moments took place, where the boys just barely avoid the train, and Gordie and Vern (Jerry O’Connell) jump down below. It’s slightly precarious to see this up close, so proceed with caution.

Saturday Night Snack and a Movie on YouTube highlights these locations and others in this video.

 

One of the greatest movie musicals of all time, The Sound of Music became an instant beloved classic, and still ranks as the third highest-grossing film when adjusted for inflation. It’s also one of the only films that has designated tours dedicated to numerous filming locations. Indeed, a Sound of Music tour remains on many fans’ travel bucket lists.

 

For a guided or self-guided tour, Sound of Music aficionados know their visit includes various locations around Salzburg, Austria. Any true-blue fan must first visit and stay at Schloss Leopoldskron, the location that served as the lakeside gardens of the Von Trapp Family residence. Today, it’s a hotel welcoming countless guests into its wonder and grandeur.

 

Looking to recreate some of the film’s musical moments? Head to Schloss Frohnburg for Maria’s “I Have Confidence,” and the facade of the Von Trapp Family Home, the Werfen trail, which forever preserves the “Do-Re-Me” sequence atop, glorious rolling hills of Salzburg, and Mirabel Gardens, the sight where that song concludes. Everyone who visits will no doubt feel compelled to march around the fountain and climb the steps, pretending to sing as well as Julie Andrews.

 

Of course, a Sound of Music trip would be incomplete without a trek up into the mountains where the film’s iconic opening scene was filmed, and the church where Maria and Captain Von Trapp are married, Basilica St. Michael in Mondsee. Both majestic in different ways, one represents the beauty of nature, the other the exceptional craftsmanship and reverence.

 

Several videos showcase these incredible filming locations fans can experience, including ones from AKFasso and Portal 707.

 

To walk in the footsteps of Jesse and Céline (Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy) from Richard Linklater’s utterly romantic Before Sunrise, one must travel to another city in Austria- Vienna. A lovely destination on its own, picturing yourself in their story only adds to the inherent beauty and romance of the city.

Some of the most iconic locations include:

• Westbahnhof Station, where Jesse and Céline first meet.

• The record store (which looks exactly the same) from one of the film’s most famous scenes, called Alt & Neu Records, or Teuchtler Schallplattenhandlung und Antiquarität.

• The beautiful Zollamtssteg Bridge, where the pair learns about a German play.

• The Friedhof der Namenlosen, or Cemetery of the Nameless. The quiet beauty will evoke a sense of solemn grace.

• Prater Amusement Park, one of the oldest parks of its kind. The romantics must take a ride on the Riesenrad Ferris Wheel, where Jesse and Céline share their first kiss.

With so many locations one can visit, it will likely take more than one day to see everything on your list. You can choose between a guided tour that’s offered or exploring on your own. Whatever one decides, the real treat will be stepping into a world that feels both real and magical.