11 Hidden Travel Gems for Movie Lovers

When film fans travel, the world is their oyster. For those who live and breathe the movies have no shortage of places to visit. Indeed, satisfying that wanderlust and appreciation for cinema creates a seemingly endless list of possibilities.

 

Your taste will determine where you’d like to visit. Likewise, destinations will vary from filming locations to museums and working studios.

 

With so many options, it can feel like an overwhelming and daunting task. But fear not! A task like this should be fun and not stressful.

Initial choices will include Hollywood, Los Angeles, and New York, popular studio tours like Warner Bros. and Paramount, and famous filming locations. However, some movie fanatics want to dig a little deeper, and that’s where we come in. Hidden gems and out-of-the-ordinary destinations await those looking for fun, history, and a little adventure straight from the silver screen.

 

Every fan of the Christmas rom-com The Holiday (2006) wept upon learning that the cozy English cottage from the film was not real. The outside facade was constructed in the location, then demolished after production, while the interiors were sets built on a soundstage. However, fans of The Holiday can still live out their dreams of staying in a comparable charming dwelling- in two very different locations.

As unexpected though it may be, a replica of Rosehill Cottage sits amongst the Blueridge Mountains of Ellijay, Georgia. A delight for all who visit, the interiors are neatly identical to the film, simply with a bit more space. And no one would complain about that. The cottage features two bedrooms, a bathroom with a claw-foot tub, charming decor, and cozy furnishings. Sadly, Jude Law won’t be there to keep you company, which is truly the only downside. For information, visit the Holiday Cottage website.

For a more traditional English experience, fans can stay at Honeysuckle Cottage, located in Holmbury, St. Mary in Surrey, England. Said to be the inspiration, the outside evokes the film’s cottage perfectly. While the inside does not resemble the movie, Honeysuckle Cottage still has all the sweetness one could hope for, with beautiful views, and a peaceful, dreamy location. Rental availability changes, so check out the The English Home for details.

Fans of the classic 1965 musical The Sound of Music know that it tells the story of Maria, a postulant nun who becomes the governess for Captain Georg Von Trapp and his seven children. Though the film is heavily fictionalized, the legacy of the Von Trapp family lives on. One such place that remains is the Von Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe, Vermont.

After fleeing Austria during WWII, the family eventually settled in Vermont. Sitting on 2,500 acres, the Lodge (which had to be rebuilt after a fire in the 1980s) features 96 rooms, a brewery, alpine and Austrian-style architecture, large stone fireplaces, cozy libraries, skiing, tours of the grounds, a family history tour, nature walks, wine tasting, and more. The Lodge also has a cemetery, and guests can pay their respects to the real Maria and Georg.

True Sound of Music fans should consider a visit that coincides with The Sound of Music: In Concert. This lovely event in the Lodge’s outdoor meadow venue features the Vermont Symphony Orchestra and those glorious songs by Rodgers and Hammerstein.

Film aficionados typically enjoy collecting items from their favorite films. For diehard fans, these can include authentic costumes, screen-used props, set pieces, and other collectibles. In Burbank, California, lies a store brimming with all of these types of items, each carefully categorized and authenticated.

Founded in 1981 by Janet Dion, It’s a Wrap helps keep movie history alive with things that would otherwise be discarded. Basically, it’s described as a “thrift store of Hollywood’s leftovers,” but in reality remains a movie collector’s dream.

Though searching through the two-story store requires patience and diligence, finding that one gem will be well worth it. With reasonable prices and frequent sales, It’s a Wrap lets movie lovers peruse Hollywood history to their heart’s content.

Considered one of San Francisco’s most iconic landmarks, the Palace of the Fine Arts features a 162ft tall rotunda, a gorgeous park with a large lagoon, and an outdoor concert venue. This Greco-Roman architectural beauty remains a popular destination for everyday tourists.

Movie fans, specifically Alfred Hitchcock fans, will recognize the Palace of the Fine Arts from the director’s masterpiece, Vertigo (1958), where stars James Stewart and Kim Novak take a leisurely stroll through the Palace’s gardens. Today, guests can explore these outdoor spaces for free, imagining themselves in the classic film, or in their own imagination. Star Wars fans have also compared this landmark to Italian locations used in Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002). Consequently, it makes for the perfect location for fans of Anakin and Padmé, especially those who love to take in-costume movie-inspired photos.

Back to the Future (1985) fans will instantly recognize the Gamble House. In the trilogy, this location serves as Emmett “Doc” Brown’s (Christopher Lloyd) home, and has a fascinating history beyond its movie one. Built in 1908, the Gamble House was the retirement home for David and Mary Gamble of Procter & Gamble fame.

The home features a brilliant mixture of Craftsman and Japanese styles, with multiple uses of various types of wood. A visual feast for the eyes, it’s unsurprising that director Robert Zemeckis chose the house for Doc Brown’s homestead, as its architectural beauty and intricate details feel timeless, and therefore, at home in multiple eras for the time travel films.

To visit the Gamble House, you must purchase tickets for one of their tours, available on Tuesdays and Thursdays through Sundays.

One of the greatest films of all time, Casablanca (1942) follows no-nonsense and cynical Rick (Humphrey Bogart), the expatriate and owner of Rick’s Café American in Morocco. His world is thrown for a loop when his ex Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman) comes back into his life, inspiring the famous line, “Of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world, she walks into mine.”

While Casablanca was filmed at Warner Bros. Studios, classic movie fans can experience a little movie magic in the real-life setting of the classic masterpiece. Rick’s Café Casablanca was founded by former American diplomat Kathy Kriger in 2004 as a loving homage to the film. Today, it continues to welcome patrons who can soak up the romantic atmosphere and gorgeous details, including colorful tile, chandeliers, palm trees, and beaded lamps. As per the official site, the menu is “a culinary harmony of Atlantic morning catches, French bistro classics, and the fragrant subtle spices of Moroccan gastronomy.”

Of course, there’s also a baby grand piano, suitable for renditions of “As Time Goes By,” as well as live jazz music. Overall, Rick’s Café Casablanca represents one of those bucket list travel destinations of the highest degree.

Without its movie connections, Mackinac Island, Michigan beckons those who long for a simpler time and slower lifestyle. This beautiful island is brimming with turn-of-the-century charm, including Victorian homes and hotels, and lovely gardens. With cars not allowed, residents and visitors must walk, bicycle, or take a horse-drawn carriage or wagon to their desired destination.

One such old-fashioned accommodation is The Grand Hotel, featuring traditional Queen Anne and Colonial Revival architecture and the world’s largest porch. Likewise, the stately and ornate rooms feature Victorian furnishings, while the dining rooms truly dazzle.

Two movies have been filmed at The Grand Hotel: the mesmerizing and heart-wrenching romance Somewhere in Time (1980), starring Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour, and the Esther Williams vehicle This Time for Keeps (1947). The former features prominently in the film, which took advantage of the period-accurate location. A lovely display in the hotel still honrs its connection. The latter was a contemporary film, but the hotel matched its wholesome vibe. The hotel’s pool used for filming is even still affectionately named The Esther Williams Swimming Pool.

For more information on visiting or staying at The Grand Hotel, visit the official site.

Located across from the famous Hollywood Bowl, the Hollywood Heritage Museum was founded in 1985, but is steeped in cinema history. The building itself is the former Lasky-DeMille production facility, nicknamed “The Barn,” and the site of the first feature-length Hollywood production, The Squaw Man (1914).

Today, it’s both a California Historical Landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The museum explores the origins of the motion picture industry with archival photos, documents, movie props, and memorabilia. Guests can also see the office of Cecil B. DeMille, complete with many of his personal belongings.

The museum is run primarily by volunteers and has a strong focus on preservation. Admission remains reasonably priced, while they also offer multiple membership levels.

Similar to It’s A Wrap, Larry Edmund’s Bookshop retains its intimate and independent feel, while maintaining a larger-than-life inventory and audience. Founded in 1938, the store has become an iconic landmark for both film aficionados and filmmakers alike.

The store features thousands of movie-themed books, as well as original posters and lobby cards. However, Larry Edmund’s Bookshop is best known for the numerous authentic movie and television scripts, many autographed by actors and directors. You also never know who you may see, with the likes of Angelica Huston and Michael Douglas holding book signings, and anyone from J.J. Abrams to Wes Anderson visiting the shop.

If you’ve ever dreamed of owning such a unique piece of movie history, Larry Edmund’s should be at the top of your list.

From the outside looking in, Epic Systems feels like an odd choice for this list. After all, what does a software company that specializes in health and wellness have to do with movies? However, their headquarters are nothing short of extraordinary. With six campuses, each with a different theme, visitors can explore each on a self-guided tour guaranteed to inspire pure delight.

Movie (and book) lovers of the worlds of Harry Potter, The Hobbit, Alice in Wonderland, Star Wars, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Wizard of Oz, and other fairy tales will love exploring each of these whimsical areas.

From elaborate murals, massive props, life-size figures, and more, guests will truly feel like they stepped inside these fantastical landscapes. For more information, visit the Epic Systems website.

Speaking of feeling like you’ve literally stepped inside a film, The Land of Oz in Beech Mountain, North Carolina stands out as a unique and whimsical experience unlike any other. Inspired by L. Frank Baum’s original Oz books, as well as MGM’s 1939 classic movie musical The Wizard of Oz, this seasonal attraction takes guests on a completely immersive journey.

Visitors will begin their journey at Dorothy’s farmhouse in “Kansas” when a tornado simulator whisks them away to the land of Oz. There, they’ll follow the Yellow Brick Road and interact with live actors portraying Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion, Glinda, the Wicked Witch of the West, and others, all performing songs and moments from the story on the way to the Emerald City. The experience concludes with a show inside the Emerald City with the Wizard and, of course, a trip through the gift shop.

While even casual Wizard of Oz fans would surely love this experience, die-hard fans should consider The Land of Oz the pinnacle of destinations. Ticket and tour information can be found on the Land of Oz website.